Fishing at Tenby Harbour
The stone harbour wall is the most sheltered, most convenient mark in Tenby and fishes almost year-round — mackerel stack up tight to the wall in summer while wrasse and pollack hold in the rocks below it whatever the weather is doing outside the harbour mouth.
📍 View on the mapWhat you can catch
| Species | Season | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Mackerel | Jun–Sep | Feathers or small spinners worked close to the harbour wall on the flood tide, especially when shoals push in against the stonework. |
| Bass | Apr–Nov | Lure or a livebait/crab bait fished around the harbour mouth and rock ledges at dusk and after dark; 42cm minimum. |
| Wrasse | Apr–Oct | Float-fished crab or worm bait dropped tight against the harbour wall structure and kelp fringe. |
| Pollack | Sep–Dec | Soft plastic or small lure worked on the drop around the rougher ground and tide-run near the wall. |
| Strap conger / thornback ray | Nov–Feb | Fish or squid bait on a simple running leger cast from the wall after dark on bigger winter tides. |
Tactics
Fish the flood and the first couple of hours of the ebb tight to the stonework — spinning for mackerel and pollack in daylight, then switching to bait or a slow lure after dark for bass and wrasse. A drop net is genuinely useful here for landing anything decent over the wall.
Best tide: Two hours either side of high water · Best time: Evening into darkness, particularly through summer
Dogs
Access & parking
From Tudor Square follow the main road past the Lifeboat Tavern and down to the square above the harbour; Five Arches car park is a short walk up the hill. Sat-nav: SA70 7DL.Get directions → Family rating: ★★★ — Described locally as the safest place to fish in the resort — solid stone wall, no surf or undertow, close to town, though the drop to the water means young children need supervising near the edge.
FAQs
Is Tenby Harbour dog friendly for fishing trips?
Not in summer — dogs are banned from the Harbour/North Beach area between 1 May and 30 September under Pembrokeshire County Council's byelaw; no restriction October to April.
Do I need a fishing licence to fish from Tenby Harbour wall?
No rod licence is needed for UK sea fishing, but check for local harbour bylaws on fishing near moorings and slipways.
When do mackerel show up at Tenby Harbour?
Shoals typically push in tight to the harbour wall from June through September, best on the flood tide in calm, bright conditions.
Nearby marks
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.