Summary
Dragon's Teeth, Abbotsbury is a classic section of Chesil Beach in Dorset, marked by a line of WWII anti‑tank blocks beside The Fleet lagoon. It offers quick access to deep water, consistent surf tables, and a real chance of quality fish throughout the year. If you like big-shingle beach fishing with proper Dorset scenery, this is one of the headline marks on the bank.
Location and Access
Set between Abbotsbury village and West Bexington, the mark sits on the Abbotsbury stretch of Chesil, behind the distinctive concrete anti‑tank blocks (the “teeth”) along The Fleet. Access is straightforward, but walking on steep shingle is always hard work.
- Drive the B3157 Coast Road and follow local signs for Abbotsbury Beach/Chesil Beach car park; pay‑and‑display parking is close to the bank.
- From the car park, it’s a short but energy‑sapping trudge over steep shingle to the seaward face. Travel light and use a rucksack rather than a box if possible.
- The “Dragon’s Teeth” are visible on the Fleet side; most anglers set up opposite or a little either side to spread out.
- Terrain is all large, mobile shingle with a sharp crest; there are no piers or platforms. Not suitable for trolleys or anyone uncomfortable on uneven ground.
- The car park can be busy in summer and on cod/bass blows; arrive early on peak tides.
Seasons
This is an all‑rounder venue with distinct seasonal peaks. Expect variety on calm summer evenings and power fishing during autumn and winter blows.
- Spring: plaice (early), thornback ray, bass, dogfish; occasional turbot and gurnard on brighter days.
- Summer: mackerel, scad, garfish, sole after dark, bass, smoothhound occasional, bream occasional, gurnard; nocturnal conger possible.
- Autumn: bass, rays (thornback/undulate occasional), bream tail‑enders, mackerel/scad in early autumn, first codling on a blow, pout after dark.
- Winter: cod/codling in onshore seas, whiting, pout, dogfish, dab, conger; bonus herring shoals can appear in clear, cold snaps.
- The Fleet lagoon behind holds thick‑lipped/grey mullet, but the lagoon is protected—do not fish inside The Fleet unless clearly permitted.
Methods
Chesil is a clean but deep shingle beach: distance and presentation matter. Rig for range, but don’t ignore close‑in gutters for bass and sole at night.
- Bottom fishing: clipped‑down pulley or pulley‑dropper (4–6 oz grip leads), long snoods for plaice/whiting, shorter snoods for rays/bass in surf; up‑and‑over for rays.
- Baits: lugworm/black lug and squid for cod/codling; ragworm for plaice/sole; sandeel or sandeel/squid wrap for rays and bass; peeler crab when available for bass/smoothhound; mackerel, bluey or cuttle for conger and rays.
- Lures/float: metals and surface lures for mackerel/garfish in clear water; long‑cast minnows/soft plastics for surf bass at dawn/dusk or following a blow; float fish strips of mackerel or sandeel for summer garfish.
- Times: dusk into darkness is prime for sole, bass and pout; daylight favours plaice in spring and summer species in clear conditions; winter cod often on the build‑up to and during a lively sea.
- Tackle notes: 13–14 ft beach rods and 30 lb braid or 18 lb mono with 60–80 lb shock leader; use clipped rigs to punch baits past the shingle bar.
Tides and Conditions
Like much of Chesil, Dragon’s Teeth responds to tide movement and water colour. Match tactics to what the sea is doing.
- Tide: fishes across the range, but the flood and last two hours into high are often best; ebb can throw up bass in the gutter, especially after a blow.
- Sea state: coloured, rolling water from SW/W winds for bass and codling; calm and clear seas for plaice, sole (after dark), garfish and bream.
- Wind: strong onshore (SW–W) builds surf and undertow—great for fish, hazardous for anglers; NE flattens and clears the water.
- Seasonality: spring plaice on bright tides; summer evenings for mixed bags; autumn transition for bass/rays; winter lows and post‑storm windows for cod/whiting.
