Beesands is a lovely little beach that lies between Slapton and Start Point. A more sheltered venue than Slapton, with a little pub called the Cricket Inn to go and hide when it is cold and wet outside.
It is a fairly steep beach with deeper water reached with not a lot of casting effort. Reeling a sinker in, the bottom has a series of quite large corrugations formed by the tide sweeping around the bay. The rich feeding grounds of the Skerries Bank is not that far away so expect Plaice to be high on the hit list. They start to show in March, although then they are few and far between. Mid April there are better numbers showing, although even then, they are subject to tides and weather conditions, one day they are there and the next they have disappeared. You have to put the time in to find the fish. Although quieter through the Summer months, Plaice can still be caught, with another flurry of activity in the Autumn, in the recent unusually warm years, plaice can be found through till November time.
Bottom fishing for the rest of the year is the usual mix of some flounder, dab, whiting, pout and doggies. Then as the colder weather shows itself there is the occasional codling with a very occasional better fish in the dusk and darkness. But this is a waiting game for those anglers who love this quiet little beach.
During the Summer months there are some Bass for those who target them and even some Pollack to floatfished sandeel and worm particularly near the rocks at either end of the beach. Mackerel and Garfish can also be caught on floatfished strip or small sandeel baits. Occasionally, just like at Slapton, shoals of mackerel will congregate and chase shoals of sandeel within casting distance of the beach which can be an exciting and productive occasion. Beachcasting is the norm at Beesands although often after an Easterly blow distance is not always necessary as fish haunt the undertow looking for the food items that have been stirred up from the fringes of the Skerries Bank.
Normally worm, peeler crab and hermits if you can find them, squid, razorfish and cocktail combinations of all of these baits will find the fish.
Floatfished mackerel or garfish strip will tempt the mackerel. A good tactic is to use an 11 foot plugging rod to fire the float a long way off, then slowly retrieve to give the fish a moving target. Follow the A379 from Kingsbridge to a little roundabout at Stokenham, go off the roundabout following the signs for Start Point. Follow the road for a short distance when you will see the signs for Beesands on your left. Take the indicated turning and drive with great care, especially during the busy times of day.
Number of lakes/pegs : N/A
Prices : N/A
Directions : Follow A379 from Kingsbridge to Stokenham. Follow the road for a short distance until you see the signs for Beesands on your left. Drive with care especially during busy times.
Season : All year