Dawlish Beach Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Dawlish Beach Fishing Map

A long, sandy town beach backed by the sea wall and railway, offering easy year-round access and mostly clean ground. Best results come at dawn/dusk and into darkness, especially on a flooding tide with light surf for bass. Summer brings mackerel, garfish and scad close to the wall; autumn–winter sees whiting and dabs. Flounder and the odd sole are taken at short to mid-range over the sand. Occasional thornback ray show on sandeel or squid in calmer periods. Use simple flappers for flatties/whiting, a pulley or clipped-down rig with sandeel for rays, and float or small metals/feathers for mackerel/garfish. Watch for overtopping waves against the wall during swell, slippery groynes, and bathers in summer; lesser weever fish are a known hazard on warm days.

Ratings

⭐ 6.7/10 Overall
Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 6/10
Accessibility 9/10

Fish You Can Catch at Dawlish Beach

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Surf over sand; dusk/dawn on a flooding tide. Peeler crab, lug or sandeel; shallow divers in a chop. After a blow or onshore breeze best.
🐟 Whiting 7/10
🎯 Tip: Winter evenings into dark; worm/squid cocktails 40-80m onto clean sand. Fish the flood to high.
🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 7/10
🎯 Tip: Year-round, best at night on clean sand. Small mackerel or squid baits on 2-hook flappers; mid-high tide.
🐟 Mackerel 6/10
🎯 Tip: Summer shoals; feathers or small metals at first/last light. Best on the flood when birds work close in.
🐟 Golden-grey Mullet 6/10
🎯 Tip: Calm summer evenings along the surf line. Small rag or isome on size 8-10 below a float or light ledger; flood to high.
🐟 Plaice 5/10
🎯 Tip: Spring to early summer in daylight. Long casts with blinged 2-hook rigs and rag/shellfish tips over clean sand; flood to high.
🐟 Flounder 5/10
🎯 Tip: Late autumn-spring; short casts with worm baits on clean sand. A trickle of freshwater after rain helps; flooding tide.
🐟 Dover Sole 5/10
🎯 Tip: Warm nights Jun-Sep; short lob of ragworm on a light ledger over clean sand. Slack to first of the ebb after high can score.
🐟 Smoothhound 5/10
🎯 Tip: May-Sep; peeler crab 40-70m over clean sand near any rough patches. Dusk on the flood.
🐟 Garfish 4/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring-autumn; float a sliver of mackerel/sandeel or use small spinners at dawn/dusk on the flood in clear water.

Dawlish Beach Fishing

Summary

Dawlish Beach (Town Beach and the stretches either side to Coryton Cove and toward Langstone Rock) sits on the red-cliffed South Devon coast between Teignmouth and the Exe estuary. It’s a classic mixed surf and seawall venue that produces bass, rays, sole, and winter whiting, with bonus mackerel and garfish in summer. Night tides, a bit of colour, and careful positioning between the groynes can make this an excellent, accessible mark for both beginners and seasoned anglers.

Location and Access

Dawlish is easy to reach by road or rail, with the mainline railway literally running along the seawall. Shore access is simple from town, with steps and ramps down to the sand and numerous positions along the wall between groynes.

Seasons

This stretch offers a seasonal mix, with surf species on the beach and rough-ground species nearer the rocks.

Methods

Most fishing is straightforward beach ledgering, with the wall offering elevated casting and good control on springs. In summer, lure and float tactics add variety.

Tides and Conditions

Depth increases quickly toward the wall, and the beach forms productive gutters between groynes. Dawlish fishes best with some movement and colour, but avoid dangerous onshore swells.

Safety

This is an exposed seawall/Beach mark beside an active railway. Conditions can change rapidly with tide and swell; use conservative judgement.

Facilities

Dawlish is a classic seaside town with plenty of amenities within a short walk of the mark. Expect crowds and limited parking in peak summer.

Tips

Small tactical changes make a big difference here—work the gutters, read the surf, and move between groynes as the tide builds.

Regulations

Shore angling is generally permitted along Dawlish Beach. However, common-sense restrictions apply around swimming/bathing zones and busy summer periods—always follow local signage and requests from beach staff.