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Located at the northern end of Torbay, Hopes Nose is another extremely popular year round sea fishing venue. In every season, no matter what time of day or night you fish, you are likely to meet other sea fishermen trying their luck at the various marks dotted around the edge of this former limestone quarry.
 Hopes Nose from the roadside parking
 ACCESS TO HOPES NOSE
Free roadside parking can be found at the top of the hill, just beyond the access stile to Hopes Nose. Should this be full, you can try parking in the residential areas either directly opposite the entrance or on the other side of the hill.
For night fishing sessions this may be the best option since night time breakings at the roadside parking area are not unheard of.
Once over the stile you begin the steep 250ft decent along a rugged path leading to the various fishing marks. Care must be taken here as the limestone/soil combination is extremely slippery when wet. Fishing light will make the decent (and ascent!) much easier, and keeping one hand free at all times is heartily advised to ensure a safer decent. Reasonable fitness levels are required to deal with the approach.The switchback in the last 40 yards is the worst bit since a little bit of rock hopping is necessary to get you right down to the marks.
Those wishing to fish Hope Cove, the High Ground and Sandy Point should stick to the main path on the left, and those wanting to fish Southern Point should begin to peel off right on the grassy slope almost immediately after passing through the gate. Please ensure this gate is kept closed at all times as livestock graze this area.
SPECIES FOUND AROUND HOPES NOSE
Regular Visitors:-
Mackerel, Garfish, Scad, Pollack, Wrasse, Whiting, Dogfish, Pouting, Bull Huss, Bass, Plaice, Dab, Conger Eel, Rockling.
Other Species:-
Codling, Mullet, Gilthead & Black Bream, Gurnard, Flounder , Smoothound
BAITS AND RIGS Best Baits
Ragworm and mackerel are a must, and peeler crab and squid/cuttlefish are a boon when targeting specific species.
Sand eels (live ones would be ideal but frozen are still good) are also worth considering for the better Pollack and Bass. Be aware though that mackerel may well snaffle your pricey eels before anything else gets a sniff! Lugworm is always a respectable option for bigger bait cocktails if you have no joy with the rag. Rigs
Spinners/plugs and feathers, floats (10ft +/- 4ft), Pennell Pulley rigs, bombers, wishbones, and 2 or 3 hook paternoster scratching rigs. NB. To the east and south you will mainly be fishing over rough ground, so rotten bottoms/cheap rough ground rigs should be part of your tackle arsenal. HOPES NOSE FISHING MARKS  Hopes Nose Fishing Marks (north)
Located on the left as you walk down, the Hopes Cove mark is a favourite haunt of the mackerel bashers. From the Northwest facing edge you are straight into reasonable depth of water with a predominantly sandy bottom, although you (or, more precisely, your tackle) will find rocky outcrops here and there – so be warned! Chances of catching mackerel closer to the beach end increase as the tide rises, and they generally move further eastward as the tide ebbs. Of course, in the height of summer this makes little difference as they are generally everywhere anyway, but its worth remembering if they are few and far between. The most favourable and versatile Hopes Cove ‘peg’ has to be the northernmost tip on the little platform since the changing tides/currents will hamper your fishing the least. Directly in front of you on the walk down you will see the fishing area called The High Ground. At high tide you will be fishing from this platform although it is possible to get down onto the lower ledge as the water receeds – but do this at your own risk: the currents are as fierce as the swell is unpredictable. From the high ground you are straight into deep water. An 80-100 yard cast will get you out onto the sandy patch and in with a chance of plaice among other fish, but beware on the retrieve as a long strip of reef-like snaginess runs parallel to the high ground closer inshore. It’s imperative to get your tackle up swiftly to clear it, and sometimes necessary to bully a fish up at first to ensure you don’t lose the lot on the outcrop. To the right of the high ground running north-south is the not-so-sandy Sandy Point. Fishing here is mainly over rough ground and rocks, so choose rigs accordingly. The crags and gulleys close to the shore are and excellent place to fish for Pollack, Wrasse and other predominantly reef dwelling species. This stretch can throw up some respectable species to those willing to invest both the time and the tackle! With the wind on your back on the outgoing tide, float fishing here with a long trace and head hooked ragworm can prove quite productive and less costly than risking it all on the bottom. But as they say, with risk comes reward! Extra caution must be taken here, especially at night, since some of the rock gaps and gullies are as long as they are deep. In it's heyday, when the poo was well and truly flowing, the Sewer outlet was an extrememly popular fishing venue for anglers not overly worried about their catch's regular diet. Although now not in use, it's still not a bad spot for Wrasse and Mullet fishing in the daytime and a quality mark for Conger and Bull Huss during night sessions. When bottom fishing it's heavy on the tackle but well worth the losses.
 Depth of Water around Hopes Nose
By way of the mainly flat nature of the Hope Cove low ground, much is left exposed during low water but gets quickly covered on the rising tide. As always, keep one eye on the water level to ensure you don’t get cut off. The currents around Hopes Nose can be extremely strong, especially during spring tides, and there can be a wicked swell at times. Rock fishing at Hopes Nose is definitely a fair weather option only. There are absolutely no lights at Hopes Nose. A torch is a necessity not only for the fishing but for the trip to and from the fishing marks. Ensure you wear/carry suitable gear including sturdy footwear. It’s rocky, slippery and littered with lumps, bumps, crags and crannies. The weather can change in an instant and it’s a long way back to fetch your jacket! Due to its deserved reputation as a rich and varied sea angling experience, fishing space at Hopes Nose fills up fast. Arrive early for either the day or night session to ensure a nearby parking space and your favourite spot.
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