Fishing — South Hams Coast

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Today's Fishing Conditions

Bantham & Salcombe — 26 Feb 2026

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Best option today: light tackle in the upper Salcombe estuary or Kingsbridge Creek for flounder. Fish on the flooding tide with ragworm. The gusts are too dangerous for small boat offshore work.

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Tides for Fishing Today

26 Feb 2026 — near springs

📅 Add a free WorldTides API key in conditions.js for live tides | Bantham tides ↗ | Tides4Fishing ↗

⭐ Best for Bass (Bantham mouth)1hr before low tide — fish 2hrs after. Early AM is best. Today's low = 16:31.

⭐ Best for Flounder (estuary)Flooding tide — fish as the water comes in over mudflats

⭐ Best for Bass (Salcombe bar)Pushing flood tide — bass follow bait fish through the entrance

⭐ Best for Boat (offshore)Slack water around HW/LW — easier to hold position

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5-Day Fishing Outlook

Bantham & Salcombe

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Fetching forecast

Fri 27

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Improving

SW 12 mph. Coastal marks reachable.

Sat 28

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Coloured water

SW swell. Rougher offshore. Shore OK.

Sun 1 Mar

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Better boat day

Lighter winds. Offshore viable.

Mon 2 Mar

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Good boat day

NW light. Best boat window of week.

Sunday/Monday look like the best boat fishing windows this week. Aim for an early start before the wind picks up. Still cold for bass but wrasse, pollack and whiting should be around the rough ground.

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Species Seasonal Calendar

Salcombe & Bantham area

Species	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
🐟 Bass	⬜	⬜	🟦	🟦	🟩	🟦	🟨	🟨	🟨	🟩	🟦	⬜
🐠 Pollack	🟦	🟦	🟩	🟨	🟨	🟩	🟩	🟩	🟩	🟨	🟦	🟦
🐟 Mackerel	⬜	⬜	⬜	🟦	🟩	🟨	🟨	🟨	🟩	🟦	⬜	⬜
🐟 Wrasse	⬜	⬜	🟦	🟩	🟨	🟨	🟨	🟨	🟩	🟦	⬜	⬜
🐟 Whiting	🟨	🟨	🟩	🟦	⬜	⬜	⬜	⬜	🟦	🟩	🟨	🟨
🐟 Flounder	🟩	🟩	🟩	🟦	🟦	⬜	⬜	⬜	🟦	🟩	🟨	🟩
🦈 Dogfish	🟩	🟩	🟩	🟩	🟨	🟨	🟨	🟨	🟩	🟩	🟩	🟩
🦑 Squid	⬜	⬜	⬜	🟦	🟩	🟨	🟨	🟨	🟩	🟦	⬜	⬜
🐡 Bream	⬜	⬜	⬜	⬜	🟦	🟩	🟨	🟨	🟩	🟦	⬜	⬜
🦐 Mullet	⬜	⬜	⬜	🟦	🟩	🟨	🟨	🟨	🟩	🟦	⬜	⬜

🟨 Peak season 🟩 Good 🟦 Possible ⬜ Unlikely

You are currently in: February — best species right now are dogfish, flounder, whiting and rockling. Bass season kicks in properly from May.

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Shore Fishing Marks

Bantham, Salcombe & surrounds

🐟 Bantham River Mouth

Estuary mouth — bass + flounder

⭐ Best bass mark in the area
🕐 Low tide ±1–2 hours
🪱 Sandeel, ragworm, lures
🌊 Strong rip — be careful
🐟 Flounder year round

⚓ Salcombe Estuary (upper)

Sheltered estuary — flounder

⭐ Sheltered from wind
🕐 Flooding tide best
🪱 Ragworm on light tackle
🐟 Flounder, mullet (summer)
🚗 Park at Kingsbridge

🪨 Bolt Head Rocks

Rocky headland — wrasse + pollack

⭐ Dramatic scenery
🕐 All tides
🪱 Lures, crab, worm
🐟 Wrasse, pollack, bass
⚠️ Rough ground, slippery

🏖️ Bigbury Beach

Sandy beach — flatties

⭐ Easy access
🕐 Dusk and dawn
🪱 Sandeel, ragworm
🐟 Flounder, bass (summer)
🅿️ Large car park

🪨 Prawle Point

Southernmost Devon — mixed

⭐ Southerly swells hit hard
🕐 Low tide for best access
🪱 Lures, crab, worm
🐟 Bass, pollack, wrasse
⚠️ 30 min walk from car park

