Where’s The Fish? Logo for Where's The Fish?
Devon

Valley of Rocks

6.9 · Rocks · Devon

Steep, rugged rock ledges on the headland just west of Lynton. Deep water is close in with strong tide run, kelp beds, and gullies. Productive from late spring through autumn for lure and float fishing; night sessions can produce larger fish. Best at dawn/dusk on a flooding tide with a slight to moderate swell. Access is via coastal paths from the Valley of Rocks car park; footing is uneven and exposed, so wear good boots/cleats and consider a PFD. Avoid big swells and onshore blows; swash and rebound can be severe, and landing fish may require a drop net.

Should you fish Valley of Rocks?

43 Low

Today · Best available

Best available: 03:00-06:00

Most likely species: Bass and Conger Eel

Poor conditions. Best available around 03:00-06:00, but no window reaches the strong threshold today. Good chance of Bass and Conger Eel.

W 5 mph Rain 1% High tide 11:53

Consider a backup mark if conditions do not improve.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Valley of Rocks — 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.

Now

Tide curve will appear once tide data is available.

All windows will appear once the forecast is loaded.

Premium forecast

Unlock exact best windows, tactics and backup options for this mark.

Trip planner

Find the best time to fish Valley of Rocks

Choose when you're free and what you want to catch. We'll show the best tide, weather window and method for this mark.

Premium unlocks exact windows, tactics and alerts.

Premium Mark Insight

Locked

Valley of Rocks is a rugged, deep-water rock mark where tide movement, kelp edges and gullies do most of the work. It is strongest from late spring through autumn, especially for pollack, wrasse, bass, mackerel and gar in settled water, with huss and conger becoming realistic targets after dark. The mark can be highly productive, but it is exposed, snaggy and physically demanding, so pick conditions carefully and fish with strong, loss-tolerant tackle.

  • Know when to fish the deep ledges versus the kelp gullies.
  • Time the flood properly for pollack, bass and wrasse.
  • Use the right rough-ground rigs before the kelp costs you tackle.
  • Pick the night bait window for huss and conger.
  • Avoid the swell and tide stages that make this mark unsafe.

Included with Premium

Cancel anytime · Stripe

Unlock this mark's plan

Jump to towns around this mark for more marks and guides.

Lynton and Lynmouth 1.0 mi Combe Martin 7.5 mi Bratton Fleming 8.4 mi Chambercombe 11.0 mi Ilfracombe 11.2 mi

Explore nearby towns: Lynton and Lynmouth · Combe Martin · Bratton Fleming · Chambercombe · Ilfracombe

Zoom and pan to explore access points and nearby marks.

Jump to guide

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

Overall rating

6.9 /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 4/10
Accessibility 5/10

Ballan Wrasse 9/10
Tip: Crab or hardback baits under a float or light ledger, fished tight to kelp-filled gullies; daylight on the flood to high water. Use strong gear and a rotten-bottom to beat snags.
Pollack 8/10
Tip: Surface or sub-surface sandeel-type lures from the ledges at dawn/dusk on a flooding tide; or float-fished sandeel. Work above kelp and keep lures high to avoid snags.
Bass 7/10
Tip: After a blow with some colour; fish dusk/dawn on the flood. Shallow divers or weedless soft plastics through gullies, or peeler crab baits in the white water close in.
Mackerel 7/10
Tip: Summer–autumn; clear water. Cast small metals or sabiki/feathers from deeper points over the flood and high. Evenings best; keep gear high to miss kelp.
Pouting 6/10
Tip: Small fish baits or rag on a 1–2 hook paternoster, cast short into rough ground; best dusk into dark on the first of the flood. Expect snags—use a weak link.
Bull Huss 6/10
Tip: Night ledger big fish baits (mackerel/squid) into deeper gullies; neap tides near high water fish well. 40–60 lb mono trace and weak-link lead for rough ground.
Corkwing Wrasse 6/10
Tip: Small crab or ragworm under a float tight to rock walls/kelp; mid-water on the flood. Use small hooks (size 2–4) and keep tackle strong for snags.
Conger Eel 6/10
Tip: After dark, drop large mackerel/squid baits under ledges on strong gear; fish the flood to high water. Keep baits static and be ready for powerful runs.
Scad (Horse Mackerel) 5/10
Tip: Late summer nights. Work small sabikis or a single size 6 baited with mackerel with a slow retrieve under any light, around high water on the flood.
Garfish 5/10
Tip: Late spring to autumn. Float fish thin mackerel strips 2–6 ft deep in clear, settled seas; best on the flood with sun on the water and a steady drift.

