Bowleaze Pier Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Bowleaze Pier Fishing Map

Despite the name, Bowleaze Pier is a rocky ledge (often called Folly Pier) on the eastern side of Bowleaze Cove near Weymouth. It’s mixed rough ground with kelp gullies and nearby sand patches, fishing best from mid-tide up, especially around dusk in summer and early autumn. Expect wrasse and pollack by day, then scad, pouting and conger after dark; mackerel and garfish show in settled summer weather, with the chance of bass when there’s some surf in the cove.

Ratings

⭐ 7.1/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 5/10
Accessibility 6/10

Fish You Can Catch at Bowleaze Pier

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Work plugs or sandeel/crab baits along the pier and adjacent beach at dawn/dusk on a flooding tide, especially near the river outflow.
🐟 Mackerel 7/10
🎯 Tip: Summer shoals; spin small metals or float fish strips at dawn/evening on the flood from the pier end or adjacent beach.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 7/10
🎯 Tip: Crab or ragworm dropped into kelp and rock by the pier remains; stout gear, short casts; best May–Oct on the flood in clear water.
🐟 Pollack 6/10
🎯 Tip: Work soft plastics or small metals tight to the structure at dusk into dark on the flood; weedless helps over kelp.
🐟 Corkwing Wrasse 6/10
🎯 Tip: Small hooks with ragworm among boulders/weed around the pier; short casts on the flooding tide, May–Sep.
🐟 Garfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: Float small sandeel or mackerel strip near the surface in clear water; best on the flood at first light in summer.
🐟 Pouting 5/10
🎯 Tip: Dusk/night around structure; small fish baits or worms down the side; short casts, little tide run.
🐟 Whiting 5/10
🎯 Tip: Winter evenings into dark from the beach side; small fish baits tipped with worm; cast to clean sand on the flood.
🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 5/10
🎯 Tip: Night over clean sand patches; small fish or squid baits; gentle lob from the beach by the pier on the flood.
🐟 Starry Smoothhound 5/10
🎯 Tip: June–Sep over sand patches; peeler/soft crab; cast beyond the kelp fringe on a flooding evening tide.
🐟 Black Bream 5/10
🎯 Tip: Target mixed rough to the east with small squid/worm strips; light gear, small hooks; calm, clear summer evenings on the flood.
🐟 Plaice 4/10
🎯 Tip: Spring–early summer on the clean sand towards Preston; long trace with bead attractors and worm/razor; best over the flood on bright days.

Bowleaze Pier Fishing

Summary

Bowleaze Pier is the small concrete jetty at Bowleaze Cove on the eastern edge of Weymouth Bay, Dorset. It’s an easy-access mark that fishes well for summer mackerel, gars and bass, with winter sport for whiting and flatties. The mix of shingle, reefy patches and the nearby river outfall keeps bait and predators moving through within comfortable casting range.

Location and Access

Set in Bowleaze Cove, a short hop east of Weymouth, this mark is simple to reach and ideal for short, mobile sessions. The "pier" is a low concrete jetty by the river outfall on the cove, with shingle underfoot and rockier ground as you head east towards Osmington.

Seasons

This is a mixed-ground bay mark with strong seasonality. Expect more variety in late spring through autumn, and simple winter fishing after dark.

Methods

Most anglers switch between light lure/float tactics for summer fish and simple bottom gear for winter or coloured water. Keep mobile and match methods to water clarity.

Tides and Conditions

Weymouth Bay is relatively forgiving, but timing and water clarity still make or break sessions. Work with the flood and light to moderate onshore winds for bass; pick calm, clear periods for sighty pelagics.

Safety

This is a low, exposed jetty with no railings and algae growth; take basic rock-mark precautions. In summer the beach is busy—fish away from bathers and watercraft.

Facilities

Bowleaze Cove is a family beach with decent amenities close by. You can comfortably do short or half-day sessions with refreshments to hand.

Tips

Treat it as a flexible, light-gear venue: switch between float, metals and a simple ledger depending on what you see. Small tweaks make a big difference here.

Regulations

Recreational sea angling is generally permitted at Bowleaze Cove and on the jetty, but local beach management may restrict fishing near designated bathing zones during peak season/daytime—follow council signage and lifeguard directions.