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Pembrokeshire

Coppet Hall

6.6 · Beach · Pembrokeshire

Coppet Hall is a sheltered, gently shelving sandy bay just north of Saundersfoot, with easy access from the Coppet Hall Beach Centre/car park and a short walk onto clean sand. It fishes as a classic surf/clean-ground mark with some mixed ground and reef influence toward the northern end by the headland, giving a good blend of flatfish and occasional predators; it can be busy in summer and is best timed for the last of the flood into high water and the first of the ebb, especially around low-light periods.

Should you fish Coppet Hall?

56 Fair

Today · Best window

Best window: 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide

Most likely species: Plaice and Bass

Fair conditions. Best around 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide. Good chance of Plaice and Bass.

W 4 mph Rain 2% High tide 11:45

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Coppet Hall — 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.

Wednesday 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.

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Coppet Hall is best approached as a clean-sand beach mark with useful mixed-ground influence toward the northern headland. The strongest plan is to time the last of the flood into high water and the first of the ebb, then choose between open sand for flatfish and the rock-sand/weed seams for bass, wrasse chances and occasional better fish. It usually needs some colour, a manageable surf and sensible casting distances rather than extreme range.

  • Know when to fish the open sand and when to push toward the northern seam
  • Time the flood-to-ebb window instead of guessing the tide
  • Target bass close in without overcasting the surf line
  • Switch tactics fast when weed or crabs start ruining baits
  • Use Coppet Hall’s backup options without wasting the session

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Saundersfoot 0.4 mi Pleasant Valley 0.9 mi Kilgetty 1.6 mi Wooden 1.7 mi New Hedges and Twy Cross 1.7 mi

Explore nearby towns: Saundersfoot · Pleasant Valley · Kilgetty · Wooden · New Hedges and Twy Cross

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

Overall rating

6.6 /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 8/10
Accessibility 9/10

Bass 7/10
Tip: Best at dusk/dawn on a pushing tide; fish fresh crab, sandeel or strip baits; work close in along the surf line.
Lesser Spotted Dogfish 7/10
Tip: Reliable after dark and on overcast nights; take fish strips and squid—use wire if picking up tope is possible elsewhere nearby.
Plaice 6/10
Tip: Clean sand produces plaice in spring/summer; use worm or small crab baits and longer casts to find feeding patches.
Dab 6/10
Tip: Common on light/medium gear; small worm or fish-strip baits score well, especially as tide slackens.
Flounder 5/10
Tip: Often close to shore and in any slightly coloured water; rag/lug and small crab baits, short casts can be enough.
Thornback Ray 5/10
Tip: Occasional over clean ground; fish bigger baits (mackerel/squid cocktail) on the ebb or after dark for a chance.
Smoothhound 4/10
Tip: Summer chance on crab baits when conditions are calm; target deeper water toward the ends of the bay.
Mackerel 4/10
Tip: Seasonal and more likely when shoals come close; try feathers or small spinners in calm, clear conditions near high water.

Local knowledge

Coppet Hall fishing guide

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

Coppet Hall is a well-known south Pembrokeshire shore mark at the Saundersfoot end of the long sandy sweep of Saundersfoot Bay. It’s primarily a mixed ground venue—sand with patches of rock and weed—so it can fish well for classic beach species, but also throws up wrasse and occasional better fish when conditions line up.

  • Best thought of as a “do a bit of everything” mark rather than a pure long-range beach
  • Most productive when there’s a bit of colour in the water and a steady surf rather than a flat calm
  • Very popular with walkers and families in season, so timing and considerate casting matter

Coppet Hall sits on the eastern side of Saundersfoot Bay, just below the coastal path and close to the facilities and holiday accommodation around Coppet Hall/Saundersfoot. Access is generally straightforward compared with many Pembrokeshire marks, but you still need to treat the tides and swell with respect.

  • Access via the beach paths/steps down to Coppet Hall Beach; you can then fish the sand or work towards the rockier edges
  • The coastal path above gives good vantage to assess surf, weed, and safe entry/exit points
  • In summer, expect heavy foot traffic—fish early/late and choose a quieter section away from bathers

This is a varied mark where you can target typical south-west Wales beach fish on clean sand and switch to rough-ground tactics around the rocks and weed. Species presence changes with season, surf height, and how much weed is about.

