Summary
Wembury Beach sits on the eastern lip of Plymouth Sound in South Devon, backed by National Trust land and facing the famous Mewstone. It’s a classic mixed-ground mark: clean sand lanes fringed by broad kelp-covered reefs that scream bass, wrasse, pollack and summer pelagics. Angling is allowed; the area is a Voluntary Marine Conservation Area, so fish thoughtfully and follow any on-site guidance.
Location and Access
Wembury is a short hop from Plymouth, with straightforward access and a well-served National Trust car park close to the beach. Reefs flank both sides of the main sandy bay, giving multiple options within a few minutes’ walk.
- Drive via Plymstock and follow signs for Wembury; the National Trust car park by the beach is the usual parking (postcode: PL9 0HP). Pay-and-display; NT members typically park free.
- From the car park it’s a gentle walk down to the sand and slipway; allow 2–5 minutes. Access to the reefs at either end involves uneven, weeded rock—good boots strongly advised.
- Left (east) leads towards the well-known Church Reef; right (west) heads towards Wembury Point’s broken ground. At big spring lows, broad reef platforms expose safe lure and float lanes—mind the flood.
- Public transport runs to Wembury village with a downhill walk to the beach. Drop-offs are possible but space is limited in peak season.
- Terrain ranges from flat sand to boulders and kelp gullies; trolleys are fine to the beach, but not ideal on the rock ground.
Seasons
This mark produces a varied catch list through the year, with peak variety from late spring to early autumn. Expect wrasse and pollack off the reefs, bass in surf or tide seams, and seasonal visitors when the water warms.
- Spring (Apr–Jun)
- Bass on building tides and after a blow, especially into coloured water over the sand/reef edge.
- Ballan and cuckoo wrasse wake up fast once the kelp greens up.
- Pollack on the reef lines; garfish from late spring in clear, calm spells.
- Occasional smoothhound in May/June if crabs are peeling on the sand lanes.
- Summer (Jul–Sep)
- Ballan wrasse (abundant), cuckoo wrasse (occasional), pollack.
- Mackerel and garfish on calm bright days; scad at dusk.
- Bass at first/last light and in lively surf; mullet mooching around the slipway and reef pools.
- Dogfish after dark on the sand; chance of bull huss and strap conger from the rough.
- Autumn (Oct–Nov)
- Bass often peak through early autumn gales; mackerel/gar linger in settled spells.
- Wrasse remain reliable until water temperature drops; scad at night.
- Conger and pout on rough ground after dark.
- Winter (Dec–Mar)
- Whiting and pouting on the cleaner patches; rockling in the kelp.
- Strap and mid-size conger from the reefs at night; the odd codling in a heavy onshore blow.
Methods
Mixed ground means flexible tactics. Work the reefs with lures and floats in clear water, and fish the sandy tongues or surf lines with baits when it colours up.
- Lure fishing (reefs/edges)
- Soft plastics (weedless Texas or belly-weighted 10–20 g) for wrasse and pollack; 20–30 lb fluoro leaders help in kelp.
- Metals and slim minnows for mackerel/gar/pollack; white or silver in fizz, naturals in clear.
- Surface or sub-surface hard lures for bass along reef gutters at dawn/dusk or in a building sea.
- Float fishing
- Ragworm, prawn or crab baits set 6–12 ft deep for wrasse and pollack along reef faces; mackerel strip or sandeel for garfish in summer.
- Bottom fishing (mixed to rough ground)
- Pulley or pulley‑dropper with a weak link/rotten-bottom lead for rough ground; 4–5 oz grips typically hold.
- Baits: peeler crab (prime for bass/wrasse), rag/lug on sand tongues, sandeel or squid for bass/dogs, mackerel/squid cocktail for huss/conger.
- Use strong mono (20–25 lb mainline; 60 lb rubbing leader over kelp) and keep rigs simple and short to reduce snagging.
- Light game/LRF
- Tiny metals and creature baits for scad, small pollack, pout and mini-wrasse around dusk; great fun when it’s calm and clear.
- Night fishing
- Big fish baits (mackerel head/half, squid) for conger/huss on the rocks; size 4/0–6/0 hooks and short snoods.
- For whiting/dogs on the sand: two‑hook flappers with size 2 hooks and small squid or mackerel strip.
Tides and Conditions
Tide state and sea colour shape the session. Plan around the flood over the reefs for movement, and pick your method to suit clarity and swell.
- Tide
- 2 hours up to high water and the first hour of the ebb fish well over reef edges; low-water reefing is excellent for lures/float in the gullies.
