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Devon

Teignmouth Beach

6.8 · Beach · Devon

A long, shingle-over-sand open beach running north from the River Teign. Mostly clean ground with groynes and occasional gutters, suited to bait fishing and summer spinning. Best results on a flooding tide, especially the last few hours into high water; dawn and dusk are prime. Summer brings mackerel, scad and garfish close in on calm days, while autumn–winter sees whiting, dabs and dogfish. Bass patrol the surf in onshore winds and around the river mouth. Occasional rays and sole show after dark. Access is excellent via the promenade with amenities nearby, but avoid lifeguarded/swimmer zones in season. Watch lateral currents on springs, dumping surf in easterlies, and slippery groynes.

Should you fish Teignmouth Beach?

54 Fair

Today · Best available

Best available: 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide

Most likely species: Mackerel and Bass

Fair conditions. Best available around 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide, but no window reaches the strong threshold today. Good chance of Mackerel and Bass.

W 3 mph Rain 0% High tide 12:04

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Teignmouth Beach — 7-day forecast

Scores and best windows are weighted for .

Met Office Met Office · Open-Meteo

Where the data comes from. Weather and sea-state readings come from the Met Office and Open-Meteo forecast models, refreshed several times a day. High and low water are taken from tide-station predictions for this stretch of coast.

How the score works. Each window is scored 0–100 from the signals that most reliably move fish inshore: tide movement (a running tide carries food, so the last of the flood and first of the ebb are usually the prime spells), wind speed and direction (onshore wind stirs food into the surf — up to the point it makes fishing hard), sea state (a little wave and swell movement helps, heavy swell hurts), and weather — rain, temperature and light. Behind the headline number we score bite opportunity and comfort separately, and run a separate safety check on wind and swell. The size of the tide counts too: spring tides move more water than neaps, so the tidal range for this stretch of coast is weighed alongside the tide's direction, your target species and this mark — and unusually big springs strengthen the safety check, because the water rises faster and covers more ground.

Your target species counts. Pick a species below and the score also weights what we know about it — its season, preferred sea temperature, tide stage and sea state, and whether it feeds by day or night.

The rating is guidance, not a guarantee — conditions change fast on the coast, so always judge the sea in front of you before you fish.

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· windows & tide

Spring vs neap tides. Spring tides have a larger difference between high and low water, so more water moves on each tide — usually stronger flow that stirs up food and gets fish feeding. Neap tides have a smaller range and generally gentler movement. The range here is compared with what is normal for this stretch of coast, and the cycle swings between springs and neaps roughly every week, following the moon.

Big spring tides: the water rises faster and covers more ground than usual — double-check access routes and cut-off points before you fish.

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Teignmouth Beach is a long shingle-over-sand beach where timing and positioning matter more than distance. The main town beach is the better choice for surf bass, whiting, dogfish, flatfish and occasional rays, while the more sheltered Back Beach/estuary side gives a useful finesse option for flounder, mullet and schoolie bass when the open shore is too lively. The strongest general window is a flooding tide, especially the last couple of hours into high water, with dawn, dusk and calm summer nights giving the best specialist opportunities.

  • Know when to fish the town beach instead of Back Beach
  • Time the flood so you are fishing the best Teignmouth window
  • Target bass close in rather than wasting casts at range
  • Switch tactics when spring sweep starts dragging your leads
  • Pick the right Teignmouth backup before the session fails

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Teignmouth 0.3 mi Shaldon 1.3 mi Holcombe (Teignbridge) 1.6 mi Stokeinteignhead 2.2 mi Bishopsteignton 2.3 mi

Explore nearby towns: Teignmouth · Shaldon · Holcombe (Teignbridge) · Stokeinteignhead · Bishopsteignton

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Forecast tuning currently supports Bass and Mackerel — more species are on the way.

Overall rating

6.8 /10

Blend of catch potential, access, safety, and overall experience.

