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

Porth Meudwy

5.8 · Rocks · Gwynedd

Porth Meudwy is a small, sheltered cove and boat-landing on the north side of the Llŷn Peninsula, with fishing mainly from the rocky edges and small boulder beach inside the bay. Access is via a steep, sometimes slippery coastal path down to the cove, so it suits mobile anglers with light kit. Expect classic rough-ground fishing close in for wrasse and pollack, with occasional mackerel and garfish in summer, and small flatfish in the sandier patches on calmer days.

Should you fish Porth Meudwy?

53 Fair

Today · Best available

Best available: 21:00-00:00 around the rising tide

Most likely species: Pouting and Coalfish

Fair conditions. Best available around 21:00-00:00 around the rising tide, but no window reaches the strong threshold today. Good chance of Pouting and Coalfish.

W 5 mph Rain 12% High tide 01:57

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Porth Meudwy — 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.

Tuesday 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 Porth Meudwy

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

Porth Meudwy is a compact, sheltered rocky cove where the best fishing is usually close to structure rather than at range. Treat it as a mobile, light-kit mark: kelp edges, gullies and rough/clean transitions are the key areas for wrasse, pollack and seasonal mackerel, while the small sandier patches inside the cove can produce occasional flatfish in calmer spells. The venue can be awkward and sometimes busy with boat activity, so the best sessions are often those where you can fish quietly, move between safe stances, and avoid the working landing area.

  • Know where the kelp edges beat open water
  • Time the flood for closer pollack and wrasse
  • Pick the inside-cove option when conditions are calm
  • Avoid wasting time when boat activity shuts the space down
  • Match lures, floats and ledgers to the exact ground

Included with Premium

Cancel anytime · Stripe

Unlock this mark's plan

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

Abersoch 9.3 mi Llanbedrog 10.9 mi Morfa Nefyn 11.9 mi Nefyn 12.8 mi Pwllheli 14.2 mi

Explore nearby towns: Abersoch · Llanbedrog · Morfa Nefyn · Nefyn · Pwllheli

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

5.8 /10

Blend of catch potential, access, safety, and overall experience.

Category scores

Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 6/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 5/10
Accessibility 4/10

Pollack 8/10
Tip: Best over kelp-lined rocks on a flooding tide; float-fished ragworm/sandeel or small lures work well.
Ballan Wrasse 8/10
Tip: Very common in summer; fish tight to rock/weed with crab or ragworm on strong gear and a short trace.
Mackerel 7/10
Tip: Seasonal (typically late spring to autumn); feathers or small metals cast from the rocks when shoals push into the bay.
Goldsinny Wrasse 6/10
Tip: Smaller wrasse species; good sport on light tackle close to the rocks using small pieces of ragworm.
Coalfish 5/10
Tip: More likely when there’s colour in the water or after a blow; take lures or fish baits in the gullies.
Pouting 5/10
Tip: Can show at dusk/night in deeper pockets; small hooks with ragworm or squid strips.
Garfish 5/10
Tip: Occasional in settled summer conditions; float a strip bait near the surface, especially on the ebb.
Dab 4/10
Tip: Patchy, from the sandier areas within the cove; simple running ledger with ragworm works best.
Lesser Spotted Dogfish 4/10
Tip: Possible after dark on fish baits; expect snags on rough ground—use a rotten-bottom setup.
Plaice 3/10
Tip: Occasional on clean ground; try ragworm on a light ledger during calmer spells and smaller swell.

Local knowledge

Porth Meudwy fishing guide

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

Porth Meudwy is a small, sheltered cove on the south-west tip of the Llŷn Peninsula, best known as the boat-landing for Bardsey Island trips rather than as a classic “match” venue. For anglers it’s a niche mark: a deepish gully and kelpy margins can fish well for wrasse, pollack and the odd bass, but access and boat traffic mean it suits careful, low-impact fishing rather than big bait-and-wait sessions.

  • Small cove with rocky ground, kelp and mixed rough/clean patches
  • Often busy in season with passengers/boats for Ynys Enlli (Bardsey)
  • Best for mobile lure/bait fishing; limited space for multiple rods

Porth Meudwy sits close to Aberdaron on the Llŷn, tucked into a natural inlet with steep, rocky sides and a small landing area. Access is generally via local lanes and then on foot down to the cove; be prepared for uneven ground and sudden exposure to wind even on calm days.

