Mouthmill Beach Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Mouthmill Beach Fishing Map

Remote boulder-and-pebble beach on the Hartland Heritage Coast beneath Blackchurch Rock. Rough, kelpy ground with gullies and occasional sand patches; fishes best on a flooding tide into dusk through late spring to autumn. Access is via a steep woodland path from the Brownsham National Trust car park (about 20–30 minutes) and the shore is uneven, with slippery boulders and exposure to Atlantic swell. Target wrasse and pollack tight to kelp and rock ledges; summer brings mackerel, scad and garfish on calm evenings. After dark, bigger fish and squid baits can find bull huss and conger. Beware swell, loose boulders and potential cut-off near Blackchurch Rock around higher tides; avoid heavy seas and big spring highs.

Ratings

⭐ 6.2/10 Overall
Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 4/10
Accessibility 3/10

Fish You Can Catch at Mouthmill Beach

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Work surface/sub-surface lures through white water around Blackchurch Rock on a flooding tide at dawn/dusk; also fish peeler crab among boulders after a blow.
🐟 Pollack 8/10
🎯 Tip: Cast soft plastics or metals along kelp-lined gullies off the rocks; evenings on the flood; float-fished sandeel works when there’s swell.
🐟 Bull Huss 7/10
🎯 Tip: Big mackerel or squid baits at dusk into night, dropped into deeper rough ground; neaps or early flood; use abrasion-resistant traces.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 7/10
🎯 Tip: Hardback/peeler crab or ragworm tight to kelp and rock crevices; summer to early autumn, daytime; strong gear and lift fish clear to avoid snags.
🐟 Pouting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Size 2-4 hooks with mackerel/squid baits into rough ground at night; short casts; expect quick bites over the flood.
🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: Small fish or squid strips on short casts to sand patches between boulders; best 2 hours either side of high water after dark.
🐟 Mackerel 6/10
🎯 Tip: Summer shoals on clear, calm evenings; cast feathers or 20-40g metals from the rockier points; flooding tide and dusk best.
🐟 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 5/10
🎯 Tip: Small sabikis or a float-fished sliver of mackerel midwater at dusk into darkness; flood to high water with steady tide run.
🐟 Corkwing Wrasse 5/10
🎯 Tip: Ragworm or prawn on small hooks lowered beside weed-covered rocks; calm summer days on the mid-flood; keep tackle light.
🐟 Tompot Blenny 4/10
🎯 Tip: Tiny hooks baited with rag or prawn dropped into holes and under ledges at low to mid-flood; keep line tight for shy bites.
🐟 Conger Eel 4/10
🎯 Tip: Whole mackerel or large squid baits at night into kelp gullies; slack to first of the flood; strong mono traces to combat abrasion.
🐟 Garfish 4/10
🎯 Tip: Float-fish thin mackerel strips shallow over clear water on a calm flood tide in late summer/autumn; keep baits moving.

Mouthmill Beach Fishing

Summary

Mouthmill Beach (often written Mouth Mill) sits between Hartland Point and Clovelly on North Devon’s wild Heritage Coast. Backed by high cliffs and home to the dramatic Blackchurch Rock arch, it’s a remote, rough-ground mark suited to anglers who like rugged terrain and mixed-species fishing. Expect bass in a tumble of cobbles and kelp, wrasse in the gullies, and nocturnal predators on a big bait after dark.

Location and Access

Reaching Mouthmill involves a scenic woodland descent and a clamber over cobbles, so plan light and give yourself time. The most direct access is from the National Trust’s Brownsham car park, with a steep return walk that feels longer on the way back.

Seasons

This is classic North Devon mixed ground with seasonal variety. Summer brings lure sport and wrasse fishing; autumn into winter sees more nocturnal bottom feeders.

Methods

Rough ground tactics rule here: fish strong, use weak links, and pick your spots. Lures cover ground efficiently in daylight; bait rules at night and in coloured water.

Tides and Conditions

The Bristol Channel’s range and Atlantic swells shape this venue. Work the windows: coloured water with a manageable swell for bass, clearer neaps for wrasse and lure fishing.

Safety

This is a serious rough-ground mark beneath high cliffs. Treat it like a remote rock mark: prepare, check tides, and have an exit plan.

Facilities

Mouthmill is a wild spot with no facilities on the beach. Plan as if you’re on a remote hike.

Tips

A few local quirks make a difference on this coast. Fish smart around the kelp, and you’ll lose less gear and land more fish.

Regulations

Mouthmill sits on National Trust coastline within protected landscape designations. Shore fishing is generally allowed, but you must follow national and local fisheries rules and any on-site signage.