Tinside Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Tinside Fishing Map

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.

Ratings

⭐ 7.3/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 6/10
Accessibility 7/10

Fish You Can Catch at Tinside

🐟 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.

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.

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.

Methods

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

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.

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.

Facilities

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

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.

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.