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Devon

Preston Sands

6.8 · Beach · Devon

A wide, gently shelving sandy beach on the north side of Paignton with easy promenade access and parking along Marine Drive. Preston Sands fishes best on a flooding tide into dusk, with clean sand across the middle and low rocky ground at both ends (toward Hollicombe Head and toward Paignton) creating gullies and weed lines. Summer brings mackerel, garfish and scad close in, while autumn and winter see reliable runs of whiting, dabs and dogfish. Bass show after a blow or at first/last light, and the rocky ends can give wrasse and the odd pollack. Long casts help for plaice and dabs over the clean ground; at night shorter casts can score. Expect weever fish in warm months. Facilities, cafes and shelter options nearby make it comfortable but it can be busy in daylight.

Should you fish Preston Sands?

58 Fair

Today · Best window

Best window: 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide

Most likely species: Ballan Wrasse and Plaice

Fair conditions. Best around 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide. Good chance of Ballan Wrasse and Plaice.

NW 3 mph Rain 0% High tide 12:02

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Preston Sands — 7-day forecast

Scores and best windows are weighted for .

Met Office Met Office · Open-Meteo

Where the data comes from. Weather and sea-state readings come from the Met Office and Open-Meteo forecast models, refreshed several times a day. High and low water are taken from tide-station predictions for this stretch of coast.

How the score works. Each window is scored 0–100 from the signals that most reliably move fish inshore: tide movement (a running tide carries food, so the last of the flood and first of the ebb are usually the prime spells), wind speed and direction (onshore wind stirs food into the surf — up to the point it makes fishing hard), sea state (a little wave and swell movement helps, heavy swell hurts), and weather — rain, temperature and light. Behind the headline number we score bite opportunity and comfort separately, and run a separate safety check on wind and swell. The size of the tide counts too: spring tides move more water than neaps, so the tidal range for this stretch of coast is weighed alongside the tide's direction, your target species and this mark — and unusually big springs strengthen the safety check, because the water rises faster and covers more ground.

Your target species counts. Pick a species below and the score also weights what we know about it — its season, preferred sea temperature, tide stage and sea state, and whether it feeds by day or night.

The rating is guidance, not a guarantee — conditions change fast on the coast, so always judge the sea in front of you before you fish.

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· windows & tide

Spring vs neap tides. Spring tides have a larger difference between high and low water, so more water moves on each tide — usually stronger flow that stirs up food and gets fish feeding. Neap tides have a smaller range and generally gentler movement. The range here is compared with what is normal for this stretch of coast, and the cycle swings between springs and neaps roughly every week, following the moon.

Big spring tides: the water rises faster and covers more ground than usual — double-check access routes and cut-off points before you fish.

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Preston Sands is a shallow, gently shelving Torbay beach that rewards timing more than brute force. The most reliable plan is to fish the flood into high water, especially into dusk or after dark, using the clean central sand for flatties, whiting, dabs and dogfish, then switching attention to the rocky fringes at either end when targeting wrasse, pollack, garfish, mackerel or bass around surf and low light.

  • Know when the clean middle beats the rocky ends
  • Time the flood so you are fishing the strongest window
  • Pick the right distance for daylight flatties or night bites
  • Use the surf line properly when bass conditions arrive
  • Avoid wasting time when weed, swimmers or dirty water kill the session

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Paignton 0.8 mi Torquay 1.9 mi Marldon 2.0 mi Collaton St Mary 2.7 mi Brixham 3.5 mi

Explore nearby towns: Paignton · Torquay · Marldon · Collaton St Mary · Brixham

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Forecast tuning currently supports Bass and Mackerel — more species are on the way.

Overall rating

6.8 /10

Blend of catch potential, access, safety, and overall experience.

Category scores

Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 7/10
Accessibility 9/10

Lesser Spotted Dogfish 8/10
Tip: Best after dark on a flooding tide; 2-hook flapper with sandeel or mackerel on the clean sand. Medium casts from the beach.
Bass 7/10
Tip: Work the surf line in an onshore breeze at dawn/dusk; shallow divers or sandeels/peeler crab. Fish the flood into high.
Whiting 6/10
Tip: Winter nights; small fish or squid strips at mid-long range over sand. Best around high water.
Plaice 6/10
Tip: Spring-early summer in daylight; long cast to sandy gullies/edges. Lug or rag tipped with squid; bead attractors help.
Dab 6/10
Tip: Late autumn-spring; small worm baits on light gear, gentle lob onto clean sand. Neap tides fish well.
Mackerel 6/10
Tip: June-Sept; metals or feathers at first/last light from the ends into deeper water. Watch for birds and boils.
Ballan Wrasse 6/10
Tip: Rocky ends at Preston; float-fished crab or rag close to kelp. Mid tide up to high in settled seas.
Pollack 5/10
Tip: Dusk into dark from rocky ends; small soft plastics or metal jigs worked over weed beds on the flood.
Pouting 5/10
Tip: After dark near rough ground or groynes; small fish or worm baits, short casts. Top of tide reliable.
Dover Sole 5/10
Tip: Warm, calm nights; rag or lug on long snoods, short lob within 10-20 m over clean sand. Fish last of flood into slack.
Garfish 5/10
Tip: May-Oct; float-fish thin mackerel or sandeel strip at dawn/dusk along rock edges on the flood.
Golden-grey Mullet 4/10
Tip: Calm summer evenings; tiny worm/peeler baits on size 10-12 hooks in the surf fringes. Best on a flooding tide.

