Summary
Soar Mill Cove is a small, beautiful sand-and-rock cove between Bolt Head and Bolt Tail on Devon’s south coast, west of Salcombe. It’s a rewarding, quiet shore mark with mixed ground: clean sand in the middle and kelpy, bouldery headlands either side that hold wrasse, pollack and bass.
Location and Access
Tucked within the South Devon AONB, access is on foot via paths from Soar/Soar Mill Cove Hotel or from the National Trust land at Bolberry Down. The approach is scenic but can be steep and uneven, so allow extra time and travel light.
- Parking: Limited parking near Soar/Soar Mill Cove Hotel area (check on-site signs/charges) and larger National Trust parking at Bolberry Down; arrive early in summer.
- Postcode guide: Soar Mill Cove Hotel area is commonly listed as TQ7 3DS; Bolberry Down NT car park is a short drive away (check NT website for details).
- Walk-in: 10–20 minutes downhill to the cove; expect a steeper climb back out. Paths can be muddy after rain and slippery with dew.
- Terrain: Central sandy pocket with reef, kelp and boulders on both flanks; low rock ledges and gullies offer elevated perches at certain states of tide.
Seasons
The cove fishes like two marks in one: a surfy pocket beach for bass and rays, and rough, kelpy edges for wrasse and pollack. Seasonality matters, with summer variety and autumn peaks.
- Spring: Bass (increasing from April), pollack, early wrasse, garfish late spring, occasional gurnard on the sand.
- Summer: Ballan and corkwing wrasse, pollack, mackerel, garfish, scad; bass in any surf; dogfish, occasional small-eyed or spotted ray over sand; the odd turbot or brill is possible but uncommon.
- Autumn: Bass peak Aug–Oct, scad and mackerel shoals, wrasse until first frosts, conger after dark from rough ground, bull huss occasional.
- Winter: Whiting, pouting, dogfish on the sand, conger from the rocks; wrasse largely tail off; odd bass in blowy, coloured seas.
Methods
Mixed ground demands adaptable approaches. Travel with a lure rod and a light beach setup to cover both the rocks and the sandy pocket.
- Lures: Weedless soft plastics (white/pearl or natural) for bass and wrasse tight to kelp; 20–40 g metals and slim minnow/surface lures for pollack, mackerel and bass at dawn/dusk.
- Float fishing: Ragworm, king rag, prawn or crab baits set shallow over weed for wrasse; mackerel strip for garfish in clear, calm water.
- Bottom fishing (rocks): Short-range pulley/dropper with a weak-link (rotten-bottom) for rough ground; baits include peeler or hard crab, sandeel, squid and mackerel cocktail.
- Bottom fishing (sand): 2-hook flapper or clipped-down rig, 3–4 oz leads; lug, rag, sandeel or squid for bass/flatfish/gurnard; fish the edges of the sand/reef seam.
- Night tactics: Large fish baits (mackerel, squid, bluey) for conger and huss from rock tongues; use strong abrasion-resistant leaders and a long-handled net or gaff mat for safe release.
- Tackle notes: 9–10 ft lure rod (20–40 g) plus a 11–12 ft light beach/estuary rod covers most bases; 20–30 lb leader over rocks, 12–15 lb plus shock leader on the sand.
Tides and Conditions
This is a mark where tide state and water clarity flip the script. Aim to fish a building tide with some movement and tailor your method to the water colour.
- Best tide: Middle of the flood through high water and the first hour of the ebb. On smaller neaps, wrasse fishing can be excellent in clear water; springs often suit bass in a churned-up gutter.
- Swell and wind: A moderate southerly/south-westerly push that lifts a workable surf can switch bass on; big ground swell makes rock ledges dangerous and unfishable. Northerly winds flatten and clear the water for wrasse/gar/float work.
- Light levels: Dawn and dusk are prime for pollack, bass and mackerel; bright, clear middays suit float fishing tight to kelp.
- Water clarity: Clear = wrasse/gar/lure fishing; coloured = crab or squid baits and bigger profiles for bass and dogfish.