Category scores

Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 7/10
Accessibility 9/10

Bass 8/10
Tip: Surf along the river mouth and gutters; lures or peeler crab on a flooding tide at dawn/dusk. Best after a blow with some colour in the water, summer–autumn.
Lesser Spotted Dogfish 8/10
Tip: Reliable at night over clean sand; 2-hook rigs with mackerel or sandeel. Fish the mid to outer beach on a flooding tide, spring–autumn.
Whiting 7/10
Tip: Winter nights; small fish baits or worm tipped with mackerel. Cast to the second gutter; best on a making tide and over high water.
Dover Sole 6/10
Tip: Warm, calm nights May–Oct; rag, lug or maddies on short snoods. Short lob into the first gutter; top of flood into first ebb.
Mackerel 6/10
Tip: June–Sept; small metals, feathers or float-fished strip. Work dusk on clear, calm seas near deeper water and groynes.
Golden-grey Mullet 6/10
Tip: Summer along the surf line; tiny rag or isome on size 8–10, light float or small spinner. First push of tide along the shore break.
Plaice 5/10
Tip: Spring on settled seas; lug/rag tipped with mussel. Long flowing traces with beads; cast to clean sand beyond the first bar on a flooding daytime tide.
Flounder 5/10
Tip: Autumn–winter; short casts with rag or maddies to margins and channel edges near the river mouth. Best on the flood to high.
Smoothhound 5/10
Tip: Late spring–summer; peeler crab on pulley rigs. Target the river mouth channels on a flooding tide into dusk; 20–60 yd casts.
Garfish 4/10
Tip: Late spring–autumn; float-fish small strips or sandeel at mid-water. Fish dawn/dusk on a flooding tide in clear water.
Small-eyed Ray 3/10
Tip: Late spring–autumn; sandeel or launce on pulley rigs. Cast to sandbanks at range on evening floods in settled seas.
Weever Fish (Lesser) 3/10
Tip: Summer; tiny worm baits close-in over clean sand with short snoods. Handle carefully due to venomous spines.

Local knowledge

Teignmouth Beach fishing guide

Practical access, seasons, methods, tides, safety and facilities for this mark.

Teignmouth Beach (Devon) sits on the east-facing shore of the Teign estuary mouth, backed by a broad promenade and the Victorian pier. It offers easy, comfortable access with genuine mixed fishing: surf bass on the town beach, rays and smoothhounds on settled nights, and mullet, flounder and schoolie bass on the estuary side. With the right tide and a tidy surf, it’s a very reliable all-round mark for both bait and lure anglers.

Teignmouth is on the A379 between Dawlish and Shaldon, with a railway station a short stroll from the seafront. The fishing is split between the exposed town beach (by the pier and The Den) and the more sheltered estuary side at Back Beach near the ferry steps.

  • Parking: Pay-and-display by the seafront and The Den (around TQ14 8SY) and at Eastcliff; additional short-stay near the harbour/Back Beach (around TQ14 8BZ). Arrive early in summer and on sunny weekends.
  • Approach: Level promenade walking with multiple ramps down to the sand/shingle; Back Beach is reached via narrow streets and slipways.
  • Terrain: Town beach is sand with a shingle top and timber groynes; it shelves fairly steeply. Back Beach/estuary side is firmer sand with soft patches and boat moorings.
  • Distance: 1–5 minutes’ walk from most car parks; minimal lugging compared with many South Devon venues.
  • Note: Fishing from the pier is not permitted; this guide concerns the beaches and adjacent sea walls.

This is a genuine mixed fishery, with surf species on the town beach and estuary species on Back Beach. Expect seasonal shifts and short feeding windows around the tides.

  • Spring (March–May)
    • Bass (schoolies building to better fish in May)
    • Plaice and dabs (clean sand patches), flounder (estuary)
    • Thick- and thin-lipped mullet (Back Beach), occasional early garfish
  • Summer (June–August)
    • Bass (dawn/dusk surf), smoothhound, small-eyed ray, tub/grey gurnard
    • Mackerel and scad at first/last light; garfish; occasional sole close in at night
    • Thick/Thin-lipped mullet in numbers inside the estuary
  • Autumn (September–November)
    • Peak bass runs, small-eyed ray, dogfish; whiting arrive
    • Scad and mackerel tails off late; eels and the odd conger after dark by structure
  • Winter (December–February)
    • Whiting, pouting, dabs; flounder in the estuary on neaps
    • Odd codling in colder snaps; rockling and strap conger at night

Both bait and lure work well here, with the town beach favouring surf tactics and Back Beach rewarding finesse. Match your gear to a noticeable lateral sweep on bigger tides.

  • Surf bait fishing (town beach)
    • Rigs: 2/3-hook flapper for whiting/flatfish; clipped-down 1/2-hook for distance; pulley pennel (3/0–4/0) for bass/rays
    • Leads: 5–6 oz breakout wired leads to hold in the sweep; 60 lb shockleader
    • Baits: Peeler crab (prime for bass/smoothhound), rag/lug, sandeel, squid, mackerel strip; cocktail squid/sandeel for rays
  • Lure fishing for bass
    • Dawn/dusk along the surf line and at the river mouth on the flood
    • Shallow divers, 20–30 g metals, white/ayu soft plastics on 7–12 g heads; needlefish in clear, calm seas
  • Estuary/Back Beach finesse
    • Flounder/plaice: light 2-hook flapper, size 2–4 hooks, beads and small spoons, gentle casts; rag, maddies, tipped worm
    • Mullet: bread or prawn under a clear float; tiny size 8–10 hooks; berley with bread mash
  • Summer surface/action
    • Mackerel/scad/gar: float-fish strips at 8–15 ft, or 20–40 g metals; dusk often best near the channel edge
  • Night tactics
    • For rays/conger: big squid or squid/mackerel on pulley pennel, keep baits fresh and off the crabs with pop-ups

Tide timing is everything here, with short, productive windows as water starts moving. The open beach is exposed to easterlies but fishes beautifully on a tidy surf with an offshore or light crosswind.

