Last updated: 2 weeks ago
Ladram Bay is a red-sandstone rocky bay with sea stacks and ledges set between Budleigh Salterton and Sidmouth. The ground is mixed rough and kelpy with pockets of cleaner water toward the bay mouth, making it ideal for wrasse, pollack and LRF species, with mackerel/garfish in summer and scad after...
A remote, mixed-ground cove of sand tongues between kelp-covered rock fingers. Lannacombe fishes best in settled to moderate seas with some movement and clear to lightly coloured water. Summer brings excellent wrasse and lure fishing for pollack, with mackerel and garfish passing tight to the rocks; after dark expect pouting,...
A compact, rocky cove between Ilfracombe and Woolacombe with kelp-filled gullies, ledges and a small pocket beach. Access is via the village of Lee with a short walk from the car park; some scrambling is needed to reach the outer rocks. Best results come on a flooding tide into mid-to-high...
Livermead Beach in Torquay (Tor Bay) is a sheltered, gently shelving sandy beach bordered by low rocky headlands and a sea wall along the seafront road. The middle ground is clean sand for flatfish and dogfish, with wrasse and rock species around the rough, weedy edges. It fishes best on...
Long Quarry Point is a prominent limestone rock mark on the east side of Torquay, overlooking Babbacombe Bay. It offers deep water close in with ledges, kelp-filled gullies, and clear water on calmer days. Access is via steep paths and scrambles from the Anstey’s Cove area, so travel light and...
A steep shingle-and-boulder beach at the mouth of the East Lyn in Lynmouth village, giving quick access to deep, fast-moving Bristol Channel water. Ground is mixed and snaggy with kelp, rough patches and rock ledges toward the harbour and cliff sides, with some cleaner shingle areas toward the centre at...
Devon’s coast runs from the high-energy Bristol Channel cliffs and surf beaches of the north to the more sheltered, rocky bays and shingle strands of Lyme Bay and the South Hams. It offers a mix of headlands, reefs, piers, long beaches, and productive estuaries (Taw-Torridge, Exe, Teign, Dart, Salcombe). The variety of ground and conditions makes it one of England’s most versatile sea-angling counties, with year-round opportunities for bass, rays, smoothhound, wrasse, and seasonal mackerel.
| Season | Likely species (shore) | Notes | 
|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | Bass, rays (thornback/small-eyed, early blondes), smoothhound (late), plaice (East Devon), wrasse, pollack, mullet | Bass pick up from April. Plaice show on shingle/sand when crabs start peeling. Crab baits excel late spring. | 
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Mackerel, garfish, scad, bass, black bream (Torbay/Lyme Bay), gilthead bream (estuaries), wrasse, pollack, smoothhound, rays, sole | Peak variety. Lures shine in clear water; nights for rays/sole/conger. | 
| Autumn (Sep–Nov) | Larger bass, rays, smoothhound (early), bream (to Oct), mackerel (to early Oct), whiting, conger, mullet | Great for big bass after blows; mixed bags from shingle beaches. | 
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | Whiting, conger, rockling, dogfish, dab, flounder (estuaries), occasional codling (north/east coasts) | Estuaries produce flounder; rough ground for conger and huss. Catch-and-release often for bass under seasonal rules. | 
| Area | Coast character & access | Best species | Prime season | Go-to methods | Key safety notes | Facilities | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Devon (Bristol Channel) | Cliffs, gullies, surf beaches; mixed access via coast path and beaches | Bass, small-eyed/thornback ray, smoothhound, huss, conger; estuary flounder/mullet | May–Oct (summer variety); Oct–Jan (winter mixed) | Pulley pennel with crab/fish baits; surf bassing; estuary running ledgers | Huge tides, fast floods, swell on ledges; cut-off risk | Town car parks (Ilfracombe, Woolacombe), tackle shops Barnstaple/Ilfracombe | 
| South Hams & Plymouth | Shingle beaches, rocky headlands, deep water close in; good parking | Bass, blonde/thornback ray, smoothhound, wrasse, pollack, conger, mullet | Apr–Nov (peak Jun–Oct) | Ledgering on shingle; lure/float from rocks; estuary crab tactics | Swell/undertow on Slapton; tide races at Start/Bolt | Multiple shops in Plymouth/Dartmouth; ample car parks | 
| Torbay | Sheltered bays, breakwaters, reefs; very accessible | Mackerel, gar, scad, black bream, bass, wrasse, pollack | May–Oct | Feathers/metals; light rigs for bream; lures/float fishing | Busy promenades; watch swell at Berry Head | Piers, breakwater, cafés, toilets, parking | 
| East Devon (Lyme Bay) | Steep shingle/pebble beaches, cliffs; Exe/Teign estuaries | Bass, rays, sole/plaice, mackerel/gar, wrasse/pollack, whiting (winter) | Apr–Nov; winter for whiting/flounder | Clipped rigs for distance; crab/sandeel for bass/rays; lures in clear water | Steep shingle backwash; landslip/undercliff hazards | Car parks at Seaton/Budleigh/Exmouth; local tackle shops |