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Pembrokeshire

Stackpole Quay

6.5 · Harbour · Pembrokeshire

Small sheltered quay at the head of a narrow tidal inlet (Stackpole Quay) with short-cast fishing from the harbour walls, slipway area and nearby rock edges. It’s mainly a light-tackle float/ledger mark for wrasse, pollack and mullet in the coloured tide, with occasional bass along the channel on the push of water; best around mid to high tide when depth and flow increase.

Should you fish Stackpole Quay?

62 Fair

Today · Best window

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

Most likely species: Ballan Wrasse and Goldsinny Wrasse

Fair conditions. Best around 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide. Good chance of Ballan Wrasse and Goldsinny Wrasse.

W 4 mph Rain 2% High tide 12:05

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Stackpole Quay — 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.

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· 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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Stackpole Quay is a sheltered harbour and narrow tidal-inlet mark that usually fishes best with movement rather than surf. Treat it as a short-cast, light-to-medium tackle venue: wrasse close to weed-covered walls and rocks, pollack along the channel edge on the flood and dusk, mullet in calm spells around the quay, and the chance of bass when coloured water or low light coincides with a pushing tide.

  • Know when the quay is worth fishing — and when it goes dead.
  • Target wrasse tight to the right walls without wasting tackle.
  • Time the flood for pollack and the chance of bass.
  • Pick the sheltered inner option when the mouth is awkward.
  • Use the channel edge instead of blind-casting the harbour.

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

Freshwater East 2.3 mi Lamphey 3.2 mi Pembroke 3.4 mi Hundleton 3.7 mi Jameston 4.5 mi

Explore nearby towns: Freshwater East · Lamphey · Pembroke · Hundleton · Jameston

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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 6/10
Species Variety 6.5/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 6.5/10
Accessibility 7.5/10

Ballan Wrasse 8/10
Tip: Very common tight to weed-covered walls/rocks; float-fish ragworm/crab; use strong gear and net to lift.
Pollack 7/10
Tip: Best on the flood/at dusk; spin small lures or float live prawn/sandeel-style baits along the channel edge.
Goldsinny Wrasse 7/10
Tip: Small but plentiful around kelp and moorings; light float or small leads with rag/madder; great for sport.
Bass 6/10
Tip: Occasional fish on pushing tides and low light; soft plastics/spinners or strip baits worked down the run.
Mullet (Thick-lipped) 6/10
Tip: Seen in calm spells around the quay; bread flake/freelined or light float; long hooklength and gentle feeding.
Mullet (Thin-lipped) 6/10
Tip: Can show in summer, often finicky; small hooks, bread/harbour rag, minimal lead and steady trickle feed.
Lesser Spotted Dogfish 4/10
Tip: More likely after dark on the ebb/flood edge; small fish baits on the deck, expect pick-ups rather than runs.
Conger Eel 4/10
Tip: Chance at night from deeper corners/rocky holes; large fish baits and abrasion-resistant trace; keep clear of snags.

Local knowledge

Stackpole Quay fishing guide

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

Stackpole Quay is a small, sheltered harbour mark on the south Pembrokeshire coast, best known for light- to medium-tackle fishing in relatively calm water compared with the open cliffs and surf beaches nearby.

  • A good “all-rounder” for anglers who want shelter from swell and wind, especially when exposed marks are unfishable
  • Mixed ground typical of an estuary/harbour mouth: mud/sand in the inner reaches with rock, weed and scoured channels nearer the entrance
  • Suits short sessions, lure fishing for bass in summer, and bait fishing for flatfish, eels and school species
  • Expect it to fish best on a bit of movement rather than at slack water

The quay sits within the Stackpole Estate area and is reached via minor roads with a short walk to the water’s edge, making it one of the more convenient marks locally.

  • Access is generally straightforward to the harbour wall/quayside and adjacent banks, but footing can be slippery with weed and algae
  • Best explored at low water first so you can see the channel edges, snaggy rock and any mooring tackle
  • The inner harbour is sheltered; the harbour mouth and nearby rocks are more exposed to tidal push and swell
  • Be mindful of residents, boat users and seasonal visitors—space can be tight at peak times

Species reflect a sheltered harbour/estuary environment with occasional better fish on the flood when cleaner water pushes in.