Local knowledge

Preston Sands fishing guide

Practical access, seasons, methods, tides, safety and facilities for this mark.

Preston Sands is the long, gently shelving red-sand beach between Paignton and Hollicombe in Torbay, South Devon. It’s an easy, family-friendly mark with flat walking, year-round access, and useful rocky fringes at either end that add variety for the roaming angler. When an easterly churns up a bit of surf, bass often push close; in calmer weather it’s a relaxed venue for flatties, garfish and summer mackerel.

Getting to Preston Sands is straightforward and fully urban: the seafront road runs right behind the beach, with level access from the promenade onto the sand. Aim for the Paignton/Preston seafront; follow brown signs to the beach once in town.

  • Parking: Pay-and-display bays along the seafront by Preston Green and nearby council car parks; arrive early on sunny days and school holidays.
  • Public transport: Frequent buses along Torquay Road between Torquay and Paignton stop a short walk from the beach; Paignton railway station is about 15–20 minutes on foot.
  • Access/terrain: Level promenade, ramps and steps to the sand; rock patches at the northern (Hollicombe) and southern (Redcliffe) ends are a short stroll but become uneven/slippy under weed.
  • Best spots: The sandy middle for flatties and winter species; the rock fringes at either end for wrasse, pollack, garfish and night-time bass.
  • Night sessions: Well-lit promenade and residential backdrop make it a comfortable after-dark venue, with easy retreat to the car if the weather turns.

Expect a mix of clean-ground beach species with a few rock-huggers where the sand meets stone. Peak bass sport is often after onshore blows; otherwise think flatties and summer surface feeders.

  • Spring (Mar–May): Plaice and flounder on rag/razor; early schoolie bass on crab or sandeel; garfish showing toward late spring; odd gurnard.
  • Summer (Jun–Aug): Bass (especially on a lively easterly), mackerel and garfish at dawn/dusk, scad after dark; ballan/corkwing wrasse and small pollack off the rocks; dogfish common; occasional smoothhound on crab.
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov): Bass peak Sept–Oct in surfy, coloured water; mackerel/garfish tail off into October; whiting begin; dabs/plaice linger in settled spells; nighttime conger possible from rocky fringes.
  • Winter (Dec–Feb): Whiting and pouting on small baits; dabs and the odd flounder; dogfish reliable; the odd bonus codling is possible but uncommon in Torbay.
  • Year-round by-catch: Small gurnards, poor cod, various mini-species for LRF fans (blennies, gobies, small wrasse) around rockpools.

Tackle light for the sand and a bit sturdier for the rock edges. Keep it simple: present fresh bait cleanly and fish the productive windows around dusk, after dark, or on a building sea.

  • Beach ledgering: 2- or 3-hook flappers (size 2–4) with 3–4 oz leads for flatties/whiting; clip-down rigs if you need distance. Baits: ragworm, lug, maddies, mackerel strip, sandeel.
  • Bass tactics: Pulley or running ledger with a 3/0–4/0 hook and fresh peeler, crab wraps, whole sandeel or squid/mackerel cocktail. A rolling lead is deadly across the gutters when there’s surf.
  • Rock-fringe fishing: Simple paternoster with abrasion-resistant leaders for wrasse/pollack; size 1–2/0 hooks, crab/worm/squid strips. Expect snags—fish locked up and lift bites clear.
  • Float fishing: Slim pencil float set shallow (2–8 ft) for garfish and mackerel at dawn/dusk; bait with thin mackerel belly, sandeel slivers or rag tails.
  • LRF/light game: 1–7 g rods, 2–6 lb braid, small metals and 1–3 inch soft plastics or isome; work the rockpool edges and any man-made structure.
  • Night sessions: Scale baits down for whiting/pouting numbers, or upsize to a big crab/squid bait for a roaming bass or conger from the rougher patches.

Preston is shallow and sheltered, so pick your moments. Movement is your friend: flooding tides, a bit of colour, and low light lift the fishing markedly.

