This site is intended to be a guide for sea anglers who want to do some fishing in and around Weymouth but, at the same time, have other members of the family to consider. It is not a tutorial on sea angling baits, rigs or tactics for catching fish. The 'marks' mentioned may not always be the most favoured by the local sea anglers but are easily accessible and have facilities for parking, refreshments and toilets nearby.
For tourist information about Dorset see the Visit Dorset site. For all other facilities in the area and contact details for sea angling tackle shops around Weymouth please use the "Links & Contacts" page.
Like most areas, sea angling in Weymouth is generally better at dusk or after dark. Luckily there are exceptions as mackerel and garfish can be caught, sometimes in large numbers, all along the Chesil Beach and from Weymouth's Stone Pier. It is possible to start at the Chesil Beach Centre and as the family begins to lose interest move along to the attractions of Abbotsbury (which are many and varied) or further along the coast to West Bexington.
Other species that can be caught during the day are trigger fish and black bream. These are best targeted at marks near the Chesil Beach centre.
Bowleaze Cove is situated approximately 2 miles to the east of Weymouth town centre. During summer months it is very popular with families so serious sea angling on sunny days can be a problem but not impossible. This is made worse by the operation of jet-skis from the eastern end and sail boarding from the western end.
However, from early evening onwards, fishing here can be productive. Bass is the species to target and they can be caught with plugs or with large squid baits. There is a line of rocks forming a reef close inshore and bass roam along them looking for prey. If you cast out too far you will lose your trace for certain but you should aim to drop the bait as close as possible to the rocks without actually hitting them. Depending on the state of the tide this can be as little as 25 yards or as much as 60 yards. At the eastern end of Bowleaze Cove, near the Riviera Hotel, there is a small pier. The reef starts about 75 yards to the right (westwards) of this and runs the complete length of the beach ending just past the Oasis Café Bistro. Bass fishing is best at a spot in the middle of the beach where there is a small break in the rocks.
During July or August, if you are very lucky, you might find that you are fishing on the rare occasions when a shoal of mackerel drive tiny fish inshore. You can find these fry beaching themselves on the sand in their attempts to escape from the predators. Plugging at this time will provide almost continuous sport with mackerel and bass. I must stress that this site is not normally productive of mackerel, as the water is too shallow for their liking.
At the extreme eastern end of Bowleaze Cove, past the Riviera Hotel, the shore is very rocky. You can fish from there but the water is very shallow and full of weed. I have not found this to be a very productive spot. However, further round is Redcliffe Point which is an excellent spot for catching large bass. It is a difficult place to reach and not suitable if you have a family in tow!
The Stone Pier is a breakwater which protects the entrance to Weymouth harbour. This is a popular all year round sea angling site but in summer mackerel and garfish are the species most often caught. However, pollack, wrasse and large bass can also be targeted. Most people use sliding float tackle but flatfish can be caught by legering on the inside of the pier. Inside the main harbour grey mullet can also be caught, generally an early morning session is best for these shy fish. Large silver eels can be caught opposite the Sailor's Return public house.
This is very popular with young anglers who use handlines to catch small fish and crabs. However, these are not the only species to target here. Grey Mullet are numerous and some are surprisingly large. These fish are, of course, notoriously difficult to catch.
For the more serious sea anglers the species to target may be silver eels as they grow to a good size here. The best spot is opposite the Sailors Return Public House.
Lodmoor beach
This is the area of beach immediately opposite a car park that serves the Lodmoor Nature Reserve. If you have found the correct spot you will find yourself between two water outlets marked to the right by a rocky outcrop and to the left by a concrete platform. These mark areas that serve as a drain from Lodmoor, so there is often an outflow of fresh water which is reputed to attract bass. There is also another large car park close by that serves the Lodmoor public house and the other nearby attractions such as the Sea Life Centre and Model World. There is also the Country Park where you can ride on a model railway.
Redcliffe Bay
Of all the sites listed in the pages this is the odd one out. It is inaccesible, has no facilities and you can only reach it by walking. For this reason even in the height of summer you will often find a deserted beach. Some people appreciate quiet and solitude while sea angling so I have included it for this reason.
Fishing is best near the rocks at either end of the beach, the eastern end, i.e. furthest from Weymouth, being the best. The species that can be caught here include mackerel, pollack, pouting, bass, wrasse and rays.
To reach this site follow the directions to Bowleaze Cove (see separate Bowleaze Cove page) and continue along Bowleaze Coveway down to the funfair where the road narrows, keep straight on until the road ends at a gate to a track. This is the coastal footpath. Even if Bowleaze Coveway is full of cars, as it usually is on a fine day in summer, you can usually find a space to park here in the public road. From here you have to walk along the footpath following signs to Osmington Mills. When you reach Redcliffe Bay you will see steps leading down to the beach. From the end of Bowleaze Coveway it will take at least half an hour to walk to this point. If you are not too fit or have children in tow it will take much longer!
