Thatcher Point Fishing

Last updated: 2 days ago

Thatcher Point Fishing Map

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.

Ratings

⭐ 7.2/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 9/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 4/10
Accessibility 5/10

Fish You Can Catch at Thatcher Point

🐟 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.

Thatcher Point Fishing

Summary

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.

Location and Access

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.

Seasons

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.

Methods

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.

Tides and Conditions

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.

Safety

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

Facilities

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

Tips

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.

Regulations

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.