St Mary's Bay Fishing

Last updated: 5 days ago

St Mary's Bay Fishing Map

A steep shingle/sand cove just south of Brixham, backed by high cliffs. The centre offers clean to lightly mixed ground, while both ends are rocky and kelpy (towards Sharkham Point and the Berry Head side), giving a good mix of surf and rough-ground fishing. Summer brings prolific mackerel, scad and garfish, with wrasse and pollack tight to the rocks; bass are possible in the surf on a flooding tide. After dark, expect dogfish, pouting and the odd conger from the rougher edges, plus winter whiting on the sand. Best states are the flood through dusk into night in settled seas. Access is via steep paths/steps and can be strenuous; check tides and swell, and avoid being cut off near the rock fringes.

Ratings

⭐ 6.4/10 Overall
Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 5/10
Accessibility 4/10

Fish You Can Catch at St Mary's Bay

🐟 Mackerel 9/10
🎯 Tip: Summer shoals; spin or feather from rocky points. Best on a flooding tide at dawn/dusk; keep moving to locate fish.
🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Work surfy edges and gullies on a flooding tide at dawn/dusk or after a blow. Shallow plugs, metals, or peeler/crab over mixed ground.
🐟 Pollack 7/10
🎯 Tip: Lures or float-fished sandeel tight to kelp and ledges. Dusk into dark on a flooding tide; slow retrieve, keep high to avoid snags.
🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 7/10
🎯 Tip: Very common at night over sand. Small fish or squid baits on 2-hook flappers; fish mid-to-outer bay on the flood.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 7/10
🎯 Tip: Crab or worm baits dropped tight to rough ground. Daytime flood; stout gear and rotten-bottom rigs help beat snags.
🐟 Garfish 7/10
🎯 Tip: Float-fish mackerel strips or small metals in clear, calm water late spring–autumn. Best from rocky ends on the flood.
🐟 Pouting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Common after dark near rough ground. Small fish/squid baits on flappers; fish the flood into high water.
🐟 Conger Eel 6/10
🎯 Tip: Night from rocky margins with big fish/squid baits. Try neaps and last of the flood; strong trace and rotten-bottom lead.
🐟 Black Bream 6/10
🎯 Tip: Summer over mixed rough/clean patches. Small hooks with rag/strip on light gear; clear water and the flood from bay edges.
🐟 Whiting 5/10
🎯 Tip: Winter evenings over sand. Small fish/squid baits on 2–3 hook flappers; fish the flood towards high water.
🐟 Plaice 5/10
🎯 Tip: Spring–early summer over clean sand. Long casts with beads and lug/rag; daylight on gentle surf and neap tides.

St Mary's Bay Fishing

Summary

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.

Location and Access

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.

Seasons

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.

Methods

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.

Tides and Conditions

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.

Safety

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.

Facilities

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.

Tips

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.

Regulations

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.