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Pembrokeshire

Porthgain Point

6.5 · Rocks · Pembrokeshire

Porthgain Point is a rugged, tide-swept rock and ledge mark on the north Pembrokeshire coast, fished from rough rock platforms and the edges of gullies. Access is on foot from Porthgain village (short but steep/uneven in places) and fishing is classic “kelp and rough ground” with deeper water close in, especially on the flood. It suits spinning/float fishing for predators in calm-to-moderate seas, and heavy-ish bottom tactics for wrasse and dogfish where the ground is snaggy.

Should you fish Porthgain Point?

56 Fair

Today · Best available

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

Most likely species: Lesser Spotted Dogfish and Bass

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

W 4 mph Rain 24% High tide 00:25

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Porthgain Point — 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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Porthgain Point is a rugged, tide-swept Pembrokeshire rock mark where the best fishing usually comes from matching your position to the sea state. In settled to moderate conditions, the open ledges, gully mouths, kelp edges and deeper water close in can produce pollack, wrasse, mackerel, bass and dogfish. It is not a forgiving venue: swell, weed, slippery rock and tide-cut exits should dictate where you fish before species choice does.

  • Know when to fish the open ledges and when to retreat into gullies.
  • Use the flood to target pollack tight to rips and gully mouths.
  • Avoid losing leads by switching to float or lure tactics over the kelp.
  • Pick the right after-dark target without overcommitting to unsafe low rock.
  • Have a nearby backup plan ready when swell or weed beats the Point.

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Whitchurch (Pembrokeshire) 4.7 mi Solva 5.3 mi Brawdy 5.3 mi St Davids 5.9 mi Letterston 7.9 mi

Explore nearby towns: Whitchurch (Pembrokeshire) · Solva · Brawdy · St Davids · Letterston

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

Overall rating

6.5 /10

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

Category scores

Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 6/10
Safety 4/10
Accessibility 5/10

Pollack 8/10
Tip: Best on spin/lures or float-fished sandeel/mackerel strip; work tide rips and gully mouths on the flood.
Ballan Wrasse 8/10
Tip: Close to kelp-covered rocks; float or light ledger with crab/shellfish baits—expect powerful dives into weed.
Lesser Spotted Dogfish 7/10
Tip: Reliable after dark on fish/squid baits; fish just off the rougher ground where snags are manageable.
Mackerel 7/10
Tip: Summer shoals; feathers or small metals from higher ledges into deeper water—often best mid-flood to high.
Bass 6/10
Tip: Dawn/dusk and overcast with a bit of surf; plugs/spinners in the washes or bait (rag/sandeel) on cleaner patches.
Coalfish 6/10
Tip: Often with pollack; small metals/soft plastics in faster water and around reef edges, especially in cooler months.
Pouting 5/10
Tip: Common in autumn/winter; small hooks with fish strips on a light-to-medium ledger in slightly cleaner pockets.
Conger Eel 5/10
Tip: Night sessions into deeper, rough ground; big fish possible—use strong tackle and present fish baits tight to rocks.
Whiting 4/10
Tip: Occasional in colder months from the more open ledges; small fish baits, keep leads light to reduce snags.
Garfish 4/10
Tip: Late spring/summer; float-fish small sandeel strips or use bubble-float and slim lures in calm, clear conditions.

Local knowledge

Porthgain Point fishing guide

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

Porthgain Point is a rugged, tide-washed headland on the north Pembrokeshire coast, offering classic rock and rough-ground sea angling in dramatic scenery. It can fish very well for a mix of species, but it’s a “proper” rock mark where sea state, swell direction and safe footing matter as much as bait choice.

  • A wild, open-coast venue: expect swell, undertow and kelp-covered ledges rather than easy platforms
  • Best suited to anglers comfortable with rough ground tactics and reading the sea
  • Can be productive year-round, with spring–autumn often giving the most consistent mixed fishing

The mark lies around Porthgain’s headland, with fishing typically from rock ledges, gullies and casting points that face open water. Access is usually on foot from the village area, then along coastal paths and down onto the rocks where safe.

  • Park in/near Porthgain and walk out on the coast path; expect uneven ground and steps/steep paths in places
  • Final approaches to ledges can be slippery (seaweed, salt spray) and may require careful route-finding
  • In bigger seas you may be limited to higher, safer positions rather than low ledges close to the wash

This is a typical north Pembrokeshire rough-ground mark where wrasse and pollack are frequent targets, and bass can show when conditions suit. Depending on season and water clarity, you can also encounter general “rock mark” species and occasional better fish after a bit of swell.

