Summary
Salcombe Mouth is a secluded shingle cove on the Jurassic Coast between Sidmouth and Branscombe in East Devon. It’s a beautiful, rugged mark with deepening water, rocky flanks and clean-to-mixed ground that rewards the prepared shore angler. Expect seasonal variety, solitude, and proper ‘read-the-water’ fishing rather than pier-plug-and-play.
Location and Access
This is a remote beach reached only on foot via the South West Coast Path, with steep descents and climbs. It’s best treated as a light-tackle, backpack mission with good footwear and a head torch if you’re coming off after dark.
- Approach on the coast path either from Sidmouth (west) or from Salcombe Regis/Branscombe side (east); allow 20–45 minutes walk depending on your start point and pace.
- Parking options include Sidmouth town car parks (long-stay on Manor Road) or the National Trust car park on Salcombe Hill; both are well signposted locally. Expect a steep path or steps down to the beach.
- Terrain is steep shingle with rocky ground and boulders at either end beneath the cliffs. The central section is cleaner but still pockets of stones and scattered rough.
- The last section can be slippery in wet weather; walking poles help on the way back up.
Seasons
The mark fishes like an exposed East Devon shingle cove with reefy shoulders. You’ll meet classic Lyme Bay species with a few pleasant surprises when conditions line up.
- Spring (Mar–May): school and mid-size bass, pollack from the rocky ends, wrasse as waters warm, occasional early mackerel/garfish runs in May, spider crabs arrive.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): bass, mackerel, scad, garfish; ballan and corkwing wrasse off the rocks; pollack at dusk; thick‑lipped mullet nosing around the stream; occasional black bream around the rougher patches in settled weather; conger after dark.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): peak for better bass on a lift, mackerel and scad into October, wrasse until the first big blows, conger and pout at night; chance of a surprise ray or turbot is low but not impossible in Lyme Bay.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): whiting, pouting, dogfish, rockling, chance of a cold‑spell codling is rare nowadays but not unheard of; bass possible in coloured water after a blow.
Methods
You’ll do best by matching methods to the ground: clean-ish shingle in the centre for bottom fishing, rougher ends for wrasse/pollack on float or lures.
- Bottom fishing (central shingle): 4–5 oz grip leads; two‑hook flapper (size 2–1/0) for whiting/pout/dabs; pulley/dropper with 3/0–4/0 for bass/conger. Use a weak‑link/rotten‑bottom in case you slide into rough.
- Rocky ends: float fish rag/lug/peeler for wrasse; freelined or lightly‑weighted prawn or crab close in; dawn/dusk soft plastics or metal jigs for pollack and mackerel.
- Bass tactics: surf tables and gullies with fresh peeler, crab wraps, whole squid, or fresh mackerel/sandeel. Lures (surface walkers, shallow divers, 20–30 g metals, 4–6 inch paddletails) at first/last light on a flooding or ebbing tide.
- Mullet: small bread or fish‑strip baits under a clear waggler near the stream in calm, clear water; scale down to fluorocarbon and size 8–12 hooks.
- Night fishing: bigger baits (squid/bluey/mackerel heads) for conger and bass; keep rigs streamlined and luminous gear to a minimum if the water is clear.
Tides and Conditions
Tide and sea state dictate everything here. The beach shelves fairly quickly, so short casts often find the fish, but plan exits to avoid getting pinned by a rising sea.
- Tide state: the flood fishes well, especially the first two hours up; last two hours of the ebb can also be productive. Avoid being trapped near the rocky ends at high water in any swell.
- Sea conditions: a modest onshore push with some colour stirs bass; wrasse and pollack prefer settled, clear seas. After prolonged easterlies the shore can be dangerous with heavy dumpers.
- Time of day: dawn and dusk are prime for bass, pollack, and mackerel; full dark for conger, pout and better whiting in winter.
- Seasons: late spring through autumn offers most variety; winter can be scratchy but produces on the right weather window.
Safety
This is a serious, remote shore mark under unstable cliffs. There are no lifeguards, no lighting, and the beach can narrow significantly on the top of big tides or with swell.
- Cliff hazard: frequent rockfall on this stretch of Jurassic Coast—set up well away from the cliff base and do not sit beneath overhangs.
- Tidal cut‑off: avoid tucking into the rocky extremities near high water; identify your exit in daylight and keep an eye on swell sets.
- Footing: steep, shifting shingle; weed‑slimed boulders at the ends are slippery—wear studded boots if venturing onto rock.
- Remoteness: phone signal can be patchy in the valley; carry a head torch, spare light, charged phone, first‑aid kit, and tell someone your plan.
- PPE: a modern fishing lifejacket is strongly recommended, especially if you’re working the rocky ends or in any swell.
Facilities
There are no facilities at the beach itself—treat it as a wilderness session and pack accordingly. Nearby towns have everything you need before or after.
- Toilets, food, and water: available in Sidmouth (promenade and town centre) during opening hours.
- Tackle and bait: look to Sidmouth, Seaton, Beer, or Exmouth for tackle shops and fresh/frozen bait; pre‑order peeler in season.
- Parking: Sidmouth long‑stay car parks or National Trust Salcombe Hill car park; both require a walk on the coast path.
- Mobile signal: variable; better on the cliff tops than down in the cove.
Tips
This mark rewards stealth and mobility. Travel light, watch the water, and adjust to what the day gives you.
- Use a rotten‑bottom link on any rig—snaggy pockets appear and disappear with storms.
- Grip leads help on the steep shingle; step forward to cast and step back to avoid burying the lead.
- Don’t overcast: bass and wrasse often work within 20–40 yards, especially in colour or around the stream flow.
- Calm summer evenings can see garfish, scad, and mackerel tight in—keep a small float or metals handy.
- After a blow, try big crab or squid baits an hour either side of low on the flood for bass mooching the gutters.
- Watch for gannets/terns—baitfish pushed into the cove can switch the mark on quickly.
- Check coast‑path updates for any temporary diversions after landslips; plan an easier return route if finishing after dark.
Regulations
This stretch sits within nationally important designations (Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site) and local marine conservation areas; rod‑and‑line angling from the shore is generally permitted, but you must follow national and local fishery rules.
- Bass rules: As per 2024 UK guidance, recreational anglers may retain a limited number of bass within set seasons and a minimum size of 42 cm, with catch‑and‑release only outside the retention window. Always check the current MMO notice before you go, as details (bag limits and dates) can change.
- IFCA district: Devon & Severn IFCA—its byelaws cover netting, potting, and some shore activities; rod anglers should still review local permit byelaws and any seasonal or area restrictions.
- Marine conservation: parts of the coast off Sidmouth are within designated MCZ/SAC areas protecting reef features. Do not damage or remove protected features (e.g., pink sea fans) and avoid anchoring or trampling sensitive reef—common‑sense for safe rock access.
- Minimum sizes and etiquette: observe UK minimum conservation/reference sizes where applicable; return undersized fish quickly and handle wrasse and conger carefully. No fires on the shingle, take all litter home, and respect cliff‑fall exclusion signage if posted.
- Bait collection: check local rules before bait digging or collecting shellfish; estuary and MCZ restrictions may apply nearby.
