Fishing at Portreath

Harbour & beachCornwall🐾 Seasonal daytime dog ban★★★ family

A small, sheltered North Cornwall harbour with a wide sandy beach either side — the harbour is a genuine mixed-species hotspot (25+ species recorded in a single year) while the open beach is the better bet for night bass.

📍 View on the map

What you can catch

Species	Season	Method
Bass	Apr–Nov	Bacon or fish bait fished in the harbour on the flood, or beachcaster tactics on the open sand at night.
Mullet	Jun–Sep	Bread or bacon float-fished in the harbour, where hundreds can shoal up in summer.
Pollack / wrasse	Apr–Oct	Float-fished worm or lure worked around the harbour walls.
Flounder / dab	All year, best autumn/winter	Small hooks with worm bait fished on the bottom in the harbour or beach at low tide.
Mackerel / scad / garfish	Jun–Sep	Feathers cast from the harbour walls in summer.

Tactics

Work the harbour walls with float tactics or bacon/bread for the huge variety of small species and summer mullet shoals, and switch to the open beach with standard beachcaster gear for bass after dark.

Best tide: Flood tide into high water · Best time: Daytime in the harbour for mixed species; after dark on the beach for bass

Dogs

Cornwall Council's PSPO bans dogs from Portreath beach from 1 July to 31 August, 10am–6pm; dogs are welcome outside those dates/hours. The harbour itself isn't sandy beach and isn't covered by the same beach-specific ban.

Access & parking

Park at Portreath's main pay-and-display car park overlooking the beach. Sat-nav: TR16 4NN.Get directions → Family rating: ★★★ — Sheltered harbour and wide sandy beach with a car park right behind it — an easy, low-hazard venue for families.

FAQs

Is Portreath harbour good for fishing?

Yes — over 25 species have been recorded there in a single year, from mullet and bass to wrasse, flounder and mackerel.

Are dogs allowed on Portreath beach?

Not from 1 July to 31 August, 10am to 6pm — Cornwall Council's seasonal PSPO applies; dogs are welcome outside that window.

What's the best bait for mullet at Portreath?

Bread or bacon float-fished in the harbour, where large mullet shoals gather in summer.

Nearby marks

Trevose Head · Newquay (Towan Beach)

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.