Tinside Fishing

Summary

Tinside sits on Plymouth Hoe, beside the iconic art‑deco Tinside Lido, overlooking the western approaches of Plymouth Sound. It’s a convenient, urban rock and sea‑wall mark offering quick access, mixed rough ground, and a steady flow of summer predators and year‑round multispecies sport. Fish sensibly around swimmers and the lido area and it becomes a productive, easy‑reach venue for lure, float and light‑gear enthusiasts.

Location and Access

Tinside is reached via Hoe Road/Madeira Road on Plymouth Hoe, with steps down to the lower foreshore and platforms near the lido. Access is straightforward from the promenade, but the final approach to fishable ledges involves steep, often wet steps and algae‑coated stone.

• Parking: Multiple pay‑and‑display options on/around the Hoe and along Madeira Road (near Elphinstone). Arrive early in summer/event days as bays fill quickly.
• Approach: Short walk from bays to the sea wall; steps/ladders lead to lower levels when the sea state allows. Not suitable for trolleys on the last section.
• Terrain: Sea wall, stepped platforms and rough, kelpy reef ground at lower tides. Expect snags.
• Public transport: City buses stop a short walk away on the Hoe.
• Note: Do not attempt to access or fish from the Tinside Lido structure or designated swimming platforms.

Seasons

This is classic mixed ground with a strong summer showing, plus winter odds and ends in deeper holes off the wall. Expect quick‑hit sessions for mackerel and gar on calm evenings, with wrasse/pollack tight to weed beds and structure.

• Common (late spring to autumn):
• Ballan and corkwing wrasse (May–Oct)
• Pollack (Apr–Oct, best dawn/dusk)
• Mackerel (Jun–Sep) and scad/horse mackerel (Aug–Oct, best after dark)
• Garfish (May–Oct)
• Thick‑lipped mullet (May–Oct, around calm edges and lido walls)
• Bass (Apr–Nov, peaks Aug–Oct on a push of tide)
• Year‑round/after dark:
• Conger eel (best at night on the rough patches)
• Pouting, poor cod, rocklings, tompot blenny, shannies/gobies (LRF staples)
• Winter visitors (variable):
• Whiting (Nov–Jan), occasional codling, flounder on the sandier seams
• Occasional/bonus:
• Squid (Oct–Dec under lights and clear water)
• Triggerfish in warm summers (Aug–Sep, rare and very localised)

Methods

Tinside rewards mobile, precise fishing along edges and flood‑tide seams. Keep gear light and accept some tackle losses on the rough.

• Lures:
• 20–40 g metals for mackerel/scad; cover water on the flood and at dusk.
• Weedless soft plastics (7–20 g heads) for pollack/bass worked tight to kelp gullies.
• Small hard minnows/surface lures early/late for bass in a gentle chop.
• Float fishing:
• Slim cigar/clear floats with size 4–8 hooks; rag/lug or prawn for wrasse, sandeel strip for gar/mackerel.
• Set depth to just above weed tops; drift along the wall and eddies.
• Bottom tactics:
• 1–2 hook paternoster or short pulley with a weak/rotten‑bottom link; 3–5 oz leads usually suffice.
• Baits: peeler/soft crab and rag for wrasse/bass; mackerel/squid for conger/pouting.
• Light Rock Fishing (LRF):
• 1–7 g jigheads or dropshot with isome/gulp; probe cracks, ladders and kelp for frequent minis.
• Tackle notes:
• A 9–10 ft lure rod covers most spinning/float work; a shorter 10–11 ft mixed‑ground rod helps if ledgering from the steps. Use 20–30 lb braid leaders or 30–50 lb mono rubbing leaders around the wall.

Tides and Conditions

The mark fishes best on a flooding tide, especially the last two hours into high water and the first of the ebb. Water clarity and wind direction strongly influence results.

