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Devon

Thatcher Point

7.2 · Rocks · Devon

Thatcher Point is a rugged rock headland near Meadfoot, facing Thatcher Rock, with deep water close in and strong tidal flow along the ledges. It’s a classic lure and rough-ground bait venue: summer brings mackerel, scad and garfish, while pollack and wrasse are reliable around kelp and rough ground; conger and bull huss show after dark. Best results come at dawn/dusk on a flooding tide, especially in clear, settled conditions. Access is via coastal paths off Ilsham Marine Drive with some steep, uneven sections. Space is limited on the ledges; wear boots with good grip and avoid large swells or easterly blows. No facilities on site.

Should you fish Thatcher Point?

54 Fair

Today · Best available

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

Most likely species: Ballan Wrasse and Mackerel

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

NW 3 mph Rain 0% High tide 12:02

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Thatcher Point — 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.

Saturday looks better than today. Unlock the week to see its score and exact window.

· 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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Thatcher Point is a mobile, rough-ground rock venue where deep water, kelp edges and strong tidal flow make the flooding tide the key window. It suits confident rock anglers fishing lures, floats or heavy bait gear, with summer sport from mackerel, pollack, wrasse, garfish and scad, and after-dark chances for conger and bull huss. Clear, settled conditions are important; heavy easterly swell, surge and weed can quickly make the ledges a poor choice.

  • Know when to fish the flood and when to leave it alone
  • Pick the right ledge for pollack, wrasse or conger
  • Use the rough ground without losing tackle every cast
  • Switch between lures, floats and bait as the light changes
  • Avoid the easterly swell traps on the lower slabs

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Torquay 1.1 mi Paignton 3.4 mi Marldon 4.3 mi Kingskerswell 4.5 mi Stokeinteignhead 4.8 mi

Explore nearby towns: Torquay · Paignton · Marldon · Kingskerswell · Stokeinteignhead

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

Overall rating

7.2 /10

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

Category scores

Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 9/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 4/10
Accessibility 5/10

Pollack 8/10
Tip: Soft plastics or metals worked deep at dawn/dusk along drop-offs; fish the flooding tide with a bit of onshore breeze. 20–30g lures.
Mackerel 8/10
Tip: Summer shoals pass close; cast small metals or feathers from the headland on the flood, dusk best. Keep lures moving fast.
Ballan Wrasse 8/10
Tip: Float-fished crab or rag along kelpy ledges; best on the flood with a light swell, late spring–autumn. Use 20–30lb leader and 2/0 hooks.
Scad (Horse Mackerel) 7/10
Tip: Dusk into dark late summer/autumn. Small sabikis or size 6 hooks with mackerel strip under a float, mid-water on the flood.
Conger Eel 7/10
Tip: Night over rough ground; big mackerel or squid baits on 100lb trace dropped into gullies. Slack into first of the flood fishes best.
Bass 6/10
Tip: After a blow, work shallow-diving plugs or present peeler crab in gullies. Best on the flooding tide at dusk, early summer–autumn.
Pouting 6/10
Tip: Night ledgering with worm/squid cocktails near the bottom among boulders. Flood and first of the ebb; autumn–winter best.
Corkwing Wrasse 6/10
Tip: Size 4–6 hooks with rag or small crab tight to kelp; steady on the flood in summer. Light gear for sport.
Goldsinny Wrasse 5/10
Tip: Micro-worm baits on size 8–10 hooks lowered down rock faces; bites on the flood in clear water, summer.
Tompot Blenny 5/10
Tip: Tiny hooks and bits of prawn dropped into rock crevices at your feet; any tide state, best in calm conditions.
Garfish 5/10
Tip: Float a thin strip of sandeel or mackerel 2–3ft deep over weed lines; calm, clear water on the flood, late spring–autumn.

Local knowledge

Thatcher Point fishing guide

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

Thatcher Point is a scenic limestone headland in Torquay, Devon, overlooking the famous Thatcher Rock and the clear waters of Tor Bay. It’s a classic South Devon rock mark offering productive lure, float, and bottom fishing in settled conditions. Sheltered from many prevailing winds, it rewards mobility and watercraft with excellent summer sport and occasional bigger surprises at night.

Set between Meadfoot Beach and Hope’s Nose on the Torquay side of Tor Bay, Thatcher Point is reached via Ilsham Marine Drive and the South West Coast Path. Access is straightforward for fit anglers, but final approaches to the ledges involve uneven, occasionally steep ground.

  • Drive via Torquay town: follow signs to Meadfoot, then Ilsham Marine Drive; roadside lay-bys and small car parks overlook the point; pay-and-display at Meadfoot Beach is another option.
  • Approach on foot along the Coast Path; short side paths lead to ledges. Expect a 5–20 minute walk depending on your chosen platform.
  • Terrain is limestone slabs, boulder run-outs and kelp-fringed gullies; grippy boots are essential.
  • No known formal fishing restrictions at the time of writing, but respect any on-site signage and the SSSI status of the headland.

The point fishes like a classic clear-water rock mark, with peak variety from late spring to autumn. Winter brings smaller bottom species after dark.

  • Spring (Apr–May): ballan and corkwing wrasse, pollack, early garfish; chance of bass after a blow; dogfish.
  • Summer (Jun–Aug): mackerel, garfish, scad (horse mackerel) at dusk, wrasse, pollack; school bass; occasional squid on very calm clear nights.
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov): scad runs at night, mackerel tapering off, pollack improving at dusk, wrasse to first frosts; conger and the odd bull huss from rough ground.
  • Winter (Dec–Feb): whiting and pouting after dark, conger eels on big baits; the odd coalie; bass possible on onshore blows in coloured water.