  • Tide state: Flood to high water and the first of the ebb are most consistent on the beach; big springs can wake the place up, especially for bass.
  • Sea state: Easterly/SE onshore breezes produce useful surf and colour—prime for bass. Flat, clear summer seas suit float fishing for garfish/mackerel and LRF around the rocks.
  • Time of day: Dawn and dusk are key; after dark improves catch rates for bass, dogfish, whiting and conger.
  • Water clarity: After prolonged storms, give it a tidal cycle or two for the sand to settle; summer can see drifting weed—switch to plain (non-grip) leads so rigs roll clear.
  • Seasonality: Late spring to autumn is most varied; winter is steady rather than spectacular but reliable for whiting and dabs.

This is a friendly, accessible urban beach, but treat the rocky ends and any swell with respect. In summer, swim zones are often marked—do not cast among bathers.

  • Bathing zones: Obey any lifeguard flags and local signage; avoid fishing where swimmers and watercraft operate.
  • Rocks: Weed-covered stone is slick; wear boots with good grip. Watch for rising water around the Hollicombe and Redcliffe ends—don’t get cut off on lower ledges.
  • Surf and swell: On an easterly, set up well back and wade cautiously; rogue sets can surge up the sand.
  • Night fishing: Carry a headlamp, spare light, and keep gear tidy on the promenade to avoid trip hazards.
  • Mobility: Level promenade and ramps make this one of Torbay’s more accessible marks; soft sand may challenge wheelchairs without beach-access aids.
  • Personal safety: A slimline lifejacket is sensible if you step onto the rocks; eye protection when feathering or striking into garfish is good practice.

Being in the heart of Torbay, amenities are close at hand and open longer hours in the holiday season. Expect crowds on hot days.

  • Toilets: Public conveniences typically by Preston Green (seasonal opening times may apply).
  • Food and drink: Seafront kiosks, cafés and takeaways within a short walk.
  • Tackle and bait: Local tackle shops in Paignton/Preston and nearby Torquay; fresh bait availability improves on weekends—pre-order in summer.
  • Lifesaving: Seasonal lifeguard cover may operate on some Torbay beaches; follow any posted swim-zone rules.
  • Connectivity: Good mobile signal along the promenade; street lighting for evening sessions.
  • Other: Bins along the seafront; beach huts line parts of the green—keep clear of hut fronts when casting.

A few small tweaks make a big difference on this deceptively simple beach. Work with the conditions and read the subtle features.

  • Find the gutters: On a building sea, look for slightly deeper, darker lines running parallel to the beach—walk your bait across them with a rolling lead for bass.
  • Match the hatch: Slim sandeel baits or narrow fish strips out-fish bloated cocktails when garfish and mackerel are in.
  • Distance vs finesse: In bright, calm conditions, clipped rigs and fresh worm baits at range pick plaice; after dark, shorter casts often out-fish the horizon for whiting and bass.
  • Rock edges: A half-crab lobbed just into the crease where sand meets rock is deadly for wrasse—and the occasional proper bass at dusk.
  • Weed management: Swap to plain leads and shorter snoods when weed’s drifting; check and clear gear every 10–15 minutes.
  • Summer strategy: Avoid peak beach hours; fish dawn or after 7–8 pm once the water users thin out.
  • Torbay red sand: It can stain kit—carry a small towel and rinse kit before packing to keep reels and lines clean.

There is no general ban on angling at Preston Sands, but normal national and local rules apply. Always check current notices on-site and the latest official sources before you go.

  • Bathing zones: Do not fish inside marked swim areas or between lifeguard flags when present; follow Torbay Council beach byelaws and any seasonal restrictions.
  • Bass rules (England, 2024): Recreational anglers may retain up to two bass per person per day, minimum 42 cm, during the open season (typically 1 March–30 November). Catch-and-release only outside that window. Regulations are reviewed annually—confirm current rules with the MMO before retaining fish.
  • Minimum sizes and protection: Observe national minimum conservation/reference sizes for species (e.g., crab, lobster) and never take berried (egg-carrying) crustaceans.
  • Marine Protected Area: The shoreline is within or adjacent to the Torbay Marine Conservation Zone; recreational angling from the shore is permitted, but avoid damaging sensitive features and respect any posted local measures.
  • Bait collection: Digging is generally allowed on open sand where not otherwise restricted, but avoid vegetated areas and refill holes; check Devon & Severn IFCA guidance for any local prohibitions.
  • General: No littering or leaving discarded line/hooks; observe dog restrictions on the beach during the main season as signed.
  • Always verify: Check Devon & Severn IFCA, the Marine Management Organisation, and Torbay Council for the latest regulations and beach byelaws.