• Tide:
• Flood to high water is prime; low water reveals wrasse‑holding gullies but access/safety become more challenging.
• Springs lift more weed but bring fish tight to the wall; neaps are kinder for finesse LRF.
• Time of day:
• Dawn/dusk for bass/pollack on lures; dusk into dark for scad, pouting, conger and occasional squid.
• Conditions:
• Clear to lightly coloured water for wrasse/gar/pollack; a light onshore ripple benefits bass.
• Strong south‑westerlies push surge and weed against the wall—often unfishable. Light easterlies flatten it off for float/lure work.

Safety

This is an exposed sea wall/foreshore with reflected swell and slippery algae—choose your step‑downs carefully and never fish among swimmers. Always prioritise the lido’s bathing zone and posted notices.

• Do not fish from the Tinside Lido structure, swim platforms or within any marked bathing area when in use.
• Slippery steps and green weed: wear cleated boots and consider a flotation lifejacket.
• Reflected swell can surge up the steps on springs and in onshore winds; keep kit secured and avoid low ledges in swell.
• Snaggy, kelpy bottom: expect tackle losses—use weak links.
• Night sessions: take a headtorch and mind unlit steps/ladders; avoid fishing alone on lower levels.
• Accessibility: The promenade is accessible, but the final steps to fishable spots are steep/wet; not wheelchair‑friendly to the water’s edge.

Facilities

Being on the Hoe, facilities are close at hand, especially in summer. Seasonal events can make parking and access busier than usual.

• Toilets: Public facilities on/near the Hoe; additional toilets when Tinside Lido is open (seasonal).
• Food & drink: Cafés, kiosks and bars along Hoe Road and the promenade.
• Tackle: Several tackle shops within Plymouth city area; check opening hours if you need bait late.
• Lighting & signal: Promenade lighting helps, but lower steps can be dark; mobile reception is generally strong.
• Bins: Public bins on the Hoe—pack out line and leads if full.
• Events: Major events (e.g., fireworks championships, Armed Forces Day) can restrict parking and access—plan around closures.

Tips

Small adjustments and tidy presentation make a big difference at this pressured urban mark. Travel light, keep mobile and work the edges rather than long casting into snags.

• For garfish, fish a long snood under a slim float with a sliver of sandeel or mackerel—let it drift along the wall.
• Bass often show on the first push of flood along the steps; try a small surface lure at dawn before footfall builds.
• Wrasse love prawn or peeler crab in the kelp pockets—strike positively and bully them clear.
• For scad at dusk, downsize metals or use a Sabiki under a small casting float; de‑barb for quick releases.
• A short, supple rotten‑bottom link saves leads over the rough patches.
• Early mornings avoid swimmer conflict and offer calm water for mullet—freeline bread flakes near back eddies.
• Autumn nights with clear water and little moon can see squid—work small jigs under the promenade lights.

Regulations

Tinside falls under Plymouth City Council byelaws, Devon & Severn IFCA, and national MMO rules. Angling is commonly practiced from the sea wall/foreshore, but there are important restrictions and seasonal considerations.

• No fishing from the Tinside Lido structure or any designated swimming platforms/marked bathing areas; obey on‑site signage and lifeguards when the lido and bathing cove are in use.
• Respect any temporary event closures or cordons on the Hoe promenade.
• Bass: Minimum size 42 cm and seasonal recreational retention limits apply; rules are reviewed periodically—check current MMO guidance before retaining fish.
• Pollack and other quota species may have changing recreational measures—confirm current limits/retention status for ICES Area 7 before your trip.
• Marine Protected Area: Plymouth Sound is an MCZ; recreational line angling is generally permitted, but avoid disturbing protected features (e.g., eelgrass) and do not collect from clearly protected habitats.
• Local IFCA bylaws cover bait collection and netting; if digging bait, keep below tideline where allowed and backfill holes.
• Good practice: Unhook and release wrasse from kelp marks promptly, handle mullet with wet hands, and take all litter and line home.