Putsborough Sands Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Putsborough Sands Fishing Map

Long, exposed sandy beach at the southern end of Woolacombe Bay with clean sand, surf gutters and rocky fringes toward Baggy Point. Best fished on a flooding tide into dusk or after dark when the surf eases. Target small-eyed rays and dogfish at range over clean ground; bass work the gutters and rips in moderate surf. Summer brings mackerel and garfish; winter sees whiting. Occasional turbot close-in along the banks. Access via the Putsborough Sands car park directly onto the beach. Watch powerful surf, shifting sandbars and rips; the tide can push hard against the cliffs at high water near the ends. Crowded with surfers by day in summer, so evenings and nights are most productive.

Ratings

⭐ 6.6/10 Overall
Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 6/10
Accessibility 7/10

Fish You Can Catch at Putsborough Sands

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Surf bass take plugs, metals or crab in the gutters at dawn/dusk on a flooding tide; best spring–autumn, after a blow as seas settle.
🐟 Small-eyed Ray 7/10
🎯 Tip: Night over clean sand with sandeel or small fish baits; 2 hours either side of high on neaps; late spring to autumn.
🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 7/10
🎯 Tip: Common after dark; mackerel or sandeel on two-hook flappers just beyond first breaker; bites through the tide, best mid-flood.
🐟 Whiting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Winter nights; worm/sandeel cocktails on long snoods; fish mid to high water in calmer seas.
🐟 Smoothhound 6/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–summer; fresh peeler crab in the first gutter, mid-flood to high on settled seas; release gently.
🐟 Flounder 5/10
🎯 Tip: Winter; lug or rag fished short into gutters with slow retrieve; best last of ebb and first of flood.
🐟 Weever Fish (Lesser) 5/10
🎯 Tip: Summer on shallow sand bars; tiny worm/sandeel baits on small hooks at low to mid tide; beware venomous spines.
🐟 Dab 4/10
🎯 Tip: Winter on neap tides; small worm baits on long snoods; cast just past the first breaker around high water.
🐟 Turbot 4/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–early autumn; slowly retrieve sandeel or fish strips across sand banks at mid-flood.
🐟 Mackerel 4/10
🎯 Tip: Calm evenings when bait shows; small metals or feathers; better near the rocky ends on the flood.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 4/10
🎯 Tip: From the Baggy Point end rocks on the flood; fish crab or worm tight to kelp by day with strong tackle.
🐟 Thornback Ray 3/10
🎯 Tip: Occasional; whole sandeel or squid at night over deeper gutters near high water on settled seas.

Putsborough Sands Fishing

Summary

Putsborough Sands sits at the southern end of the Woolacombe–Morte Bay sweep in North Devon, below Baggy Point. It’s a broad surf beach with shifting sandbars and productive gutters that regularly turn up bass, small‑eyed rays and summer smoothhounds. Night tides in settled seas can be excellent, while a lively surf draws bass tight into the first breakers.

Location and Access

Putsborough is reached via narrow country lanes from Georgeham/Braunton or from the Woolacombe side, finishing at the private clifftop car park above the southern end of the bay. The beach is directly below the car park, with a sloping access road/path onto firm sand at low tide and softer going higher up the beach.

Seasons

This is a classic surf venue with seasonal variety. Expect surf predators in warmth and small-eyed rays on settled summer nights, with winter whiting when temperatures drop.

Methods

Standard surf tactics dominate, with clipped distance rigs to reach outer gutters and simple flappers for closer seams. Lure work shines in a lively but manageable surf.

Tides and Conditions

Shifting sandbanks mean conditions trump tide tables, but some patterns repeat. Find the gutters, fish the flood into dusk, and match bait to the day’s water colour.

Safety

This is an exposed Atlantic-facing beach with strong rips and a big tidal range. Plan your session around safe exits and never cast among bathers or surfers.

Facilities

Facilities are good by North Devon beach standards but can be seasonal. Expect summer crowds by day and quieter nights.

Tips

Think like a match angler when reading the beach, and like a big-fish hunter when the sea settles. Little adjustments make big differences here.

Regulations

Shore fishing is generally permitted at Putsborough, but you must follow national and local byelaws and any on‑site signage. Rules can change—always check before you go.