Local knowledge

Valley of Rocks fishing guide

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

Valley of Rocks sits just west of Lynton on North Devon’s dramatic Exmoor coast, a north‑facing sweep of towering cliffs, kelp‑filled gullies and boulder‑strewn coves. It’s a classic rough‑ground rock mark offering fast access to deep water, with lure and bottom fishing options for pollack, bass, wrasse and nighttime conger and huss.

This mark is reached via the scenic road and coast path network from Lynton, with a pay‑and‑display car park signposted “Valley of Rocks.” From the parking, a mix of easy paths and steeper goat tracks lead to ledges and coves such as Wringcliff Bay, Lee Bay and the platforms around Duty Point and Castle Rock.

This coastline holds fish year‑round, with the best variety from late spring to autumn. Expect rough‑ground species and summer pelagics tight to the rocks and tide lines.

  • Spring (Apr–May): Pollack, ballan wrasse, bass (first push of schoolies), garfish; chance of early mackerel on settled spells.
  • Summer (Jun–Aug): Pollack (including better fish at dawn/dusk), ballan & corkwing wrasse, bass, mackerel, garfish, scad; bull huss and conger after dark; thick‑lipped mullet in calm corners.
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov): Peak bass and pollack, wrasse to hard baits, late mackerel/scad runs; huss/conger in the dark; pout/poor cod show in numbers.
  • Winter (Dec–Mar): Conger, bull huss, rockling, dogfish, pout/whiting on rougher nights; the odd codling in heavy, coloured seas is possible but uncommon.

The ground is snaggy and kelpy, so fish strong and think tactically. Lures shine in clear water at dawn/dusk; baits score for wrasse by day and for huss/conger after dark.

  • Lure fishing: 9–10 ft rods rated 10–30 g (up to 40–60 g if it’s pushy) with 20–30 lb braid and 40–60 lb fluorocarbon leader. Work weedless soft plastics (paddle/slug 12–18 cm) and 20–40 g metals along tide seams for pollack/bass.
  • Float fishing: 12–16 g floats set 10–20 ft over kelp for pollack/gar; baits include sandeel sections, mackerel strip, prawn. Keep shotting slim to drift naturally.
  • Bottom tactics: Rough‑ground rod, 4–6 oz leads on a weak link/rotten‑bottom. Pulley/pulley‑dropper with 4/0–5/0 pennel for huss (mackerel/squid cocktails); simple running ledger size 1/0–2/0 with crab, prawn or rag for wrasse. For conger, 80 lb mono trace and a strong 6/0 hook with whole or half mackerel.
  • Handling/landing: Use abrasion‑resistant leaders, keep the fight high in the water, and steer fish over gullies. A drop‑net can help on some higher ledges; avoid gaffing fish you plan to release.
  • Timing: Dawn and dusk for lures and bass/pollack; daytime flood for wrasse; full dark for huss/conger.

Tide movement drives this mark; fish sit on the edges of tide runs, kelp tongues and rock points. Water clarity and swell dictate whether to pick lures or baits.

