Summary
Porlock Weir sits on Somerset’s wild Exmoor coastline, a small working harbour fronted by a steep shingle beach and backed by saltmarsh. It’s a classic Bristol Channel mark with a huge tidal range, fast water and mixed ground that regularly turns up bass, rays and huss. Night sessions and the first push of a tide can be superb when the water’s carrying colour.
Location and Access
Getting to Porlock Weir is straightforward and parking is close to the mark. The terrain is mainly large, rolling shingle with pockets of rough ground and some rock platforms towards Hurlstone Point. Expect a short but effortful walk on shingle if you head away from the harbour.
- From the A39, turn into Porlock village and follow signs to Porlock Weir; continue down to the harbour.
- Main pay-and-display parking by the harbour and along the front (use around TA24 8PB as a sat-nav target).
- Access to the beach is immediate beside the harbour; walking west towards Hurlstone Point or east towards Bossington means heavy shingle underfoot.
- The rockier ledges towards Hurlstone Point are a longer, more strenuous walk with some narrow coastal path sections.
- The harbour itself is an active working area; observe any local signage about where fishing is or isn’t permitted and keep clear of moorings, slips and working boats.
Seasons
This is a mixed-ground, fast-tide venue with a strong summer–autumn pull. Winter can be scratchy but still throws up fish after dark.
- Spring (Mar–May): Bass, smoothhound (late spring on peeler), dogfish, occasional small-eyed ray, flounder on calmer neaps, early bull huss.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): Bass (schoolies to better fish), small-eyed ray, smoothhound, bull huss, conger after dark, mackerel and garfish in brief clearer spells near the harbour mouth, thick- and thin-lipped mullet inside/around the harbour.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): Prime small-eyed ray, bass, huss, conger, increasing whiting and pouting on night tides; chance of sole on quieter, sandy patches late evening.
- Winter (Dec–Feb): Whiting, pouting, dogfish, conger on rougher nights; the odd codling some seasons; bass catch-and-release only in these months.
- Always possible: Dogfish year-round; occasional surprise tope from distance in summer; various rays—handle and ID with care.
Methods
Porlock Weir rewards tidy uptide or fixed-grip ledgering on the beach, with lure or float options in calmer windows around the harbour mouth. Keep rigs streamlined for long casts and strong tide pull.
- Bottom fishing: 5–6 oz breakout/grip leads are standard; go heavier on big springs. Pulley pennel (3/0–4/0) for bass/huss/rays; long flowing traces (2–4 ft) for bass; 2-hook clipped downs (size 1–2/0) for whiting/pout.
- Baits: Sandeel (whole or halves) for small-eyed rays; peeler or soft crab for smoothhound and bass; rag/lug cocktails for general bites; squid/mackerel wraps for huss and conger; fish/squid cocktails at night.
- Lures: Metal jigs and sandeels in brief clear spells; shallow and mid-depth divers or soft plastics on dusk/dawn flood for bass along the surf line and harbour mouth.
- Float/Light tactics: Bread flake or small rag for mullet in and around the harbour; small strips and sabikis for gar/mack when they show.
- Tackle notes: Strong leaders (60–80 lb shock) for steep shingle and heavy leads; abrasion-resistant snoods (30–40 lb) over rough ground; bait clips for aerodynamics; a tall tripod to keep lines out of the surf.
Tides and Conditions
The Bristol Channel’s range and flow define this mark. Learn the banks, gutters and colour to time your sessions.
- Tide states: Productive around the first two hours of the flood and the first hour of the ebb; the hour before high can be excellent for rays on settled seas.
- Springs vs neaps: Neaps are easier to hold bottom and suit scratching or mullet; springs push food and can switch on bass and huss but demand heavier gear.
- Sea state: Coloured water after a blow is prime for bass; a gentle swell and settled barometer often favour small-eyed rays.
- Time of day: Dusk into darkness is consistently best for bass, huss and conger; daylight can score rays on clean patches and mullet in the harbour.
