Mount Batten Breakwater Fishing

Summary

Mount Batten Breakwater sits on the eastern side of Plymouth Sound, opposite the Barbican, and offers easy, urban-access sea fishing with real depth close in. The structure fishes year‑round, with summer surface action for mackerel and garfish and productive night fishing for conger, pout and whiting in the cooler months.

Location and Access

Set on the Mount Batten peninsula, the breakwater is reached via Plymstock and clearly signed for Mount Batten and the watersports centre. It’s one of Plymouth’s most convenient marks with pay‑and‑display parking and only a short, level walk to the fishing.

• Drive to Mount Batten via Plymstock; follow signs for Mount Batten/Watersports Centre and Plymouth Yacht Haven.
• Pay-and-display parking by the ferry slip and near the centre (use PL9 9SJ for sat nav). Spaces can fill on fair-weather weekends and summer evenings.
• The walk is short (2–5 minutes) on firm surfaces; a trolley is handy. The top of the breakwater is level but expect some uneven slabs and low walls.
• Do not fish from the ferry pontoon, marina pontoons, or any clearly signed no‑fishing areas. Keep clear of the ferry slip and dive entry points.

Seasons

This mark produces a good spread of species thanks to depth, flow, and hard structure. Expect rough‑ground residents tight to the wall and pelagics when the bait is in.

• Spring (Mar–May): school bass, pollack, ballan and corkwing wrasse, early garfish; odd plaice or dabs on cleaner patches; increasing mullet along the walls.
• Summer (Jun–Aug): mackerel, garfish, scad (horse mackerel) after dark, bass, pollack, wrasse, smelt; mullet present most tides.
• Autumn (Sep–Nov): lingering mackerel/scad, bass, pollack; conger and pout ramp up at night; first whiting push in October/November.
• Winter (Dec–Feb): whiting, pout, poor cod, dogfish, conger; odd codling in a blow; flounder more likely inside the Cattewater rather than the exposed face.

Methods

Mixed tactics work well here—cover midwater for summer shoals and pin baits tight to the structure for resident predators. A drop net is strongly advised due to height at mid–high water.

• Spinning/lures: 20–40 g metal jigs, slim spoons and casting jigs for mackerel and scad; small paddletails/soft plastics (7–12 cm) worked along the wall for pollack and bass.
• Float fishing: ragworm or strips of mackerel/sandeel set 8–15 ft for garfish and pollack; bread flake for mullet in calm, clear water.
• Bottom fishing: 2‑hook flapper (size 2–1/0) with 3–5 oz leads for whiting, pout and bits; pulley/pennel (3/0–5/0) with big mackerel/squid baits for conger or a night‑time bass.
• LRF: 1–5 g jigheads with isome or micro-worms for blennies, gobies, mini-wrasse, smelt, and surprise pollack.
• Baits: ragworm, peeler/crab (spring bass/wrasse), sandeel, mackerel and squid. For scad at night, add small luminous beads or a glow stick above the trace.
• Practical: use tough abrasion‑resistant leaders (40–60 lb) near the wall; keep rigs short to reduce snagging; carry a drop net or long‑handled net for landing.

Tides and Conditions

Plymouth Sound gives shelter from many wind directions, but tide still runs along the face. Time your session to the flood and into dusk for best results.

• Tide: the last half of the flood into high water and first of the ebb are reliable; neaps give easier presentation for mackerel/gar; springs suit conger and night species but increase drag.
• Light: dawn and dusk are prime for bass, pollack and pelagics; full darkness brings out conger, pout and whiting.
• Sea state: clear, settled water for mackerel/gar/mullet; a bit of colour after a blow helps whiting and the occasional codling.
• Wind: generally fishable in many winds; strong southerlies/south-westerlies can send swell over the wall—avoid in severe conditions.
• Positioning: the outer third and the tip offer extra depth and flow; if the ebb sweeps your gear under the wall, step back along the structure and shorten traces.

Safety

This is a busy, working waterfront with ferries, marina traffic and divers. Fish sensibly, keep mobile, and don’t block access points.

• Height: the wall can be 3–6 m above the water—use a drop net; don’t attempt risky hand‑lining.
• Surfaces: expect algae and spray—grippy footwear is essential; avoid the lower ledges in swell.
• Wash and traffic: big boat wash and the Mount Batten–Barbican ferry pass close; stop casting and lower rods when traffic is approaching.
• Weather: in strong onshore blows, overtopping waves are possible—step well back or don’t fish.
• Access: generally level to the mark; reasonable for mobile anglers. Some edges lack railings—constant supervision for children.
• Restrictions: no fishing from ferry or marina pontoons; keep clear of dive training areas. Respect any local signage.
• Safety gear: a self‑inflating lifejacket, headtorch at night, and a throw line are smart additions.

Facilities

Urban comfort is a big plus here, with parking, toilets and food options within minutes of the fishing.

• Parking: pay‑and‑display by the slip/centre; check tariff hours.
• Toilets: public toilets near the car park/centre (usually daytime hours; seasonal variations possible).
• Food/drink: cafés/bars on the Mount Batten side and around the marina; more options via the ferry to the Barbican.
• Tackle/bait: several tackle shops within a 10–15 minute drive in Plymouth/Plymstock; many stock fresh/frozen bait.
• Other: good mobile signal; lighting along parts of the waterfront but bring a headtorch for the breakwater itself.

Tips

Small tweaks make a big difference at this mark—treat it like a harbour wall and a rough‑ground ledge rolled into one.

• Carry a drop net; it saves fish and gear, especially with scad and pollack on light lines.
• For scad after dark, fish sabikis kept short (2–3 hooks) with a 1–2 oz metal as a casting weight; slow lifts near the wall are deadly.
• Bass often cruise the edges—free‑line a large prawn or fish a weightless soft plastic tight to the face at dawn.
• Wrasse love crab; tuck baits into nooks and be ready to bully them away from the stones.
• If mackerel are finicky, swap to small 10–20 g metals and speed up the retrieve; in bright sun, go slim and silver.
• Seals patrol the Sound; keep your catch in a lidded bucket or release promptly to avoid unwanted attention.
• Weekends get busy—arrive early evening to secure a spot and avoid ferry peak times for less tangles.

Regulations

Know the rules before you cast. Regulations can change, so always check the latest from the Devon & Severn IFCA and national guidance before your trip.

• Access: shore angling is generally permitted along the breakwater, but no fishing on the ferry or marina pontoons and avoid clearly signed areas (e.g., dive access points). Obey any on‑site instructions from staff or harbour authorities.
• Bass (recreational, ICES 7d–h): as of 2024, a minimum size of 42 cm and a daily bag limit of 2 fish per angler apply during the open season (typically 1 March–30 November). Outside that period it is catch‑and‑release only. Verify current dates before fishing.
• Minimum sizes/bag limits: national and IFCA minimum conservation reference sizes apply to many species (e.g., bass, wrasse, rays, flatfish). Check current D&S IFCA size/bag rules and return undersized fish immediately.
• Shellfish/crustacea: local bylaws protect undersized and berried crabs/lobsters; additional restrictions may apply to bait collection in sensitive habitats. Hand‑gather legally and avoid seagrass.
• Protected areas: Plymouth Sound and Estuaries is a designated marine protected area; recreational angling is allowed, but extra protections exist in places (e.g., seagrass). Follow any local restrictions and anchoring/no‑take notices.
• Good practice: use barbless or crushed‑barb hooks for catch‑and‑release species like mullet and wrasse; keep the area litter‑free and don’t fish across navigational channels or when vessels are manoeuvring.