Fishing in Bude

Fishing in Bude is a favourite with anglers all over, and not just for the wealth of prized fish to be caught. Bude is, and always will be, a poetic place to cast a rod.

It’s possible to catch bass, carp, and wild trout all within a few miles. This is what makes a fishing holiday in Bude so special, with quality sea, coarse, and fly angling—some of the finest fishing in Cornwall.

For fresh bait, tackle, and catch reports, a good bet is Waterfront Fishing and Shooting. Do also note that apart from the sea, all fishing in Bude is strictly catch and release. The releasing of fish such as bass and mullet is also encouraged. These are slow growing and valuable recreational species.

Coarse Fishing on Bude Canal

The Weir Cafe & Bistro

Sea Fishing in Bude

Fly Fishing in Bude

Coarse fishing on the pretty canal is the easiest and safest spot to go fishing in Bude. The waters here are well stocked with various species, but the fishing for rudd, roach, bream, and carp can be especially good. That said, you might catch the occasional flounder or sea trout.

Float fishing is best fun with a pole or rod and reel. Maggots, sweetcorn, and pellets are all reliable baits. You’ll get more bites fishing relatively fine (4-5lb line, size 12-16 barbless hook) and by regularly throwing in small helpings of bait around the float. Feeder or carp style tactics will also work; however, most carp are 2-5lbs, but the odd fish appears over 20lbs.

As the canal is a popular place for fishing in Bude, early starts make sense if you want a peaceful couple of hours. Alternatively, you could try further out of town for some quiet.

Coarse anglers aged 13 and over will need the usual national rod licence, but also a day ticket from Bude Canal Angling Club. Both can be easily bought right next to the canal at the Crescent Post Office.

Several level fishing platforms also exist for wheelchair users.

Bude Canal Angling Association

The lake was created back in 2011 and the current stock is mainly carp with some roach and dace.

Adult Ticket: £5.00 per Day, £20.00 per week
Junior (U16) & OAP: £2.50 per day, £10.00 per week
Please purchase your ticket from the Café either on the day or over the phone.

Sea fishing in Bude, on the beaches, or via charter boats offshore, produces the sort of sport fishing Cornwall is famous for. There are many species to go for and places to try. For the beginner, sea fishing also has the advantage that, unlike freshwater fishing, it requires no licence.

From the shore, beach casting is popular. The breakwater and harbour produce mackerel, pollack, school bass, and mullet (try spinning or float fishing). Whereas beaches such as Widemouth, Sandymouth and Crooklets are good for small-eyed and thornback rays, dogfish, and bass—especially at night with sand eel or peeler crab baits. Whiting and codling provide winter sport.

Boat fishing trips are also popular locally, where a little extra cost will more than reward you with local expertise and a much higher chance of a good catch.

Independent Charters at Clovelly (just 18 miles north of Bude) are a firm favourite for sea fishing boat trips.

With classic lakes and rivers nearby, fly fishing in Bude should tempt any travelling angler. The River Neet, renowned for game fishing, is one of few sites to offer free fishing in Cornwall—from the estuary to the rugby club. You’ll find plenty of challenging mullet and trout.

Another nearby destination noted for fly fishing in north Cornwall is the Upper Tamar, where you will find pretty, wild brown trout and even some sea trout and the odd grayling. Controlled by Bude Angler’s Association this is great value fly fishing at just five pounds a day.

The Tamar can offer some good fishing for brown trout, weather permitting. Settled conditions are ideal. Bring small wet and dry flies in sizes 14-18 such as klinkhamers, black gnats, and beaded hare’s ears.

There are many miles of excellent river fishing in Cornwall and North Devon under the Westcountry Angling Passport Scheme. This is a brilliant not for profit system offering affordable and idyllic fly fishing in Devon and Cornwall.

In terms of year-round fly fishing in Cornwall and North Devon, there are also some fine lakes to be explored. The nearest are at Simpson Valley Fishery (near Holsworthy), which has rainbow, brown, blue and tiger trout which are caught even in midwinter.