Fishing at Hartland Quay

Rock mark / ledgesDevon🐾 Seasonal daytime dog ban★☆☆ family

Rugged Atlantic rock ledges below the old quay and hotel, with deep kelpy gullies and a big swell — this is the mark North Devon anglers talk about for double-figure bass, but it's rough ground that demands care on the approach and the tides.

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What you can catch

Species	Season	Method
Bass	May–Nov	Lure fishing the kelp gullies on the flood, or float-fished mackerel/prawn tight to the ledges at dusk; the mark has a reputation for fish into double figures.
Pollack	May–Oct	Soft plastics and jellyworms worked over the kelp on the push of the tide.
Wrasse	May–Sep	Float-fished ragworm or crab hard against the rock face.
Conger eel / bull huss	Jun–Oct	Whole mackerel or squid fished hard on the bottom after dark in the deeper gullies.
Whiting / pouting	Nov–Feb	Bait fishing with fish strip on a simple paternoster from the harbour ledges in colder months.

Tactics

Work lures and soft plastics through the kelp-lined gullies on a rising, flooding tide, targeting dusk and dawn for bass and pollack; switch to a static mackerel or squid bait after dark for conger and huss. This is not a mark to fish alone in poor conditions — the ledges are exposed to Atlantic swell.

Best tide: Flood tide, first half · Best time: Dusk, dawn, and after dark for conger/huss

Dogs

Hartland Quay Hotel, which manages the beach, allows dogs on the beach only from 1 November to 31 March; dogs are not permitted from 1 April to 31 October while bathing water is monitored for quality.

Access & parking

Park in the pay car park on the cliffs above the quay by the Hartland Quay Hotel, then descend the steep slipway to the ledges. Sat-nav: EX39 6DB.Get directions → Family rating: ★☆☆ — Dramatic but genuinely hazardous ground — dangerous cliffs, a slipway too steep for wheelchairs, no lifeguard cover, and fast tidal water tight to the rocks.

FAQs

Are dogs allowed at Hartland Quay?

Only between 1 November and 31 March. From 1 April to 31 October dogs aren't allowed on the beach because the bathing water is being monitored for quality.

Is Hartland Quay safe for beginners or kids?

Not really — rough-ground rock mark with dangerous cliffs, a steep slipway, and no lifeguard, better suited to experienced anglers.

What can you catch at Hartland Quay?

Known for big bass, plus pollack and wrasse on lures in summer, and conger eel and bull huss on bait after dark.

Nearby marks

Welcombe Mouth

Last updated 7 July 2026 — sources & disclaimer

Compiled from angling guides, forums and the relevant council's dog byelaws, cross-checked where possible.

Rules and conditions change, so always check current signage and tides before you go. We do our best to keep this accurate but can't promise it's error-free.