Chewton Bunny Fishing

Summary

Chewton Bunny is the small stream outfall on Highcliffe Beach, on the Dorset–Hampshire border east of Highcliffe Castle. The mix of shingle, sand and groynes, plus the constant trickle of coloured water from the brook, creates natural feeding lanes that draw bass and other surf-zone species. It’s a quietly productive, mobile-style beach mark that rewards timing and neat presentation.

Location and Access

Chewton Bunny sits below the wooded ravine of the same name at Highcliffe, feeding onto the open coast of Christchurch Bay. Access is straightforward, but expect a short descent and shingle walking.

• Parking options include Highcliffe Castle car park (satnav reference BH23 4LE) and the cliff-top/Cliffhanger area near Highcliffe Beach (around BH23 5JA); both are pay-and-display in season.
• A footpath through the Chewton Bunny nature reserve drops to the beach; it can be muddy after rain and includes steps/uneven sections.
• Alternative access is via standard beach ramps/stairs from the cliff-top car parks, then walk east or west along the beach to the outfall between groynes.
• Terrain is mainly shingle over sand with timber/rock groynes. Trolleys struggle on the shingle; pack light.

Seasons

This is a mixed surf beach with seasonal variety. Bass are the headline act, with flatfish and summer visitors at range.

• Spring (Mar–May):
  • Bass (increasing after the first mild blows)
  • Plaice on clearer, calmer days
  • Early smoothhound on the bigger spring tides
• Summer (Jun–Aug):
  • Bass (dawn/dusk and in a rolling sea)
  • Smoothhound and thornback/undulate ray at medium to long range
  • Sole after dark at short range
  • Mackerel and garfish in calm, bright spells
  • Thick- and thin-lipped mullet around the stream mouth
  • Dogfish common at night
• Autumn (Sep–Nov):
  • Bass (often the best months, especially after rain colours the outfall)
  • Rays (thornback/undulate) on squid/sandeel
  • Sole into late autumn nights; plaice early autumn on clear days
  • Garfish to the first frosts
• Winter (Dec–Feb):
  • Whiting on night tides
  • Occasional codling in colder snaps
  • Pouting and dogfish as by-catch
  • Flounder possible but less reliable than historically

Methods

Think mobile beach fishing: work the gutters between groynes and the coloured edge of the outfall. Fish light and accurate for close-in species; gear up for distance when chasing rays and hounds.

• Bottom fishing:
  • 2–3 hook flappers (size 1–2) with ragworm/lug for plaice, dabs and whiting; keep snoods 30–60 cm.
  • Pulley pennel or up-and-over (3/0–4/0) with sandeel/squid for rays; peeler or hermit crab for smoothhound.
  • For sole, scale down to size 4–6 fine-wire hooks with rag/maddies after dark, fished very short.
• Lures and floats:
  • Dawn/dusk bass on shallow-diving plugs, surface walkers and weedless soft plastics; fan casts along the seam where coloured stream water meets clearer surf.
  • Metals/feathers for mackerel; floats with slivers of mackerel or small sandeel for garfish in clear, calm conditions.
• Presentation tips:
  • After rain, fish baits just downtide of the brown/green plume; bass patrol this edge.
  • Night sessions: fish the first gutter inside the nearest groyne at 10–30 m before stepping up range.
  • Use grip leads in a pushy surf; plain leads to slowly roll for plaice on calmer days.

Tides and Conditions

Timing matters more than brute range here. A modest surf with a touch of colour is usually best for predators, while flatfish like steadier water.

• Tide: 2 hours up to high and the first hour of ebb fish well for bass; rays/hounds often favour the last of the flood into slack on spring tides.
• Wind/sea: SW–W winds that raise a manageable surf are excellent for bass; clear, calm seas suit plaice/garfish and night-time sole.
• Springs vs neaps: Springs help carry scent and draw in hounds and rays; neaps can be kinder for flatfish presentation.
• Light: Dawn, dusk and into dark are prime. After heavy rain, hit the first fishable window as the stream outflow settles but still carries colour.

Safety

This is a natural beach with groynes and a stream mouth; it’s generally safe with common-sense precautions. The descent and shingle make it unsuitable for some users.

• Groynes (timber/rock) are slippery when wet or weeded; avoid climbing or fishing from them in swell.
• Shingle banks can be steep with dumping waves on a rising tide; keep kit high and be prepared to move.
• The stream mouth can create soft patches and tricky footing after heavy rain; avoid wading through the outfall.
• Active cliffs occasionally shed material; do not sit under them and observe local signage.
• Weed build-up is common after onshore blows; expect line drag and adjust leads.
• Not wheelchair friendly: paths include steps/uneven ground. Head-torches and warm layers are essential at night.
• Wear a lifejacket if venturing near rocks or in surf, and give swimmers wide berth, especially in summer.

Facilities

Facilities are decent within a short walk/drive, though limited directly on the shingle.

• Toilets: Available at Highcliffe Castle during opening hours and near the Cliffhanger/Highcliffe Beach area (seasonal opening times).
• Food/drink: Cliffhanger Café and Highcliffe Castle tearooms; more cafés at Avon Beach to the west and Highcliffe high street.
• Tackle/bait: Christchurch Angling Centre (Christchurch) carries fresh/frozen bait; several other shops operate within the wider Bournemouth/Poole area.
• Parking: Pay-and-display at cliff-top car parks; arrive early on sunny weekends.
• Mobile signal: Generally good across major networks on the cliff-top; can dip on the beach.
• Bins: Usually at car park access points—pack out all waste if in doubt.

Tips

Local anglers treat Chewton Bunny as a ‘read-the-water’ mark—finding the gutter and the colour line is half the battle.

• After a blow, look for a green-brown seam where the outfall meets clearer water; bass often hit baits within 20 m.
• Short sessions around tide peaks outperform long soaks; travel light and hop between groynes.
• Fresh peeler crab transforms spring hound sport; failing that, softies or hermit are good stand-ins.
• For sole, tiny rag sections and beads on a very light flapper, cast barely past the backwash after dark.
• If mackerel are sparse, switch to a single small metal (20–30 g) and cover water rather than multi-feather rigs.
• Expect the sandbars and gutters to shift after storms; what worked last month may be 10 m left or right today.
• Keep noise and lights low near the stream—mullet and bass spook easily in calm seas.

Regulations

Shore angling is generally permitted at this beach, but always observe local notices and be considerate of swimmers and other beach users. Regulations can change—check official sources (DEFRA/Marine Management Organisation and Southern IFCA) before you go.

• No permit is required for rod-and-line sea angling from the shore here.
• Bass: Rules are frequently updated. As of 2024, recreational anglers may retain up to 2 bass per angler per day between March 1 and November 30 (minimum size 42 cm); catch-and-release only December–February. Verify current-year rules before retaining any bass.
• Rays: Undulate rays are a protected species locally—retain none; unhook and release carefully.
• Tope: Recreational retention is prohibited; release all tope.
• Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (MCRS) apply to many species (e.g., plaice, sole). Consult the latest Southern IFCA/UK size lists and release undersized fish.
• Bait collection: Follow local codes of conduct; avoid digging in vegetated dunes or protected areas and backfill all holes.
• Beach use: Do not fish within any marked bathing zones when lifeguards are on duty, and avoid casting across surfers or swimmers.