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Devon

Tinside

7.3 · Rocks · Devon

Rocky ledges and platforms below Plymouth Hoe beside the Art Deco Tinside Lido, giving quick access to relatively deep, mixed-to-clean ground in Plymouth Sound. Best in summer and autumn—wrasse and pollack by day tight to kelp, scad, mackerel and garfish at dusk into night, with pouting and the odd conger after dark. Fishable over most states of tide; the flood and dusk change are reliable. Access is via steps from Hoe Road with generally firm footing, but swell, weed and spring-tide surges can make it slippery—avoid in heavy seas and never fish near the lido walls when the pool is open. Excellent amenities on the Hoe (parking, toilets, cafés) and superb views across the Sound.

Should you fish Tinside?

58 Fair

Today · Best window

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

Most likely species: Ballan Wrasse and Garfish

Fair conditions. Best around 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide. Good chance of Ballan Wrasse and Garfish.

NW 3 mph Rain 0% High tide 11:29

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Tinside — 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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Tinside is a quick-access Plymouth Hoe rock and sea-wall mark that fishes best when you stay mobile and work the edges, kelp gullies and flood-tide seams rather than simply casting long. Summer and autumn are strongest, with wrasse and pollack tight to kelp by day and bass, mackerel, garfish, scad, pouting and the odd conger improving around low light and after dark. The flood into high water is the key window, but swell, weed and spring-tide surge can quickly make the lower steps and ledges a poor choice.

  • Know when to fish the wall edges instead of casting into snags
  • Pick the flood window that brings fish tight to Tinside
  • Target wrasse, pollack, scad and bass with mark-specific tactics
  • Avoid the conditions that make the lower steps unsafe
  • Use the right backup mark when Tinside is too weedy or busy

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Plymouth 0.8 mi Torpoint 2.8 mi Heybrook Bay 3.1 mi Millbrook 3.3 mi Cawsand and Kingsand 3.4 mi

Explore nearby towns: Plymouth · Torpoint · Heybrook Bay · Millbrook · Cawsand and Kingsand

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

Overall rating

7.3 /10

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

Category scores

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

Bass 8/10
Tip: Work shallow divers or weedless soft plastics along the ledges on a flooding tide; dawn/dusk after a blow; autumn best.
Ballan Wrasse 8/10
Tip: Float-fish crab or rag into kelp gullies; 10-15 ft deep off the rocks; mid to late flood; May-Oct; strong gear to bully fish clear of snags.
Pollack 7/10
Tip: Dusk into dark; 3-5 in dark soft plastics on 10-20 g heads tight to kelp; slow retrieve; fish the flood.
Mackerel 7/10
Tip: Calm summer evenings; small metals or sabikis; cast to moving shoals and retrieve fast; flood to high.
Garfish 7/10
Tip: Late spring-autumn; float thin mackerel strip mid-water over cleaner patches; bright days; flood and first of ebb.
Pouting 6/10
Tip: After dark; 2-hook flapper with small strips of mackerel or squid; short cast into mixed ground; top of tide productive.
Scad (Horse Mackerel) 6/10
Tip: Summer-autumn nights; size 6-8 sabikis or 7-14 g metals worked under promenade lights; steady retrieve; best on flood to high.
Mullet (Thick-lipped) 6/10
Tip: Loosefeed bread along the steps; small float with bread flake on size 8-10; early morning, clear neaps; keep quiet and use light line.
Whiting 5/10
Tip: Winter nights; 2-3 hook flappers with worm or fish strips; cast 30-60 m; ebb after high often best.
Conger Eel 5/10
Tip: After dark into rough ground; whole squid or fish strip on strong 6/0 rig with abrasion-resistant trace; short lob; slack to first of flood.

Local knowledge

Tinside fishing guide

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

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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.