  • Pollack: common around kelp edges and broken ground; often best on lure or fresh bait
  • Wrasse (incl. ballan): strong fighters in the kelp; best in clearer, calmer conditions
  • Bass: likely in surfier water, overcast conditions, and when baitfish/crabs are present
  • Mackerel: can appear in season, especially when shoals are tight to the headland
  • Conger/rock eel: possible after dark around deeper cracks and boulder fields (tackle accordingly)
  • General by-catch: small codling/coalies at times, plus other rock species depending on year and conditions

Fishing Porthgain Point is usually about putting a bait or lure tight to the rough, then keeping it moving enough to avoid snags—or accepting some losses as the price of fishing productive ground. A flexible approach pays: switch between bait, float-fishing, and spinning depending on clarity, swell and weed.

  • Spinning/plugging for pollack and bass: work soft plastics, metals or surface/sub-surface lures along kelp lines and into white water
  • Light lure tactics: a sensible option when snagging is severe; keep contact and fish slightly higher in the water
  • Float-fishing: excellent for wrasse and pollack in clearer water; present crab or fish strips close to kelp and gullies
  • Bottom fishing (rough ground rigs): use strong gear, short snoods, and breakout/plain leads sized for the tide; expect snags
  • Baits that often score: peeler/hardback crab for wrasse and bass; sandeel or fish strip for pollack; rag/lug can take mixed species but may attract more small fish
  • Timing and presentation: in a swell, fish the edges of the foam; in calm, clear water, fish deeper kelp channels and shaded gullies

Like many Pembrokeshire headlands, the mark’s fishability is strongly tied to swell and tide. A bit of sea and colour can switch fish on, but too much swell quickly makes the lower ledges unsafe and can push weed through the water.

  • Best conditions often include: a manageable swell, some water movement, and light colour in the water
  • Very calm/clear spells can still produce wrasse and pollack, especially with float-fished crab or lures worked deeper
  • After strong onshore winds: expect heavy kelp/weed and rough seas—often safer but less fishable until it settles
  • Tide choice: fish can feed on most stages, but many anglers prefer moving water rather than slack; plan around safe access/exit
  • Watch the set of the sea: larger waves can arrive in cycles; give it time before committing to a ledge

This is not an “easy access” venue, and conditions can change quickly on an exposed headland. Treat it as a serious rock mark: if you can’t identify a safe retreat route at all times, don’t fish the lower ground.

  • Slippery rock and weed: studded boots/cleats can help, but nothing replaces careful footwork and patience
  • Swell risk: avoid low ledges in any significant swell; never turn your back on the sea
  • Route planning: ensure your exit isn’t cut off by the tide; identify a high-water line and an alternative path back
  • Night fishing: only for experienced rock anglers; headtorch, spare light, and a conservative choice of position are essential
  • Accessibility: uneven paths, steep sections and rough rock make it unsuitable for limited mobility
  • Consider a lifejacket/buoyancy aid and fish with a companion on more remote sections

Porthgain is a small harbour village with useful amenities close by, but once you’re out on the point you’re effectively fishing a wild coastline. Plan to be self-sufficient for the session.

  • Nearby village facilities can include: parking areas, places to eat/drink, and seasonal services
  • Limited shelter on the headland: bring windproof layers, water, and a small first-aid kit
  • Mobile reception can be variable along the cliffs; don’t rely on it for safety

Porthgain Point rewards anglers who keep mobile and match tactics to what the sea is doing on the day. If the water is too rough or weedy on the most exposed faces, nearby tucked-in gullies or slightly more sheltered casts can still produce.

  • Start by watching for 10–15 minutes: note swell cycles, drift lines, and where the foam meets darker water
  • Target structure: kelp edges, darker gullies, and the seams between rough and slightly cleaner ground
  • Manage snags: fish slightly up in the water with lures/float when the bottom is “eating” leads
  • Travel light: a compact kit makes it easier (and safer) to move between ledges as conditions change
  • Handle wrasse carefully: use a landing net where possible, unhook quickly, and return fish gently
  • Keep an eye out for surges in gullies: they can sweep tackle (and feet) unexpectedly

There’s no widely known blanket ban specific to “Porthgain Point” itself, but Pembrokeshire has a mix of access considerations, local bylaws, and conservation sensitivities that can affect where and how you fish. Always treat signage and official guidance on the day as definitive.

  • Check for local notices: any “no fishing” signs, access restrictions, or safety closures on paths/cliff sections
  • Conservation considerations: parts of the Pembrokeshire coast fall within protected designations; follow any site-specific rules if posted
  • Species rules: adhere to current Welsh/UK regulations and best practice for bass and other sensitive stocks; if unsure, check official sources before fishing
  • Respect other users: keep clear of walkers, wildlife watchers, and any working harbour activity closer to Porthgain
  • Take litter and spare line home: the area is important for seabirds and marine life