Long Quarry Point

Long Quarry Point sits on the Torquay side of Torbay, a dramatic limestone headland with deep water close in and classic South Devon rock-fishing features. It’s a serious but rewarding mark for lure, float and bottom fishing, producing wrasse, pollack, bass, mackerel and hefty conger after dark. Expect rugged terrain, a proper walk-in, and superb fishing when conditions line up.

This mark lies between Meadfoot and Anstey’s Cove on the Torquay coastline, reached via sections of the South West Coast Path. Access is steep and uneven, with short scrambles to reach the ledges; travel light and plan your return in daylight if it’s your first visit.

• Typical parking options: Daddyhole Plain (off Ilsham Marine Drive), Meadfoot Beach car parks, or Anstey’s Cove car park; all are pay-and-display/seasonal in places and can fill quickly in good weather
• Walk-in: 15–30 minutes depending on route and fitness; final approach includes rough paths, steps and rock ledges
• Terrain: jagged limestone, kelp-lined gullies and high ledges; not suitable for barrows/trolleys
• Choose your platform carefully; some lower shelves are only sensible in very calm seas
• Check council notices for any temporary path or cliff-access closures after rockfalls or wet weather

This is mixed rough ground with kelp, boulders and sheer water, so expect classic rock species plus seasonal pelagics. Fishing is best from late spring through autumn, with winter rewarding the persistent night angler.

• Spring (Mar–May): pollack, early wrasse (from May), garfish late spring, occasional bass on a blow; first mackerel shoals by late May in some years
• Summer (Jun–Aug): mackerel, garfish, scad, pollack, ball and corkwing wrasse, bass at dawn/dusk; occasional black bream; thick‑lipped mullet mooching in adjacent coves; chance of squid in clear evenings
• Autumn (Sep–Nov): bass, pollack, mackerel/scad until the first big storms, conger and bull huss at night, pouting and early whiting; squid often peak
• Winter (Dec–Feb): conger, pouting, whiting on calm nights, pollack in settled clear spells, rockling and dogfish
• Occasional visitors: rays are uncommon but possible in very calm conditions; launce and sandeels show in mid-summer; triggers are very rare but have appeared in hot years along Torbay

Long Quarry Point rewards versatility: lure, float and bottom fishing all have their day. Depth is close at hand, so you can fish tight to structure without the need for extreme casting.

• Lure fishing (pollack/bass/mackerel): 7–9 ft rod, 20–30 lb braid, 20–30 lb fluoro leader; 10–30 g metals and sandeel-pattern soft plastics on weedless hooks; work edges, drop-offs and kelp lines at dawn/dusk
• Float fishing (wrasse/gar/mackerel): sliding float with 8–20 ft trace depending on platform height; ragworm, prawn or peeler for wrasse; mackerel belly strips for gars; size 4–1/0 hooks
• Bottom fishing (conger/huss/bass): 1–2 hook pulley/pennel rigs, 60–80 lb abrasion-resistant trace for conger with 6/0–8/0 hooks; oily baits (mackerel, squid, cuttle) or big crab; always use a weak-link/rotten-bottom for the lead
• HRF/LRF: small creature baits and metals around quarry walls for mini species and small wrasse on calm, bright days
• Squid (when present): size 2.5–3.0 egi jigs at dusk into full dark in clear, still conditions; steady lift-and-drop over depth changes
• Practical tackle notes: carry a drop-net for high ledges; long-handled disgorger/forceps; spare leaders and leads for inevitable snags

The mark fishes across much of the tide, but timing your session around movement and light levels pays dividends. Swell direction matters greatly on this exposed, east-facing limestone.

• Tide: often best on the flood through high water; first hours of the ebb can still fish before run eases
• Light: dawn and dusk for bass and pollack; nights for conger/huss; bright, clear days suit float wrasse and LRF
• Wind/swell: safest and most comfortable in W–NW–N winds; even modest E/NE swell can make it dangerous and unfishable
• Water clarity: clear water favours lures, especially for pollack/gar/squid; in colour, switch to strong scent baits for huss/conger
• Seasonality: peak mixed fishing June–October; winter rewards night ledgering in settled spells after a few calm days

This is a serious rock mark with steep access, exposure to swell and real fall hazards. Treat it like a mountain day out—plan, prepare and turn back if conditions aren’t right.

• Not suitable for young children or anyone with limited mobility; paths are steep, uneven and can be slippery
• Wear grippy boots and a modern fishing lifejacket; take a headtorch, spare light and a fully charged phone
• Assess swell for at least 10–15 minutes before committing; avoid all low platforms with any onshore swell or surge
• Rockfall risk beneath cliff faces; a climbing venue operates here—do not stand below climbers and heed any temporary access signage
• Use a drop-net rather than risky lifts; keep gear minimal and leashed; carry a first-aid kit
• Some lower ledges can be encroached at spring highs—know your exit route and don’t get boxed in
• Fish with a partner where possible and leave your plan with someone ashore

Expect a wild-feeling venue close to town: facilities are nearby but not on the ledges. Stock up before you drop in.

• Parking: Daddyhole Plain, Meadfoot Beach and Anstey’s Cove car parks; charges and time limits may apply
• Toilets: seasonal facilities at Meadfoot Beach and Anstey’s Cove (check opening times)
• Tackle/bait: several shops in Torquay and Babbacombe for fresh rag/lug and frozen baits
• Food/drink: cafés and pubs in Meadfoot and Wellswood; none at the mark itself
• Lighting: none; phone signal is often good atop the cliffs but can be patchy down in the quarry

Little adjustments make a big difference on this rugged, kelpy venue. Think stealth, abrasion resistance and safe fish-handling.

• Leader is king: use long, thick leaders (30–40 lb for lures; 60–80 lb for bottom rigs) to resist limestone and barnacles
• Rotten-bottom setup: 8–12 lb mono weak-link to your lead saves rigs and reduces seabed litter
• For wrasse, keep baits moving slowly over kelp tongues; ragworm, prawn and peeler outfish hard baits most days
• Pollack hold tight to edges—count lures down and retrieve just above weed; change angles and depths until you find fish
• Chum lightly with mashed mackerel to keep gars and scad in the swim; don’t overdo it in strong tide
• A drop-net is invaluable for bass and conger from higher perches; avoid gaffs
• In summer, carry an egi rod—squid often show for 30–60 minute windows around dusk in clear, calm spells
• Practice catch-and-release for larger wrasse; they’re slow-growing and key to the ecology of kelp reefs

There is no general ban on angling here, but you must follow national and local rules. Regulations can change—always check the latest guidance before you go.

• Marine area: this coastline borders the Torbay Marine Conservation Zone; recreational rod-and-line angling is permitted, but some activities (e.g., certain types of commercial gear, damaging habitat) are restricted—check current MCZ guidance and respect any local notices
• Bass (as last published for 2024): minimum size 42 cm; recreational daily bag limit 2 fish per angler from 1 March to 30 November; catch-and-release only outside those dates—verify current-year rules before retaining any bass
• Minimum sizes/bag limits: adhere to Devon & Severn IFCA and national MLS rules for species like wrasse (often no MLS but recommended C&R), bream, pollack, mackerel, etc.; check current IFCA bylaws
• Pots/nets: setting pots or fixed nets requires appropriate permissions/permits; rod-and-line angling with handlines is generally permitted
• Local bylaws/signage: obey any on-site signs regarding temporary cliff access, bird nesting restrictions or no-fire/no-camping rules along the headland
• Conservation: do not collect bait from seagrass or sensitive habitats; avoid disturbing nesting birds and seals; take all litter and spent line home