Fishing in Ilfracombe.

Ilfracombe is a great place to fish as it offers a variety of different fishing conditions within a small area. Within walking distance of Ilfracombe harbour you can fish on a beach, of the pier or from rocks which makes it ideal for a large variety of fish and tactics. Most people head straight for the pier when they first come to Ilfracombe as not only is it a great place to catch fish, but also a hot spot to get tips from local fishermen and meet people as it is a popular walk for tourists. You are never alone for long when you fish from the pier!

Fishing charter boats can be hired from Ilfracombe Harbour. You can join a group or go as a group and all details are on display boards along the harbour wall. There are only a hand full of fishing charters operating from Ilfracombe, so it is essential to book early during busy times.

My favourite spot for fishing is just behind the Sandpiper Pub. There is a car park at the rear of the pub and on a full tide you can fish straight of the harbour wall. As you enter the car park you will see a small shelter for sitting in located to the left of the car park. This is the optimum spot to fish from and you need to cast to the left as there is a beach which flows in that direction. Casting straight out making sure that your tackle lands just before the visible rocks in front of you is also another good spot, however the bottom is more rocky and so be prepared to loose some tackle! This is a hot spot for Bass and locals are often seen fishing here, so get there early if you want to guarantee a prime location as there is only room for a hand full of fishermen / women at any one time. Mackerel on a ledger works wonders or use sand eel if you want to catch a Bass. Deep float fishing or ledgering is ideal for this location.

Capstone Hill - This is the large outcrop of rock that can be seen to the right of the theatre. Access is via several walkways along the main front of Ilfracombe. Walk half way round the rock so that you are looking  towards Wales. At this point work your way down to the lowest path and then climb over the fence on to the rocks. TAKE CARE as the rocks can be slippy, it is deep and on a rough day it is easy to get washed out to sea by a rouge wave. If you are fishing in this spot then it is advisable to fish in pairs. During the Mackerel season use feathers and cast as far out to sea as possible. Fresh Mackerel works well. Fishing in the evening can produce large conger eel. Fish during the day and close to the rocks for a chance of catching Wrasse. Fish a low tide if you want to catch Whiting or Pouting during a cold spell. Capstone hill is also a hot spot for Dog fish / Bull Huss. Use fresh Mackerel and ledger away from the rocks.

The Pier - During a high tide over half of the pier becomes submerged by the sea cutting of or vastly limiting access to the prime fishing spots, however there is still plenty of pier left to fish from and great chances to catch a wide variety of fish as well as crabs! Ledgering produces great results and is easy to do as it is a mainly sandy bottom. Hot bait is Mackerel, closely followed by Rag Worm.

The Harbour - Ilfracombe is a protected harbour with a nice sandy beach and is a great place to practice casting, fishing for mullet in the summer, flatty fishing and catching the odd dog fish rooting round the harbour for scraps thrown in by boat owners and visitors. Another great reason to fish the harbour is that you can fish from the pub walls on a high tide, so you can enjoy a nice pint and a chat at the same time as fishing. Plus there are plenty of takeaways moments away should you feel the sudden urge to eat. Ideal for the beginner or families as there is a lot to see and do.

The entrance to the harbour is another good spot and again has a sandy bottom which cuts down the chances of tackle loss. Most baits will work at the harbour although hot baits are Mackerel, Rag worm, Sand Eel & feathers during Mackerel season.

Behind the Theatre - This area takes the full force of the incoming wind and in bad weather should be avoided unless you are an experienced fisherman / women and don't mind getting wet! You are fishing of rocks onto rocks, so tackle loss can be high and the best thing to do is to walk the area on a low tide to find the various sandy passages contained within the rocks. Float fishing is worth a go if you want to keep your tackle. Keep trying different depths until you finally get a bite. Ideal for Wrasse & Pollack fishing as well as Bass. Use a nice piece of Mackerel to maximise your chances of catching a wider variety of fish.

Ilfracombe offers great fishing, stunning views and also a fun day out for the whole family. If only a few of you are interested in fishing then this is the spot for you as it is a gentle way to ease kids into fishing and should they or a member of your team get bored then there are plenty of other activities to do within walking distance of the fishing.

If you have caught fish in Ilfracombe then why not send me your pictures?