Peaked Tor Cove Fishing

Summary

Peaked Tor Cove is a small, tucked-away rock and shingle pocket between Meadfoot and Torquay Harbour on the Torbay coastline. Sheltered from many winds and blessed with clear water after settled spells, it’s a classic rough-ground mark for wrasse, pollack and summer pelagics, with night options for scad, conger and autumn squid. It rewards tidy presentation and careful footing as much as local knowledge.

Location and Access

This mark sits beneath Daddyhole Plain on the South West Coast Path, with access by a steep cliff path and steps. It’s close to Torquay, yet feels surprisingly secluded once you drop into the cove.

• Drive via Torquay and follow signs for Meadfoot/Ilsham; park at Daddyhole Plain car park (off Daddyhole Road), or use Meadfoot Beach car parks and walk the coast path westwards.
• Approach on foot along the South West Coast Path; look for the signed path and steep steps down to the cove. Allow 5–10 minutes down, longer back up.
• Terrain is mixed: shingle pocket at lower states, with kelpy rock ledges and gullies either side. Footing is uneven and slippery in places.
• Space is limited at high water; plan your stance on the flanks rather than the back of the cove when the tide is up.

Seasons

Peaked Tor fishes like a classic Torbay rough-ground venue: wrasse and pollack in clear water, summer pelagics in the run, and night-time species when the sun drops.

• Spring (Mar–May):
  • Ballan and corkwing wrasse over kelp
  • Inshore pollack at dawn/dusk
  • Garfish from late spring
  • Early mackerel shoals in May/June
  • Schoolie bass on lures after a blow
• Summer (Jun–Aug):
  • Wrasse in numbers (best on settled, clear days)
  • Pollack tight to the weed beds
  • Mackerel and garfish; scad at dusk into dark
  • Occasional schoolie bass
• Autumn (Sep–Nov):
  • Bass in coloured water after onshore winds
  • Scad at night; mackerel linger in early autumn
  • Conger and pouting after dark
  • Squid in calm, clear evenings (often Sept–Dec)
• Winter (Dec–Feb):
  • Pouting, poor cod, rockling
  • Whiting on some nights
  • Conger from the rough ground

Methods

Think light-and-lively for the day shift and beefier gear after dark. Clear water rewards stealth; rough ground demands abrasion resistance and rotten-bottoms.

• Float fishing:
  • Set floats 2–5 m deep to work just above the kelp for wrasse and pollack.
  • Baits: ragworm, prawn or peeler crab for wrasse; slivers of mackerel or sandeel for gar/mackerel.
  • Hooks size 4 to 1/0, fluorocarbon traces 12–20 lb.
• Lure fishing:
  • Weedless soft plastics (10–20 g) and slim hard minnows for pollack/bass along the kelp line at dawn/dusk.
  • Metals (20–40 g) for mackerel/scad; vary the sink count.
  • Squid: EGI 2.5–3.0 jigs worked slowly in the cove mouth on calm, clear nights.
• Bottom fishing:
  • Pulley or pulley-dropper with a short rotten-bottom link; 40–60 lb leaders for abrasion.
  • Baits: peeler crab, squid, sandeel or mackerel strip; bigger fish baits for conger after dark (4/0–6/0).
  • Cast short-to-medium into gullies and edges rather than blasting long into snags; 3–5 oz leads usually suffice.
• Timing:
  • Daylight: wrasse and pollack under a float or on weedless SPs.
  • Dusk to dark: scad, mackerel, conger and squid; keep rigs compact and luminous beads to a minimum in clear water.

Tides and Conditions

This cove fishes best with movement but not mayhem. Clarity and wind direction are key in Torbay’s pocket coves.

