Summary
Charmouth East Beach sits on the Jurassic Coast between Lyme Regis and Seatown, fronting Lyme Bay with a mix of shingle top and firm sand at lower tides. It’s an accessible, productive all-rounder, offering bass in the surf, summer smoothhounds and rays, and year‑round scratching for flatfish and bits—ideal for both newcomers and experienced anglers.
Location and Access
This mark is the main beach immediately east of the River Char, reached via the village of Charmouth off the A35. Access is straightforward with parking beside the beach, making it one of the easier Dorset marks to fish with minimal walking required.
- Drive: From the A35, follow signs into Charmouth and continue down Lower Sea Lane to the beach car parks (pay-and-display).
- Parking: Large beach car park adjacent to East Beach; overflow available in peak season. Payment by card/app typically available.
- Approach: From the car park you step straight onto shingle; no need to cross the river for East Beach.
- Terrain: Steep-ish shingle bank at the top, flattening to sand and clay patches at mid to low tide. Walking on dry shingle can be tiring over distance.
- Space: Plenty of room to spread out away from the river mouth in both directions; the beach gets busy with day trippers in summer—fish early/late for quieter sessions.
Seasons
Charmouth East offers a genuine mixed bag through the seasons, with bass the headline species and a good summer show of smoothhounds and rays in the right conditions.
- Spring (Mar–May):
- Plaice, dab and the odd flounder over the clean sand.
- School bass building, with better fish after onshore blows.
- Dogfish; early smoothhounds late May if it warms up.
- Summer (Jun–Aug):
- Bass (dawn/dusk and during surf), smoothhound, small‑eyed ray and occasional blonde ray.
- Sole at night on settled seas; gurnard and the odd turbot from clean patches.
- Mackerel, scad and garfish within range on lures/float.
- Autumn (Sep–Nov):
- Peak bass time, especially after freshets from the River Char.
- Rays persist into October; sole on dark neap tides.
- Whiting arrive late autumn; plaice remain on smaller tides.
- Winter (Dec–Feb):
- Whiting, pout, dogfish and dab on night tides.
- Odd codling in a cold blow, plus rockling; bull huss occasional after dark on bigger baits.
Methods
Standard beach tactics work well here, with a choice of scratching for variety or targeting bigger fish near scoured gutters. Match your approach to the ground and conditions in front of you.
- General beach ledgering:
- 4–5 oz grip leads to hold the tide; plain leads can help roll baits across sand for plaice in light seas.
- 2–3 hook flappers with size 1–2 hooks for flats and bits; clipped-down 1–2 hook rigs for distance.
- Bass:
- Running ledger or pulley/dropper with 3/0–5/0 (circles or J) and big lug, peeler crab, or whole sandeel; fish the surf line and gutters.
- Lure fishing at first/last light with 20–40 g metals, soft plastics or surface lures along the colour line.
- Smoothhound and rays:
- Pulley pennel (40–60 lb snoods) with peeler/hardback crab for hounds; sandeel, bluey or squid wraps for rays.
- Target the first push of the flood or dusk into night on a settled sea.
- Flats and sole:
- Long snoods, size 2–4 fine-wire hooks, beads/spoons for plaice; ragworm or lug cocktails.
- Sole after dark with small worm baits and minimal bling, fished close in.
- Summer pelagics:
- Spinning with 28–40 g metals or Dexter wedges for mackerel/scad; float gear with strips of mackerel for gars.
- Tackle notes:
- 12–13 ft beach rods or 2–4 oz lure rods cover most needs; 18–30 lb mono or 0.12–0.18 mm braid with 60–80 lb leaders for heavier work.
Tides and Conditions
Tide state strongly shapes the ground here, revealing clean sand and gutters that hold fish. Choose your window to match species and sea state.
- Tide:
- 2–3 hours up to high water and into the first of the ebb are prime for bass, hounds and rays.
- For plaice/soles, target the flood as it creeps over clean sand; sole best at night around low to mid-flood on neaps.
- Sea and wind:
- A modest SW/S push builds surf and colour that brings bass tight in.
- Calm, clear days suit plaice and sight‑feeding species; easterlies flatten the sea but can slow bass.
