St Mary's Bay

St Mary’s Bay sits just south of Brixham on the Torbay coastline, a secluded cove framed by steep cliffs and rocky headlands. It’s a classic South Devon mark: sand in the middle, reef and kelp on the edges, and a useful amount of shelter from prevailing south-westerlies. Expect rewarding mixed fishing with bass in a surf, wrasse on the rocks, and summer pelagics when the water clears.

Reaching St Mary’s Bay involves a short but steep walk, so travel light and wear decent footwear. Most anglers approach via Sharkham Point, where the coast path drops down to the beach by steps.

• Drive through Brixham towards the St Mary’s/Sharkham Point area and use the signed Sharkham Point car park; spaces are limited in peak season and on fine evenings.
• Follow the South West Coast Path signs to St Mary’s Bay; expect a steep, uneven path and a flight of steps down to the sand.
• Alternative access is possible from the northern side via the coast path above the bay, also involving steep sections.
• Terrain: sand/shingle beach with rocky, kelpy ledges at both ends; the central strand is generally cleaner ground.
• The beach narrows considerably on spring highs; plan your session with the tide in mind to avoid being squeezed against the cliff line.

The bay fishes differently across seasons, with the sandy centre and rocky edges offering varied targets. Work the rocks for wrasse and pollack in clear water and the sand for bass, flats, and rays in a push of tide or colour.

• Spring (Mar–May):
  • Bass (schoolies building to better fish in onshore conditions)
  • Plaice and dab (clean patches and gullies on the flood)
  • Pollack (lures from rocky margins, evenings)
  • Ballan and corkwing wrasse returning as water warms
  • Early black bream from May on reefy edges
• Summer (Jun–Aug):
  • Bass (dawn/dusk, especially in a bit of lift)
  • Mackerel and garfish (calm, clear days; height of summer)
  • Wrasse (daytime over rough ground)
  • Black bream (May–Sep; small hooks, fine gear)
  • Dogfish; occasional smoothhound; chance of thornback ray after dark
  • Mullet (golden grey and thick‑lipped) mooching in calm corners
• Autumn (Sep–Nov):
  • Bass (often best of the year in E/SE blows and coloured water)
  • Garfish and late mackerel runs
  • Whiting and pouting increasing from October
  • Conger from boulder holes after dark; bream until the first chills
• Winter (Dec–Feb):
  • Whiting, pouting, dogfish on night tides
  • Dabs and the odd plaice on settled spells
  • Rockling; rare chance codling in severe winters

Match your approach to the ground in front of you: clean sand in the centre rewards conventional beach tactics, while the flanks are made for lure and float work along kelp and ledges.

• Bottom fishing (sand):
  • Rigs: 2‑hook flappers with size 2–1 hooks for flats/whiting; up‑and‑over or pulley‑dropper with 2/0–4/0 for bass/ray.
  • Baits: lugworm and ragworm for flats/whiting; peeler crab, squid, sandeel, and mackerel/squid cocktails for bass/ray/dogfish.
  • Distances: short to medium casts often best—bass and flatties patrol close on a flooding tide.
• Rock/reef edges (both ends of the bay):
  • Lures: soft plastics (paddle/straight tails 3–5 in) and small metals for pollack and bass; surface and sub‑surface lures at dawn/dusk on a flood.
  • Float fishing: ragworm or prawn for wrasse; mackerel strip for garfish/mackerel. Set depth to run just above the kelp.
  • LRF: isome/worm imitations around boulders for corkwing, blennies, and mini species.
• Night tactics:
  • Big crab or squid wraps on a pulley or up‑and‑over for bass or an occasional thornback.
  • Slim-wire size 1–2 hooks with small worm baits for steady whiting and dab sport.
• Tackle notes:
  • Use abrasion‑resistant leaders near the rocks; employ rotten‑bottom (weak link) leads when casting onto mixed/rough ground.
  • Scale down and fish fluorocarbon snoods (10–15 lb) for bream and garfish in clear water.

This is a bay that changes character with wind and tide. It’s usually sheltered from prevailing SW, but easterlies push surf and colour into Torbay and can switch on the bass.