• Tide state:
  • Mid-flood to high and the first of the ebb are consistent for most species.
  • Low water reveals more rock but can be shallow; wrasse often pick up as the flood starts.
• Conditions:
  • Settled periods with light W/NW winds yield clear water for wrasse, pollack and squid.
  • Strong easterlies and long-period swell make it dangerous and usually poor sport.
  • A little colour after onshore winds can switch on bass; too much kills the lure game.
• Seasonality/time of day:
  • Dawn/dusk are prime year-round; summer daylight for wrasse, autumn nights for scad/squid.
  • Neaps offer better control over kelp; springs add run—adjust weights accordingly.

Safety

This is a steep, rough-ground rock mark with changing water levels. Treat it with respect and plan your exits before you cast.

• Steep stepped access; not suitable for those with limited mobility or heavy barrows. Travel light.
• Slippery weeded rock and loose gravel; wear grippy boots and consider a buoyancy aid on the ledges.
• Swell rebounds inside the cove; rogue sets can surge—stay well back from the edge and keep an eye on the sea.
• Some ledges and the shingle pinch out on spring highs; avoid being cut off and pre-plan retreat routes.
• Headtorch, spare light and first aid kit recommended if fishing into darkness.
• The cove is popular with wild swimmers, paddlecraft and coasteering groups in fair weather—only cast when it’s safe to do so.
• Mobile reception is generally good in Torbay but can be patchy at the cliff base; tell someone your plan.

Facilities

You’re close to town, but there’s nothing on the rocks themselves—come prepared and pack out what you bring in.

• Parking: Daddyhole Plain car park (off Daddyhole Road) is the usual choice; Meadfoot Beach car parks are alternatives. Local charges/time limits may apply.
• Toilets: Seasonal facilities at Meadfoot Beach; public toilets around Torquay seafront/harbour area.
• Food/drink: Cafés at Meadfoot (seasonal) and numerous options in Torquay town.
• Tackle/bait: Several tackle shops in the Torbay area (Torquay/Paignton) for bait and gear.
• Bins are limited near the access—carry out all litter and waste line.
• Lighting: None at the mark; bring a reliable headtorch and spare batteries.
• Phone signal: Usually available but can dip in the cove.

Tips

Little tweaks make a big difference in this clear, snaggy pocket cove. Fish smart, not far.

• Use a short 6–10 lb rotten-bottom link to save leads when bottom fishing over the kelp.
• Prawn or peeled shore crab outfishes worm when wrasse are wary; keep hooklengths short to avoid the weeds.
• Work weedless soft plastics slowly up the kelp face for pollack—most hits come tight to structure.
• Chum lightly with mashed mackerel for gar/scad; small size 6–4 hooks and fine wire traces aren’t needed.
• For squid, fish the cove mouth and any cleaner patches on a slack or gentle run, with long pauses between hops.
• Beat the bathers by fishing early mornings or evenings in summer; give water users plenty of space.
• Barbless or crushed barbs plus long-nose pliers make releasing wrasse and conger safer and quicker.
• Keep noise and lights low—clear-water fish spook easily in this amphitheatre-like cove.

Regulations

Angling is generally permitted at Peaked Tor Cove. It lies within the Torbay Marine Conservation Zone, where recreational line fishing is allowed, but you should avoid damaging protected features and never remove protected species.

• Bass: Check current MMO/UK rules before you go. As of 2024 guidance, recreational anglers may retain up to 2 bass per angler per day between 1 March and 30 November, minimum size 42 cm; catch-and-release only outside those dates. Regulations are reviewed annually.
• Devon & Severn IFCA: Observe local minimum sizes and byelaws (e.g., no taking berried lobsters/crabs; respect shellfish conservation measures). Verify current sizes/limits on the IFCA website before retaining fish or crustaceans.
• Torbay Council/Harbour byelaws: Do not fish where local signage prohibits it (e.g., designated bathing areas, some structures) and avoid casting near swimmers or water users.
• Protected area etiquette: No anchoring or prising on fragile reef life; do not collect pink sea fans or other protected fauna/flora.
• General: Use barbless or crushed barbs if practicing catch-and-release; carry a measuring device; dispose of line and hooks responsibly.

If in doubt, check the latest guidance from the MMO, Devon & Severn IFCA, and Torbay Council before your session.