  • Bass (often best on lures or fresh bait on the flooding tide, particularly in warmer months)
  • Flatfish: flounder and plaice are realistic targets; occasional sole may be possible in suitable conditions
  • Mullet can appear in the calmer inner water (best approached with light tackle and subtle presentation)
  • Eels (especially after dark and in warmer months)
  • Wrasse and small pollack/coalie can show closer to rock/weed and the harbour mouth
  • School species such as mackerel may be possible when they run the coast, usually nearer the entrance where water is deeper and cleaner

Keep tactics simple and mobile: fish the tide lines, channel edges and any areas where current scours a little depth.

  • Bottom fishing: light pulley or running ledger with just enough lead to hold; long snoods can help for flounder/plaice over sandier patches
  • Baits: ragworm/maddie, lug, crab (for bass), sandeel, and small fish baits; scale up to crab or fish when targeting better bass
  • Lure fishing: small soft plastics, surface/subsurface plugs and metals worked along the harbour mouth on the flood; fish tight to structure but expect snags
  • Float fishing: useful for mullet or wrasse in calm water—present baits close to edges and around any weed/rock
  • Night sessions: effective for eels and bass; fish quietly and avoid shining lights across the water where possible

This mark usually responds to tidal movement rather than big surf, and it can be a reliable choice when swell makes open-coast spots dangerous.

  • Best phases are typically the flood and early ebb when cleaner water and food are moving through
  • On very small neaps, the harbour can feel “still” and sport may be slower; on bigger springs, expect stronger flow at pinch points
  • After heavy rain, water can colour up and carry debris—often better nearer the entrance where the sea influence is stronger
  • Light winds are ideal; strong onshore winds can funnel chop into the harbour mouth and make presentation awkward
  • Clear, calm conditions can suit mullet and sight-feeding species; a bit of colour can help bass confidence

Although sheltered, Stackpole Quay has typical harbour hazards and can become surprisingly slippery and awkward on changing tides.

  • Quay edges and rocks can be very slippery with weed—wear studded boots/cleats and take extra care when landing fish
  • Keep clear of mooring ropes, chains and boat traffic; do not cast across navigation lines or obstruct slipways
  • Watch the tide: shallow areas can cut off easy returns if you wander onto lower rocks/banks without planning
  • Swell can surge into the harbour mouth in certain conditions—avoid low rocks near the entrance when there’s any swell running
  • Use a headtorch and lifejacket for dusk/night fishing, and fish with a companion if possible

Facilities are limited but the quay area is convenient compared with more remote cliff marks.

  • Parking is usually nearby, though it can be busy in season; park considerately and do not block access for boats or emergency vehicles
  • Basic shelter is provided by the harbour itself, but there may be little cover from rain—dress for the forecast
  • Local amenities are generally a short drive away rather than on the quay itself
  • Take all litter and spare line home; the enclosed nature of a harbour makes debris particularly harmful to wildlife and boat users

Small details matter here—fish the obvious features carefully and you can pick up consistent sport on lighter gear.

  • Walk it at low water to identify the main channel, firmer sand patches and the snaggy zones around rock/weed
  • For flounder, try worm baits with small, visible attractors (beads/spoons) and keep leads light to avoid burying in soft ground
  • For bass, focus on the first of the flood and any current seams where baitfish are pushed along edges and corners
  • Keep rigs simple and robust around harbour hardware; expect tackle loss if you fish too tight to chains and moorings
  • Carry a long-handled landing net—steep quay edges can make lifting fish on the line risky and can damage fish intended for release

Stackpole Quay sits in an area with sensitive habitats and managed access, so rules can vary by location and season.

  • I’m not aware of a blanket, always-in-force prohibition on rod-and-line sea fishing at the quay itself, but restrictions can exist locally
  • Check on-site signage for estate/harbour rules, access limits, and any seasonal wildlife protections before you fish
  • Observe UK sea angling best practice: comply with any local byelaws, minimum sizes, and protected species guidance (verify current rules via official sources)
  • Be considerate around boats, swimmers and other harbour users; if asked to move by an authorised person, do so promptly
  • If you plan to collect bait or shellfish, check separate regulations—these can differ from rod-and-line angling rules