Morte Point Fishing

Last updated: 1 month ago

Morte Point Fishing Map

Morte Point is a rugged rocky headland near Mortehoe with steep slate ledges, deep gullies and a powerful tide race around the Morte Stone. It offers deep water within casting range and prolific rough-ground habitat for wrasse and pollack, with summer pelagics moving through the rips. It is exposed to Atlantic swell and wind; long casts aren’t essential as most fish hold tight to structure. Access is via the South West Coast Path from Mortehoe (National Trust parking), with some uneven, steep sections and scrambling to reach safer ledges. Best fished on neap to moderate tides, light swell, and at dawn/dusk. Swell and surges can be dangerous: pick secure platforms, avoid heavy seas, and expect snaggy ground.

Ratings

⭐ 6.7/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 3/10
Accessibility 4/10

Fish You Can Catch at Morte Point

🐟 Pollack 9/10
🎯 Tip: Work metals or soft sandeels along kelp edges at dawn/dusk on the flood; keep lures deep with 20–40g heads. Best in a light swell.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 8/10
🎯 Tip: Float or ledger hardback crab/prawn tight to rough ground on the flood; daylight, late spring–autumn. Use strong gear and rotten-bottom leads.
🐟 Bass 7/10
🎯 Tip: Target white water with shallow plugs or weedless soft plastics at first light on a flooding tide; big fish baits after dark in surfy conditions.
🐟 Bull Huss 7/10
🎯 Tip: Night sessions into kelpy gullies; big mackerel/squid baits on pulley pennel, 50–80lb trace. First half of the flood is productive; use rotten-bottoms.
🐟 Mackerel 7/10
🎯 Tip: Summer shoals on clearer water; spin small metals/feathers through mid–late flood, evenings best. Keep gear mobile to find fish.
🐟 Pouting 6/10
🎯 Tip: After dark over rough ground; small fish baits or worms on 2-hook flappers, fish mid-water to near-bottom on the flood.
🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: Abundant after dark; small fish or squid strips on simple ledger into sand patches between rocks, any state of tide.
🐟 Corkwing Wrasse 6/10
🎯 Tip: Floatfish ragworm or small crab tight to weeded ledges on the flood in summer; small hooks, shallow set.
🐟 Conger Eel 6/10
🎯 Tip: Night in kelpy holes; large fish baits on 100lb traces and strong rods. Best around slack into first of the flood; expect heavy snags.
🐟 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 5/10
🎯 Tip: Late-summer nights; small metals or sabikis retrieved slowly mid-water on the flood. A headlamp glow can help draw them in.
🐟 Three-bearded Rockling 4/10
🎯 Tip: Winter nights; small worm or fish baits dropped into gullies at low to mid tide. Short casts, keep baits static.
🐟 Garfish 4/10
🎯 Tip: Calm, clear summer evenings; float-fish mackerel strip or small spinners near the surface over the flood.

Morte Point Fishing

Summary

Morte Point is a rugged National Trust headland between Mortehoe and Woolacombe on North Devon’s Atlantic coast. Sheer rock ledges, deep kelp-filled gullies and fierce tidal run-offs make it a classic but challenging shore mark. It rewards careful, experienced anglers with quality pollack, wrasse, bass and night-time huss and conger.

Location and Access

Set on the South West Coast Path west of Mortehoe, the point is reached on foot only and demands sensible footwear and fitness. Expect uneven paths, steep grassy slopes and rocky scrambles to reach any fishable ledge. Park in Mortehoe village and walk out along the signed coast path to the point. Allow extra time in summer when paths are busy and after rain when turf is slippery.

  • Parking: Pay-and-display car parks in Mortehoe village (National Trust/Parish options); arrive early in summer/holidays
  • Walk-in: 15–30 minutes to the point via the South West Coast Path; longer if you explore ledges on the north or west sides
  • Terrain: Exposed rock platforms, sloping grass, slatey steps and kelp-covered boulders; hands-free scrambles in places
  • Access notes: Keep to waymarked paths; do not cut new desire-lines across fragile slopes; avoid livestock fields if signed
  • Night access: Feasible for experienced teams only; bring a spare headlamp and mark your exit route in daylight

Seasons

This headland fishes differently by season and state of sea, with resident kelp species and migratory summer visitors. Night sessions bring out the predators.

  • Spring (Mar–May): Pollack, ballan/corkwing wrasse, bass on calmer days, garfish later in spring
  • Summer (Jun–Aug): Pollack, wrasse, mackerel, scad (horse mackerel) after dark, bass in a push of tide or a light surf, occasional triggerfish in settled, clear water
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov): Peak pollack, dependable wrasse until the first big blows, bass in rougher spells, huss and conger improving at night; mackerel/scad tapering off
  • Winter (Dec–Feb): Huss, conger, pout and rockling after dark in calmer windows; whiting on some nights; the odd codling in a proper northerly blow (occasional)
  • Ever-present: Shore crabs, spider crabs and dense kelp—expect tackle losses and use rotten-bottoms

Methods

Ledge choice dictates the approach: lure fishing excels in clear, settled seas; bottom fishing comes into its own at dusk and after dark. Always rig for kelp and abrasion.

