Mattiscombe Sands Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Mattiscombe Sands Fishing Map

A secluded east-facing sand-and-shingle cove beneath Start Point with kelp-fringed rocks at both ends and clean sand tongues in the middle. The mixed ground gives reliable wrasse and pollack from the rocky flanks, with mackerel, scad and garfish passing in summer; bass show when there’s some surf or colour, and conger lurk in the gullies after dark. Light lures and float gear work well in clear, settled spells; bait fishing to the sandy patches picks up gurnards, whiting and the odd plaice. Best from the flood into high water, especially dawn and dusk in calm or light westerlies (easterlies can make it rough and weedy). Access is from the Start Point car park via a steep coast-path descent of about 10–20 minutes; no facilities on the beach. Watch for swell, slippery weeded rocks, and a strong tidal pull near the point—avoid being cut off around the rocky ends at higher stages of tide.

Ratings

⭐ 7/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 5/10
Accessibility 5/10

Fish You Can Catch at Mattiscombe Sands

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Work the surf and gullies on a flooding tide at dawn/dusk. Shallow divers or soft plastics; crab or sandeel baits also score. Keep mobile along the beach.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 8/10
🎯 Tip: Fish tight to boulders/kelp on the flood, summer–autumn. Crab, prawn or rag; weedless soft plastics. Use strong tackle to pull fish from snags.
🐟 Pollack 7/10
🎯 Tip: Evening into dark off rocky points; flood to high. Cast metals/soft plastics or float sandeel parallel to the rocks and retrieve steadily.
🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 7/10
🎯 Tip: Night over sand patches at mid–high. Small fish or squid baits on simple paternoster. Keep leads just beyond the rough to cut losses.
🐟 Mackerel 7/10
🎯 Tip: Summer to early autumn in clear water; metals/feathers or float with mackerel strip. Best on a rising evening tide.
🐟 Pouting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Regular after dark on rough-to-sand edges. Small strips of mackerel/squid on size 2–4 hooks; keep baits just off bottom to avoid snags.
🐟 Smoothhound 6/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–autumn over clean/mixed patches. Peeler or hard crab on pulley rig. Best on a flooding evening tide with a light surf.
🐟 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 6/10
🎯 Tip: Late summer nights in calm, clear water. Small metals or sabikis with a glow bead, slow midwater retrieve from the rocks.
🐟 Conger Eel 6/10
🎯 Tip: After dark into kelp gullies; neap tides help. Large fish/squid baits on heavy mono trace. Hit bites and keep pressure to steer from snags.
🐟 Whiting 5/10
🎯 Tip: Autumn–winter nights. Small fish/sandeel or worm baits at range onto sand on a building tide.
🐟 Black Bream 5/10
🎯 Tip: Calm, clear late summer. Light rigs and small squid/fish strips over clean patches near reef; short casting on the flood.
🐟 Thornback Ray 4/10
🎯 Tip: Occasional on sand patches; squid/bluey cocktails at dusk on the flood. Long snoods and grip leads; avoid the rough ground.

Mattiscombe Sands Fishing

Summary

Mattiscombe Sands sits just west of Start Point in the South Hams, Devon, a wild, steep-backed cove of sand, shingle and boulders with clear water and dramatic scenery. It’s a cracking, low-pressure mark for surf-fed bass, wrasse off the rocks, and summer lure fishing when the bay turns gin-clear.

Location and Access

Access is via the Start Point headland, with a lovely but demanding walk that keeps crowds light and fishing pressure down. Expect uneven paths, steps and a decent climb back to the car.

Seasons

This cove offers a blend of clean and mixed ground species, with peaks through late spring to autumn and night bites in winter. Expect clear-water summer fishing and bass after onshore blows.

Methods

Mixed-ground tactics shine here: short-range baiting into gutters for bass, close-quarters wrasse work on the rocks, and lures when the water clears. Carry both a bait rod and a lure rod if you can.

Tides and Conditions

Tide and water colour dictate the day. Bass love a lively sea; lure fishing improves with clarity and low light.

Safety

This is a remote, steep-access beach with no lifeguard cover. Treat swell and shore-dump with respect and travel light.

Facilities

There are no facilities on the beach itself, which helps keep it quiet but means you must be self-sufficient. Nearby villages fill the gaps.

Tips

Little touches make a big difference here—read the water, travel light, and adapt to clarity.

Regulations

Angling is generally permitted here; there is no specific ban on fishing from Mattiscombe Sands. Regulations can change—always check official sources before you go.