Teignmouth Beach Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Teignmouth Beach Fishing Map

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.

Ratings

⭐ 6.8/10 Overall
Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 7/10
Accessibility 9/10

Fish You Can Catch at Teignmouth Beach

🐟 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.

Teignmouth Beach Fishing

Summary

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.

Location and Access

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.

Seasons

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.

Methods

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.

Tides and Conditions

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.

Safety

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.

Facilities

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

Tips

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.

Regulations

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.