Mudpie Fridays >> Boat Trip >> Complete Guide to Boat Trips Looe in Cornwall

Complete Guide to Boat Trips Looe in Cornwall

When we visited Looe top of Charlie’s to-do list was a boat trip in Looe. More specifically a Looe fishing trip. Since he has a thing about fishing. As the boys are both quite young I steered away from some of the more extreme options such as shark fishing. Instead opting for one of the 2-hour mackerel fishing trips. After all, this was our first attempt. Turns out we had a brilliant time and watching Charlie hold up his catch with the biggest smile on his face will stay with me forever. If you are considering a boat trip from Looe then here’s how we got on and what we learnt. I have also summarised some of the different options available.

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Where is Looe

Looe is a charming coastal town located in South East Cornwall, known for its picturesque beauty and traditional Cornish character. Nestled along the Looe River, which divides the town into East Looe and West Looe, the town is connected by a seven-arched bridge.

With a history steeped in fishing and maritime activities, Looe continues to maintain an active fishing fleet. With a bustling harbour being a focal point of the town, you can watch local fishermen land their daily catch. The town’s narrow winding streets are lined with quaint cottages, shops, and eateries, leading down to a sandy beach at East Looe, which is a popular spot for swimming, sunbathing, and family activities. Such as a Looe boat trip or fishing trips.

Parking in Looe

Looe is a popular seaside town, especially in the Summer months so if you are planning a trip I would suggest trying to get there early. As the car park is large but we still saw people struggling to park mid-afternoon in the May half term. Like many of the Cornish seaside towns, the carpark is situated outside of the village itself. But it is only a five-minute walk from the carpark to the harbour. Millpool is located in West Looe and the postcode is PL13 2AF. It is very reasonably priced compared to others. You pay on the exit at the pay machine, card payments are available and it is all done by number plate recognition.

Our Experience of a Mackerel Fishing Trip in Looe

I am not going to lie I was a little nervous about trying out a Looe fishing trip. Even though Charlie was a keen angler, it didn’t mean he knew what he was doing. And it was just me and the boys. However, I need not have worried the friendly skipper was so helpful and provided all the direction we needed. Many of the boat trips in Looe are a family run business and it shows.

We headed to the fish market which is used by the commercial fishing boats. Here there are all the signs advertising the different Looe fishing trips. We literally chose one we liked the look of confirming the booking over the phone. Payment is in cash and you meet the boat by the signs. All the skippers know each other and are more than happy to help out and point you in the right direction. We had a fantastic trip, spending a couple of hours in Looe Bay. The boat we went on had no cover so make sure you are dressed for the weather conditions. They also do not have toilets on the boat so best to make sure the kids have a pit stop before leaving shore. We also took some water with us.

We went out a couple of miles from shore and let down our rods that were already made up for us. Mackerel fishing is done with lures and lines have multiple hooks. So once they start biting there is the possibility that you can catch several fish at once. Our fully qualified skipper knew exactly what he was doing and found the best fishing grounds. It was not long before we were catching four or five in one go. When you are fishing with kids this is totally the way to do it. Charlie was buzzing. Harry has always gone to sleep on boats. Even when we went Whale watching in Vancouver. True to form fell asleep. Which meant I even got to have a go. It was such a great family day out. I would highly recommend it.

Other Looe Boat Trip Options

There is a wide variety of boat trips in Looe. This means no matter what your preference you are bound to find something suitable. Whether you’re seeking an adrenaline-fueled adventure or a relaxing day out with the family. Most of the boat trips will depart from Looe harbour wall and quayside.

Looe Sea Safaris

Looe Sea Safaris are probably the best-known boat trips operating out of Looe. Because they are one of the biggest they offer a wide range of different options to suit the whole family. They use high-speed RIBs (Rigid Inflatable Boats) take you along the Cornish coast. They offer the chance to book online unlike many others that do not have websites and require you to book over the phone. Useful if you want some certainty. Although boat trips are generally weather-dependent.

Looe Sea Safari operate throughout the day even at low tide. Their trips range from 20 minutes around Looe Island which starts at £12 for an adult and £10 for a child (age 2 and over). To longer trips such as their coastal safari where you may have the chance to see marine animals in their natural habitat. Such as dolphins, grey seals and in certain months blue fin tuna. These trips are 90 minutes. They also offer 2-hour trips to Eddystone Lighthouse suitable for ages 8 and over, prices are £42 for adults and £32 for children.

Glass Bottom Boats

The Glass-Bottomed Boat is a great way to see local wildlife. Suitable for the whole family they are the perfect way to introduce younger children to boat trips and for them to view sea life below their feet. They offer two trips:

Around Looe Island, a marine nature reserve which takes about 45 minutes and costs £10 per person which is payable in cash.
The second is a coastal trip to Polperro where you can disembark for 2 hours. This costs £25 for adults, £10 for children with under 2s going free.

Although you can not book, the website does have contact details so you can still make a booking in advance.

