October Bass Lure Fishing Blog

October Bass Fishing in Cornwall: Estuary and Coastline Lure Tactics for Trophy Catches

October is a standout month for bass fishing in Cornwall, delivering some of the largest bass of the season. We are always excited about the aggressive feeding triggered by cooling weather, with bass bulking up before winter. This guide focuses on tidal strategies, lure choices, and fishing techniques for estuaries and the open coastline, optimised for anglers searching for bass fishing, fishing lures, or estuary fishing tips. With birds working in estuaries and bass chasing bait fish, October is prime time to land a decent fish.

Estuary Fishing: Mastering Tides and Lures

Estuaries remain a hotspot in October, with bass becoming more aggressive as they sense seasonal changes. Our September findings show that fishing is best around low tides, especially near neap tides, as these provide more water to fish over both high and low tides.

Think of the highest low tide as a “new high tide” in the estuary, offering deeper water and better access to bass. Bass swim with the tidal current, using it to hunt baitfish like sprat or sand smelts as they move upriver. To capitalise on this, study your estuary’s flow using Google Earth.

Estimate when bass will reach your fishing spot based on tidal direction, then fish an hour either side of that time. For example, if bass move upstream on the incoming tide, target the period when the current is strongest.

Weedless soft plastics have been our go-to lures in estuaries but creature baits are taking that statistic over in the day times. Their ability to navigate weed-heavy river systems without snagging makes them ideal. White and black lures dominate at night fishing, reflecting moonlight or creating stark silhouettes, while sparkly lures add flash on bright nights. Surface lures like poppers work for smaller bass, but weedless soft plastics and creature baits more recently count for the larder sizes. 

Top Estuary Lures

• Weedless Soft Plastics: White & Black, Use for day or night, rigged weedless to avoid snags. Weighted Creature Baits work so well in cloudy water. 

• Surface Lures: Small & Medium Lures.

• Pro Tip: Cast into the tidal flow, retrieving with the current to present the lure’s tail first, enticing bass to strike.

Open Coastline: Targeting Aggressive Bass

On the open coastline, October bass are drawn to areas with moving water mass, where birds signal baitfish activity. Tides are critical—fish 2-3 hours before or after high and low tide when currents are strong, as bass hunt actively. Beaches and rocks fish best with swell or surf during the day, stirring up baitfish. In calm conditions, night fishing on the coast is safer and more productive, with larger bass often lurking below schools of smaller fish. Use shallow-diving lures to target bigger bass when surface lures catch smaller ones.

White, black, and sparkly lures remain effective, mimicking baitfish like sand smelt. Fast retrieves are crucial to match the aggressive feeding behaviour of October bass.

Top Coastline Lures

• Shallow-Diving Lures

• Soft Plastic Weighted Lures

• Tip: Use glittery lures on moonlit nights to enhance visibility.

Tips for October Success

1. Tidal Strategy: Fish higher low tides in estuaries, targeting 1 hour either side of peak flow. On the coast, focus on mid-tides (2-3 hours before/after high/low).

2. Study Your Spot: Use Google Earth to map tidal flows and predict bass arrival times in estuaries.

3. Stay Mobile: Move after 20 minutes if no bites; cover ground to find feeding bass.

4. Stealth Mode: Approach quietly, cast from shore first, and wade cautiously to avoid spooking fish.

5. Lure Choices: Prioritize weedless soft plastics and creature baits in estuaries; use shallow-diving or topwater lures on the coast.

6. Night Fishing: Use white, black, or sparkly lures under moonlight, fishing outgoing tides in estuaries or calm coastal nights.

7. Log Catches: Record tide, lure, and location in a catch report or App to track patterns.

8. Gear Prep: Tie strong knots (e.g., Grinner) and set drag to 25-30% of line strength for big October bass.

Why October is Unmissable

October’s aggressive bass, driven by tidal flows and baitfish abundance, make it a top month for bass fishing. Weedless soft plastics in estuaries and fast-moving lures on the coast unlock great catches. Study tides, fish strategically, and leverage night fishing to make this month your best yet with Bass Lures UK.

Supersoft Paddletails

T-Tails

Spindle Worms

6" Cornish Worms

6” Handmade Cornish Sticks

Coast Line and Beaches:

We have started to shift out to the beach towards the end of the month of September as we know the bigger bass will be lurking closer to the shore and they will be typically a bigger size especially during springs. The bigger the tide generally the better the fishing due to the volume of movement in the sea. All the small bass seem to disappear in October and the big girls start to turn up. We will be using our shallow divers along the beaches and deep divers on deeper rock marks.

Throw your hard lures into the wash and white water of the waves and hopefully, a nice bass will be there ready to pounce. Take care at night if you are fishing large tides and try and go with a friend if possible. Generally, the bigger the lure on the coast means bigger fish as they will be attacking larger bait fish but... that's not always the case. 

Soft Plastics at Night:

Shallow Divers:

Sub-Surface Medium & Small

 Shallow Diving "Day" & "Night"

Shallow Diving Runners