Castle Cove Beach Fishing

Last updated: 2 days ago

Castle Cove Beach Fishing Map

A small, sheltered shingle/sand beach in Portland Harbour beneath Sandsfoot Castle. Clean, gently shelving ground with patches of weed and occasional rock at the margins. Best fished on a flooding tide through high water with light tackle. Summer brings shoaling mackerel, garfish and scad; bass and mullet patrol the margins and weed beds; flatfish (flounder/plaice) work the sandy patches. Wrasse are taken close to the rocky edges. Night sessions in autumn/winter can produce whiting and pout. Popular with swimmers in settled weather, so early/late sessions are most productive.

Ratings

⭐ 6.7/10 Overall
Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 8/10
Accessibility 6/10

Fish You Can Catch at Castle Cove Beach

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Evening flood into the harbour; work shallow gullies and weed edges with sandeel, peeler, or surface/soft lures. Best late spring–autumn; a slight chop helps.
🐟 Flounder 8/10
🎯 Tip: Small rag/lug or maddies on size 2–4 with a long trace; lob to sand channels. Best on the flood and first of the ebb. Year-round, peak late autumn–spring.
🐟 Mullet (Thick-lipped) 7/10
🎯 Tip: Free-lined bread or small rag under a float along weed lines; stealth and light gear in clear, calm water. Late spring–autumn.
🐟 Plaice 6/10
🎯 Tip: Lug/rag cocktails with beads/bling, cast to clean sand at range; daylight over a flooding spring tide. March–July best.
🐟 Dover Sole 6/10
🎯 Tip: After dark; small worm baits (rag/lug or rag/squid) on a long snood, gentle lobs to the margins. Summer–autumn, neaps or slack to early flood.
🐟 Garfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–autumn; float tiny slivers of mackerel or work small spinners at dawn/dusk on the flood, fishing top 1–2 m over clean ground.
🐟 Whiting 5/10
🎯 Tip: Winter evenings on the flood; small worm or fish baits on size 2 hooks, clip-down rigs to reach deeper water. Keep baits fresh; expect rapid bites.
🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 5/10
🎯 Tip: After dark over clean sand; small fish or squid on a simple running ledger, 30–50 m lob. Most reliable late spring–autumn.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 5/10
🎯 Tip: Crab or ragworm tight to the rocky margins by Sandsfoot at mid–high tide; float fish or short running rig with strong gear. Late spring–autumn, daylight.
🐟 Golden-grey Mullet 5/10
🎯 Tip: Warm months; tiny strips of mackerel/prawn or a baited spinner worked in the shallow surf on a flooding tide. Dusk often best.

Castle Cove Beach Fishing

Summary

Castle Cove Beach sits on the sheltered Portland Harbour side of Weymouth, just below Sandsfoot Castle. It’s a friendly, small shingle/sand cove with clear water, eelgrass beds, and mixed ground that suits light, finesse sea angling. Expect a relaxed, family‑friendly mark that still throws up quality sport with bream, wrasse, flatfish and summer bass.

Location and Access

Tucked off Old Castle Road, Castle Cove is reached via the Rodwell Trail and a set of community‑built steps down to the beach. It’s close to Sandsfoot Castle Gardens, making it one of the easier Portland Harbour marks to reach if you travel light.

Seasons

A sheltered harbour mark with a genuinely mixed bag across the seasons. Expect small species on LRF gear year‑round, with peak action late spring to early autumn.

Methods

Light, stealthy tactics excel here because of clear water and modest depth. Think small baits, simple rigs, and accurate casting to sand lanes between weed.

Tides and Conditions

Portland Harbour keeps this beach fishable in winds that would spoil open coast marks. Water clarity is usually good; tailor bait size and line diameter to match.

Safety

It’s a friendly, low‑energy venue, but treat it with the same respect as any rocky/weeded shoreline. The beach steps and intertidal weed are the main hazards.

Facilities

Facilities are close but not on the beach. Plan to be self‑contained during short sessions.

Tips

Think finesse and accuracy rather than distance. Little tweaks in presentation often out‑fish heavier beach tactics here.

Regulations

Know the general rules before you go—this is a public beach within the Southern IFCA district and Portland Harbour. Always check the latest official guidance, as rules can change.