Newberry Beach Fishing

Summary

Overview Newberry Beach sits on the eastern side of Combe Martin in North Devon, a compact, stony cove backed by low cliffs and weed-fringed rock ledges. It is a tidy little mark that rewards mobile, light tactics for wrasse, pollack, bass and summer mackerel, with sheltered options when larger surf beaches are blown out. Expect a classic Bristol Channel tidal range, clean-to-mixed ground, and productive dusk or after-dark sessions when holiday crowds thin out.

Location and Access

Getting there Set at the eastern end of Combe Martin village, access is straightforward with short walks and pay-and-display parking nearby. The terrain is pebbly beach with interspersed rock platforms and kelpy gullies.

• Parking in village car parks close to the beach and on or near Newberry Road; signposted pay-and-display. Arrive early in summer.
• A level promenade leads to the main beach, then a short stroll across shingle to the Newberry side. Rock ledges require careful footing.
• Access is easy to moderate. The final few yards onto weeded rock can be slippery, especially after rain or on big tides.
• Public rights of way run along the seafront. Do not climb fenced cliff paths or cross private land to short-cut to headlands.

Seasons

What you can catch Species change with the seasons, with summer diversity and winter convenience species in coloured water.

• Spring: School and early proper bass, pollack off the rocks, returning ballan wrasse, dogfish, occasional strap conger after dark.
• Summer: Ballan and corkwing wrasse, pollack, mackerel and scad at dusk, garfish in clear water, thick-lipped mullet around the stream outflow and calm corners, occasional smoothhound on crab, bull huss at night.
• Autumn: Peak bass, scad and late mackerel, mullet until first frosts, increasing dogfish and huss, strap conger on bigger baits.
• Winter: Whiting, pouting, dogfish, poor cod, strap conger. An odd codling is possible in a proper northerly blow but is uncommon now.

Methods

Best approaches This mark favours light, accurate fishing around features and quick moves to find fish. Scale up after dark for huss or a bonus bass.

• General scratching: Two-hook flapper or loop rigs size 2 to 4 with ragworm, lugworm, small squid or mackerel strip to pick up wrasse, pouting, poor cod and opportunist bass.
• Bass: Free-running paternoster or pulley with peeler crab, sandeel or worm baits; or lure fish with surface walkers, shallow divers and 3 to 5 inch paddle tails along the flooding edge and around kelp margins.
• Wrasse: Float-fish rag or hardback crab tight to rock faces; or weedless soft plastics on 10 to 20 g weedless heads. Use abrasion-resistant leaders 20 to 30 lb.
• Pollack: Dawn and dusk with metals or soft plastics retrieved just sub-surface along drop-offs and ledges.
• Mackerel and scad: Small metals, casting jigs or single-hook sabiki style rigs at high water into the deeper pockets; fish last light into dark for scad.
• Mullet: Groundbait with breadcrumb and a little mashed bread. Small size 8 to 10 hooks, light fluorocarbon, bread flake or tiny harbour rag. Keep low and quiet.

Tides and Conditions

When it fishes best Newberry Beach is governed by the huge Bristol Channel range. Plan around tide heights, water clarity and wind direction.

• Tide state: Two hours up to high and the first hour or two down are reliable. Springs push bait into the corners but increase weed and flow; neaps give clearer water for lures and mullet.
• Time of day: Dawn, dusk and into dark are prime for bass, pollack, scad, huss and conger. Daytime suits wrasse and mullet in clear spells.
• Wind and swell: Light west or southwest winds are kind here. Strong northerly or easterly winds drive swell straight in and colour the water.
• Water clarity: Lures work best 24 to 48 hours after a blow once the colour drops. Bait fishing will still score in murk, especially after dark.
• Seasonality: May to October is the most varied; winter is convenient for a few bites on smaller baits in coloured water.

Safety

Stay safe This is a generally friendly mark, but weeded rock, cliff edges and a surging flood demand care.

• Wear grippy boots and consider studs or cleats on kelpy rock. Take a headtorch and spare light if fishing into dark.
• Bristol Channel range is large. Avoid being cut off around the eastern rocks and always keep an escape route.
• Do not set up under crumbly cliff faces. Falling debris is a risk after heavy rain or frost.
• Swimmers, paddlecraft and tourist boat traffic increase in summer. Give wide berth to marked bathing zones and cast only when clear.
• A compact inflatable lifejacket is sensible on rock ledges. Fish with a friend where possible and tell someone your plan.
• Mobility: The beach approach is relatively gentle, but the final rocky ground is not wheelchair-friendly.

Facilities

What is nearby Combe Martin is a holiday village with decent amenities within a short walk of the beach.

• Toilets by the main beach area in season; opening hours can be seasonal.
• Cafes, pubs and takeaways along the seafront and high street. The village shop covers snacks and drinks.
• Bait and tackle: Dedicated sea tackle shops are in Ilfracombe and Barnstaple; check hours outside peak season. Some garages sell frozen bait.
• Parking: Multiple pay-and-display options in the village; height barriers may apply to some car parks.
• Mobile signal: Generally fair on the promenade and village side, patchy directly under the cliffs at low water.
• Waste: Use provided bins or pack out all litter and line. Do not discard bait wrappers or line among rocks.

Tips

Insider pointers A few small tweaks noticeably improve results at this compact, pressured venue.

• Travel light and hop between ledges. A couple of well-placed casts per spot is better than camping in one hole.
• Crab baits pick out better wrasse and bass and deter whiting and dogfish. Hardbacks scored around kelp are excellent in summer.
• Long snoods and minimal bling help when the water clears. Fluorocarbon 15 to 20 lb for abrasion but keep presentations simple.
• For mullet, pre-bait with breadcrumb for 20 minutes and fish tiny hooks. Keep rods low and wear drab clothing.
• Mackerel can push very close at last light on a flooding tide. Use single-hook presentations to unhook quickly among holidaymakers.
• After dark, step up to 4 to 5 ft of 60 lb rubbing leader over rough ground for huss and conger to avoid cut-offs.

Regulations

Rules and byelaws There is no general ban on angling at Newberry Beach, but do observe local signage and common-sense seasonal restrictions near bathing zones.

• Sea angling licence: Not required for rod-and-line sea fishing in England. No night-fishing curfew is posted at this mark at time of writing.
• Bass rules: Recreational daily bag limit typically 2 fish per angler at 42 cm minimum size during an open season, with catch and release outside it. These dates can change annually; check MMO and IFCA updates before retaining bass.
• Minimum sizes: Observe national MLS where applicable for species you intend to keep. When in doubt, release fish.
• Tope: Protected under the Tope Order 2008 for recreational boat anglers; best practice is catch and release for all tope from shore as well.
• IFCA area: This shoreline falls within the Devon and Severn IFCA district. Local byelaws may cover bait collection, shellfish MLS and nursery protections. Check the IFCA website for current rules.
• Bathing zones and access: In peak season, councils sometimes mark swimming areas where fishing is discouraged or time-limited. Always respect on-site notices and keep clear of lifeguarded flags.
• Conservation: Parts of the North Devon coast sit within marine conservation designations that still allow shore angling. Do not damage reef or kelp habitat and avoid excessive bait collection from rockpools.