Peppercombe Fishing

Summary

Peppercombe is a secluded boulder-and-reef beach tucked between Bucks Mills and Abbotsham on North Devon’s wild Bideford Bay. Backed by striking red cliffs and reached by a wooded coombe, it offers rough-ground fishing for bass, wrasse, huss and conger away from the crowds. It’s a rewarding, old-school rock mark for anglers who don’t mind a walk and a bit of graft.

Location and Access

This is a remote-feeling mark accessed via a steep, woodland path that drops to a boulder beach beneath red Triassic cliffs. Plan for a decent walk in and a tougher walk out with your kit.

• Approach from the A39 at Horns Cross; the small lane to Peppercombe (near The Hoops Inn, sat-nav EX39 5DL) leads to footpaths down the valley. Parking is limited to roadside pull-ins—arrive early and do not block gateways or passing places.
• The descent through the coombe takes roughly 20–30 minutes down and 30–40 minutes back up. The path can be muddy, with exposed roots, steps and occasional washouts after heavy rain.
• Alternative access is via the South West Coast Path from Bucks Mills (west) or Greencliff/Abbotsham (east). These are longer, undulating cliff-top routes with steep sections and stiles.
• Terrain at the mark is uneven: large rounded boulders, weeded rock and kelp gullies with limited flat stands. A headtorch is essential if fishing into or out of darkness.

Seasons

Peppercombe fishes as a rough-ground rock/reef mark with patches of low-water sand. Expect classic North Devon species with the best action in warmer months and at dusk/dark.

• Spring (Mar–May):
  • Bass on building tides in onshore stir.
  • Pollack around kelp edges; wrasse as the water warms from late spring.
  • Dogfish and pouting at night; occasional smoothhound on any cleaner patches.
• Summer (Jun–Aug):
  • Bass (dawn/dusk and in surf), ballan and corkwing wrasse, pollack.
  • Garfish and the odd mackerel on settled days; scad after dark.
  • Bull huss from the rough at night; mullet sometimes around the stream mouth in calm, clear water.
• Autumn (Sep–Nov):
  • Peak bassing with lively surf; wrasse and pollack continue until the first big blows.
  • Huss and conger after dark; pouting and dogfish more numerous.
• Winter (Dec–Feb):
  • Whiting, pout, dogfish and rockling on calmer windows.
  • Conger possible on heavy gear; the odd codling is very occasional along this coast.

Methods

Rough ground tactics are the norm: think robust tackle, clipped-down rigs for range, and rotten-bottom links to save lead losses. Lure fishing can be excellent in the right sea and light.

• Bottom fishing:
  • Pulley or pulley dropper rigs with a weak-link (rotten bottom) for leads; 4–6 oz grip leads suit most tides.
  • Mainline 20–30 lb mono or 30–40 lb braid with 60–80 lb leader; 4/0–6/0 strong hooks for bass/huss/conger.
  • Baits: peeler/soft crab, lug/rag cocktails, sandeel, mackerel strip or flapper, squid or squid/fish combos.
• Wrasse and mixed species:
  • Float-fish hardback/peeler crab, prawn or ragworm tight to kelp edges on flood; 12–15 lb mono straight through.
  • Light rock fishing (LRF/HRF) with weedless soft plastics over gullies produces corkwing/ballan; lift bites off the bottom quickly.
• Lure fishing:
  • Bass on shallow divers, metal subsurface lures and 5–6 inch weedless soft plastics in a moderate, lively sea.
  • Pollack on 20–40 g metals and paddletails at first/last light worked along the reef line.
• Mullet (occasional):
  • Bread flake or mashed bread groundbait near the stream in clear, calm conditions; small hooks and fluorocarbon leaders.
• Timing:
  • Dusk into night is prime for huss, conger and better bass; wrasse/pollack prefer daylight with some movement in the water.

Tides and Conditions

Peppercombe responds well to movement but can become unfishable in a big swell. Time your session around the flood and early ebb, and match methods to water clarity.

