Summary
Prawle Point is Devon’s most southerly headland, jutting into the tidal race between Start Bay and the English Channel. Dramatic rock ledges, deep gullies and fast-moving water draw quality pollack, wrasse and bass for anglers who plan carefully. It’s a serious but rewarding venue for experienced lure and bait anglers who respect the sea.
Location and Access
Set near the village of East Prawle in the South Hams, access is via narrow country lanes and a stretch of the South West Coast Path. Most anglers either park near the NCI Lookout or at East Prawle village and walk in along the cliffs.
- Driving: From the A379 (Kingsbridge–Dartmouth), turn at Stokenham/Chillington for East Prawle; lanes are single-track with passing places, so allow extra time.
- Parking: National Trust car park near the Prawle Point Lookout (charges may apply; carry coins as mobile signal can be patchy). East Prawle village green car park (honesty box) is another option; postcode TQ7 2BY works for sat nav. Never block farm gates or passing places.
- Walk-in: From the NT car park it’s roughly 10–20 minutes on an undulating coastal path; from East Prawle village allow 30–45 minutes via field paths and coast path.
- Terrain: Final access is over sloping rock slabs, boulders and kelp; expect short scrambles to reach lower ledges. Not suitable for barrows/trolleys or very heavy kit.
- Access notes: Some low ledges are only approachable near low water and can be cut off on the flood. Recce in daylight and at a lower tide first.
Seasons
This headland fishes differently through the year, with rough ground and tide favouring hard-fighting species. Expect quality fish when conditions line up.
- Spring (Mar–May): Pollack at dawn/dusk on lures; ballan and corkwing wrasse as water warms; first bass in May, often on sandeel shoals; occasional garfish late spring in clear, calm water.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): Mackerel and scad shoals tight to the point; consistent pollack; excellent wrasse sport on crab and soft plastics; garfish; bass on evening floods and around baitfish; occasional black bream over broken ground; rare triggerfish in warm, settled spells.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): Bass peak around clearing seas after blows; scad at dusk into dark; conger and bull huss from deeper gullies at night; late mackerel if clarity holds.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): Pouting and poor cod over rough ground; conger on big baits; occasional whiting in calm, clear nights. Codling are rare here compared to nearby beaches.
Methods
Both lure and bait tactics work well; tackle up for snags and powerful fish. Abrasion resistance, rotten-bottoms and weedless presentations are key.
- Lure fishing: 20–40 g metals and 10–30 g soft plastics for pollack; weedless Texas-rigged creature baits and paddletails for wrasse. Count lures down, work mid-water to just above kelp. 9–10 ft lure rod; 20–30 lb braid with 20–30 lb fluoro leader.
- Float fishing: Clear sliding float set 8–15 ft; baits include live sandeel, mackerel strip, prawn, or rag for wrasse/garfish. Drift along tide seams with size 2–1/0 hooks.
- Bottom fishing: Pulley or pulley-dropper with a weak-link rotten-bottom; 4–6 oz grip leads depending on run. Hooks 3/0–5/0 for huss/conger; 60–100 lb mono traces for conger. Baits: whole squid, mackerel fillet or heads; peeler crab or live/eel baits for bass in moderate surf.
- Feathering/sabiki: Small Hokkai or sabiki sets for mackerel/scad in summer; add a 1–2 oz metal at the end to cast into the tide lines. Avoid when birds or seals are tight in.
- Useful extras: Long-handled drop net for safe landings and releases; headlamp with red mode; cleated or studded boots; spare leaders and pre-tied rigs.
Tides and Conditions
Water movement is everything here, but too much turns it unfishable and unsafe. Aim for manageable flow and clarity.
- Tide state: First half of the flood and first of the ebb are most productive. Slack around high/low can be brief. Some ledges fish best an hour or two either side of low.
- Springs vs neaps: Neaps are friendlier; on big springs the race rips past the point and snags multiply.
- Wind and swell: Northerly/offshore winds clear the water and favour lures. A small, long-period swell can switch on bass/wrasse; strong southerly or easterly swells make many ledges dangerous.
