Branscombe Beach Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Branscombe Beach Fishing Map

Long, steep shingle on the Jurassic Coast with mixed clean-to-rough ground and quick depth off the middle sections. Easy access from the National Trust car park at Branscombe Mouth; rockier ground at both ends towards Beer Head and Sidmouth holds wrasse and pollack. Summer brings dense shoals of mackerel, scad and garfish; autumn–winter produces whiting, pout and dogfish, with the odd thornback. Thin-lipped mullet work the stream outflow. Best results typically come on a flooding tide into dusk or after dark. Swell can dump heavily on the steep bank and cliffs are prone to falls—choose settled conditions and keep clear of the toe of the cliffs.

Ratings

⭐ 7.3/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 6/10
Accessibility 7/10

Fish You Can Catch at Branscombe Beach

🐟 Mackerel 9/10
🎯 Tip: Summer shoals; cast small metals or sabikis from the steep shingle. Best at dawn/dusk on the flood. Watch for bird activity.
🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Work surface/soft lures in the surf at dawn/dusk on a flooding tide, or fish peeler/sandeel into the gutter after a blow.
🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 7/10
🎯 Tip: After dark year-round; short lob baits (mackerel/squid) on 2-hook flappers into the gutter. Steep shingle helps hook-ups.
🐟 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 7/10
🎯 Tip: Late summer/autumn nights; small sabikis or 10-20g metals with slow retrieve under the rod tip. Try the flood near deeper water.
🐟 Pouting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Dusk to dark over mixed/rough patches at either end; small fish/worm baits on size 2–4 hooks. Keep rigs simple; short casts.
🐟 Whiting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Winter nights; clip-down rigs with small worm/fish baits at 60–100m. Keep baits small and fresh; expect bites on the flood.
🐟 Garfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: Clear, calm summer evenings; float-fish mackerel strip or sandeel set shallow and cast beyond the shore break. Steady retrieve.
🐟 Pollack 5/10
🎯 Tip: Dusk into dark; cast soft plastics or metals tight to rocks and kelp at either end, slow and deep. Light swell and flood help.
🐟 Conger Eel 5/10
🎯 Tip: After dark by rough ground at the ends; big fish baits on strong mono traces and rotten-bottoms to beat snags. Flooding tide best.
🐟 Plaice 4/10
🎯 Tip: Spring to early summer over clean sandier patches; long snood with beads/spoons and rag/sandeel. Cast long on the flood.
🐟 Smoothhound 4/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring to early autumn; peeler crab baits at medium range over clean/mixed ground. Best at dusk on a flooding tide.
🐟 Black Bream 4/10
🎯 Tip: Calm, clear summer days; small strips or squid/worm on long snoods over cleaner patches at range. Keep hooks size 2–4.

Branscombe Beach Fishing

Summary

Branscombe Beach sits between Sidmouth and Beer on East Devon’s Jurassic Coast, a long, steep shingle strand backed by high, crumbly cliffs. It drops into deep water fairly quickly, offering year‑round opportunities from scratching sessions to proper specimen hunting. Night tides can be excellent, and both ends of the beach give access to slightly different ground and species.

Location and Access

Reaching the mark is straightforward, but the final approach is along a narrow valley lane to Branscombe Mouth. There’s a National Trust car park by the beach and a short walk across steep shingle to your peg.

Seasons

The beach produces a good mix of clean- and mixed-ground species, with the best variety from late spring through autumn. Winter brings predictable scratching and the odd surprise.

Methods

This is a versatile shingle venue: distance work finds the sand for flatfish and rays, while the first gulley is classic bass territory. The rocky fringes favour wrasse and pollack techniques.

Tides and Conditions

Branscombe responds well to moving water, especially into darkness. The beach faces broadly south, so wind and swell direction matter.

Safety

This is a steep, mobile shingle beach beneath unstable cliffs—treat it with respect. Choose your peg with exits and backwash in mind.

Facilities

Basic facilities are available at Branscombe Mouth, with more options in nearby Beer and Seaton. Expect a rural feel and occasionally patchy mobile signal in the valley.

Tips

Regulars treat Branscombe as a ‘Chesil-in-miniature’: steep shingle, quick depth, and fish close at dusk. Small adjustments in range can transform a session.

Regulations

Shore angling is permitted at Branscombe Beach. Normal national and local fisheries rules apply—always verify current rules before you go, as they change.