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 INTRODUCTION
Devils point, the gateway to the Tamar Estuary, is probably the most well known shore fishing mark on the Plymouth foreshore. Synonymous with big fish and deep water, Devils Point is a year round hotspot for Plymouth shore anglers. ACCESS TO DEVIL’S POINT The free parking situated at Western Kings is less than a 5 minute walk from the Devils Point Mark. Following the tarmac path eastward around the headland as far as you can go will bring you out onto this deep water mark. THE MARK The Devil’s Point fishing mark consists of an upper and lower level concrete platform. Depending on the state of the tide, either of these platforms can be fished successfully.  Upper and Lower Platforms at Devil's Point Although both levels have some form of safety barrier (lower level has a chained guardrail, the upper has a stone wall) the upper level is without doubt the safest – especially if you have kids. Not only is the safety chain low on the lower level, but you must to watch out for the water level. During spring high tides the high water level hovers dangerously close to the edge of the platform – and all it takes is on large wave to engulf the whole level. At best it’ll wash away your tacklebox, but a foot of knee-deep fast flowing water (as is easily generated by one of the many tugs or warships that regularly transit) has clear potential to take you off your feet and land you in the drink along with all your gear. If you do fish on the lower level on springs, keep your gear against the back wall, keep a sharp eye out for traffic and be prepared to move...very quickly! SPECIES FOUND AROUND DEVIL’S POINT Regular Visitors:-
Mackerel, Garfish, Pollack, Wrasse, Bull Huss, Conger Eel, Thornback Ray, Dogfish, Bass, Pouting, Poor Cod, Whiting (w) Other Species:-
Sea Trout, Cod (w) BAITS AND RIGS Best Baits for Devil's Point:-
Ragworm for Wrasse and Pollack along the wall, squid/mackerel strip nearer the surface for Mackerel and Garfish, Bigger fish baits (mainly mackerel) for larger species off the bottom. Prawn works well for both Ray and Bass on the bottom, whilst a peeler crab/mackerel/worm cocktail will tempt many of the prize catches. A fillet of Garfish is also said to be great bait for raymonds in the Tamar, and since this is arguably the start of the River it may be worth a shot. Rigs for Devil's Point:-
Float fishing can be productive for mackerel and Garfish, as is spinning. Securing the best corner (depending on the tide) is key to success here since your gear will drift quickly. Paternosters with small hooks work well for smaller species against the wall, but more hooks mean a greater chance of snagging the kelp and the little sea squirts etc that cover it. Bottom fishing will stand you more chance of a greater variety of species, but will deplete your tackle stocks quicker than you can say “*%(*%&! snagged!...Again!?!” Fishing rotten bottoms aren’t just advised – they’re a must at Devil’s Point. Not only will it reduce your losses, but from an ecology point of view it’s the responsible way to go to reduce ghost fishing. If your tackle is down there, even if it’s not attached to your line anymore, it’s still fishing – and sadly, still catching. The amount of fishing line and terminal tackle on the overhang is shocking proof of this. Many anglers will try for Conger from Devils Point, particularly during night sessions, since the current British Shore Record for Conger came from this venue. For Conger Rigs, Try at least a size 6/0 hook onto a 100lb mono running ledger with a whole mackerel (either 2 tail hooked fillets, a flapper or head hooked frame) as a starter for ten. As the tide picks up, heavier weights are necessary. A 6oz gripper will be ok for a while since you have the weight there and the gripper to reduce the chance of your tackle bouncing along and finding a big juicy snag. Even upping to a pound is not unheard of. Remember to take plenty more weights that you would normally, too! Tying rotten bottoms to your weights before you get down there will help make more of your small window of opportunity for fishing, as will all other good preparation. Fishing pulley rigs will help reduce tackle losses while still keep you in the running for most species.
Fish heavy on the bottom. 60lb mono on a rather manly multiplier (something around the Abu 7000 size so you can still cast effectively) should do the job. Braid will give you more sensitivity and, pound for pound, will get carried less in the tide, but it’ll also get trashed quicker on the numerous rocks and overhangs. UNDERWATER TOPOGRAPHY Devil’s Point is a veritable snagfest. Its rocks all the way.
It’s pretty much a vertical, 30 meter wall down to the sea bed. As a rough guide, the flat(ish) sea bed starts approximately 5 – 10 meters from where you cast. However, it’s not simply straight up and down – there’s a wicked overhang at about 15 meters that claims many an angler’s tackle. The trick is to get your gear up as quickly as possible to try and avoid adding to the collection.
Below the overhang you have a run of caves and crevices, and the sea bed itself hosts much in the way of scrap and large boulders. It makes for perfect fish hideouts, but is also heavy on the tackle OTHER NOTES As already mentioned, the Devils Point channel is a busy shipping lane for bigger vessels, and as such, smaller craft are more inclined to transit closer to the edges – so watch your lines. Tides and currents can be pretty fierce through this bottleneck and fishing on the running tide is difficult at best (read: nigh on impossible). Particularly if you are fishing on springs, plan your session to coincide with the tides. Try to fish around slack water (an hour either side is manageable). However, fishing neaps will give you a larger session window and lessen the amount of gear lost on the bottom or the drop off. It’s a popular fishing venue, so get there early to secure your spot. Whichever side of the tide you predominantly plan to fish will determine where you want to set up. The upper platform is best for outgoing tides, the lower for incoming. Personally, I prefer the lower platform and to fish the incoming tide at Devils – fortunately, these work together rather nicely.
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Plymouth Sea Fishing Guide: Elphinstone 
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