Bowleaze Cove Fishing

Last updated: 6 days ago

Bowleaze Cove Fishing Map

A mixed shingle-and-sand cove on the eastern side of Weymouth Bay with cleaner patches toward Overcombe and rockier, kelp-lined ground as you head east to Redcliff Point. Easy access from nearby car parks and amenities makes it a convenient all-round shore mark. Best results often come on a flooding tide into dusk, with summer shoals of mackerel, garfish and scad close in, bass working the surf and the River Jordan outflow, and wrasse and pollack from the rockier sections. Winter brings whiting with the chance of flatfish on the cleaner ground. Night sessions boost dogfish, pouting and the odd conger. Be mindful of swimmers and watercraft in peak season, slippery weeded rocks near Redcliff, and the occasional weever on the sand.

Ratings

⭐ 6.6/10 Overall
Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 6/10
Accessibility 8/10

Fish You Can Catch at Bowleaze Cove

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Lures in the surf on a flooding tide after a blow; also fish peeler crab or sandeel at dusk along the drop-offs.
🐟 Whiting 7/10
🎯 Tip: Winter nights; small fish or worm strips at 60–100 m over clean sand. Keep rigs clipped for distance.
🐟 Mackerel 7/10
🎯 Tip: June–Sept; metals or sabikis in clear, calm evenings. Work shoals along the cove on the flood.
🐟 Pouting 6/10
🎯 Tip: After dark by rough ground at the eastern end; small worm or fish baits, short casts. Keep baits tight to the bottom.
🐟 Plaice 6/10
🎯 Tip: Spring–early summer days; long casts to clean sand, blinged rigs with rag/lug + squid tip. Seek gentle tide run.
🐟 Dover Sole 6/10
🎯 Tip: Summer–autumn nights; close-in (10–40 m) with rag/lug or small peeler on light, long snoods. Keep baits static.
🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: Year-round, best at night; mackerel/squid on the sand. Simple pulley or 2-hook flappers work well.
🐟 Starry Smoothhound 6/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–summer; peeler crab at dusk into dark, 30–80 m. Use smooth drag and avoid snaggy edges.
🐟 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 6/10
🎯 Tip: Aug–Oct nights; small sabikis with a slow midwater retrieve. Try the eastern end when baitfish are in.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 6/10
🎯 Tip: Daylight on the Redcliff rocks; fish hard crab or rag into kelp holes. Heavy gear, short casts on the ebb.
🐟 Garfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: May–Sept; float-fish small sandeel or rag at 2–6 ft, retrieve slowly along the eastern reef edge on the flood.
🐟 Undulate Ray 5/10
🎯 Tip: Settled summer–autumn nights; sandeel or squid/fish cocktails at 60–120 m over clean patches between weed beds.

Bowleaze Cove Fishing

Summary

Bowleaze Cove sits on the eastern side of Weymouth Bay, Dorset, offering a mix of clean sand, shingle and rougher reefy patches towards Redcliff Point. It’s a versatile mark that can fish well for summer species in settled weather and turns up rays, bass and winter whiting after dark.

Location and Access

Getting there is straightforward from Weymouth via Preston Beach Road and Bowleaze Coveway, with parking right above the beach. Access to the main beach is easy; the rockier ground towards Redcliff Point needs a bit more care and a short coastal path walk.

Seasons

Bowleaze produces a good cross-section of Weymouth Bay species, with clean ground targets in the centre and rough-ground fish towards the point.

Methods

Match your approach to the ground you’re fishing: lighter tackle and distance rigs for the clean patches, stronger gear and abrasion resistance for the reefs.

Tides and Conditions

The cove fishes on most states, but timing and water colour make a big difference. Think flood tide for movement and dusk into dark for a quality bite window.

Safety

It’s a generally safe, family-friendly beach, but the eastern rocks and ledges demand proper footwear and awareness of the tide. In summer there may be lifeguarded bathing zones—keep well clear with lines.

Facilities

Convenient amenities sit just behind the beach, with full services in nearby Weymouth. Expect it to be busy on fine summer days.

Tips

Little location tweaks make a big difference here—treat the cove as two marks: the clean central beach and the rough eastern corner.

Regulations

Know the basics before you cast; rules change, so always check the most current guidance from the relevant authorities before your trip.