🪨 Thurlestone Rock

Rock ledge — wrasse + pollack

⭐ Productive rock mark
🕐 Low tide
🪱 Ragworm, crab, lure
🐟 Wrasse, bass, pollack
⚠️ Slippery in swell — be safe

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Bait Guide

What to use & where to get it

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Ragworm

Flounder, bass, wrasse

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Lugworm

Flounder, whiting, dogfish

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Sandeel

Bass, pollack, mackerel

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Peeler Crab

Bass (best bait), wrasse

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Mackerel Strip

Dogfish, pollack, bream

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Prawn (live)

Bass (amazing), mullet

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Soft Lures

Bass, pollack, wrasse

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Hard Lures

Bass (surface — summer)

🏪 Bait Source — KingsbridgeKingsbridge Angling Centre — 01548 852823

🏪 Bait Source — PlymouthSeveral tackle shops on the Barbican

💡 Tip — FebruaryRagworm and lugworm are your best bet this time of year for estuary flounder

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Bass Regulations 2026

England & Wales — check current EA rules

📏 Minimum Size42 cm (total length)

🎣 Shore — Bag Limit1 bass per day per angler

🚤 Recreational Boat1 bass per day per angler

📅 Closure AreasCheck current EA seasonal closures

🌊 River Avon ByelawsAdditional local byelaws may apply in the estuary — check with Environment Agency

✅ Licence Required?Sea fishing — no rod licence required in England. Net fishing requires consent.

⚠️ Bass regulations change regularly — always verify current rules at gov.uk/guidance/bass-fishing-rules before fishing. Fines for breaching limits are significant.

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Boat Fishing & Charter

Salcombe & South Devon

Operator	Based	Speciality	Contact
Salcombe Fishing	Salcombe	Bass guiding, estuary trips	salcombefishing.co.uk
South Devon Bass Guide	Salcombe	Bass fly & lure guiding	southdevonbassguide.com
Kingsbridge Bass Trips	Kingsbridge	Estuary bass, light tackle	Via local tackle shops
Plymouth Charters	Plymouth	Offshore wreck & reef	Multiple operators

💡 A guided bass session with a local guide is worth every penny — they know exactly where the fish are and the conditions to look for. Perfect for learning the Salcombe/Bantham area properly.

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Local Tips & Techniques

Hard-won South Devon knowledge

Tip	Detail
Bantham at first light	Dawn on a falling tide in summer is prime time. Bass are hunting baitfish pushed down by the current. Light lures or live sandeel.
Coloured water after rain	A bit of colour in the water can switch bass on — the murk gives them confidence to come shallow. Don't be put off by it.
Estuary mullet	Thick-lipped mullet come into the Salcombe estuary from May. Incredibly difficult but incredibly rewarding on light tackle with bread flake or tiny spinner.
Surface lures for bass	From June onwards, try walking surface lures (Xorus Patchinko etc) at Bantham around dawn. The takes are violent and unforgettable.
Follow the sandeels	Sandeels drive everything — when they're around inshore, bass, mackerel and pollack follow. Spot diving gannets and you've found the bait.
February: go deep	February bass (if you find them) will be deep on rough ground. Try large red/amber soft plastics on heavy jig heads around Prawle Point wrecks.

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Wrecks & Reef Marks (Boat)

Offshore South Devon

Mark	Distance	Species	Notes
Mewstone Ledge	2nm SE of Salcombe	Pollack, wrasse, bass	Good spring/summer. Rocky reef, use lures.
Prawle Point Reef	4nm E of Salcombe	Pollack, bass, bream	Tidal — fish slack water for best results.
Local Wrecks	5–15nm offshore	Ling, cod, pollack	Charter boats know the spots — use a guide in winter.
Start Point	8nm E of Salcombe	Bass, mackerel, shark	Notorious tidal race — experienced skippers only.

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Post-Fishing Pit Stop

Reward yourself — you've earned it

Venue	Where	Why
The Sloop Inn	Bantham village	Closest to the river mouth. Classic Devon pub, proper ales.
The Pilchard Inn	Burgh Island	Unique island setting. Cross at low tide. Incredible views.
The Ferry Inn	Salcombe	Waterfront, watch the boats go by over a pint
The Hope & Anchor	Hope Cove	Tiny, traditional, outstanding fish & chips on menu
The Millbrook	South Pool	Remote, up the creek — worth the drive for the atmosphere

🎣 Fishing

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