  • Park considerately in designated/local areas near Aberdaron/approach lanes; avoid blocking farm gates and turning circles
  • Walk-in access down to the cove can be slippery after rain; sturdy footwear is strongly advised
  • The foreshore is rocky and can be weed-covered; expect careful footing and limited flat “stance” spots

Because the ground is predominantly rough with kelp and rock, the typical catch is a mix of inshore rock species with occasional better fish when conditions line up. Summer and early autumn usually produce the most variety, while winter fishing can be awkward if swell wraps in.

  • Wrasse (ballan and corkwing): a reliable target around kelp edges in warmer months
  • Pollack: possible on lures or baits worked through the gullies and along the drop-offs
  • Bass: occasional, especially on flooding water or after a bit of colour in the sea; treat as a bonus rather than a certainty
  • Mackerel: can show in season if shoals move close, particularly on feathers/spinners when water clarity is good
  • Rockling and small codling (seasonal/variable): possible in deeper pockets, especially at night or in colder periods
  • Flounder/dabs: only where you can find a bit of cleaner sand/gravel among the rough

This is a mark that rewards mobility and fishing “light” around structure; long casts over featureless ground aren’t usually the game here. Keep rigs simple and tackle robust enough for kelp and barnacled rock.

  • Lure fishing: soft plastics, weedless rigs, small metals and shallow divers worked along kelp edges for pollack/wrasse/bass
  • Float fishing: a superb approach here if you can find a safe stance—ragworm, crab or mackerel strip under a float for wrasse and pollack
  • Light ledgering close-in: short traces and strong hooks for wrasse; keep leads just heavy enough to hold without constantly wedging
  • Bait choices: peeler/crab, rag/lug (where it stays on), and mackerel/bluey strip for pollack and opportunist bass
  • Tackle notes: abrasion-resistant leader is useful; carry spare gear as snags are part of the venue

Porth Meudwy can fish very differently depending on swell direction and how much tide is running past the headlands. You’re generally looking for manageable swell, good water movement and enough depth over the rough to keep baits/lures working rather than constantly fouling.

  • Tide: a moving tide is important; the flood often brings fish in closer, while slack water can be quiet
  • Sea state: a slight lift/colour can help bass, but too much swell makes the cove unsafe and unfishable
  • Water clarity: clear water favours wrasse and lure-caught pollack; coloured water can improve chances of bass
  • Wind: strong winds can funnel into the cove and make casting/control difficult; check forecasts for gusts as well as mean wind

This is not a “casual” promenade mark—rock, weed and boat operations mean you must prioritise safety and courtesy. Treat the landing areas as working space and keep well out of the way of any launching/landing activity.

  • Slips/falls: weeded rock is extremely slippery; consider cleated boots and avoid rushing around when playing fish
  • Swell risk: even on apparently calm days, set waves can roll in—stay well back from edges and never turn your back on the sea
  • Limited escape routes: choose a stance with a clear retreat path if water starts pushing in
  • Boat traffic: expect boats embarking/disembarking passengers—do not cast across approach lines or tie up points
  • Accessibility: uneven terrain and steep/rocky footing make it unsuitable for many mobility levels; a headtorch is essential if fishing into dusk/night

Facilities are minimal at the cove itself, as it’s essentially a small working/landing spot. Most practical amenities are found back towards Aberdaron.

  • No reliable shelter on the rocks; bring weather protection and a dry bag
  • Nearest shops/cafés/toilets are typically in/around Aberdaron (seasonal availability)
  • Mobile signal can be patchy on parts of the Llŷn; don’t rely on it for safety planning

A quiet, considered approach is what makes this mark enjoyable—fish the features, keep disturbance down, and you’ll do better than simply “chucking and hoping.” If the cove is busy with boats or visitors, it’s often smarter to fish very early, late, or choose an alternative nearby mark.

  • Walk the edge at low water to identify kelp lines, gullies and any small clean patches for future sessions
  • Pack light and stay mobile; a single rod and a lure/float setup covers most opportunities
  • Fish close: many bites come within a short cast where structure is strongest
  • Bring a long-handled net or drop net if you intend to land fish from awkward rock ledges
  • Be discreet and tidy—this is a high-visibility spot for visitors; take litter and old line home

I’m not aware of a blanket “no fishing” rule that universally applies to Porth Meudwy, but the area’s role as a passenger landing point and proximity to sensitive environments means restrictions can apply locally or temporarily. You should treat signage and instructions on the day as authoritative and be prepared to move if asked.

  • Check on-site signage for any local byelaws, safety exclusions, or seasonal access limits
  • Give absolute priority to boat operations and any designated working/embarkation areas—fishing there may be prohibited or considered unsafe
  • Observe national rules for species with size/bag limits and any local conservation measures; verify current requirements before you fish
  • If targeting bass or other regulated species, check the latest UK/Welsh regulations and comply fully