Clavell Tower Ledges Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Clavell Tower Ledges Fishing Map

A series of flat limestone ledges beneath Clavell Tower at Kimmeridge Bay, offering clear water, kelp-filled gullies and quick access to deeper channels on a flooding tide; best in settled weather from late spring to autumn, with productive lure and float fishing but beware swell, slippery weed and rockfall from the cliffs.

Ratings

⭐ 6.9/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 4/10
Accessibility 5/10

Fish You Can Catch at Clavell Tower Ledges

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Work surface/subsurface lures over broken reef in white water at dawn/dusk, or fish peeler crab in gullies after a blow. Best on a flooding or first of ebb, May–Oct.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 8/10
🎯 Tip: Fish peeler crab or rag close to kelpy gullies on the flood; move between pockets. Weedless soft plastics also score. Best Apr–Oct in settled seas.
🐟 Pollack 7/10
🎯 Tip: Cast sandeel soft plastics or metals tight to kelp edges at dusk into dark; retrieve slow and deep. Flooding tide, spring–autumn; use abrasion-resistant leaders.
🐟 Corkwing Wrasse 7/10
🎯 Tip: Small hooks with rag/peeler under a float tight to weeded ledges over the flood. Steady daytime sport May–Sep; release carefully.
🐟 Bull Huss 6/10
🎯 Tip: Fish whole squid or mackerel fillet at night into rough ground/sandy pockets; strong abrasion-resistant gear. Better on neaps and a flooding tide, Apr–Nov.
🐟 Tompot Blenny 6/10
🎯 Tip: Tiny strips of rag/squid on size 10–14 hooks lowered into cracks and pools; quick bites at mid tide in calm conditions. Handle with wet hands and release.
🐟 Conger Eel 6/10
🎯 Tip: After dark drop large fish baits into deeper holes and gullies; use rubbing leaders and lift fish clear of ledges. Fish the flood or slack water.
🐟 Garfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: Float a small strip of mackerel or tinsel 2–4 ft down over deeper gullies on the flood in clear, calm summer evenings; keep moving to find shoals.
🐟 Mackerel 5/10
🎯 Tip: Summer high-water evenings when bait shows; small metals or sparse feathers worked fast along ledge drop-offs. Clear water and gentle swell help.
🐟 Mullet (Thick-lipped) 5/10
🎯 Tip: Freeline bread flake or fish bread under a controller in calm, clear water around weed beds; stealthy approach. Best on a rising tide in summer.

Clavell Tower Ledges Fishing

Summary

Clavell Tower Ledges sit on the eastern side of Kimmeridge Bay on Dorset’s Purbeck coast, beneath the iconic restored Clavell Tower. A maze of flat limestone benches, gullies and kelp beds creates prime habitat for bass, wrasse and pollack. It’s a classic, visually engaging rough-ground mark that rewards mobile, lure-led fishing in clear water and careful float work over the rough stuff.

Location and Access

Access is via Kimmeridge village to the Smedmore Estate toll road down to Kimmeridge Bay car park, then a short coastal walk to the ledges below the tower. Terrain is rough, uneven rock and weed-covered benches; plan for a scramble and dress for wet feet.

Seasons

This is a mixed rough-ground mark with year-round residents and strong summer sport. Expect bass and wrasse as the headline species, with pelagics and eels in the right conditions.

Methods

Mobile lure fishing and precise float fishing shine here, with bottom tactics possible if you accept heavy losses. Adapt to the depth steps along the ledges and fish the flow lines.

Tides and Conditions

These ledges fish on movement and clarity. Aim for building water over the steps and avoid heavy swell that washes across the benches.

Safety

This is a serious rock mark with slippery weed, surge, and cut-off risks. Treat it with respect and plan exit routes before you start.

Facilities

Kimmeridge is small but has seasonal amenities around the bay and in the village; plan self-sufficiency on the rocks.

Tips

Think finesse and stealth in the gin-clear water, and move until you find fish-holding flow lines. The ledges are a fossil treasure but also an SSSI—anglers are expected to leave only footprints.

Regulations

Standard English recreational sea angling rules apply, with local protections and access controls. Always check current notices on-site and official sources before you go.