- Seasonality: May–October is peak for variety; winter nights can still produce whiting, pout and conger if you brave the elements.
Safety
This is an exposed venue with steep, mobile shingle and strong tidal movement. Treat the rocks and harbour structures with respect and don’t underestimate surf surges.
- Shingle: Steep, loose and energy-sapping—watch footing, especially when retreating from surf on a rising tide.
- Tides: Very fast rise/fall—plan an exit, avoid cut-off points near rock tongues, and don’t wade.
- Swell and surge: Long-period swell can dump unexpectedly; keep gear high and well back.
- Rocks and weed: The ledges towards Hurlstone can be slippery; wear grippy footwear and consider a lifejacket if fishing near the waterline.
- Harbour: Keep clear of slips, moorings, and any no-fishing zones indicated by signage; give working boats and the RNLI area a wide berth.
- Night fishing: Bring headtorch/spares; mobile signal can be patchy—tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Beach access is near the car park, but the shingle is challenging for those with limited mobility.
Facilities
Porlock Weir is well served for a small harbour, with essentials close to hand and more options a short drive away.
- Parking: Pay-and-display by the harbour and along the front (use TA24 8PB for general area).
- Toilets: Public conveniences near the harbour (seasonal opening hours may apply).
- Food and drink: Pubs, cafés and a hotel at the harbour; seasonal kiosks.
- Bait and tackle: Closest dedicated tackle and fresh bait are usually in Minehead or Dunster; limited basics in Porlock village.
- Communications: Mobile signal can be inconsistent; better on higher ground.
- Accommodation: Hotel and B&Bs at Porlock Weir and in Porlock village.
Tips
Porlock rewards timing and tidy presentation. Small adjustments to where you drop a bait make a big difference.
- Look for gutters: On mid-to-low water you’ll see channels in the shingle—fish the flood as water creeps into these lanes for bass.
- Sandeel for rays: Whole sandeel or launce on a pulley pennel reliably finds small-eyed rays on settled evenings.
- Crab is king: Peeler turns up smoothhound from late spring; softies and hardbacks work too if peeler is scarce.
- Clip everything: Aerodynamic rigs are essential in the headwinds here—use bait clips and keep hook lengths tidy.
- Weed watch: After big springs, a heavy weed run can make it unfishable on the mid-tide—switch to neaps or fish the last hour of the flood.
- Oyster farm: There are oyster trestles in Porlock Bay—avoid casting across marked areas and respect any local notices.
- Crowds and boats: Summer days get busy; fish dawn/dusk or after dark for space and better fishing.
- Release rays carefully: Photo over a wet mat or the damp shingle at the water’s edge; support wings and avoid lifting by the gills.
Regulations
Check current rules before you go; regulations can change. Porlock Weir falls under the Devon & Severn IFCA district and general UK national measures.
- Sea bass (recreational): Typically catch-and-release only in January–February and December; March–November usually allows a limited daily retention of bass at or above the minimum size. Always confirm the current national bass rules before retaining fish.
- Spurdog (spiny dogfish): Recreational retention is prohibited—catch and release only.
- Rays and skates: Some species are protected and ray ID can be tricky; if in doubt, photograph and release. Common skate must not be retained.
- Crustacea and shellfish: Minimum sizes and rules on berried females apply to crab and lobster; check the latest Devon & Severn IFCA byelaws before retaining any.
- Harbour/shoreline: Obey any local signage regarding no-fishing zones, private areas, slips and working spaces. Do not obstruct the RNLI or commercial operations.
- Bait collection/foraging: Parts of the adjacent marsh and foreshore are environmentally protected—avoid digging or foraging in sensitive areas and follow IFCA hand-gathering byelaws.
- General: Use barbless or crushed barbs where practical, carry a disgorger/long-nose pliers, and practice responsible catch-and-release for larger breeders like big bass and rays.
