Rillage Point

Rillage Point is the rugged headland on the eastern side of Ilfracombe, flanking Hele Bay on North Devon’s Atlantic coast. It’s a classic rock mark with deep kelpy gullies, fast tide run, and clear water windows that draw in pollack, wrasse, bass, and summer pelagics. For experienced rock anglers it offers superb sport, especially at dawn, dusk and into darkness.

Rillage Point sits between Hele Bay and Samson’s Bay, reached via the South West Coast Path from Ilfracombe or Hele. The approach is scenic but the final steps to fishable ledges involve steep, uneven ground and occasional scrambles.

• Park at Hele Bay’s public car park (seasonal charges) or in Ilfracombe and walk out via the coast path
• Allow 20–35 minutes on foot depending on your pace and start point; expect gradients and exposed sections
• Access paths branch off to various ledges; some are narrow, slippy and can require hands-on scrambling
• Footing is on barnacled rock, weed and kelp—grippy boots with studs are strongly advised
• Avoid carrying excessive gear; a compact rock-fishing kit makes the walk-in and ledge moves safer

This headland fishes across the seasons with classic North Devon rough-ground species. Clear water and tide movement are key.

• Spring (Mar–May): pollack, ballan and corkwing wrasse, early bass on sandeel, dogfish, occasional conger after dark
• Summer (Jun–Aug): mackerel, scad, garfish, pollack, wrasse (best period), bass, bull huss at night; the odd triggerfish in warm spells
• Autumn (Sep–Nov): peak pollack and bass, bigger wrasse, bull huss, conger; whiting and pouting begin to show
• Winter (Dec–Feb): conger, bull huss, pouting, whiting, rockling; odd pollack in settled, clear conditions
• Always possible by-catch: shore clingfish, tompot blenny, poor cod around the kelp and boulder ground

Rillage Point rewards mobile lure work in clear water and stout bottom tactics after dark. Fish the water in layers and be ready to adapt to the tide.

• Lure fishing: 9–10 ft rod (10–40 g) with 20–30 lb braid and 20–30 lb fluorocarbon leader
• Soft plastics: weedless paddletails and eels (10–20 g jigheads or weighted hooks) for pollack and bass; count down and swim over kelp tops
• Metals/jigs: 20–40 g slim spoons or casting jigs for mackerel, scad and distance prospecting; vary retrieve speed and add pauses at dusk
• Float fishing: prawn, ragworm, mackerel strip or sandeel set 8–15 ft for pollack, wrasse and garfish along the ledges and gullies
• Bottom fishing: strong 4–6 oz setup with 30–40 lb mainline, 60–80 lb leader, pulley/pulley-dropper rigs and a 10–15 lb rotten-bottom link
• Hooks and baits: 3/0–5/0 patterns for huss/conger with squid, cut mackerel, bluey or launce; size 1–2 for mixed fish with rag/peeler
• Night tactics: large static baits close-in to kelpy holes for huss/conger; keep leads short-lobbed to avoid snags
• Tackle care: use abrasion-resistant leaders, crimped weak links, and carry a long-handled disgorger and heavy-duty forceps

Being a tide-swept headland in the Bristol Channel, movement is pronounced and colour can change quickly after weather. Plan sessions around manageable flow and safe swell.

• Best tide states: first half of the flood and the final hour of the ebb for lures; slack windows around high/low for bottom sets
• Neap tides: generally easier for both lure and bottom fishing; springs can rip and demand short, precise tactics
• Conditions: light northerly/easterly winds settle the sea and improve clarity; westerly swell wraps round and makes ledges dangerous
• Time of day: dawn and dusk for pollack/bass and summer pelagics; darkness for huss and conger
• Water clarity: 2–3 days of calm transforms the mark—work lures higher in clear water, closer and lower when there’s a slight tint
• Seasonal notes: summer/autumn give the most variety; winter favours nocturnal bait fishing in usable weather windows

This is an exposed rock mark with steep, uneven approaches and wave hazard. It is unsuitable for inexperienced anglers or anyone with limited mobility.

• Wear a properly fitted PFD, studded boots, and carry a headtorch with spare batteries if there’s any chance of finishing in the dark
• Do not fish low ledges on a rising tide; several platforms can be cut off—recon your exit in daylight and set a turnaround time
• Avoid any swell over about 1–1.5 m or long-period sets; rogue waves can surge kelp platforms unexpectedly
• Use a buddy system where possible; tell someone your plan and expected return time
• Keep well back from undercut cliff faces and loose rock; helmets are sensible on steep scrambles
• Mobile signal can vary across networks; don’t rely on it for emergency cover
• If any local signage restricts access for conservation or safety works, follow it—alternative ledges are available along the headland

You’re close to Ilfracombe and Hele Bay, so amenities are within a short drive or a decent walk. There’s nothing on the point itself.

• Parking: public car park at Hele Bay; additional parking options in Ilfracombe
• Toilets: available at Hele Bay and around Ilfracombe seafront/harbour during opening hours
• Food and drink: cafés and pubs in Hele and Ilfracombe; seasonal beach kiosk at Hele Bay
• Tackle and bait: shops in Ilfracombe and nearby Combe Martin; check opening times outside peak season
• Emergency/RNLI: Ilfracombe has an RNLI station and harbour facilities
• Mobile coverage: patchy in places along the headland; generally better higher up on the coast path

Local anglers treat Rillage as a mobile, read-the-water venue—if a ledge isn’t producing, move. Keep your kit lean and your approach stealthy.

• For pollack, count your lure down to just above the kelp, then lift and glide—hits often come as it rises off a ledge lip
• Bass often show with a bit of colour and push—try a shallow-running or weedless soft plastic across the flood at first light
• Use a rotten-bottom link and fish tight to structure; a short drop and pin-point casts beat brute casting power here
• A drop-net is useful if you hook a better fish from higher ledges; avoid gaffs unless you intend to retain within the rules
• Summer evenings: swap to small metals or tiny soft plastics for scad and mackerel when the light fades
• Big wrasse are part of the mark’s character—crab or prawn baits score, and many locals voluntarily release the largest breeders
• Watch for seals and porpoises; if they move through, expect a temporary lull or switch methods to something more subtle

Rillage Point lies within the Devon and Severn IFCA district and close to designated conservation areas along the North Devon coast. Shore angling is permitted, but you must comply with national and local rules.

• Marine designations: parts of this coastline fall within the Bideford to Foreland Point Marine Conservation Zone; angling is allowed, but additional protections may apply—check Devon & Severn IFCA notices before collecting bait or shellfish
• Bass: recreational bass fishing is subject to strict seasonal and daily limits and a minimum conservation reference size; check the latest MMO/IFCA guidance before retaining any fish
• Minimum sizes: national minimum sizes apply to many species (e.g., bass) and local IFCA sizes apply to shellfish; undersized fish must be returned immediately
• Shellfish protections: it is illegal to take berried or v-notched lobsters/crawfish; local byelaws control crab/lobster sizes and methods—verify current rules with D&S IFCA
• Protected species: release all shad, tope (if required by current rules), and any other protected species unharmed
• Access and nature: Hillsborough/Rillage is a sensitive coastal environment; obey any on-site signs restricting cliff access, nesting areas or harvesting of intertidal life
• Always check the latest byelaws and seasonal updates from the MMO and Devon & Severn IFCA before your trip