Summary
Samson’s Bay is a tucked-away rocky cove on North Devon’s coast between Ilfracombe and Combe Martin. It’s classic rough-ground territory with kelp beds, ledges and gullies that hold wrasse, pollack, bass and nighttime conger and huss. The walk keeps the crowds down, rewarding mobile anglers who like exploring clean-to-rough transitions and fishing into depth close in.
Location and Access
This mark sits off the South West Coast Path on the stretch between Hele Bay (Ilfracombe) and Combe Martin. Access is on foot only and involves a steep, uneven final descent to the rocks.
- Approach via the South West Coast Path from Hele Bay or Combe Martin; expect 20–40 minutes on an undulating path with steps and some exposed sections.
- Parking options: pay-and-display at Hele Bay and at Combe Martin’s beach car park; additional parking in Ilfracombe with a longer walk-in.
- The last section down into the cove is rough and can be slippery; good boots and a light pack are essential. Not suitable for trolleys or heavy boxes.
- Terrain is rugged slate/rock with kelp gullies; there is little to no dry “beach” at higher states of tide.
- Local buses run along the A399 between Ilfracombe and Combe Martin; alight near Hele or Combe Martin and join the coast path.
Seasons
Samson’s Bay offers mixed rough-ground fishing with species shifting through the seasons. Expect fish tight to the structure and kelp.
- Spring (Apr–May): ballan and corkwing wrasse waking up, pollack on lures, school bass after blows, pout; odd huss on fish baits at dusk.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): wrasse peak, pollack from dawn/dusk, mackerel and garfish on calm clear days, scad after dark, bull huss and conger at night; occasional surprise like a triggerfish in warm spells.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): bass in a rolling swell, pollack strong at dusk, mackerel/scad tailing off through October, huss and conger consistent, whiting/pout increasing.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): conger, huss, whiting, pout, rockling; the odd codling in a northerly blow is possible but not reliable; bass are an outside chance in rough, coloured water.
Methods
Rough ground, close structure and changeable clarity reward a mixed approach. Travel light, move between ledges, and fish short to the features.
- Lure fishing: 7–9 ft rods rated 10–30 g with 20–30 lb leader; weedless soft plastics (2–5 in) for wrasse/pollack, 20–40 g metals for mackerel/scad, slim minnows or surface lures for bass in calm seams.
- Float fishing: sliding float rigs set 2–4 m over ragworm, peeler crab or mackerel strip; drift along kelp edges and into clearer tongues of water.
- Bottom fishing: strong gear with abrasion-resistant leaders (50–60 lb), pulley or pulley-dropper (3/0–5/0) and a rotten-bottom link; short casts (10–30 yards) into gullies for huss/conger with mackerel, squid or cocktail baits.
- Night tactics: bigger fish move in; scale up hooks and traces, keep lead losses down with weak links, use a headtorch with a red mode to preserve night vision.
- Mackerel/garfish: small sabikis or 2–3-feather sets; don’t overfill rigs in kelp-choked water—fewer hooks mean fewer tangles and less bycatch damage.
- Wrasse care: hard-fighting and snag-happy—use steady pressure, circle or inline singles to reduce deep-hooking, and release quickly.
Tides and Conditions
This coast has a big tidal range and the sea state is the main decider. Plan around swell, ledge height and cut-off risk.
- Tide state: mid to flooding tide fishes well for wrasse and pollack; 2–3 hours either side of low lets you explore gullies; higher water can be excellent for bass and conger from safer, higher ledges.
- Springs vs neaps: springs mean more movement and more cut-off risk; neaps give clearer water and easier lure control.
- Sea state: gentle to moderate swell (0.5–1 m) creates bass opportunities; heavy groundswell makes many ledges unfishable.
- Water clarity: clear to “green” suits lures; coloured water favours bait for huss/conger/bass.
- Wind: southerlies are broadly offshore here and flatten the sea; northerlies push in chop and swell; westerly groundswell can linger even after the wind drops.
- Time of day: first and last light for pollack, mackerel and bass; full dark for huss, conger and scad.
Safety
This is a committing rock mark with steep access, slippery surfaces and a big tidal range. Treat it like a small expedition, not a beach stroll.
- Not suitable for wheelchairs, pushchairs or anglers with limited mobility; the final descent can be exposed and slick with algae.
- Wear cleated boots; avoid smooth, weeded slabs. Consider rock spikes if you plan to wade shallow ledges at low water.
- Check tide times and swell forecasts; identify escape routes and high-water perches before fishing. Cut-offs are a real risk.
- Never turn your back on the sea; rogue sets occur. A manually inflating waistcoat or lifejacket is strongly recommended.
- Keep clear of the cliff base where there is potential for rockfall in wet or freezing weather.
- Travel light; a short utility rope can help lower/raise a rucksack safely on steeper steps.
- Phone signal is patchy; tell someone your plan and ETA, carry a whistle and a basic first-aid kit. Recce in daylight if fishing your first session in the dark.
Facilities
There are no facilities at Samson’s Bay itself—plan to be self-sufficient. Nearest amenities are in Hele Bay, Ilfracombe and Combe Martin.
- Toilets: available at Hele Bay and Combe Martin beach car parks (seasonal opening hours).
- Food and drink: cafés, pubs and shops in Hele village, Ilfracombe and Combe Martin.
- Tackle and bait: options in Ilfracombe (check opening hours, especially off-season). Frozen bait often available locally; live/fresh bait best sourced ahead of time.
- Parking: pay-and-display at Hele Bay and Combe Martin; arrive early in summer.
- Phone/data: reception can be inconsistent along the cliffs. No lighting at the mark.
Tips
Small positioning changes make a big difference here. Think edges: kelp line, gully mouths, colour changes and tide seams.
- Use a rotten-bottom/weak link on leads; you’ll save rigs and fish. Short, accurate casts beat heaving to the horizon.
- Work lures down-and-across with the tide for pollack; go darker patterns at dusk and in colour, natural in clear water.
- For wrasse, peeler crab is king; hardback, prawn or large rag also score. Keep hook lengths short to muscle fish away from snags.
- A compact drop net can be handy from higher ledges; otherwise steer fish to a safe lip—don’t handline heavy traces over barnacle edges.
- Dusk into the first hour of darkness is a prime window for better pollack and the first huss; stay an extra tide for a step-up fish.
- If swell is rolling, try shallow-running or surface lures tight to foamy gutters for bass; give each gutter a few controlled passes then move.
- Keep noise and headtorch use to a minimum at night—fish push surprisingly close here when it’s quiet.
Regulations
As of the latest guidance, there is no blanket ban on recreational sea angling at Samson’s Bay, but national and regional rules apply. Always check current notices before your trip.
- Jurisdiction: Devon and Severn IFCA area; national MMO regulations also apply.
- Minimum sizes/bag limits: observe UK minimum conservation reference sizes where applicable. Some species (e.g., bass) have specific size and seasonal bag limits—check the current year’s rules before retaining any fish (bass MLS is 42 cm; retention is seasonally restricted).
- Protected areas: parts of the North Devon coast fall within designated conservation areas; recreational angling is generally permitted, but avoid damaging features (no kelp ripping, no fixed gear) and respect any local signage.
- Methods and ethics: no collecting wrasse for livebait; most local clubs promote catch-and-release for wrasse from rocky marks.
- Access rights: stick to public rights of way, don’t cut new paths, and avoid fences/gates except where waymarked. No fires or camping on the cliff.
- Litter and lead: take all line, hooks and leads home; lost tackle in kelp is inevitable—use weak links to minimise debris.