• Tide states:
  • Two hours up to high and the first of the ebb are the most productive for bass and general rough-ground species.
  • Neaps help presentation in the gullies; big springs increase activity but can cause heavy tackle losses.
• Sea and wind:
  • A moderate W–NW onshore with some colour suits bass; too much swell makes the boulders dangerous and snags relentless.
  • Clear, settled seas favour wrasse and pollack; slight chop often improves the bite.
• Light and season:
  • Dawn/dusk transitions are key for bass and pollack; full darkness brings huss and conger onto the feed.
  • Late spring through autumn is the peak window; winter needs calmer spells after storms.

Safety

This is a serious rough-ground venue under unstable cliffs with no easy exits along the shore. Treat it as a remote rock mark and plan accordingly.

• Steep, sometimes slippery access path; not suitable for those with limited mobility. Wear grippy boots and carry kit in a backpack to keep hands free.
• Large, weeded boulders and kelp beds are extremely slippery—move slowly and use a wading staff if needed. Avoid jumping boulders.
• Red cliffs are prone to rockfall; do not set up under overhangs or at the cliff base. Leave a safe margin.
• Swell can build quickly on Bideford Bay; never fish in heavy seas. A personal flotation device is strongly recommended.
• Some spots can be pinched by tide among boulder fields—note your exit and do not get cut off.
• Phone signal can be patchy in the coombe; tell someone your plan and carry a fully charged phone and headtorch with spare batteries.

Facilities

There are no facilities at the beach—this is a wilderness-style mark. Stock up and be self-sufficient.

• Parking: limited roadside pull-ins near the Peppercombe lane off the A39 at Horns Cross (check signage and be considerate). No formal car park at the beach.
• Toilets/food: none on site. Nearest options are at Westward Ho! and Bideford; The Hoops Inn at Horns Cross is the closest pub/food stop.
• Tackle/bait: good suppliers in Westward Ho! and Bideford (e.g., Summerlands Tackle in Westward Ho!); call ahead for fresh bait.
• Mobile coverage: intermittent to poor in the valley; better on higher ground along the coast path.
• Lighting/water: no lighting, no potable water—bring all you need and take all litter home.

Tips

Peppercombe rewards preparation and stealth. Think light on your feet, heavy on terminal tackle, and let the sea state guide your approach.

• Use weak-link clips/rotten-bottoms on every bottom rig—snags are inevitable, but your main rig and catch shouldn’t be.
• In a gentle rolling surf, fish big crab or squid/fish baits close-in for bass rather than blasting to distance.
• Work lures along the edges of white water and over the gullies at dawn; pause soft plastics to draw takes from kelp-hugging bass.
• For wrasse, present crab tight to structure on the flood; strike and pump fish up immediately to avoid kelp lock-ups.
• Night sessions: scale up hooks and traces for huss/conger; keep the area quiet and lights dim—bites can be savage.
• Travel light. A compact tripod, minimal leads and a headtorch with a spare are worth more than a barrow here.
• After heavy rain the stream can colour up the margins; bass often patrol this stain line on a flooding tide.

Regulations

Angling is permitted at Peppercombe, but the area sits within sensitive coastal designations—know and follow the rules.

• Management and bylaws: this coast falls under Devon & Severn IFCA. Check their current bylaws for shore angling and bait collection before your trip.
• Marine protection: the wider North Devon coast includes Marine Conservation Zones; rod-and-line angling is generally allowed, but damaging activities (e.g., dredging/collecting from living reefs) are restricted. Do not hammer or remove rocks or living reef.
• Size/bag limits: comply with UK Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (DEFRA/MMO). Sea bass rules (minimum size and seasonal bag limits) change periodically—check the MMO website for the latest before retaining any bass.
• Species protections: spurdog are zero-retention for recreational anglers in England; tope must be released and it is illegal to retain tope for sale. Handle wrasse and other reef fish carefully—consider voluntary catch-and-release for larger specimens.
• Local access: no known blanket angling bans at Peppercombe, but respect any on-site signage, seasonal path diversions and private land. Fires, camping and littering are not permitted.
• Always carry proof of identity and be prepared for occasional IFCA/MMO checks on sizes and bags.