Summary
Saunton Sands is a vast, west-facing surf beach on North Devon’s Atlantic coast, backed by the Braunton Burrows dune system. It’s a classic open-sand mark that rewards mobile anglers who read bars and gutters for bass, rays and winter species. Avoid lifeguarded flagged zones in summer and you’ll find plenty of room to fish.
Location and Access
Set between Croyde and the Taw/Torridge estuary, Saunton has easy road access and a huge pay-and-display car park behind the dunes. The beach is very shallow-gradient, so be prepared for a long walk at low water across firm-to-soft sand.
- Main parking: Saunton Sands beach car park by the hotel and cafés (postcode EX33 1LQ); ANPR pay-on-exit is common—check on-site tariffs.
- Access: Straight onto the sand via boardwalks; then level walking. At low tide, the waterline can be a considerable distance out.
- Terrain: Clean sand with shifting bars, gutters and pronounced rips after swell. No rock ledges; snag risk is low.
- Crowding: Busy with surfers and bathers near the central access in summer—walk 10–20 minutes north or south to find quieter water.
Seasons
This is a genuine surf beach fishery with classic Bristol Channel influences. Expect bass and small-eyed rays in season, with winter whites after the first frosts.
- Spring (Mar–May): Bass (schoolies to better fish), small-eyed ray building, dogfish, occasional smoothhound, flounder closer to the estuary side.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): Bass (dawn/dusk and into darkness), small-eyed ray prime, occasional blonde/spotted ray, smoothhound (peeler crab), odd turbot, lots of dogfish in settled seas.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): Bass at their best through rough-to-settled spells, small-eyed ray continue, increasing whiting; sole and flounder on calmer neaps after dark.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): Whiting, dogfish, occasional codling in a blow, flounder on quieter nights. Bass are catch-and-release only in some months—check current rules.
- Occasional/bonus: Turbot, garfish in clear, calm windows; very occasional thornback or blonde ray.
Methods
Mobile surf fishing and reading the water are key—target the seams where waves peel and reform over bars and gutters. Fish light and close for bass; step up and reach the outer bar for rays.
- Bass approaches:
- Light surfcasting with 1–2 hook rigs, long 3–5 ft snoods, minimal grip lead so the bait wanders naturally.
- Baits: Peeler crab, lugworm, ragworm, fresh or frozen sandeel; small mackerel/ squid slivers in coloured water.
- Lures on calmer days: Shallow divers, soft plastics on 10–30 g heads, long-distance metals at first/last light.
- Rays and dogs:
- Pulley pennel or up-and-over rigs (4–5 ft snoods), 5–6 oz gripper leads for tide hold.
- Baits: Whole sandeel, sandeel-squid cocktail, bluey or mackerel strip; present beyond the first bar on mid-to-late flood.
- Smoothhound (occasional): Peeler crab on strong mono snoods (30–40 lb), 3–5 oz grippers; fish the flood in late spring/early summer.
- Flatfish (sole/flounder): Small hooks (size 2–4), worm baits with small squid tips; neap tides, darkness, and the inner gutters.
- General rig notes: Shockleader is essential for casting in surf. Keep gear simple and robust—this beach rewards time in the right water rather than fancy end-tackle.
Tides and Conditions
The Bristol Channel’s big tidal range reshapes Saunton constantly. Look for gutters parallel to the beach and feeder rips that funnel food to predators.
- Tide states:
- Bass: First push of the flood and the last of the ebb, especially at dawn/dusk and into darkness.
- Rays: Low-water period into the first half of the flood on medium-to-large tides; night sessions are reliable.
- Soles/flounder: Neap tides after dark in the inner gutters.
- Sea and wind:
- A W–SW breeze with a clean, rolling surf is ideal for bass; too much swell turns it into white-out. Slightly settled, clear-ish seas suit small-eyed rays.
- After heavy rain, the Taw/Torridge colours the water—good for bass, less so for rays.
- Seasonality:
- Apr–Oct is prime for bass and rays; Nov–Feb shifts to whiting and a few codling in onshore blows.
- Timing notes:
- Night fishing dramatically improves results in summer. Plan long walks to and from the water at low; allow for rapid flood on springs.
Safety
This is an exposed surf beach with powerful rips and a fast-flooding tide—treat it with respect, especially at night. In summer, lifeguards mark bathing/surf zones where fishing should not take place.
- Rips and cut-offs: Gutters can form behind you on the flood; never wade onto isolated bars without a safe retreat.
- Wading: Keep it minimal; a personal flotation device is sensible in surf. Chest waders can fill quickly in a fall.
- Swimmers/surfers: Do not fish within flagged lifeguarded areas or near crowds. Cast only when the line of fire is clear.
- Ground: Mostly snag-free clean sand; watch for soft patches and steep faces at bar edges.
- Night work: Carry a headlamp, back-up light, whistle, and means of contact; mark your exit point in the dunes.
- Accessibility: Boardwalks help initial access, but soft sand and long distances make wheelchair or limited-mobility fishing challenging away from the frontage.
Facilities
Facilities are good by North Devon surf beach standards, especially near the main access. Away from the hub, you’re on your own—plan accordingly.
- Parking: Large pay-and-display/ANPR car park behind the beach; charges typically apply day and evening.
- Amenities: Toilets near the car park; cafés/refreshments by the beach entrance; Saunton Sands Hotel adjacent.
- Lifeguards: Seasonal RNLI patrols near the main access—observe flags and signage.
- Tackle/bait: Several tackle shops within a 10–20 minute drive in Braunton, Barnstaple and Westward Ho! Check hours outside peak season.
- Phone signal: Generally good on the open beach; can be patchier in the dunes.
- Restrictions: No camping or fires in the dunes (SSSI). Dogs are commonly allowed but zoned—check on-site boards.
Tips
Saunton rewards water-reading more than brute casting—move to find the right line rather than waiting for fish to find you.
- Find the highway: At half-tide, identify the main gutter lines where waves steepen then smooth—fish those seams as the tide rises.
- Go long for rays: If you can’t reach the outer bar, time your session so the flood brings that line to you rather than chasing distance.
- Fresh sandeel is king: For small-eyed rays, quality sandeel (whole) outfishes most alternatives; a slim squid wrap helps in surf.
- Bass close-in: Don’t wade over the fish—work baits or lures in the first 10–30 yards, especially at dawn/dusk.
- Weed watch: After big swells, drifting weed can be a pain—use streamlined rigs, keep rod tips high, and be prepared to move along the beach.
- Beat the crowds: In summer, a 20–30 minute walk north or south transforms catch rates and safety.
- Tide info: Use local tide tables for the North Devon coast (Ilfracombe/Bideford references are commonly used) and allow for rapid changes under spring tides.
Regulations
Angling is generally allowed at Saunton Sands, but do not fish within lifeguarded flagged bathing/surfing zones when patrols are in place. Always follow national and IFCA byelaws for the area.
- Bag limits and sizes: European seabass rules (minimum size 42 cm and seasonal bag limits) change periodically—check the latest UK government guidance before your trip.
- Tope and sharks: Recreational anglers in England must not retain tope; release them unharmed. Spurdog are also typically catch-and-release from the shore.
- Local authority/SSSI: Braunton Burrows is an SSSI—keep off sensitive dune vegetation, use designated paths, and observe any on-site restrictions.
- Bait collection: Estuary and dune systems nearby may have restrictions on bait digging and vehicle access—consult Devon & Severn IFCA byelaws and local signage.
- General: Dispose of line and hooks responsibly; no fires in the dunes; respect private property and access routes.