- Weed: after big blows, drifting weed can be heavy; use stronger grip leads and keep lines high to minimise fouling.
Safety
Chesil is beautiful but unforgiving. Respect the sea and the shingle and you’ll fish it comfortably.
- Steep, shifting shingle: footing is unstable—good boots essential. Keep kit minimal; a shoulder‑strap rod rest helps on the bank.
- Surf and undertow: rogue waves are common. Never turn your back. Keep well above the swash line and step back if the bank starts to slump.
- Big seas: avoid storm‑force conditions; if waves are detonating on the crest, do not fish. The bank can overtop into The Fleet on extreme highs.
- Night fishing: carry two headtorches, spare batteries, and a whistle. Mark your spot to find it after bait runs.
- Wear a modern inflating lifejacket on rough days; waders are risky in surf—breathable trousers and boots are safer.
- Accessibility: not suitable for those with limited mobility; no handrails or firm paths. Check any car park closing times before late sessions.
Facilities
Facilities are modest at the beach itself, with more options in Abbotsbury village and along the Coast Road.
- Parking: pay‑and‑display close to the beach; height barriers may be in place—check signage.
- Toilets: seasonal/public toilets are more reliable in Abbotsbury village; availability at the beach can vary—check locally.
- Food/drink: cafés, pubs and a village shop in Abbotsbury; more options in Weymouth (east) and Bridport/West Bay (west).
- Tackle/bait: good tackle shops in Weymouth, West Bay and Bridport; book live/fresh bait ahead in summer and before winter blows.
- Phone signal: patchy on the beach; generally better up on the road. Bring paper charts/tide tables as backup.
- Bins: limited—take all litter and line home; discarded gear is lethal to birds on The Fleet.
Tips
Small edges make big differences on this bank. Think presentation, bait quality, and reading the surf line.
- Range vs. close‑in: start one rod long for plaice/whiting/rays and keep a second probing the first gulley for bass and sole, especially at dusk.
- Bait prep: black lug/oily cocktails are king for winter codling; in summer, fresh sandeel and peeler out‑fish frozen when you can get them.
- Rigs: use streamlined, clipped rigs with quality bait clips and aerodynamic leads to beat the shingle lip and wind.
- Tidy line: a high rod angle and tapered shock leader reduce weed pickup; check knots frequently—Chesil’s shingle abrades line fast.
- Crowds: if it’s busy opposite the Teeth, walk 200–400 m either way; fish are mobile and you’ll often do better with space.
- Keep what you need: mackerel are perfect fresh bait—bleed and chill a couple; avoid stockpiling big bags in hot weather.
- Winter windows: once big SW seas drop and the water stays coloured, you often get a short, magic cod/bass window—be ready to go.
Regulations
This mark lies on Chesil Beach within the Southern IFCA district and alongside The Fleet, a protected nature site. Rules are well publicised—follow signage and current byelaws.
- The Fleet lagoon: do not fish inside The Fleet unless clearly permitted; much of it is protected with strict access rules. Shore fishing here is on the seaward side of Chesil only.
- Bass: recreational bass measures change annually—check MMO/IFCA updates before your trip. Recent frameworks include a 42 cm minimum size and seasonal bag/closed periods.
- Rays and sharks: identification matters. Undulate rays are frequently catch‑and‑release—check the current retention rules and return any protected species immediately.
- Minimum sizes/bag limits: adhere to national MLS and any local IFCA measures for species like wrasse, rays and flatfish. When in doubt, release.
- No licence is required for sea angling in England, but local byelaws apply. Netting and commercial restrictions operate around The Fleet—anglers should observe posted notices and exclusions.
- Site conduct: no vehicles on the beach, no fires or camping, keep dogs under control, and avoid any roped‑off bird nesting areas that may appear seasonally.
- Always check the latest Southern IFCA and MMO pages before you go; regulations and seasonal protections can change.