- Springs expose wider platforms but raise cut-off risk; neaps offer kinder current for float and finesse.
- Wind and sea
- SW–W blows create surf that brings bass onto the beach and reef margins; slightly coloured water helps.
- Light winds and clear water suit wrasse, pollack and gar on lures/float; easterlies flatten things but can make it gin-clear—drop line/leader diameters.
- Time of day/season
- Dawn and dusk are prime for bass and pollack; summer nights draw in scad, dogs and conger.
- Late spring through autumn gives peak variety; winter favors bait work on the cleaner patches.
Safety
Wembury’s beauty hides classic South Devon hazards: broad, weedy reefs, strong flood on springs, and swell that pops up fast. Treat it as a proper rock mark and kit up accordingly.
- Reefs flood quickly—identify safe exit routes at low water and avoid being cut off on reef fingers.
- Weed-slick rock is treacherous: wear grippy boots, consider studs/cleats, and use a wading staff if stepping across gullies.
- Long-shore rips can form between the Mewstone and beach in swell; keep clear when wading and mind your footing.
- Swell surges up the reefs even on calm forecasts; keep bags high and anglers leashed to common sense. A personal flotation device is strongly recommended on the rocks.
- When RNLI lifeguards operate, obey flagged bathing zones—do not cast into swim areas.
- Mobile access to the sand is easy; the reefs are uneven and not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility.
- Headtorch with spare batteries for night sessions; tell someone your plan and check tide tables before setting off.
Facilities
You’re well catered for by National Trust amenities at the beach, with Plymouth’s full services a short drive away. Expect it to be busy on fair-weather weekends and school holidays.
- National Trust car park by the beach (pay-and-display; busy in summer).
- Toilets near the car park; seasonal RNLI lifeguard patrols on the main bathing beach.
- Beach café (seasonal) for hot drinks, snacks and ice cream; limited bins—pack out fishing waste.
- Nearest tackle/bait: shops in Plymstock/Plymouth; arrive prepared in case of early closures.
- Mobile signal generally workable but can be patchy near the cliffs; card payments may be unreliable on busy days.
Tips
Treat Wembury as several mini-marks: the sand tongue, the reef lips, and the gullies all switch on at different times. Move with the tide rather than anchoring to one spot.
- Map the ground at a big spring low—note sand lanes, weed edges and gullies, then fish them on the flood.
- For wrasse, fish crab or prawn tight to kelp with locked-up drag; short 12–18 inch snoods reduce smash-and-grab losses.
- Bass in fizz: white or bone surface/sub-surface lures worked along the foam lines; in colour, fish peeler or sandeel into the seams.
- Use weedless soft plastics to slash snagging; belly‑weighted 10–14 g hooks glide through kelp gutters.
- Float set shallow (6–8 ft) over boulder fields for gar/pollack on calm summer evenings.
- Night whiting and scad gather under any light spill—small reflective metals or size 4–6 hooks with tiny baits do the damage.
- Respect the VMCA ethos: observe, enjoy and release wrasse in hot weather; handle fish over a wet rock/mat and keep photos quick.
- On hot weekends, fish dawn or after sunset to avoid bathers and find more relaxed casting lanes.
Regulations
Angling from Wembury Beach and adjacent rocks is permitted. The area forms part of the Wembury Voluntary Marine Conservation Area and National Trust estate—please follow on-site notices and fish responsibly.
- Voluntary Marine Conservation Area: shore-life collecting is discouraged; educational signage explains good practice. Angling is allowed—minimise disturbance and return undersize fish.
- Lifeguarded bathing zones: when flags are up, no fishing into the designated swim area.
- Devon & Severn IFCA byelaws apply along this coast. Minimum sizes and gear rules exist for certain species (e.g., crustaceans) and methods—check the latest D&S IFCA guidance before retaining any catch.
- European bass have seasonal recreational restrictions (bag limits/closed periods) and a minimum size; consult current MMO/DEFRA notices before targeting or retaining bass.
- It is illegal to keep berried lobsters/crabs or undersized shellfish; observe all Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes.
- National Trust site rules: no fires/BBQs on the foreshore where prohibited, take litter home, and respect any temporary access diversions.
- Local dog controls are in place on the main bathing beach in season—ensure leads and timing don’t conflict with anglers or swimmers.
- Marine protected areas (Plymouth Sound and Estuaries SAC and adjacent designations) overlay this coast; line fishing from shore is generally permitted, but additional restrictions may apply to other activities—verify if in doubt.
