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Devon

Mount Batten Breakwater

7.7 · Breakwater · Devon

A stone breakwater projecting from Mount Batten into the Cattewater, offering mixed rough/clean ground with 4–12 m of water depending on tide. It fishes well year-round with peak summer sport for wrasse, mackerel and scad, and productive winter nights for pouting and whiting. Excellent for LRF down the wall. Best on the flood or first of the ebb when tide lines form off the tip. Access is easy from the Mount Batten car park with a short walk; take care on weed-slick stones and keep clear of ferry landings and moorings.

Should you fish Mount Batten Breakwater?

57 Fair

Today · Best window

Best window: 03:00-06:00 around the falling tide

Most likely species: Pouting and Scad (Horse Mackerel)

Fair conditions. Best around 03:00-06:00 around the falling tide. Good chance of Pouting and Scad (Horse Mackerel).

NW 3 mph Rain 0% High tide 11:29

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Mount Batten Breakwater — 7-day forecast

Scores and best windows are weighted for .

Met Office Met Office · Open-Meteo

Where the data comes from. Weather and sea-state readings come from the Met Office and Open-Meteo forecast models, refreshed several times a day. High and low water are taken from tide-station predictions for this stretch of coast.

How the score works. Each window is scored 0–100 from the signals that most reliably move fish inshore: tide movement (a running tide carries food, so the last of the flood and first of the ebb are usually the prime spells), wind speed and direction (onshore wind stirs food into the surf — up to the point it makes fishing hard), sea state (a little wave and swell movement helps, heavy swell hurts), and weather — rain, temperature and light. Behind the headline number we score bite opportunity and comfort separately, and run a separate safety check on wind and swell. The size of the tide counts too: spring tides move more water than neaps, so the tidal range for this stretch of coast is weighed alongside the tide's direction, your target species and this mark — and unusually big springs strengthen the safety check, because the water rises faster and covers more ground.

Your target species counts. Pick a species below and the score also weights what we know about it — its season, preferred sea temperature, tide stage and sea state, and whether it feeds by day or night.

The rating is guidance, not a guarantee — conditions change fast on the coast, so always judge the sea in front of you before you fish.

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· windows & tide

Spring vs neap tides. Spring tides have a larger difference between high and low water, so more water moves on each tide — usually stronger flow that stirs up food and gets fish feeding. Neap tides have a smaller range and generally gentler movement. The range here is compared with what is normal for this stretch of coast, and the cycle swings between springs and neaps roughly every week, following the moon.

Big spring tides: the water rises faster and covers more ground than usual — double-check access routes and cut-off points before you fish.

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Mount Batten Breakwater is a versatile Plymouth breakwater where the outer third and tip are the key decision points. It offers depth close in, mixed rough and cleaner patches, and fishes across the year: summer pelagics and wrasse by day, then pout, whiting, dogfish and conger after dark. The most reliable plan is to time the last half of the flood into high water, then adapt quickly if the first ebb starts dragging gear under the wall.

  • Know when to fish the outer third and tip for tide-line action.
  • Time the flood so you are not fighting the wall on the ebb.
  • Switch between metals, floats, LRF and bait without guessing.
  • Target wrasse tight to the stones and whiting over cleaner patches.
  • Avoid the conditions that make the breakwater uncomfortable or unsafe.

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Plymouth 1.2 mi Heybrook Bay 2.8 mi Torpoint 3.2 mi Millbrook 3.4 mi Cawsand and Kingsand 3.5 mi

Explore nearby towns: Plymouth · Heybrook Bay · Torpoint · Millbrook · Cawsand and Kingsand

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Forecast tuning currently supports Bass and Mackerel — more species are on the way.

Overall rating

7.7 /10

Blend of catch potential, access, safety, and overall experience.

Category scores

Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 9/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 6/10
Accessibility 8/10

Mackerel 8/10
Tip: Summer feathering or 20–40g metals from the outer end; best at dawn/dusk on a flooding tide.
Pollack 7/10
Tip: Work soft plastics or small metals tight to the wall and boulders at dusk; weedless helps on the flood.
Pouting 7/10
Tip: Very common after dark; small mackerel or worm strips on size 2–4 hooks, fished down the wall on the flood.
Scad (Horse Mackerel) 7/10
Tip: After dark late summer/autumn; small sabikis or micro metals mid-water. A headlamp over the water helps. Best on the flood.
Ballan Wrasse 7/10
Tip: Float fish crab or rag tight to kelp-covered rocks by day; steady on the flood, use strong gear to beat snags.
Bass 6/10
Tip: Plugs or soft plastics along the outer edge in running tide, especially first light or with a bit of swell. Spring tides help.
Whiting 6/10
Tip: Winter nights over cleaner patches; 2-hook flappers with fish or worm baits. Bites peak on the flood.
Lesser Spotted Dogfish 6/10
Tip: Clean ground near the end; mackerel or squid on a simple ledger. Best after dark on the flood.
Corkwing Wrasse 6/10
Tip: Small hooks with rag or prawn under a float, dropped tight to the rocks by day on a flooding tide.
Conger Eel 6/10
Tip: Night fishing beside boulders; whole squid or mackerel on heavy gear. Last of the flood into slack is productive.
Garfish 5/10
Tip: Late spring–autumn; drift a thin mackerel strip under a float just subsurface along the wall on the flood.
Plaice 4/10
Tip: Target clean patches with long snoods and beads; rag or lug tipped with squid. Spring to early summer on a gentle flood.

Local knowledge

Mount Batten Breakwater fishing guide

Practical access, seasons, methods, tides, safety and facilities for this mark.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.