There is another footpath and road from Osmington that leads to the same point. However, there is no convenient place to park a car in Osmington and the road leads to a hotel that caters for adventure holidays. There is strictly no public parking at this point.
Chesil Beach
The Chesil Beach is part of the Jurassic Coast which is part of England's only natural World Heritage Site. For more details on the Jurassic Coast click here.
Chesil Beach is approximately 17 miles long all of which is fishable but some areas are out-of-bounds as they are part of a nature reserve. It extends from Chesil Cove in the east to Bridport Harbour. The beach slopes very steeply especially at the eastern end so even a short cast will put your bait into deep water. Please also note that the tides are dangerous along the beach with strong undercurrents. Only very strong swimmers should attempt to swim here. Because this beach is so vast I will only describe a few marks where there is easy access and other facilities nearby.
During late spring and early summer, mackerel shoal along the whole of the beach in great numbers. Most people target them with a feather rig which can be bought cheaply from all tackle stores. Mackerel are most easily caught during daylight in calm weather and can come very close to the shore as dusk approaches. Look for signs of seagulls diving into the sea. This is a good sign that small fish are being chased to the surface by a shoal of predators.
Chesil Cove
This shingly area is at the eastern extremity of the Chesil Beach where it curves round the Isle of Portland. Unlike the rest of the Chesil Beach the seabed is rocky in places so it is best to fish to the right (as you face the sea) of the Cove House Inn. Divers tell me that the rocks end about here.
Bass, pouting and conger are the species most commonly caught but black bream are also common at times. Night fishing generally gives the best catches.
There is a car park immediately behind the beach.
Adelaide and the Landing Craft
These sea angling sites are situated close together and are accessed from the main car park serving the Chesil Beach Centre just past the Ferrybridge as you leave the mainland on the road to Portland. You have to pay at all times (day & night!) to park here.
Portland Bill
This is a site for fishing from rocks. The species to target are bass, garfish, mackerel, pollack and wrasse. Large conger eels also lurk around some rocky areas. The sea bed here is very "snaggy" so float fishing is recommended. Try fishing near the surface or set deep to target the various species.
Make no mistake this is a dangerous area for sea angling. Even on a calm day giant waves can sometimes occur and it is only too easy to be washed off the rocks into violent and deep water. Two sea currents meet just off-shore forming the famous Portland Race. With luck you can sometimes tap into these sea currents so that your baited float tackle is carried offshore towards the Race where hopefully it might be taken by a giant bass.
Offshore Sea-Angling & Deep Sea Angling from Weymouth, Dorset, UK
The following is a list of charter boats specialising in sea angling trips and deep sea fishing operating from Weymouth. I am not familiar with all the names on this list and it may not be complete. Please check all your requirements carefully with any skipper before booking.
Many boats are heavily booked so, during busy periods, it may be necessary to book your trip well in advance of your holiday.
The "Shambles" sandbank is renowned for its catches of plaice, turbot and other species and all skippers will know of many shipwrecks where pollack, cod, ling and conger eels can be caught. Outside these areas black bream are often caught in abundance.
Most, if not all skippers, will have rods and equipment for hire and will supply and recommend appropriate sea angling bait to use.
Name of Boat Name of Skipper Telephone Number
Al's Spirit Adrian Brown 01732 462925 or 07976 522184
Atlanta Dave Pitman 01305 781644 or 07721 320352
Autumn Dream Len Hurdiss 01305 786723
Bonwey Ken Leicester 01305 821040 or 07831 506285
Channel Chieftan Pat Carlin 01305 787155 or 07976 741821
DuchessII Jeff Clarke 01308 425494 or 07778 315778
Fish-on Josh Simmonds 0755 4434338
Flamer III Colin Penney 01305 766961 or 07968 972736
Katie Ann Paul Davies 01761 414869 or 07763 071511
Lady Godiva Dave Gibson 01305 750823 or 07766 145054
Loan Shark II Richard English 01305 830250 or 07973 210504
Mojo Edgar Moxom 07775 806532
Offshore Rebel Paul Whittall 01305 783739 or 07860 571615
Out-Rage Rod Thompson 01305 822803 or 07970 437646
Peace & Plenty Chris Tett 01305 775775 or 07885 780019
Pegasus Steve West 01305 767309 or 07747 79153
Tango Phil Corben 01305 774266 or 07780 702349
Telmar Brett Hibbitt & Nigel Hursthouse 07916 129939
Tiger Lily Chris Caines 01305 821177 or 07976 766169
Top Cat Ivan Wellington 01305 823443 or 07966 133979
Valerie Ann Ron Brown 01305 779217 or 07976 520607
Wild Frontier Clem Carter 01305 832287 or 07967 029031
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