- Water clarity:
- A tea‑stained colour from the River Char can switch bass on; heavy freshwater after storms can hinder bait presentation.
- Time of day/season:
- Dawn/dusk consistently outperform for bass and pelagics in summer.
- Autumn evenings with a mild onshore are classic big‑bass conditions.
Safety
This is a relatively friendly open beach, but the shingle slope, clay patches and nearby cliffs demand attention. Plan for the tide, watch your footing, and give the cliffs space.
- Shingle bank: Steep in places with strong backwash on bigger swells—keep kit high and watch surges.
- Slippery ground: Exposed blue/green clay and weeded rock at low water are slick; avoid rushing or wading on unfamiliar patches.
- Cliffs/landslips: The Stonebarrow–Golden Cap cliffs are active; keep well clear of the cliff base and obey any closure signage.
- Cut‑off risk: If you roam far east under the cliffs, the tide can squeeze your return—carry a headlamp, check tide times, and identify exit points.
- River Char: Do not attempt to wade the river mouth; flows and shifting bars are deceptive—use signed paths/bridges inland if crossing for any reason.
- Personal safety: A PFD/lifejacket is sensible on steep shingle; use studs/felt soles if you expect to traverse clay or weed. Fish with a partner after dark.
Facilities
Charmouth is well set up for visiting anglers with parking close to the mark and seasonal amenities. Expect crowds in school holidays, especially on hot days.
- Parking: Large pay‑and‑display beach car park by East Beach (Lower Sea Lane).
- Toilets: Public toilets by the beach (usually open daytime, seasonal hours).
- Food/refreshments: Seasonal café/kiosk near the car park; village pubs/shops a short walk inland.
- Information: Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre overlooks the beach (fossils/shoreline info).
- Tackle/bait: Nearest shops in Lyme Regis and Bridport; bring fresh worm/crab if you can.
- Mobile signal: Generally good on the open beach; can dip right under the cliffs.
- Bins: Litter and recycling points near the car park—pack out waste if in doubt.
Tips
Local patterns repeat here—find the gutters, mind the colour, and keep one bait close for bass while you scratch longer for flats. A little thought about presentation goes a long way.
- Fish the seams: Work along the colour line where the River Char mixes with clearer sea water—prime bass patrol routes.
- Two‑rod approach: One clipped rig long for plaice/gurnard; one big bait short in the surf for bass.
- Bling for plaice: Beads/spoons (yellow/black or orange) can outfish plain snoods on clear, sunny days.
- Crab rules hounds: Proper peeler or hardbacks pecked to release scent will find smoothhounds quickly on warm evening floods.
- Weed management: After blows, expect ribbon weed—use strong grip leads and keep lines high; consider tapered leaders and frequent recasts.
- Quiet times: Summer dawn sessions beat the daytime crowds and often coincide with the best bass lure fishing.
- Respect the Coast: Fossil hunting is popular—collect from loose shingle only and never hammer the cliffs; it’s safer and it keeps wardens happy.
Regulations
Shore angling is permitted at Charmouth East Beach. Usual national and local rules apply—always read current beach signage and check authoritative sources before you go.
- Bass (southern North Sea/English Channel, ICES 7d–h): At time of writing (2025), the recreational daily bag limit is two bass per angler, minimum size 42 cm, with catch‑and‑release only outside the March–November open season. Verify with MMO/DEFRA updates before fishing.
- Local authority/IFCA: This coastline is within the Southern IFCA district; bylaws cover netting, minimum sizes and some gear restrictions—consult Southern IFCA for the latest.
- MPA context: Lyme Bay has protected areas restricting bottom‑towed commercial gear; these do not prohibit shore angling, but treat the reef environment responsibly.
- Minimum sizes and retention: Observe UK Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (MCRS) for species such as plaice, sole, rays and turbot; release undersized fish carefully.
- Beach bylaws: Seasonal dog restrictions and no‑BBQ/open‑fire rules may apply; follow posted notices.
- Access/closures: Cliff fall management occasionally restricts sections under Stonebarrow/Golden Cap—comply with any temporary closures for your safety.
