Chesil Cove Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Chesil Cove Fishing Map

Chesil Cove is the southern end of Chesil Beach at Chiswell, Portland. It’s a steep shingle beach with deep water close in and rocky/kelp fringes on either side, giving access to both clean-ground and rough-ground species. Summer brings prolific mackerel, garfish and scad, with wrasse and pollack from the rockier edges; nights produce pouting and conger. Winter can see whiting and the odd codling in a blow. Access is straightforward from Chiswell with roadside parking, but the shingle bank can be strenuous. Beware heavy swell and strong backwash in onshore winds—this mark can be dangerous in a big sea.

Ratings

⭐ 7.2/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 9/10
Scenery & Comfort 7/10
Safety 4/10
Accessibility 6/10

Fish You Can Catch at Chesil Cove

🐟 Mackerel 9/10
🎯 Tip: Summer to early autumn. Feathering or small metals at dawn/dusk in clear, calm seas; cast to the tide line and stay mobile.
🐟 Pouting 8/10
🎯 Tip: After dark year-round; abundant close in over rough/shingle. 2-hook flappers with small squid/mackerel strips, short casts. Keep rigs above snags.
🐟 Bass 7/10
🎯 Tip: On a building sea or spring tides, especially dusk into dark. Big lug/crab or whole squid short–medium range, or lures along the Cove. Work the surf line on a flooding tide.
🐟 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 7/10
🎯 Tip: July–Oct after dark. Small sabikis or size 6–8 hooks tipped with mackerel, slow retrieve under the rod tip. Best around dusk on the flood.
🐟 Conger Eel 7/10
🎯 Tip: Night over rough ground. Big squid/mackerel baits on a strong pulley with rotten-bottom; short to medium cast. Best on the flood; use heavy gear.
🐟 Black Bream 7/10
🎯 Tip: May–Oct in settled, clear water. Small hooks, squid/mackerel strips or rag; cast 30–60 m over broken ground. Keep baits just off bottom to beat crabs.
🐟 Pollack 6/10
🎯 Tip: Dusk/dawn on a flooding tide. Work soft plastics or metal jigs parallel to the drop-off with a slow retrieve; also takes rag/sandeel at medium range.
🐟 Whiting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Late autumn–winter nights. Lug or mackerel strips on 2–3 hook flappers; medium range. Best on the flood.
🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: Common after dark year-round. Small fish or squid baits on flappers; short casts onto mixed ground. Keep baits static.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 6/10
🎯 Tip: Daylight over rocks/kelp at the Cove. Float-fish crab or rag tight to boulders on the flood; use strong tackle to stop dives.

Chesil Cove Fishing

Summary

Chesil Cove marks the Portland end of the famous Chesil Beach in Dorset, a steep shingle bank that meets reefy ground and deep water within easy casting range. It’s a classic mixed mark that can produce bass in surf, summer mackerel and rays, with productive winter whiting and the odd codling in a blow. The cove’s blend of clean shingle and nearby rough ground makes it a versatile venue for both lure and bait anglers.

Location and Access

Set at the northern foot of Portland in the village of Chiswell, Chesil Cove is among the easiest points of entry onto Chesil’s otherwise daunting shingle. Access is short but the bank is steep and the shingle loose, so travel light.

Seasons

This is a genuinely year-round venue, with classic summer surface action and reliable winter bottom fishing. Species vary with water clarity, temperature, and swell.

Methods

Chesil Cove rewards versatile approaches. Carry a bait rod for bottom species and a lighter setup for lures/float work when the water is clear.

Tides and Conditions

Tide and sea state dictate your plan here. As a rule, cove fishing improves with movement, but safety trumps everything in big onshore seas.

Safety

Chesil’s beauty hides real hazards. The steep mobile shingle, shore dump, and undertow demand respect—never underestimate wave sets.

Facilities

You’re right by the village of Chiswell, so creature comforts are close, but the beach itself is exposed with no shelter. Plan for weather and carry water.

Tips

Small changes in where you stand on the bank make a big difference to what’s in front of you—clean shingle to the east, more mixed ground towards the corner. Travel light and be mobile.

Regulations

Rules can change—always check the latest from the UK government and Southern IFCA before you go. Chesil and The Fleet is a designated conservation area, and some species have strict protections.