Fishing at Mount Batten Breakwater

BreakwaterDevon🐾 Dog-friendly all year★★☆ family

A stone breakwater in the Cattewater with mixed rough and clean ground and 4-12m of water depending on tide — a genuine LRF and light-lure hotspot within a short drive of central Plymouth.

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What you can catch

Species	Season	Method
Wrasse (ballan/corkwing)	Apr–Oct	LRF jigs (1-5g) or soft plastics worked tight to the breakwater rock.
Pollack	Apr–Nov	Small lures or soft plastics worked on the drop along the wall.
School bass	Mar–Nov	Soft plastics or peeler crab fished around the rock margins on the flood.
Mullet	May–Sep	Float-fished bread or maggot tight against the walls.
Squid	Oct–Dec	Jigs worked under a light after dark in autumn — a well-known local specialty.

Tactics

Time the session to the flood and into dusk; neap tides give easier presentation, springs suit conger/night species but bring more drag. LRF gear covers the range of small species; autumn squid jigging after dark is a genuine local highlight.

Best tide: Second half of the flood into high water, and the first of the ebb · Best time: Dusk through the evening; after dark in autumn for squid

Dogs

Mount Batten (Batten Bay) beach is dog-friendly all year round with no seasonal restriction; Plymouth's district-wide dog control rules (pick up, lead if requested) apply generally but there's no dated seasonal ban here unlike some other Plymouth beaches.

Access & parking

Drive to Mount Batten via Plymstock, following signs for Mount Batten/Watersports Centre; pay-and-display parking by the ferry slip. Sat-nav: PL9 9SJ.Get directions → Family rating: ★★☆ — The breakwater has some uneven rock and deep water alongside, so supervise children closely, though the adjacent beach is gentler.

FAQs

Is Mount Batten Breakwater good for beginners?

Yes for LRF and light lure fishing from accessible sections, though take care on the uneven rock.

Can I take my dog to Mount Batten?

Yes, Batten Bay beach is dog-friendly year-round with no seasonal ban, though general Plymouth-wide dog rules still apply.

When's best for squid at Mount Batten?

Autumn nights (roughly October–December), jigging under a light close to the breakwater structure.

Nearby marks

Chesil Beach (Ferrybridge, Dorset) · Salcombe (Bolt Head)

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.