• Tide states:
  • Flood tide is prime, especially mid‑flood to high; fish move tight under the rocks and along the sand’s edge.
  • The first of the ebb can still produce, but the central beach can go quiet at low.
  • On big springs, the beach can be small at top water—time your arrival.
• Sea and wind:
  • E/SE onshore winds create lift and colour—excellent for bass with crab/sandeel or lures in the white water.
  • Calm, clear water favours wrasse, pollack, garfish, bream, and mackerel on the edges and under floats.
  • After blows, expect drifting weed in the bay; step up lead weight and keep rod tips high.
• Time of day/season:
  • Dawn/dusk consistently out‑fish the middle of the day, especially for bass and pelagics.
  • Late spring to early autumn is the most varied; winter is a night‑fishing proposition for whiting/dabs/dogfish.

It’s a beautiful but committing venue: steep access, no lifeguard, and cliffs prone to rockfall. Treat the rocks with respect and fish within your limits.

• Access: steep, uneven paths and steps—unsuitable for wheelchairs and difficult with heavy gear; wear grippy boots.
• Cliff and rock hazards: avoid sitting beneath unstable faces; expect slippery weeded rock at the ends; use a PFD if working low ledges.
• Tide squeeze: on spring highs the dry sand can vanish; avoid being cut off at either end by the rocks.
• Swell/surf: easterly swells can dump powerfully on the sand; keep distance when casting and mind your footing.
• Night fishing: carry two headtorches, spare batteries, and a first‑aid kit; keep paths illuminated for the climb out.
• Comms: mobile signal can be patchy under the cliffs—tell someone your plan and ETA.
• Wildlife and nesting birds: stay on marked paths and heed any seasonal notices along the coast path.

There are no facilities on the beach itself—plan as if you’re heading to a remote cove. Brixham is close by for everything else.

• No toilets, bins, or shelter on the beach; pack out all litter.
• Nearest public toilets, cafés, and takeaways are in Brixham town and around the harbour.
• Parking at Sharkham Point is limited; arrive early on fine evenings. Check local signage for any restrictions/closing times.
• Tackle and bait: several options in Brixham/Paignton; ring ahead in summer for bait.
• No lifeguard cover; seasonal RNLI presence is limited to other Torbay beaches.
• Phone signal varies—generally better higher on the path than on the sand.

Local patterns repeat here: bass love a bit of fizz on the sand, while clear summer water lights up the rock edges. Small tweaks can make a big difference.

• After an easterly blow, fish the first making tide with crab or sandeel in the surf for bass.
• Work soft plastics along the kelp line at first light for pollack; pause the retrieve over drops—hits come on the fall.
• For bream, go small and tidy: size 6–8 hooks, 10–12 lb fluoro, and small strips of squid or prawn.
• Float rigs drifted parallel to the rocks at both ends pick out wrasse and gar—adjust depth to just skim the weed.
• Use a weak‑link (rotten‑bottom) on mixed ground to save leads and rigs.
• In summer, expect swimmers and paddlecraft; fish dawn/evening or pick the rock edges to stay clear.
• Keep noise and lights down after dark; the cove is echoey and fish can be spooky in calm conditions.

This shoreline lies within the Devon & Severn IFCA district and along a coastline with conservation designations near Berry Head/Sharkham Point. Shore angling from the beach is generally permitted, but rules on size, seasons, and protected species apply—always check current notices and byelaws before you keep fish.

• Management/areas:
  • Devon & Severn IFCA byelaws apply (minimum sizes, netting/hand‑gathering controls, gear restrictions in some protected areas). Follow on‑site signage and stick to established paths within the nearby nature reserve designations.
• Species‑specific notes (non‑exhaustive):
  • European bass: national recreational limits change—check current UK rules for open/closed months, bag limit, and the 42 cm minimum size before retaining any fish.
  • Pollack: national measures have recently changed—verify current recreational rules (some periods have been catch‑and‑release only).
  • Rays: identify carefully; many anglers return undulate rays as a conservation measure. Handle all rays with wet hands and support the wings.
  • Tope: recreational anglers in England must not retain tope—release immediately.
  • Eels and shad: protected—release if encountered.
• General:
  • No fires or cliff access off established paths; do not disturb nesting birds or damage vegetation.
  • If collecting bait, ensure it’s permitted at the exact location and comply with IFCA hand‑working rules.
  • Observe standard sea angling good practice: measure fish, keep only what you’ll eat, and release big wrasse and breeding‑size bass.
• Always confirm the latest regulations via gov.uk and Devon & Severn IFCA before your trip; local councils may also post temporary access or safety restrictions.