Summary
Blacknor Point sits on the wild west side of the Isle of Portland, Dorset, looking straight into the English Channel. It’s a classic rough-ground rock mark with deep water, kelp, and broken reef—perfect hunting grounds for wrasse, pollack, bass, and big nocturnal eels. Experienced rock anglers rate it for its consistency in the right conditions and its dramatic setting.
Location and Access
Access is via the South West Coast Path on Portland’s west cliffs, with steep fisherman's paths down to the ledges. Expect a rugged approach and treat this as a serious rock mark—travel light and plan your route in daylight first.
- Drive onto Portland via the A354 from Weymouth and head for Weston/Blacknor on the west side of the island; street parking is possible around Blacknor Road/Weston. Park considerately and avoid blocking driveways or gates.
- A small informal parking area is often used near the end of Reap Lane where the coast path is reached; spaces are limited and can fill on fine days.
- From the coast path, clear but steep side tracks lead to various ledges around Blacknor Point; some descents use fixed ropes and eroded steps. Allow 15–30 minutes from the car depending on the exact ledge.
- Terrain is sharp limestone, loose scree, and boulders. Good boots, gloves, and a manageable load are essential.
- Parts of the cliff-top are private (e.g., around Blacknor Fort); stick strictly to signed public paths and established fishing descents.
Seasons
This is an energetic rough-ground venue with a strong summer/autumn game and occasional winter surprises. Expect fish tight to structure and kelp, with predators most active at low light.
- Spring: Pollack (increasing from March/April), ballan and corkwing wrasse as the water warms, early bass on sandeels, odd mackerel late spring, pouting.
- Summer: Ballan wrasse (prime), pollack, bass at dawn/dusk or in fizzing surf, mackerel and garfish on calmer days, scad at night, conger eel and bull huss after dark.
- Autumn: Peak bass with lively seas, consistent pollack, wrasse until big autumn storms, abundant scad at night, pouting.
- Winter: Conger and huss on settled nights, pouting, rockling; occasional whiting and the rare codling in big onshore blows.
Methods
Fish tight to the edge and over kelp gullies; present baits or lures just off the bottom and be ready to bully fish away from snags. Robust tackle and rotten-bottom systems save gear here.
- Lure fishing: Weedless soft plastics (4–6 in) on Texas/Cheb rigs for wrasse and pollack; metal jigs and slim minnows for pollack/bass at first and last light; 20–30 lb braid with 20–30 lb fluoro leader.
- Float fishing: Ragworm, prawn, or sandeel suspended to track along the face for wrasse, garfish, and mackerel; set depth to work just above kelp.
- Bottom fishing: Pulley/pulley-dropper with rotten-bottom (weak link) lead for huss and conger; 5/0–8/0 strong hooks, 80–150 lb mono trace for eels; whole mackerel, big squid, or cocktail baits.
- General bait choices: Peeler crab (top for wrasse and bass), rag/lug, sandeel, mackerel, squid. Keep baits streamlined to reduce snagging.
- Landing: A drop net is useful from higher ledges; avoid gaffs for release-friendly handling, especially for bass and wrasse.
Tides and Conditions
The west face is exposed; choose your window. Clarity and swell dictate species and safety.
- Tide: Many ledges fish best mid-flood to high water and the first of the ebb. Some niches fish on the ebb when current lines tighten along the face.
- Light: Dawn/dusk are prime for bass and pollack; wrasse feed confidently in daylight; conger/huss after dark on any workable tide.
- Sea state: A modest onshore push with some fizz stirs bass; clear, settled water favours wrasse and pollack. Big W/SW swell is dangerous and usually unfishable.
- Wind: E/NE winds put the mark in the lee and can create ideal clear-water lure conditions; strong W/SW winds and long-period swell are a no-go.
- Seasons: Summer–autumn are most reliable; winter sessions are specialist affairs targeting eels/huss on calm nights.
Safety
This is a serious rock mark beneath active cliffs—accidents have occurred here. If conditions or access look marginal, don’t go.
- Steep, sometimes rope-assisted descents; not suitable for those with limited mobility. Recce in daylight and plan exit routes.
- Rockfall risk from the Blacknor cliffs—wear a helmet if you have one and keep well clear of the base of any crumbly faces.
- Swell sets can surge several metres up the rock. Fish well back, wear a PFD, and never turn your back on the sea.
- Snaggy ground, sharp ledges, and height above water: use a drop net and gloves, and keep a knife accessible to cut free in emergencies.
- Don’t fish alone; carry a charged phone and tell someone your plan. Signal can drop beneath the cliff.
- Watch for rock climbers on the Blacknor sectors; communicate and avoid casting where people are on the wall.
- Respect private land and signage; some cliff-top areas and gates are not for public access.
Facilities
Facilities are limited at the mark; plan to be self-sufficient. The nearest amenities are elsewhere on Portland.
- No toilets, water, bins, or lighting at the ledges—pack out all litter including line and bait waste.
- Public toilets and cafés are available at Portland Bill (a drive south) and around Fortuneswell/Chiswell near Chesil.
- Tackle and bait: Options in Weymouth and Wyke Regis (short drive off the island); phone ahead in peak season.
- Mobile signal is generally good on the cliff top but can be patchy or lost under the face.
Tips
Think snag management and fish tight structure with confidence. Little tweaks make a big difference here.
- Use rotten-bottoms on any bottom rig; a 6–10 lb weak link to the lead saves rigs and fish.
- For wrasse, fish crab or rag tight to the edge and be ready to lock up and lift immediately.
- Work lures down-slope: cast along-lines rather than directly out to keep in the strike zone and reduce hang-ups.
- Pollack often sit mid-water at dusk; count lures down and sweep them past ledges rather than bouncing bottom.
- Keep moving: hop between gullies and points until you find fish—10 casts per spot is a good rule of thumb.
- Weekends can be busy with climbers; a polite word about where you’ll cast avoids tangles and frayed tempers.
- Watch for bigger “set” waves—if two or three bigger ones arrive, step back and reassess your position.
Regulations
General sea angling is permitted at Blacknor Point, but you must follow national and regional rules. Check for any temporary coast path or cliff access advisories before you go.
- Bass (recreational): Current UK rules commonly allow a limited daily bag with a 42 cm minimum and a closed catch-and-release period in winter; regulations are reviewed annually—check the latest MMO/Southern IFCA notice before retaining any bass.
- Wrasse: No statutory MLS for recreational anglers locally; many anglers practice catch and release for larger ballans to protect the stock.
- Conger eel and bull huss: No specific local byelaws, but handle and release carefully if not for the table.
- Protected species: If you accidentally catch any protected species (e.g., shad, tope in some forms), release immediately.
- Access: Respect private property near Blacknor Fort, stay on public paths, and adhere to any seasonal bird-nesting or cliff safety closures on the coast path.
- General: Observe minimum conservation sizes where applicable, use humane dispatch if retaining fish, and leave no litter or discarded line.
