Alum Chine Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Alum Chine Fishing Map

Alum Chine is a wide, sandy section of Bournemouth’s Poole Bay between Durley and Branksome Chines. It’s a clean-ground beach backed by a promenade and wooden groynes, with easy, year-round access and facilities close by. Fishing is best on a flooding tide into and after dusk when bathers thin out. Summer brings mackerel, scad, garfish and smoothhound on peeler crab, with bass showing in lively surf or at first/last light. Autumn–winter nights produce good numbers of whiting and pouting, plus dogfish; occasional rays turn up at distance in calm periods. Look for gutters between the bars and the lee side of groynes; long casts cover plaice on brighter days, while soles and flounder are often close in after dark. The ground is mostly clean sand with scattered shell and light weed, so standard beach gear and grip leads work well. Safety is generally good, but mind strong cross-currents near groyne ends, especially on springs, and avoid lifeguarded swimming zones by day in summer.

Ratings

⭐ 6.9/10 Overall
Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 8/10
Accessibility 8/10

Fish You Can Catch at Alum Chine

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Work surf gutters by groynes and the Chine outflow on a flooding tide, best at dawn/dusk or after a SW blow. Fish peeler crab, lug/rag or shallow lures in summer–autumn.
🐟 Whiting 7/10
🎯 Tip: Winter nights on clean ground; small mackerel or squid strips. Fish the flood into high; size 2 hooks help with pins.
🐟 Plaice 7/10
🎯 Tip: Spring on clean sand; long trace with beads/spoons. Cast 60–100 yd to find small banks and gentle dips; fish the daylight flood.
🐟 Dab 6/10
🎯 Tip: Winter daylight or dusk; small lug baits cast mid-range onto clean sand. Slack water and neap tides can be best.
🐟 Dover Sole 6/10
🎯 Tip: Summer–early autumn nights; fish close in between groynes with small rag/lug or maddies on long snoods. Neap tides and slow flows score.
🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: Year-round over clean sand, more active after dark. Simple running ledger with mackerel/squid; any state of tide.
🐟 Mackerel 6/10
🎯 Tip: June–Sept when shoals push tight to the beach; small metals or float rigs at dawn/dusk on the flood. Watch for birds and surface activity.
🐟 Starry Smoothhound 5/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–summer evenings; peeler crab at 60–90 yd over clean sand. Best on the flood around dusk.
🐟 Golden-grey Mullet 5/10
🎯 Tip: Warm months in gentle surf; small bread or rag baits trotted in the wash near the outflow and groynes on a flooding tide.
🐟 Undulate Ray 4/10
🎯 Tip: Occasional from clean sand at dusk; big squid or bluey baits to gutters 70–110 yd on a flooding tide. Handle carefully and release.
🐟 Garfish 4/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–autumn; float rag/sandeel or tiny metals at dawn on the flood. Work around groyne tips.
🐟 Weever Fish (Lesser) 4/10
🎯 Tip: Common in summer close in; tiny worm baits on size 4–6 hooks in the surf zone. Beware venomous spines when unhooking.

Alum Chine Fishing

Summary

Alum Chine sits on Bournemouth’s west side, a broad, sandy bay broken up by rock groynes and a distinctive tree-lined ravine behind the promenade. It’s a classic south-coast beach mark that rewards thoughtful timing and tidy presentation with bass, summer hounds and rays, and winter whiting and flats. Fish it for its easy access, plenty of room between groynes, and consistent sport through much of the year.

Location and Access

Access is straightforward via the Bournemouth promenade, with multiple ramps and steps down from West Cliff and Alumhurst/West Overcliff roads. You’re fishing from clean sand between rock groynes, so the walk-in is easy and the ground is kind on tackle.

Seasons

Alum Chine is a year-round option, with classic Poole Bay species and a few surprises when the water colours up.

Methods

This is a mixed-methods beach: clipped-down distance rigs for spring plaice, heavier pulley work for rays and hounds, and lures or floats around the groynes when it’s calm and clear.

Tides and Conditions

Poole Bay is shallow, so movement and water colour are your friends. Time sessions to coincide with life in the surf and avoid the busiest beach hours in summer.

Safety

This is a family beach with lifeguards in season; fish sensibly around beach users and follow signage. The ground is forgiving, but rock groynes can be slippery and waves rebound in a swell.

Facilities

Bournemouth’s promenade is well served, especially in season, making Alum Chine a comfortable venue for longer sessions.

Tips

Think “groyne to groyne” and read the sand: subtle gutters and bars move fish and baits. Small tweaks in range or angle often make the difference here.

Regulations

Sea angling is generally permitted from the beach, but Bournemouth seafront byelaws and seasonal lifeguard controls apply. Always read and obey local signs on the promenade.