Start Point Fishing

Last updated: 5 days ago

Start Point Fishing Map

An exposed rocky headland beneath Start Point Lighthouse on the South Devon coast. Deep water is close in with strong tidal run along the headland, making it a classic lure and bottom-fishing mark. Best in calmer seas with a light to moderate swell and a flooding tide, especially at dawn or dusk. Access is via the lighthouse car park and a coastal path, then scrambling onto ledges; take care on wet, weeded rocks. Swell, surge and sudden waves are real hazards, and it is very exposed to easterly winds. Offers excellent summer sport for pollack, mackerel and wrasse, with conger and scad after dark.

Ratings

⭐ 6.9/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 4/10
Accessibility 5/10

Fish You Can Catch at Start Point

🐟 Pollack 9/10
🎯 Tip: Lures (metals/soft plastics) or float-fished sandeel along kelp-covered ledges. Best at dawn/dusk on a flooding tide; deep water close in.
🐟 Mackerel 8/10
🎯 Tip: Summer shoals; cast feathers or spinners into the tide run from the point. Best on the flood at dawn or evening.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 8/10
🎯 Tip: Ragworm or crab dropped into kelp and boulders. Mid-flood to slack, summer–autumn. Use strong gear and a rotten-bottom link.
🐟 Conger Eel 7/10
🎯 Tip: Night over rough ground; large mackerel or squid baits on strong traces. Ebb into slack can fish well. Expect heavy snags.
🐟 Garfish 7/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–autumn; float-tackle with thin strip of mackerel or sandeel set shallow in tide rips. Clear water and a flooding tide help.
🐟 Bass 6/10
🎯 Tip: Rougher seas and a building tide; shallow divers/soft plastics or fresh crab into gullies. Dawn/dusk and after a blow are best.
🐟 Pouting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Regular at night in deep water; small fish/squid baits on 1/0s. Fish just off the bottom on the flood.
🐟 Bull Huss 6/10
🎯 Tip: Night over kelpy gullies; big fish or squid baits on pulley rigs. Neaps or slack water reduce weed drag and snags.
🐟 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 6/10
🎯 Tip: Late summer–autumn nights; small sabikis or float with tiny fish strips. Fish midwater on the flood; lights help draw them in.
🐟 Corkwing Wrasse 5/10
🎯 Tip: Small ragworm or prawn close to weeded rock faces; summer. Fish mid tide when swell allows, keep gear tight to avoid snags.

Start Point Fishing

Summary

Start Point is a dramatic, tide-scoured headland at the southern end of Start Bay in South Devon, backed by the famous lighthouse. It offers deep water close in, strong tidal movement, and mixed rough ground that consistently turns up wrasse, pollack and bass for mobile, safety-conscious anglers. Choose your side of the point for shelter and you can usually find fishable water even when nearby beaches are unfriendly.

Location and Access

Access is via the signed single-track road for Start Point Lighthouse from the A379 near Stokenham, leading to a pay-and-display car park. From there it’s a 10–20 minute walk on a tarmac path to the lighthouse, with rough paths branching to ledges on both the Start Bay (east) and Channel (west) sides.

Seasons

Start Point fishes like a classic South Devon headland: wrasse and pollack over the rough stuff, bass around the tide runs, and conger/huss after dark. Mackerel and garfish show through the warmer months, with pout and rocklings filling in winter nights.

Methods

Mobility and presentation are key here. Travel fairly light, fish the water in front of you thoroughly, and match your method to the run and clarity.

Tides and Conditions

The headland’s power comes from its tide race; too much run makes it unfishable, too little can be lifeless. Plan sessions around softer runs and use the lee side to your advantage.

Safety

This is a serious rock mark with strong currents, wrap-around swell and committing ledges. If conditions or your kit/experience aren’t right, pick a safer venue in Start Bay.

Facilities

Facilities are minimal at the point; plan to be self-sufficient. Nearby villages have what you’ll need before and after a session.

Tips

Think like a roving lure angler with a contingency for bait after dark. Start high, read the water, and work the seams rather than fighting the full race.

Regulations

Rod-and-line fishing is generally permitted from the rocks around Start Point, but the lighthouse compound and any fenced or signed areas are off-limits. The headland sits within/adjacent to designated marine and coastal conservation areas; anglers are welcome but expected to minimise disturbance.