Summary
Beer Head is a striking chalk headland on the East Devon coast, sitting between Beer and Branscombe on the Jurassic Coast. It offers classic rough-ground rock fishing with clear water, kelp beds, reefs and tide runs that draw predators. For confident shore anglers, it’s one of the area’s most rewarding—but also most committing—marks.
Location and Access
Set on the South West Coast Path, Beer Head is reached from Beer village or from Branscombe via the Hooken undercliff. Access to the lower ledges is steep, sometimes unstable, and not suitable in poor conditions or for inexperienced anglers.
- From Beer: Park in the cliff-top/pay-and-display car park near the caravan park and follow the signed coast path west to Beer Head (around 10–20 minutes). Faint fisher tracks lead down to ledges—expect steep, loose sections and exposure.
- From Branscombe: Park at the beach or village car parks and follow the Hooken undercliff path east. The undercliff route is longer, rough underfoot and can be muddy after rain; allow 30–60 minutes each way.
- Terrain: Chalk and flint underfoot, boulders and weeded reefs at the base; ledges can be narrow and wave-washed. Good boots and a light, hands-free load are essential.
- Alternatives: If conditions or fitness aren’t right, fish Beer beach or Seaton instead—both far safer in a swell.
Seasons
The headland’s reefs, kelp gullies and tide lines hold a mix of summer and winter species. Expect rough-ground specialists with seasonal pelagics when the water warms.
- Spring: Ballan and cuckoo wrasse, pollack, early garfish; occasional bass on small sandeels/crab baits.
- Summer: Mackerel, garfish, scad (night), pollack, wrasse, bass; occasional black bream on calmer, clear-water days.
- Autumn: Bass (on a push of colour or a rolling sea), mackerel late into autumn in settled spells, pollack at dusk, scad and pout after dark; conger and bull huss from the rough ground.
- Winter: Whiting and pout on calmer nights; the odd codling in prolonged northerlies and clear, cold spells; dogfish present year-round.
- Always present: Shore crabs and small baitfish in the gullies—good signs of life when luring.
Methods
Rough ground tactics dominate: fish strong, fish simple, and expect snags. Lure work can be superb in the right light and water clarity.
- Lure fishing: 20–40 g metals for mackerel/scad; weedless soft plastics (sandeel/paddle tails 10–20 g heads) for pollack and bass; surface/sub-surface stickbaits at dawn/dusk in calm seas.
- Float fishing: Ragworm, prawn or crab for wrasse; strips of mackerel or sandeel for mackerel/garfish. Set depth to just above the kelp.
- Bottom fishing: Pulley-pennel or pulley dropper with 4–5 oz leads and a weak-link/rotten-bottom. Baits: peeler/soft crab, big rag, squid/mackerel cocktails; whole squid or mackerel fillet after dark for huss/conger.
- Rigs and tackle: 20–30 lb mainline with 40–60 lb leader for bottom work; 20–30 lb braid with 20–30 lb fluoro leader for lures. Use strong, forged hooks (2/0–5/0) and shock leaders for metals.
- Times: First and last light are prime for pollack, bass and mackerel; after dark for conger, huss, pout and scad.
- Snag management: Keep rigs simple, use weak-link sinkers, and retrieve positively to lift over reef lips.
Tides and Conditions
Tide flow pinches around the head, creating strong runs and defined colour lines. Choose your window carefully; marginal conditions turn dangerous quickly.
- Tide state: Flood into high water often fishes best for wrasse and bass on the ledges; last of the ebb and first push can be excellent for pollack in the tide edge.
- Strength: Springs create powerful cross-tides—great for predators but hard on bottom gear. Neaps favour wrasse and float/lure control.
- Sea state: Clear-to-moderate clarity is ideal for lures and wrasse; a mild roll and a touch of colour suits bass. Big SW swells rebound off the cliffs—avoid.
- Wind: Light northerlies/easterlies give shelter and clarity. Strong onshore or quartering south-westerlies make the mark unsafe and unfishable.
- Seasonality: May–October is the prime window. Winter sessions need settled high-pressure spells and extra caution.
Safety
This is a committing rock mark beneath actively eroding cliffs. Treat it with full respect and do not attempt the lower ledges in swell, rain-soaked ground, or poor visibility.
- Cliff risk: Chalk and flint falls are common, especially after rain/frost. Do not sit under overhangs; avoid the cliff toe.
- Wave hazard: Ledges are narrow and can be overtopped by sets—never turn your back on the sea; avoid on any meaningful swell.
- Cut-off: Some platforms flood on the push—know the route, the tide times, and your exit before you start.
- Footing: Wear grippy boots; consider studded soles. Keep hands free for scrambling; pack light.
- Safety kit: Wear a modern auto-inflate lifejacket; carry headtorch, spare light, first aid, and a means of communication (VHF/PLB). Phone signal can be patchy in the undercliff.
- Companions: Fish with a partner and tell someone your plan and return time.
- Accessibility: Not suitable for young children, dogs, or those with limited mobility. Wet-weather descents are strongly discouraged.
Facilities
Facilities are in the nearby villages rather than at the headland itself. Plan self-sufficient sessions and carry water/food.
- Parking: Pay-and-display options at Beer cliff-top and in Beer village; parking also at Branscombe beach/village for the undercliff approach.
- Toilets and refreshments: Public toilets and seasonal cafés at Beer beach and Branscombe beach; pubs and shops in both villages.
- Tackle and bait: Bait and tackle available in Seaton and Lyme Regis; limited options in Beer—check opening hours before you travel.
- Phone signal: Generally good on the cliff-top, variable to poor under the cliffs.
Tips
Beer Head rewards stealth and timing. Treat it more like a mini headland rock mission than a casual chuck.
- Dawn patrol: Be set up as the first light hits the chalk—pollack and bass often show in the first 30 minutes.
- Read the water: Work the seams where clear water meets colour on a running tide; predators patrol these lines.
- Weedless wins: Use weedless hooks and streamlined weights to reduce losses in kelp gullies.
- Float finesse: For wrasse, a lightly shotted float and a slow fall with rag or prawn out-fishes heavy bottom rigs in clear water.
- Night notes: After dark, step up leader strength and keep headtorch use minimal—scad and pollack shy off bright light.
- Respect the land: The headland crosses farmland and protected habitats—stick to paths, leave gates as found, and pack out all waste.
Regulations
Shore angling is allowed at Beer Head, but the cliffs and undercliff are protected landscapes (SSSI/UNESCO Jurassic Coast). There are no known local bans on angling, yet certain rules and good practice apply.
- Marine protections: Lyme Bay includes protected reef areas restricting commercial towed gear offshore; shore angling is unaffected but do not damage intertidal habitats.
- Bass rules: Recreational European seabass retention is regulated nationally; bag limits, minimum sizes and seasonal closures change—check current MMO/DEFRA guidance before retaining bass. The long-standing baseline is a minimum size of 42 cm with a limited daily bag and closed months, but always verify the current year’s rules.
- IFCAs: This area falls under Devon & Severn IFCA. Local bylaws cover shellfish minimum sizes and protections (e.g., no taking berried lobsters/crabs) and may restrict bait collection in sensitive areas—check D&S IFCA for updates.
- Minimum sizes: Follow UK minimum conservation reference sizes and common club sizes for species like cod, whiting and bream if retaining fish.
- Access and signage: Obey any temporary path/landslide closures, farmland notices, and cliff safety signage. No fires or camping on the headland.
- Tidy tackle: Retrieve lost line/weights where safe; leave no trace and respect other path users and wildlife.
