Cornwall · 12 months · 12 species
A practical, month-by-month guide to bass, mackerel, pollack, wrasse, rays and more—built for beaches, rocks, harbours and estuaries around Cornwall.
2026 bass rule: bass are catch-and-release only from 1 February to 31 March. Outside that period, the recreational limit is three retained bass per person per day, minimum 42cm. Check the official guidance before fishing.
GOV.UK guidanceYour Cornish field guide
Typical seasonal patterns for Cornwall’s shore—not a catch promise. Start with the month, then narrow the guide to your kind of mark.
Autumn · September
Bass, mackerel, pollack, wrasse, garfish and rays can all fish well, with flounder and whiting beginning to strengthen later in the month.
A simple plan
Cover a surf beach after a manageable blow or fish a harbour or rock edge at last light in settled conditions.
Read the water
The sea often holds summer warmth after the air cools, so autumn species can overlap with the late summer run.
September species guide
12 species shown · ordered by typical seasonal opportunity
Dicentrarchus labrax
Field note: In 2026, bass are catch-and-release only from 1 February to 31 March. Outside that period the daily limit is three retained fish, minimum 42cm.
Identify and learn more
Belone belone
Field note: Often travel with baitfish and mackerel. A light approach is more enjoyable and causes less damage than heavy feather gear.
Identify and learn more
Mugilidae
Field note: Mullet can be visible without feeding. Stay discreet, avoid overfeeding and check local harbour rules before setting up.
Identify and learn more
Scomber scombrus
Field note: Arrival varies sharply with water temperature and bait. Avoid repeatedly feathering once you have enough for the table or bait freezer.
Identify and learn more
Pollachius pollachius
Field note: The better shore fishing is usually around deeper rock and reef. Do not trade a seasonal chance for an exposed ledge in unsafe swell.
Identify and learn more
Batoidea
Field note: Species and season depend heavily on the mark. Carry a suitable unhooking tool and learn safe handling before targeting rays.
Identify and learn more
Labridae
Field note: Handle carefully and return promptly unless keeping a legal fish for a clear purpose. Strong tackle reduces break-offs in rough ground.
Identify and learn more
Spondyliosoma cantharus
Field note: A south-coast and mixed-ground summer target. Use modest hooks and baits rather than oversized rigs.
Identify and learn more
Platichthys flesus
Field note: A useful cold-season target that may be much closer than expected. Cornwall IFCA lists a 25cm minimum in the areas where its inherited byelaw applies.
Identify and learn more
Mustelus spp.
Field note: A powerful warm-water visitor that varies by coast and ground. Use an appropriate landing plan before fishing alone.
Cornwall seasonal visitor
Merlangius merlangus
Field note: A dependable winter shore species. Small hooks and tidy baits usually outfish unnecessarily heavy tackle.
Identify and learn more
Gadus morhua
Field note: Treat codling as a winter bonus in Cornwall rather than a dependable target; catches vary sharply between coasts, marks and cold spells.
Identify and learn moreConditions always beat the calendar.
Pin it to the tackle cupboard
A quick planning view. Scroll sideways on mobile or use Print to save a clean copy.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European bass | ||||||||||||
| Mackerel | ||||||||||||
| Pollack | ||||||||||||
| Wrasse | ||||||||||||
| Garfish | ||||||||||||
| Black bream | ||||||||||||
| Grey mullet | ||||||||||||
| Smoothhound | ||||||||||||
| Rays | ||||||||||||
| Flounder | ||||||||||||
| Whiting | ||||||||||||
| Codling |
Match the ground
Cornwall has two very different coasts and hundreds of individual marks. The ground beneath you usually narrows the useful species and methods faster than the county-wide calendar does.
Bass, rays, smoothhound, flounder, whiting and codling
Look for gullies, banks and water with a little colour. Fish can be surprisingly close, so avoid casting beyond them by default.
Pollack, wrasse, bass, mackerel, garfish and rays
Structure creates variety but also risk. Choose easy ground with a safe retreat, and leave exposed ledges alone when swell is present.
Mackerel, garfish, mullet, pollack, flounder and whiting
Often accessible and good for learning, but permission and local restrictions vary. Keep walkways clear and never cast near boats or other people.
Bass, flounder and grey mullet
Mobile fish follow channels and flooding water. Soft mud, fast tides and protected nursery areas mean access and local rules need checking first.
Before every session
The calendar helps choose a target. It does not replace a mark-specific forecast, local permission or the rules in force on the day.
Size limits, closed periods, protected species and local byelaws can change. Cornwall IFCA is the first stop for local recreational fishing rules.
Cornwall IFCA rulesCheck weather and tide, tell someone your plan, carry a charged phone, wear a lifejacket where appropriate and never turn your back on the sea.
RNLI angling safetyStraight answers
June to September usually offers the broadest mix of shore species, with September a particularly useful crossover month. The best day still depends on wind, swell, tide, water clarity and baitfish.
Yes. Whiting and flounder are dependable winter targets, with dogfish and occasional codling on suitable marks. Choose sheltered, familiar ground and shorter sessions when weather and daylight narrow the safe window.
Mackerel are most often targeted from late spring into autumn, with June to September the strongest broad window. Their arrival follows warm water and baitfish rather than a fixed date, so no month guarantees a catch.
For recreational rod-and-line fishing, bass caught from 1 February to 31 March 2026 must be released. Outside that period, the maximum is three retained bass per person per day and the minimum conservation reference size is 42cm. Always check current official guidance before fishing.
Start with a safe, accessible beach, harbour or pier where fishing is permitted and local conditions are easy to read. Avoid isolated or exposed rock marks until you have the experience, equipment and local knowledge to assess them safely.
How this calendar was built
Down The Cove combined established UK shore-fishing seasonality with Cornwall-specific mark patterns, then checked the rules and safety claims against Cornwall IFCA, the Marine Management Organisation and RNLI. Ratings describe relative opportunity, not abundance or a guaranteed catch. Last fact-checked 12 September 2026.
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