Summary
Ferrybridge is the Portland (eastern) gateway to Dorset’s famous Chesil Beach, reached directly off the A354 causeway between Weymouth and Portland. It’s a classic steep shingle mark that offers year‑round sport, from summer mackerel, bream and bass to winter whiting and the odd codling. Easy access, deep water and a mix of clean to lightly broken ground make it a reliable, versatile venue.
Location and Access
Set beside the Chesil Beach Visitor Centre at the Portland end of the causeway, access here is among the easiest on the whole bank. Expect a short but calf‑testing walk over loose shingle once you leave the path.
- Best parking: pay‑and‑display at the Chesil Beach Visitor Centre (postcode DT4 9XE), directly off the A354 between Weymouth and Portland
- From the car park, follow the signed path over the bank to the seaward side; 2–5 minutes on firm path then loose shingle
- Terrain: steep, shifting pebbles; no steps on the beach itself; a sand spike/rod pod is essential
- Alternative pull‑ins along Portland Beach Road come and go; use official parking to avoid restrictions and to stay clear of protected habitats
- Public transport: regular buses run along the A354 between Weymouth and Portland, stopping close to the Visitor Centre
Seasons
A big draw here is variety, with different fish moving through with the seasons and conditions. Target accordingly for best results.
- Spring (Mar–May): black bream (from late spring), bass, rays (thornback, small‑eyed; undulate possible), dogfish, occasional plaice, garfish, early mackerel on warmer spells
- Summer (Jun–Aug): mackerel, scad, garfish, black bream, bass, smoothhound, gurnards, rays, sole after dark, pouting and dogfish; conger after dark
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): bass peak, bream linger into Oct, mackerel/scad runs, rays, sole, whiting arrive, occasional codling in a blow, garfish
- Winter (Dec–Feb): whiting, pouting, dogfish, conger, the odd codling after sustained westerlies, dabs occasional; surprise winter mackerel can show during mild spells
Methods
Classic beach ledgering dominates, but keep a lure rod handy when bait fish push through.
- Bottom rigs: 2‑hook clipped downs for range; pulley/pulley‑pennel (3/0–4/0) for bass, rays and codling; 2‑hook flappers (size 2–4) for bream and general scratching
- Bream/plaice rigs: long snoods, small hooks (size 4–2) with beads/spinners for plaice; keep bream snoods 1–1.5 m for natural bait movement
- Leads: 4–6 oz grip leads typically; 7 oz in strong onshore winds or heavy tide run
- Baits: ragworm and lug/black for general work; peeler crab for bass/smoothhound; sandeel or squid for rays; squid/bluey cocktails for codling; small squid/mackerel strips for bream and gar
- Lures/floats: metals or slim casting jigs for mackerel/scad; float‑fished sandeel/strip for garfish and bass in calm, clear water at dawn/dusk
- Night tactics: scale down for sole/whiting; size 4–6 hooks with rag/lug/squid slivers; keep rigs low and static
- Range: mixed—fish at 40–80 m for bream/sole in summer and push to 100–130 m when scratching for whiting in winter
Tides and Conditions
Chesil can fish on any tide, but Ferrybridge responds well to movement and a touch of colour. Balance safety with the benefits of a building sea.
- Tide: 2 hours either side of high water often productive for bass and rays; steady pickings throughout the flood when there’s colour
- Ebb influence: on the first of the ebb, a gentle lateral push can perk up bass bites, especially after lively seas
- Sea state: light to moderate onshore ripple with some colour for bass/rays/codling; clear, calm water suits bream, gar and mackerel
- Wind: W/SW can be excellent after the blow eases, but big swells make it dangerous; easterlies flatten and clear the water—good for bream/gar, tougher for codling
- Time of day: dawn/dusk for bass and mackerel; full dark for sole, whiting, conger and rays
- Seasonality: summer and early autumn are the most varied; winter is bite‑filled on smaller species with chances of codling after persistent westerlies
Safety
Chesil is serious water: steep shingle, strong undertow and rogue waves demand respect. Plan exits and keep well back in a swell.
- Steep shingle bank: footing is unstable; ascending/descending repeatedly is tiring—pack light and wear grippy boots
- Swell/undertow: never wade; keep a safe distance from the wash; do not fish big onshore swells or when the bank is being over‑topped
- The ‘step’: a lip forms at high tide; mind your footing at night
- Weed: after blows, rafts of weed can pin lines—use stronger leaders and be prepared to move
- Ordnance: historic military debris occasionally washes up on Chesil; if you find suspicious items, do not touch—dial 999 and ask for Coastguard
- Lifejacket: strongly recommended, especially when fishing alone or at night
- Accessibility: the path to the top is good, but the loose shingle beyond is not wheelchair‑friendly; no railings or platforms
Facilities
Ferrybridge is one of the better‑served Chesil marks, with amenities right behind you. Hours can be seasonal, so check ahead.
- Parking: large pay‑and‑display at Chesil Beach Visitor Centre (DT4 9XE)
- Toilets: at the Visitor Centre during opening hours; none on the beach itself
- Café/refreshments: usually at/near the Visitor Centre (seasonal)
- Bins: provided near the car park—pack litter out from the beach
- Tackle/bait: multiple shops in nearby Weymouth and on Portland; fresh worm/crab availability varies by season—pre‑order in summer weekends
- Mobile signal: generally strong along the causeway
- Lighting: no beach lighting—bring a good headtorch and spare batteries
Tips
Small tweaks make a big difference here—think presentation, range and reading the bank on the day.
- Count your paces down the bank in daylight so you can find a safe retreat line after dark
- Use long shock leaders (at least 2 rod lengths) so you can climb the shingle with the sinker outside the tip ring
- For bream, fish small, neat baits—fingernail‑sized squid or worm tips on fine‑wire size 2–4 hooks
- Bass often patrol close in at dusk; try a single big crab bait on a pulley pennel dropped just beyond the first slope
- After a blow, let the sea settle 12–24 hours; that first green tinge can be magic for bass and codling
- Feather responsibly in mackerel season: take what you need, switch to a single lure/float once you have enough
- In clear, bright conditions, scale down snoods and go longer for more bites from bream and gar
- Keep an eye on weed lines; a 10–20 m move up or down the bank can transform presentation
Regulations
Most general UK sea angling rules apply, with added environmental protections for Chesil and The Fleet. Always check on‑site signs and current national guidance before you fish.
- Access: fishing on the seaward side of Chesil at Ferrybridge is generally permitted; do not fish inside The Fleet lagoon where nature reserve protections and local restrictions apply—obey all signage near the causeway
- Bass: recreational bass retention is subject to seasonal closures, daily bag limits and a minimum size; check the latest MMO/DEFRA notice before retaining any fish
- Rays: undulate rays are a sensitive species in the Channel—practice catch‑and‑release and handle in the water where possible
- Minimum sizes/bag limits: observe current UK national minimum conservation reference sizes (MMO) and any Southern IFCA byelaws
- Bait collection: parts of The Fleet/Chesil are protected SSSI/EMS—do not dig bait in restricted areas; only collect where permitted and with due care
- Fires/camping: commonly prohibited on Chesil; use stoves only where allowed and leave no trace
- Litter and line: mandatory to remove; waste bins are by the car park—pack out all gear from the beach