  • Tide states: Flood into high and the first of the ebb are prime; neaps are kinder for access and lure control, springs carry more colour and drag.
  • Conditions: Light to moderate offshores (southerly sector) bring clarity for lures; a gentle onshore ripple can switch bass on. Avoid heavy Atlantic swell—this coast is exposed and surging.
  • Time of day: Grey light periods for pollack/bass; bright days suit wrasse tight to structure; after-dark produces huss/conger.
  • Seasonality: Best overall sport May–October; winter can still score on rough‑ground bait work during milder spells.

This is a serious rock mark beneath high cliffs, with loose stone, steep goat tracks and kelp‑slick ledges. Treat it like a mountaineering venue first and a fishing spot second.

  • Wear a PFD, grippy boots/cleats and take a headtorch plus spares if fishing into dark.
  • Recces in daylight only; identify a safe retreat. Some ledges are cut off by the flood—never drop down without a timed exit plan.
  • Avoid fishing in big swell or strong northerlies; surges wrap around points here.
  • Helmets are sensible below crags; feral goats and walkers can dislodge rocks from above.
  • Not suitable for those with limited mobility; stick to safer high platforms or the beach at Wringcliff if access is a concern.
  • This is a popular walking area; keep gear tidy and casts clear of the Coast Path.
  • If any local signage restricts access to specific cliff sections or paths, comply—rules can change seasonally for erosion or safety.

Facilities are decent by Exmoor standards, with services in nearby Lynton and seasonal amenities at the valley itself.

  • Parking: Pay‑and‑display at Valley of Rocks, plus additional parking in Lynton; summer can be busy—arrive early or late.
  • Toilets/food: Public toilets and cafés in Lynton; seasonal refreshments often operate in the valley area.
  • Tackle/bait: Closest options are in Ilfracombe and Barnstaple; bring lug/rag frozen or pre‑ordered if you want fresh.
  • Signal: Mobile reception varies—generally better on higher ground, patchy under cliffs.
  • Other: Bins can be limited; pack out all waste and old line.

A bit of local know‑how goes a long way on this rough, tide‑swept coast. Travel light, fish smart, and keep mobile.

  • Work the seams: Cast lures across the edge where fast tide meets slack behind points and boulders—classic pollack/bass ambush lines.
  • Colour choice: Natural browns/greens in clear water; darker silhouettes or UV accents when there’s a tea‑stain or overcast sky.
  • Wrasse wisdom: Hard crab or prawn outfishes worm once the wrasse are switched on; braid straight to a tough fluoro trace and keep rigs short to pop fish over kelp.
  • Rotten‑bottom always: Every lead on a weak link—accept the odd loss to save full rigs and fish time.
  • Night game: Big, oily baits for huss/conger, minimal casting—lay baits in clean tongues between kelp heads rather than heaving long.
  • Mackerel/gar: Watch for birds working off Duty Point on the flood; scale down to small metals or a float with thin mackerel slivers.
  • Wildlife: The resident goats are entertaining but can knock stones—don’t set up under loose slopes.

Valley of Rocks lies within Exmoor National Park and along a section of protected coastline; recreational shore angling is generally permitted. Always check up‑to‑date national and local rules before you fish.

  • Bass: European seabass has seasonal restrictions and bag limits for recreational anglers, with a minimum size of 42 cm. Check current MMO/UK government guidance before retaining any fish.
  • IFCA bylaws: This area falls under Devon & Severn IFCA. Review their recreational sea angling bylaws (e.g., gear restrictions, protected species) before your trip.
  • Conservation designations: Parts of the North Devon coast are within Marine Conservation Zones/SSSIs. Do not damage features, disturb wildlife, or collect from sensitive reef areas where prohibited.
  • General: Observe minimum sizes, only keep what you will eat, no littering or discarded line/hooks, and avoid lighting fires on the cliffs. If local signage restricts access or activities, follow it.
  • Bait collection: If you plan to gather bait elsewhere on the shore, check local bylaws and landowner permissions in advance—rules vary by beach and designation.