- Time of day: Dawn and dusk for pollack and bass; after dark brings scad, huss and conger from deeper holes.
- Water clarity: Expect best lure sport after 24–72 hours of settled weather; coloured water pushes you toward bait and crab for bass.
Safety
This is a serious rock mark with real hazards. Go light, plan exits, and treat swell and tide with respect.
- Slippery, uneven rock: Weed and spray make footing treacherous; use grippy boots/cleats and consider a personal flotation device.
- Swell and wash: Rogue waves hit even in calm spells; avoid the extreme nose of the point if any swell is running and keep well back from edges.
- Tidal cut-off: Some platforms flood or isolate on the flood; identify retreat routes in daylight and avoid committing to spots without an easy exit.
- Drop-offs and ledges: No rails; keep both hands free for short scrambles. A short rope can help lower or raise gear.
- Accessibility: Not suitable for limited mobility or young children; dogs on leads due to cliff edges and livestock along approach paths.
- Communication: Mobile signal is patchy in gullies; carry a charged phone and a whistle. The NCI Prawle Point Lookout often operates by day—be courteous and heed any safety advice or temporary notices.
- Countryside code: Stay on paths, respect gates and signage; no fires or camping on National Trust land.
Facilities
There are no facilities on the headland itself, so go fully self-sufficient. The nearest amenities are in East Prawle and nearby towns.
- No toilets, water or shelter at the point; remove all litter and used line.
- East Prawle: Pub and seasonal café/shop near the village green; public toilets may be available seasonally.
- Tackle and bait: Available in Kingsbridge, Dartmouth or Plymouth; pre-order worms/crab in summer due to limited supply.
- Parking: NT car park by the lookout and village green car park as noted; take coins as mobile data can be unreliable.
- Mobile signal: Usually fair on high ground, poor down on lower ledges.
Tips
Local patterns repeat once you learn the water. Small tweaks save gear and hook better fish.
- Always use a rotten-bottom: 10–15 lb mono weak-link below the lead protects the rest of the rig.
- Scout at low tide: Mark promising gullies and fish them on the first of the flood when predators hunt up-tide of the kelp.
- Match the hatch: When birds are working sandeels, slim metals and 4–5 inch paddletails out-fish bulkier lures.
- Count-down method: Start at 5 seconds, extend in 2-second steps until you just tick kelp, then back off one step to stay clear.
- Wrasse tactics: Hardback crab, prawn and hermit are deadly; lower static baits into holes rather than casting long.
- After dark: Glow beads help scad find small baits; keep big conger baits pinned tight in the deepest holes.
- Read the race: Fish the edges of the main tide line rather than the fastest core; lures track better and takes are more positive.
- Wildlife: Seals often patrol the point—switch to single-hook lures and be prepared for slower fishing when they’re close.
Regulations
Shore angling here is free and open access, but national and local sea fisheries rules apply. Regulations change—check official sources before retaining fish.
- No permit required for recreational shore fishing; much of the land is National Trust—respect signage, no fires or camping.
- Management: Within the Devon and Severn IFCA district; follow their minimum conservation reference sizes (MCRS) for finfish and shellfish.
- European bass: In 2024 the recreational limit is two bass per angler per day at a 42 cm minimum size; retention typically allowed March–November, with catch-and-release only in winter months. Always confirm the current year’s dates before keeping bass.
- Lobster/crab: Observe minimum sizes; it is illegal to take berried (egg-bearing) lobsters. Local shore potting and collection may be regulated—check IFCA guidance.
- Protected species: Allis/twaite shad must not be retained. Tope are protected from retention when caught from a boat in England and are generally released by shore anglers—handle and release quickly.
- Marine protected areas: The coast here lies within designated conservation sites; restrictions mainly target commercial gear, but avoid disturbing wildlife and nesting birds.
- Best practice: Consider releasing large wrasse which are important to reef ecology; take only what you need and record notable catches for local clubs or citizen science.