  • Lures (pollack/bass/gar): 20–40 g metals, slim diving minnows, sandeels and 4–6 inch soft plastics on 10–30 g weedless heads; work the flood along tide seams and over gullies
  • Float fishing: 10–15 ft sliders over 12–25 ft for pollack/gar; baits include sandeel strips, mackerel belly or rag; set to drift past kelp edges
  • Bottom fishing (huss/conger/bass): 4–5 oz leads, pulley/pulley dropper with 40–80 lb mono rubbing leaders; 4/0–6/0 strong patterns with squid, mackerel or launce
  • Wrasse tactics: Hard-back crab, prawn or rag on simple running ledgers or weedless soft plastics; consider catch-and-release for large wrasse
  • Hardware: 9–10 ft lure rods (15–40 g) or 12–13 ft rock rods for bottom gear; 20–30 lb braid with 40–60 lb leader; always use a rotten-bottom link
  • Retrieval/landing: No easy gaff/netting points—fish heavy, keep fish up in the water, and be prepared to release at the waterline

Tides and Conditions

Tide races and swell define what’s fishable. Neaps and modest seas open more ledges; big Atlantic swells shut them down.

  • Best tide states: Flood to first hour of ebb for most species; neaps or mid-tides are more manageable around the point
  • Sea state: Clear to lightly coloured water for lures; a pushing but manageable swell for bass; avoid big westerly swells
  • Wind: Light E–N winds give shelter and clarity; strong W–SW winds quickly make it dangerous
  • Time of day: Dawn/dusk are standout for bass/pollack; after dark for huss, conger, pout and scad
  • Seasonal notes: Summer clarity brings excellent lure fishing; autumn storms can switch on bass but limit safe access

Safety

This is an exposed, hazardous rock mark with a history of rogue waves and cut-offs. It is unsuitable for anyone with limited mobility.

  • General hazards: Sudden swells, slippery weeded rock, steep grass, loose edges and strong tidal streams
  • Personal safety: Wear a modern auto-inflating lifejacket, cleated/rock boots and carry a charged phone and headtorch; fish with a partner
  • Positioning: Stay well back from edges; never turn your back on the sea; pre-plan escape routes at rising tide
  • Conditions to avoid: Large long-period westerly swells, spring highs with surf, heavy rain preceding a session (greasy turf)
  • Wildlife and access: Seals haul out below—keep distance, don’t feed, and retrieve hooked fish quickly to avoid seal takes
  • Path etiquette: Stick to marked paths; respect seasonal notices from the National Trust (livestock/bird-nesting areas)
  • Emergency: Know the nearest access point back to the main path; give a shore contact your plan and return time

Facilities

Facilities are centred on Mortehoe and nearby Woolacombe; there is nothing on the headland itself. Plan to be self-sufficient on the rocks.

  • Toilets: Public conveniences in Mortehoe (seasonal opening times)
  • Food and drink: Pubs, cafés and shops in Mortehoe village and Woolacombe
  • Tackle and bait: Tackle shops in Ilfracombe and Braunton; limited seasonal bait in Woolacombe—pre-order in peak times
  • Parking: Pay-and-display in Mortehoe; National Trust members may have concessions at NT car parks where available
  • Mobile signal: Variable—generally fair on the tops, patchy down in gullies
  • Lighting/water: None on site; bring headtorch, water, and warm layers

Tips

Small adjustments make a big difference at Morte Point. Think abrasion resistance, stealth, and smart timing.

  • Use weedless soft plastics and a fluorocarbon leader for pollack/bass to glide through kelp
  • Carry plenty of leads and pre-tied rotten-bottoms; losses are part of the game
  • Work lures along tide seams off the point as the flood starts—pollack often sit just outside the boil
  • Bass often show on the back of a small swell over the flooding hour at first light
  • If seals are active, move spots or switch to lures; static baits are quickly poached
  • Knee pads and gloves help on the scrambles; a short rope hand-line can aid descent but never tie yourself to the rock
  • Night fishing is for old hands only—stick to ledges you’ve recce’d in daylight
  • After big blows, give it 24–48 hours for clarity to return before lure work

Regulations

The headland is National Trust land with public access on foot; sea angling from the shore is generally permitted. Fisheries rules are set nationally and by the local IFCA—always check the latest before you go.

  • Authority: This area falls within the Devon & Severn IFCA district; national MMO/DEFRA rules also apply
  • European sea bass: Recreational measures change periodically—at the time of writing (2024), a 42 cm minimum size and a limited open season/bag limit applied; check current MMO notices for dates and daily limits
  • Minimum sizes: UK Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes apply (e.g., do not retain undersized bass, cod, etc.); verify the current list for the Bristol Channel/Celtic Sea areas
  • Shellfish: It is illegal to retain berried lobsters/crabs or undersized shellfish; respect local pot lines and markers
  • Protected areas/wildlife: Keep to paths and obey any temporary National Trust or wildlife notices (livestock, nesting birds, seal disturbance)
  • General conduct: No fires or camping on the headland; take all litter and line home; avoid blocking paths with rods or bags