Berry Head is an abandoned limestone quarry situated at the mouth of Torbay . The waters are deep around this area and there are many species of fish that can be caught. During the summer months, mackerel are probably the most prolific species that can be caught here. Sliding float tackle, spinners or feathers are the most popular way of catching mackerel. Some real monsters are often taken here. In fact, a British record mackerel of over 5lb was taken here in 1985. One of the most popular spots to fish is called the platform. It is a large structure which used to be part of the quarrying works. It can accommodate quite a few anglers at one time. Understandably, in the summer months, it is first come first served and can become extremely crowded at times.

You don't have to cast too far off the platform to reach sand. The platform has been known to be a top marks for one of the smaller species of flatfish, the dab. Using ledger equipment try baits such as ragworm, lugworm, peeler crab and even small strips of squid. Other species which are often caught from the platform are pollack, garfish, wrasse, mullet, gurnard, horse mackerel and the occasional bass and dogfish. When fishing for mullet, fish from the far righthand side, just under the old office. Mullet often frequent this area and if you ground bait properly, you could well be rewarded with a very big mullet. A landing net is essential.

Some very large wrasse can be caught at Berry head. As long as you present the bait as close to the seabed is possible, you have a chance of catching a wrasse. Sliding float tackle is often a very good way of catching them very close in. Try and establish how deep the water is and then use such bait as prawn, crab, rag worm or even shellfish. Step up your tackle from mackerel fishing. It is possible to catch wrasse up to 8 pounds from the shore. Wrasse of five or 6 pounds could quite easily be caught from Berry head and they fight extremely hard. A strong size 1/0 hook with a minimum of 15lb bs line is recommended. Again, you would also be advised to use a landing net as the water is often quite a lot lower than you can reach. If you are bottom fishing for wrasse, a sturdy beach caster and large reel loaded with at least 20 -25lb bs is advisable. Wrasse are not known for their tasty flesh so if you can, return them to the sea. There is absolutely no sense in killing fish if you are not going to either eat it or have it mounted. You can always take a large bucket and keep the fish alive if you want to take it back to a club station to be weighed. The seabed is extremely snaggy in this area so expect to lose some tackle. However, I would advise using the Paternoster method. This way, you can present your hook above the snags and only your weight will get stuck and lost, you won't actually lose your hook or fish. Instead of using shop bought weights, go to a garage and ask them for some old spark plugs. These make excellent weights in places where tackle loss is expected. The Paternoster rig is very simple. Your hook/hooks are presented higher than your weight so as I've already said, your sinker is actually touching the seabed and your hook is presented just above. There are various knots that you can use to make up a Paternoster rig but these tend to be used more in fresh water fishing. The best thing to use is a three-way swivel. Your mainline attaches to the top part of the swivel, the hook link attaches to the part of the swivel that sticks out at a right angle, and your weight attaches to the bottom part of the swivel. When fishing over rocky ground, it is best to make sure the line that attaches to your weight, is slightly weaker than your mainline. This is often referred to as a "rotten bottom" what will happen is if the weight get snagged, the weaker line will part rather than your mainline and you will get your hook back, and hopefully any fish that is attached.

Berry head is quite famous for the large conger eel that have been taken here in times gone by. Fish of up to nearly 50 pounds have been caught in the area. It is still a very popular mark for conger fishermen. The Southside of Berry head has often produced some extremely large conger. Please read this information. The same tactics apply to Berry head.

During the winter months, cod can sometimes be taken in the deep cold waters. Bottom fishing with a large baits such as three or four large lugworm. Whole peeler crab, big fish baits and even spinners could take cod if they are in the area. Whiting and pouting are also prolific in the winter months. Again, big ones can be taken here.

There is a very famous mark at Berry head called "hairy ledge". As the name suggests, it can be somewhat dangerous climbing down so be very careful when doing so. This mark has been known to yield large mackerel and mullet as well.

There is a very strong tidal flow at Berry head. When fishing either side of the tides, you may have problems holding bottom unless you use a large grip lead. The same goes for float fishing, you may find yourself having to wind in every couple of minutes unless you are at the peak of the tides.

I have covered the most popular fish that can be caught at Berry head. Obviously, different fish turn up every now and then and we would be here all day listing them. Night or day fishing will yield results here. Just be very careful around the rocks especially when the tide is flowing hard.

Getting to Berry head is quite a trek so wear some decent boots.