Mackerel Fishing Trips

All the ones we saw were hands-on fishing experiences. If you want you keep what you catch. If you don’t then anything which is caught is used as bait for the longer and more advanced Looe fishing trips. Typically referred to as reef fishing the skippers will know the most likely and best fishing spots. They also keep in contact with each other to ensure if one boat gets lucky the others will too. Saying that mackerel are a common sight with the peak season being May to September. All the necessary gear and bait is provided. Typically the boats do not go that far out of Looe harbour.

If you head down to the fish market when you arrive you will see the boards of all the boats operating mackerel fishing trips in Looe. Generally, you can just call the phone number on the board and book in. If you arrive early in the day then normally same day. When we booked we arranged it for the following day as we were staying very close to Looe Harbour.

Sea Fishing Trips

These fishing adventures will go much further out into the deeper water. Catering to both novice anglers and seasoned fishers they are much longer generally being 4-hour trips. For those seeking a significant challenge, they offer big game fishing excursions targeting the elusive bluefin tuna or shark fishing. Blue sharks are common in the waters of Looe and Looe Fishing Trips offer such excursions on their boat the Top Cat. Wreck fishing and deep sea fishing tend to be full-day excursions and include all the safety equipment, high-grade rods, reels and tackle needed to catch such fish. Contact details and a phone number for booking are available on the website.

Private and Luxury Charters

There are a wealth of different fishing trips avaliable in Looe but if you have something specific in mind or are looking for bespoke coastal cruises. Then you can also choose from number of charter boats. This could be for a fishing trip from Woody’s Charters. Where their boat ‘BEE COOL’ can take up to eight anglers on their own fishing experience. They also offer a series of different fishing excursions looking for different marine life.

Or if you are looking for something a little more luxurious then a relatively new addition Luxury Boat Charter. Allowing you to tailor your trip and have a crew on board to do the hard work. Prices start at £200 for a couple for an hour or £50 per person for a group of four per hour. They operate a minimum of 2 people & 4 hours charter. But you do get unlimited snacks, beers, wines, spirits & fizz, throughout your time afloat. Along with a three-course meal, cooked aboard, chosen from a selection of dishes. Sailing from either Looe or Plymouth, you can cruise along the stunning Cornish coastline in a 52ft Fairisle Vessel. Stopping at quaint villages, different ports and fishing towns along the way.

Looe Self-Drive Boats

If you can not stretch to day trips on a luxurious private charter and none of the Looe boat trips take your fancy. Then do not worry as you can still have your leisurely boat ride by hiring a self-drive boat. Starting at a very reasonable £35 for an hour, the boats at Looe Self Drive Boats can take up to five people. Allowing you to see the town and shoreline from a different angle. Ideal for exploring the Looe river and are simple to drive. You can even book in advance via their website.

What will you see on a Boat Trip in Looe?

Depending on the trip that you choose and the location you could see an abundance of wildlife

Seal and Dolphin Watching

For the wildlife enthusiast, there are boat trips in Looe designed to spot the wide range of wildlife. There are a group of resident common seals that live in the Looe Island Nature Reserve. So you stand a good chance of seeing them basking on the rocks or bobbing in the water. If you are lucky then you may also see bottlenose dolphins. They like to play in the surf created by the boats. There are of course no guarantees but the years of experience of the skippers means you are in good hands. You are more likely to see them away from the harbour area and when the seas are calm.

Bird Spotting on the Cornish Coastline

On a sightseeing trip, you are likely to spot various seabirds during your time on the water, birdlife including the gannets and cormorants. If you are really lucky then you can also spot puffins during their breeding season. The rocky cliffs provide ideal nesting places along the stunning Cornish coastline.

Eddystone Lighthouse and Rame Head

The Eddystone Lighthouse stands as a beacon of engineering, perched precariously on the Eddystone Rocks 9 miles south of Rame Head. Guided boat tours provide splendid views of this historic lighthouse, which has warned sailors since the 17th century.

Rame Head, with its dramatic clifftops, is a site of an Iron Age fort and a chapel dedicated to St. Michael. It is a site rich in both natural and historical importance and managed by the Cornwall wildlife trust. Also home to diverse bird species. Seeing both of these by boat gives you a unique history lesson Since the friendly skipper is likely a great sources of local information.

Historic Port of Polperro and Cornish Smugglers

We visited Polperro by car and on foot during our stay in Cornwall. It is the perfect destination to reach by boat since the harbour is at the village centre. I can recommend a visit with is narrow winding streets of whitewashed cottages. Working harbour and many drinking and eating establishments. It is so very pretty. There is also Polperro Heritage Museum of Smuggling & Fishing which details the stories of the daring Cornish smugglers who once operated out of the fishing village.

We really enjoyed our Mackerel fishing trip in Looe. Charlie still mentions it and can not wait to go back and try again. Fingers crossed we will be as lucky as we were the first time. Have you tried a boat trip in Looe? Let me know about your experiences in the comments below.