  • Clean ground (sand): bass, flounder, dabs/other small flatfish, dogfish, occasional rays depending on conditions
  • Rougher edges (rock/weed): wrasse (including ballan), small pollack, occasional conger in the rougher pockets
  • After rough weather: chances improve for bass and better-sized fish as food gets stirred up
  • Night sessions: generally better for bass, dogfish and any rays that patrol the bay

You can fish Coppet Hall effectively with straightforward beach tactics, but it also rewards a roving approach—covering ground and adapting to sand/reef transitions. Match your tackle to where you’re casting: clean sand allows simpler rigs; the edges need abrasion resistance and stronger hook patterns.

  • Clean sand bait fishing: clipped-down or simple flapper rigs with 2/0–4/0 patterns for bass, smaller hooks for flatties when bites are shy
  • Rough ground/edge work: stronger mono/fluorocarbon leaders, shorter snoods, and robust hooks to cope with wrasse and kelp snagging
  • Lure fishing (when water clarity allows): search with spinners/soft plastics for bass along the wave line, gullies, and the rock-sand seams
  • Effective baits: lugworm, ragworm, peeler/crab (especially near rough), sandeel/strip baits for bass, and mixed cocktails when crabs are a nuisance
  • Keep casts sensible: in surf you often don’t need extreme range—put the bait in the feeding zone just behind the breakers or along a gully

Coppet Hall is strongly influenced by tide height, surf, and weed. The bay can fish on many stages, but you’ll usually do best when you can present baits in gutters and along the margins of rough ground without fighting heavy weed.

  • Rising tide often brings fish closer, especially bass hunting the edge of the surf
  • Low water can expose structure and help you identify gullies/holes for later stages
  • A light to moderate onshore swell with coloured water is frequently ideal for bass; crystal-clear calm conditions can be harder going
  • After storms, expect more debris and weed—carry spare rigs and consider shorter casts to reduce snagging
  • Strong winds can make line control difficult on open sand; choose a sheltered section of the bay if conditions allow

It’s a comparatively accessible shore venue, but it’s still open-coast fishing with typical hazards: surf, slipping on weeded rock, and being cut off if you wander too far along the edges without watching the tide. Treat it as a beach mark first and a rock mark second.

  • Watch for being cut off if moving around rocky sections—plan your route on the dropping tide and return early
  • Weed-covered rock can be extremely slippery; studded boots and a wading staff help if you leave the sand
  • In a bigger swell, waves can surge higher than expected even on “safe-looking” ledges—avoid exposed edges
  • Night fishing: use a headtorch, mark your exit points, and avoid scrambling on rock in the dark
  • Family beach in season: keep casts well away from the public, use plain leads when appropriate, and relocate if swimmers are present

One of the big advantages of Coppet Hall is the proximity to Saundersfoot and the wider visitor facilities in the immediate area. That makes it a practical choice for short sessions and for anglers who prefer easy access.

  • Nearby parking options and footpaths/steps down to the beach (availability can vary with season and local arrangements)
  • Public amenities are close by in Saundersfoot (shops, food, toilets), especially useful for longer sessions
  • Mobile reception is generally reasonable around the bay, but don’t rely on it as a sole safety measure

Small decisions at Coppet Hall—where you set up, whether you fish the seam or the open sand, and how you handle weed/crabs—often make the difference. Think like a bass and like a wrasse: food funnels and structure matter.

  • Spend a few minutes watching the surf: look for darker gutters, side currents, and the edge where sand meets rock/weed
  • If crabs are stripping baits, toughen up with crab/peeler, use elastic, or switch to larger, tougher presentations
  • Fish the last couple of hours of flood and first of ebb when the surf line is tight to the beach and predators patrol close
  • For wrasse, keep leads light enough to hold bottom but not so heavy you wedge into cracks; lift and move if you feel snaggy ground
  • Keep a few “sacrificial” rigs/weights for the rougher edges—snags are part of the game if you push into structure

There are commonly no blanket “no fishing” rules specifically associated with Coppet Hall itself, but Pembrokeshire has sensitive coastal areas and local controls can change. Always assume restrictions may apply around bathing zones, water-sports activity, or conservation measures.

  • Check local signage at access points for any seasonal restrictions, byelaws, or designated swimming areas affecting casting
  • If you intend to take fish, confirm current national and local rules (e.g., size limits, protected species, and any bass measures) via official Welsh/UK sources before fishing
  • Be aware that some nearby stretches can fall within environmentally sensitive designations; follow any posted guidance and avoid disturbing wildlife
  • If in doubt, ask locally (harbour/marina staff, tackle shops) and comply with any clearly posted rules on site