- Seasonal patterns: Summer–early autumn is most reliable; winter sport is mainly nocturnal and bait-led.
Safety
It’s a committing walk-in cove with no railings or easy exits off the ledges. Treat swell, slippy weed and rising tides with utmost respect.
- Paths: Steep, uneven and can be muddy; sturdy boots recommended. Not suitable for wheelchairs or very limited mobility.
- Ledges: Weed-slick rock, undercut edges and loose boulders; use a PFD/lifejacket and avoid fishing in heavy swell or in the dark on unfamiliar ground.
- Tide awareness: Some rock tongues can become cut off on the flood; carry a headtorch, check tide times and plan an escape route.
- Falls and rockfall: Keep back from crumbly cliff faces and avoid standing directly under overhangs.
- Comms: Mobile signal can be patchy; tell someone your plan and estimated return time.
- General: Use a long-handled landing net; gloves and eye protection when handling conger or unhooking spiky species.
Facilities
This is a wild-feeling spot with minimal on-site amenities; plan to be self-sufficient. Nearby villages offer supplies before you set off.
- Parking: Limited near Soar/Soar Mill Cove Hotel (check availability/charges) and National Trust parking at Bolberry Down.
- Toilets: None at the cove; nearest public options are in Malborough/Salcombe. Facilities at the hotel are for patrons/guests.
- Food and drink: Seasonal options at the hotel/nearby; otherwise bring supplies.
- Tackle and bait: Available in Kingsbridge and Salcombe; pre-order live bait in peak season and at weekends.
- Lifeguards/lighting: No lifeguard cover and no lighting; carry headtorch/spares and a first aid kit.
- Phone signal: Intermittent in the cove and around the cliffs.
Tips
Small, thoughtful tweaks make a big difference here. Think stealth, short casts and working the seams between sand and kelp.
- Fish the seams: The sand/reef edge funnels food; short, accurate casts often beat blasting to the horizon.
- Go weedless: Texas-rigged soft plastics save gear and tempt wrasse/bass tight to cover.
- Rotten-bottoms: Always use a weak-link on rough ground to reduce tackle loss and seabed litter.
- Water clarity rules: Carry both clear-water (natural) and coloured-water (chartreuse/white) lures to adapt.
- Downsizing for gar: Small slivers of mackerel under a float with size 6–8 hooks in summer can be frantic sport.
- Respect the wrasse: Big ballans are slow-growing—quick photo and release keeps the mark healthy.
- Night notes: After dark, bait up big and keep noise/light minimal; conger and huss patrol the gulley mouths.
- Feather responsibly: If chasing mackerel from the rocks, use 2–3 small sabiki flies rather than 6-hook strings to stay safe and reduce tangles.
Regulations
Soar Mill Cove sits within the Devon & Severn IFCA district and within the Start Point to Plymouth Sound & Eddystone protected area network; recreational angling from shore is allowed, but you must follow national and local rules. Always check the latest regulations before your trip.
- Bass rules: Recreational European seabass rules change periodically; commonly they include a 42 cm minimum size and a limited open season/bag (often 2 fish per angler per day in Mar–Nov, catch-and-release outside those dates). Confirm the current year’s byelaw and MMO notice before retaining any bass.
- Minimum sizes: Adhere to UK minimum conservation/reference sizes for species you intend to keep (e.g., bass 42 cm). When in doubt, release.
- IFCA byelaws: Devon & Severn IFCA has local byelaws on netting, potting and some shore gathering; while they don’t generally restrict rod-and-line angling here, do check for any seasonal or spatial measures.
- Protected features: Reefs and kelp are sensitive—avoid damaging kelp beds and do not pry off sessile species. No camping or fires on the beach; follow landowner/NT signage.
- Nearby nursery areas: The Salcombe–Kingsbridge Estuary has bass nursery restrictions (different rules apply inside the estuary); Soar Mill Cove is outside, but be mindful if you explore upriver marks.
- Ethics: Use barbless or de-barbed hooks where practical, carry a tape/measure, and return large wrasse and big breeding rays to protect the stock.
