Bincleaves Point

Bincleaves Point sits on the western side of Weymouth Bay, between Newton’s Cove and Sandsfoot, overlooking the Portland Harbour entrance. It’s a classic Dorset rock mark with fast tidal seams, clean-to-rough transitions and quick access from town. Expect wrasse and pollack in clear water, summer pelagics on the flood, and night-time conger and pout when the light fades.

This is a convenient urban rock mark reached via Old Castle Road/Bincleaves Road on the Weymouth side of Portland Harbour. Access is straightforward to the promenade, then becomes rocky and uneven around the point.

• Approach from Weymouth town towards Old Castle Road; on-street parking is limited near Bincleaves Road and along Old Castle Road (arrive early in summer).
• Nearby car parks if on-street is full: Nothe Gardens (DT4 8UD) or Sandsfoot Castle Gardens (DT4 8QE), then walk 10–20 minutes via the coast path/promenade.
• From Newton’s Cove promenade, continue south along the seafront path and pick your way onto the rock platforms towards the point. Access to ledges involves short scrambles; wear good boots.
• Ground is a mix of flat limestone shelves, boulders and kelp gullies; pack light if you plan to roam.
• Parts of the headland are fenced or signed (adjacent to private/industrial sites). Stay on public paths and foreshore only; do not cross fences.

Bincleaves offers year‑round variety, biased towards rough‑ground species and summer visitors following bait into the tidal eddies.

• Spring (Apr–May):
  • Ballan and corkwing wrasse (as water clears and warms)
  • School bass on the flood and in coloured water after blows
  • Early pollack at dusk; occasional garfish from May
• Summer (Jun–Aug):
  • Mackerel, garfish and scad (evenings and flooding tide lines)
  • Pollack (dawn/dusk), wrasse (daytime over kelp)
  • Bass in onshore stir and around bait shoals
  • Conger after dark; pout and the odd strap eel on bottom baits
• Autumn (Sep–Nov):
  • Bass peak period, especially in a building sea
  • Scad and late mackerel into the gloaming
  • Pollack continue well at dusk; wrasse linger while water stays warm
• Winter (Dec–Feb):
  • Whiting and pout at night
  • Rockling and dogfish on the deck
  • Conger in the deeper holes; very occasional codling in cold snaps (now rare)

The ground dictates tactics: lure and float fishing excel around the kelp edges; bottom tactics need abrasion‑resistant setups and sacrificial components.

• Lures (HRF/Light lure):
  • Weedless soft plastics (2–5 in) on 7–14 g Texas/Chebs for wrasse and bass through the gullies
  • Slim minnows and small metals for mackerel/garfish; 10–20 g spoons into the flood seams
  • Low‑light hard lures and paddletails for pollack/bass along the point at dawn/dusk
• Float fishing:
  • Ragworm, prawn or mackerel strip set 6–12 ft for garfish and pollack; adjust depth to work the kelp line
• Bottom fishing (rough ground):
  • Pulley or pulley‑dropper with 40–60 lb leaders; use a weak link/rotten‑bottom to save gear
  • Baits: peeler or hardback crab for wrasse/bass; squid or mackerel heads for conger; rag/sandeel cocktails for general pickings
  • Leads 3–5 oz typically; consider a lead‑lift for retrieval
• Night sessions:
  • Big fish baits on heavy gear for conger (keep fish low and away from ledges)
  • Two‑hook flappers with small baits for whiting/pout
• Tools and line:
  • 20–30 lb mainline or robust braid with 40–60 lb leader over the ledges; long‑handled net or drop net is helpful from higher shelves

Tide movement makes this mark; fish the seams and eddies that form off the point. Clarity drives species choice: clear for wrasse/pollack, some colour for bass.

• Best tide windows: 2 hours up to high and the first of the ebb, especially on neaps (springs can rip hard)
• Wind/sea state: often fishable when Chesil is blown out by SW winds; a light to moderate onshore push helps bass
• Water clarity: bright/clear for daytime wrasse and float‑fished pollack/garfish; a bit of colour brings bass closer
• Time of day: dawn and dusk for pollack, scad and bass; night for conger and winter whiting
• Seasonal notes: summer pelagics track the flood; autumn blows can switch on bass along the ledges

This is an exposed rock platform with changeable footing and strong tidal influence. Treat it as a serious shore mark even though it’s close to town.

• Slippery weeded rock, undercut ledges and sudden surges: wear grippy boots/cleats and keep back from edges
• Fast tidal run at times; keep lines and landing nets tidy to avoid snags and trips
• Swell rebound around the point can knock you off balance—avoid big seas and long‑period swells
• Some sections are adjacent to fenced private/industrial property: obey all signage and do not climb or descend prohibited areas
• Night fishing: bring headtorch plus backup, and fish with a buddy where possible
• Lifejacket strongly recommended on the ledges; avoid solo fishing in rough conditions
• Not suitable for wheelchairs; the promenade is accessible but the fishing ledges require scrambling

Being within Weymouth’s fringe, facilities are close at hand, though none sit directly on the rocks.

• Toilets: seasonal facilities at Nothe Gardens and Sandsfoot Castle Gardens; public toilets on Weymouth harbourside
• Parking: limited free on‑street near Old Castle Road/Bincleaves Road; pay parking at Nothe Gardens (DT4 8UD) and Sandsfoot Castle (DT4 8QE)
• Tackle and bait: Weymouth Angling Centre and other town shops supply fresh/frozen bait and lures
• Food/drink: cafés and kiosks around the Esplanade/harbour; occasional seasonal kiosk near Newton’s Cove
• Mobile signal: generally good 4G/5G coverage on the headland

Local patterns reward mobility and tidiness—travel light, read the water and work the edges.

• If Chesil is unfishable in a SW blow, Bincleaves and Newton’s Cove often remain manageable and can produce bass and wrasse
• Burley a little mashed fish for garfish under a float on neaps; keep baits small and moving
• For wrasse, crab out‑fishes worm when the water is clear and bright; keep hooks strong (1/0–2/0) and go weedless for plastics
• Pollack sit tight to the drop‑offs: count lures down, then retrieve slowly up and away from the kelp
• Carry spare leads, rotten‑bottom links and a lead‑lift—the ground eats gear
• A long‑handled net or drop net saves fish (and your trace) from high shelves
• Treat big wrasse and conger with care—unhook over a wet mat/towel and release quickly; wrasse are a precious local sport species

Regulations change—always check official sources before you go. Bincleaves lies within the Southern IFCA district and normal national recreational sea fishing rules apply.

• Bass: minimum size 42 cm; seasonal bag limits and catch‑and‑release periods apply. Check current MMO/DEFRA guidance for the exact open months and daily allowance before retaining any bass
• Minimum sizes and byelaws: observe Southern IFCA minimum conservation reference sizes and any relevant local byelaws (netting, potting, berried lobster/crab protections). See Southern IFCA and UK Government resources
• Wrasse: no statutory MLS locally, but many Dorset clubs/anglers practice catch‑and‑release for larger wrasse on reefs—strongly encouraged at this mark
• Portland Harbour/port area: do not trespass on fenced port/industrial land or fish from prohibited structures; keep clear of navigation channels and shipping movements
• General: take litter and line home; respect closed areas and any onsite signage