Loe Bar, Porthleven, Cornwall
SPECIES:Produces conger, thornback and small-eyed rays, bull huss, dabs, plaice, whiting, codling and mackerel and garfish in season.
BAITS:Lugworm and ragworm are the main baits for the general species, but mackerel takes the thornback rays, huss and conger. A whole squid bait can also pick out the bigger huss and conger, especially in the autumn. Some good bass are taken early and late in the year to lug tipped with squid or peeler crab baits. Again a whole squid can pick out the bigger bass. The small-eyed ray go for fresh or frozen sandeel.
TACKLE & TACTICS:Tackle up with a 5-6oz beachcaster and a reel loaded with 15 to 18lb line and 60lb shock leader. Three hook clipped down rigs with size 2 Kamasan B940 Aberdeen's are a good choice for the flatties, and whiting. For the plaice a wishbone rig with coloured beads on and size 2 Aberdeen's is more selective fishing in daylight.
For the rays and bass a one-hook clipped down rig with a size 3/0 to 4/0 Viking hook and a 30lb hook trace is the best option. For the conger and huss in the rougher patches go for a pulley rig made from 80lb mono and a size 6/0 Viking hook clipped down tight behind the lead.
The rays, huss and conger all feed best at night, with the bass showing in a southwest wind that whips up a good surf here. A good cast is needed for the thornbacks, but the small-eyed rays are often close inshore during the flood tide at night.
In the summer fish over high tide for the mackerel and garfish with spinners and float tackle baiting with a strip of mackerel or sandeel.
LOCATION:Travel on the B3304 to Porthleven Road and drive around the left side of Porthleven Harbour. Branch off on to the minor road heading south-east to Loe Bar. Some parking is available, but is restricted on the access road, so take heed of the warning signs