Treat it as a mobile rock mark: read the water, hop between gullies and points, and change methods with the light and tide. Lure and float tactics excel in clear water; fish baits at night for eels and dogs.

  • Lure fishing: 9–10 ft rod (10–35 g) with 20–30 lb braid and 12–20 lb fluoro leader. Weedless soft plastics (Texas/cheb, 3–5 in) for wrasse/pollack along kelp edges; 20–40 g metals for mackerel/scad; shallow diving minnows or weightless softs for bass at first/last light.
  • Float fishing: slim pencil float with 6–12 ft trace; baits include ragworm/crab for wrasse, mackerel strip for garfish/pollack. Adjust depth to just above the weed tops.
  • Bottom fishing: strong rock rod, 30–50 lb braid mainline and 60–80 lb rubbing leader. Pulley/pulley dropper with 3/0–5/0 hooks and a weak-link (rotten-bottom) for leads. Big mackerel/squid cocktails or whole flappers for conger/huss after dark.
  • Scad and mackerel at dusk: small metals or sabiki tipped with slivers of fish under a 1–2 oz casting float.
  • Bring spare leads and end tackle; the ground is very rough with prolific kelp and limestone snags.

Tor Bay often stays fishable in south-westerlies, but Thatcher Point is exposed to easterlies which can push swell and weed onto the ledges. Water clarity strongly influences results.

  • Best tide windows: mid-flood to the top for wrasse/pollack; last light over high water for bass/pollack; night over high for conger.
  • Neap tides are kinder for bottom fishing (less tidal pull/snagging); springs can be lively around the tips and gullies.
  • Conditions: clear, calm seas suit lures and float tactics; a slight chop and overcast skies help bass. Avoid heavy easterly swells which cause surges on the slabs.
  • Time of day: dawn and dusk are prime for predators; full dark is best for conger, scad and whiting in season.
  • Seasonality: April–November is the main window for lure/float sport; winter can still produce at night on bait.

This is an exposed rock mark with uneven limestone and kelp; treat it with respect. It’s not suitable for anglers with limited mobility.

  • Wear cleated/grippy footwear; consider a personal flotation device and carry a headtorch if staying into dusk.
  • Assess swell before stepping onto low platforms; watch for surges and wet weeded rock that becomes slick.
  • Use a rotten-bottom for leads to avoid over-reaching on snags; never climb down towards the water to retrieve tackle.
  • Stick to established paths; cliff edges and crumbly limestone pose fall risks. Avoid fishing alone and tell someone your plan.
  • The area forms part of a protected SSSI: do not hammer rocks, light fires, or damage vegetation; respect any seasonal bird-nesting advisories.
  • Mobile signal is generally good but can dip in gullies; carry a charged phone and a basic first-aid kit.

You’re close to Torquay amenities, but the ledges themselves are wild. Plan to be self-sufficient on the rocks.

  • Parking: roadside lay-bys on Ilsham Marine Drive; pay-and-display available at Meadfoot Beach.
  • Toilets and refreshments: seasonal facilities and a cafe at/near Meadfoot Beach; more options in Torquay seafront (short drive).
  • Tackle and bait: several shops in Torquay/Paignton; phone ahead for fresh rag/lug/crab availability.
  • Mobile reception: generally reliable on the headland, variable lower down by the water.

Local anglers fish this mark light, mobile and quiet; the water is clear and fish are easily spooked. Small changes in presentation often outfish heavy gear.

  • Keep lures just above the kelp and use weedless hooks to drastically reduce losses; a slow, steady retrieve with pauses nails pollack.
  • For garfish, loose-feed tiny bread flakes or mashed bread and fish a sliver of mackerel strip 2–4 ft under a slim float.
  • Wrasse love crab and ragworm, but a 3–4 in creature bait Texas-rigged can match bait on clear, bright days.
  • If seals are working around Thatcher Rock, move a little along the point until they drift away.
  • Summer holiday periods see swimmers and kayakers near Meadfoot: choose outer ledges away from water users and cast parallel to the weed lines.
  • Bring a long-handled drop net or plan a safe gaff point for conger; many ledges are a metre or more above the water at mid-tide.
  • Pack out all line and litter; wardens and locals keep a close eye on this SSSI headland.

Thatcher Point sits within the Devon & Severn IFCA district and the Torbay Marine Conservation Zone. Recreational rod-and-line fishing is permitted, but a few key rules apply.

  • Bass: regulations change; as of 2024 the recreational limit is a minimum size of 42 cm, with a daily bag limit of two fish per angler from 1 March to 30 November, and catch-and-release outside those dates. Always check current UK government guidance before your trip.
  • SSSI/Local byelaws: the Hope’s Nose to Walls Hill SSSI covers this stretch. Do not hammer rocks, remove geological specimens, camp, or light fires. Obey any Public Spaces Protection Orders or on-site signage.
  • Shellfish/crustaceans: nationwide rules prohibit taking berried (egg-bearing) lobsters and crawfish; respect local minimum conservation reference sizes and return undersized specimens promptly.
  • MCZ: the Torbay MCZ does not prohibit rod-and-line angling, but avoid damaging habitats (seagrass/reef) and practice minimal-impact anchoring if arriving by small craft.
  • General: adhere to minimum sizes and bag limits set by the IFCA/UK law; no selling of rod-caught fish without the appropriate licences. Check Devon & Severn IFCA for the latest byelaws and seasonal closures.