  • Best states
    • Town beach: flood tide into and after dusk; last 2 hours of flood and first of ebb can be prime for bass
    • Rays/smoothhound: around low to first push on settled seas
    • Estuary: flounder on the ebb and slack; mullet on the flood up to top water
  • Sea and wind
    • SW–W winds are offshore and flatten the surf; a gentle, tidy swell with colour is ideal for bass
    • Easterlies build surf quickly and can make it unfishable; pick lulls after a blow as it settles
  • Tidal size
    • Big springs create strong lateral sweep on the town beach—use heavier grip leads; neaps are kinder for estuary work
  • Light levels and seasonality
    • Dawn and dusk stand out year-round; summer nights for rays/dogs, autumn dusk for bass and scad
    • Clear water favours lures; slight colour suits baited surf fishing

This is a convenient, urban mark, but the river mouth and groynes demand respect. Treat the Point and Back Beach like the working water they are, with traffic, rips and fast tides.

  • Strong currents and rips near the river mouth (The Point) and along groynes during springs—avoid wading there
  • Steep shingle banks can collapse underfoot at the high-water line; keep back in surf
  • Slippery algae on timber groynes, slipways and rocks; no fishing from the pier
  • Estuary hazards: boat moorings, ferry movements, deep scours; keep lines clear and give way to all traffic
  • Bathing zones: respect lifeguard-flagged areas in summer—do not cast among swimmers
  • Night fishing: headtorch, high-vis or light on tripod; tell someone your plan
  • Accessibility: long, level promenade with ramps to the beach; suitable for trolleys. Sand/shingle slope can be challenging for wheelchairs. A manual lifejacket is recommended when close to the water or on slippery structure

Teignmouth is well set up for visiting anglers with plentiful amenities close to the promenade. Everything you need is within a short walk.

  • Public toilets and water points along the seafront near The Den; seasonal opening hours
  • Cafés, pubs, takeaways and supermarkets within a few minutes’ walk; plenty of seating and shelter on the prom
  • Tackle/bait: local shops in town and nearby resorts; fresh/frozen bait usually available—ring ahead in summer
  • RNLI presence and clear safety signage; first-aid and lifeguards during peak season
  • Good mobile signal and street lighting; train station close to the beach for car-free trips
  • Multiple pay-and-display car parks adjacent to the beach and harbour

Small tweaks make a big difference on this beach, particularly in tide run. Think short, accurate casting for bass and tidy presentation for the rays.

  • Bass often feed 20–60 yards out in a tidy surf—don’t blast every cast; move to find seams of coloured water
  • Use fresh peeler crab in late spring/summer; in autumn, squid/sandeel cocktails sort better fish from dogfish
  • Clip-down rigs with long snoods and aerodynamic leads dramatically improve bite rates in cross-sweep
  • On neaps, try the estuary edge with beads and small spoons for flounder—let the rig trundle slowly
  • Mullet on Back Beach respond to a steady breadcrumb trail; fish small and patient with size 8–10 hooks
  • Watch for bird activity and slicks at first light for mackerel/scad; metals out-fish feathers when fish are finicky
  • Weed can be a nuisance after blows—keep rods high on a tripod and trim leader knots to reduce weed build-up
  • Avoid peak beach hours in July–August; early morning or after dusk is more productive and courteous

Angling is generally permitted from Teignmouth’s beaches, but seasonal beach management applies. Always obey on-site signage and any instructions from lifeguards and harbour staff.

  • Pier: no angling from Teignmouth Pier (amusements only). Fish from the beaches or permitted sea walls instead
  • Bathing zones: Teignbridge-managed bathing areas are flagged in summer—do not fish within flagged zones or across swimmers
  • Harbour/estuary: give way to all vessels; do not obstruct slipways, moorings or the ferry. Observe any local notices to mariners
  • Bass rules (check current year before you go): in 2024 for ICES area 7d–h, recreational anglers could retain 2 bass/day at minimum 42 cm from March 1 to Nov 30; catch-and-release only Dec–Feb. Regulations can change annually—verify before fishing
  • Minimum sizes/bag limits: national and Devon & Severn IFCA byelaws apply for many species—measure fish and release undersized
  • Migratory fish: if you encounter salmon or sea trout in the estuary, release immediately unless you hold the correct EA rod licence and are within an open season
  • Bait collection: respect any local restrictions and SSSI protections on the estuary flats; do not dig in seagrass beds
  • Waste and wildlife: take all litter and line home; rays and smoothhounds must be handled carefully and released promptly unless regulations permit retention