Greenhill Beach

Greenhill Beach sits on the eastern side of Weymouth Bay, Dorset, running from the end of Weymouth’s sandy beach towards Preston and Overcombe. It’s a gently shelving shingle-and-sand venue that’s easy to reach, fishes well in the right conditions, and avoids some of the crowds. Expect approachable, mixed-ground fishing with seasonal bass, flatfish, mackerel and garfish.

Access is straightforward along the seafront promenade with multiple ramps down to the shingle. Parking is plentiful but often pay-and-display along Greenhill Esplanade and at Lodmoor Country Park.

• Drive in via the A353 (Greenhill/Preston Road) from Weymouth town, following signs for Greenhill/Preston.
• Pay-and-display bays line the Esplanade; additional parking at Lodmoor Country Park near the SEA LIFE centre (use a Lodmoor/Greenhill postcode such as DT4 7SX for navigation).
• The walk-in is level along the promenade; access to the beach is via steps or ramps at regular intervals.
• Terrain is compact shingle over sand at low water; it’s generally firm and comfortable for tripod fishing.

This is a clean-to-mixed ground beach with classic in-bay species. Expect flats and summer pelagics, with better bassing when there’s surf and colour.

• Spring: Plaice, flounder, school bass; garfish showing from late spring; early mackerel on clearer days.
• Summer: Bass (often close in on coloured water), mackerel, garfish, scad, plaice; occasional sole after dark; odd gurnard and small smoothhound possible.
• Autumn: Bass (often the best months, especially after an easterly blow), scad into late evenings, plaice/sole on warm nights; whiting begin to appear.
• Winter: Flounder, whiting, pouting, dab and the odd school bass; codling are rare inside the bay but not impossible in a hard blow.

Light beach tactics shine here; distance is rarely essential as fish patrol the first 20–60 yards. Scale down for more bites on clear, calm days.

• Bottom fishing: 2-hook or 3-hook flappers with size 2–4 hooks for plaice/flatfish; long-snood flowing traces for sole and gar into darkness; clipped-down rigs if you need to punch into a breeze.
• Attractors: Small spoons/beads/yellow or green lumi beads help for plaice over clean patches.
• Baits: Fresh lugworm and ragworm are top; maddies/harbour rag for plaice; peeler crab or softies for bass in spring; sandeel and mackerel strip for bass/mackerel/gar; slender squid strips for sole at night.
• Lures: Metals (20–40 g) and slim sandeel-style soft plastics for mackerel/gar/bass; fish dawn/dusk and work along the beach to find shoals.
• Floats: Small floats with size 6–8 hooks and slivers of mackerel for garfish in calm, clear conditions.
• Ranges: Start short—many bass and flatfish are within 30–50 yards, especially on a pushing tide.

Greenhill sits inside Weymouth Bay, so it’s sheltered from many south-westerlies but livens up in an easterly. Match your tactics to water clarity and surf.

• Tide: Often best the last two hours of the flood and first of the ebb; over low, target plaice on clean patches; over high, bass push tight to the shingle lip.
• Wind/sea: A gentle to moderate easterly or south-easterly that adds colour and a small surf is prime for bass. Flat, clear water suits plaice, gar and mackerel.
• Time of day: Dawn and dusk are reliable; darkness boosts sole, scad and bass prospects and reduces angling pressure.
• Seasonality: Late spring to early autumn is most consistent; winter can still produce flounder/whiting during settled spells.
• Notes: Floating weed can be heavy after onshore blows—step up to stronger leaders and check lines frequently.

This is one of the more accessible Weymouth marks, but it’s still a beach with shingle slopes and shore dump in onshore winds. Keep your fishing clear of bathers and water users.

• Shingle shelf: Can be steep in places; watch footing when the shore dump is working on an easterly.
• Weed/snag: Floating weed and small pebbles can load up lines; use a steady retrieve and avoid being dragged off balance at the edge.
• Public beach: In summer, expect swimmers, paddle-craft and inflatables—give them plenty of space; avoid feathering through crowds.
• Night fishing: Take a headtorch and spare light; the promenade is lit but beach edges are dark.
• Mobility: Smooth, level promenade and several ramps suit trolleys and many mobility aids; the shingle itself is uneven.
• Safety: A belt-mounted personal flotation device is sensible near the swash in a surf; keep tripods above the swash line, especially near high water.
• Restrictions note: Seasonal bathing zones and local signage may restrict fishing in certain areas/times—always check and comply on arrival.

Facilities are excellent by south coast standards, with amenities a short stroll away. Tackle, food and loos are all within easy reach.

• Toilets: Public toilets along the Esplanade and at/near Greenhill Gardens and Lodmoor Country Park (seasonal hours possible).
• Food/drink: Cafés and kiosks on the seafront; more options in Weymouth town.
• Tackle/bait: Multiple shops in Weymouth, including a major angling centre in town for fresh lug/rag, sandeel and frozen baits.
• Lifeguards: Lifeguard cover is typically on the main central Weymouth bathing beach in season; do not rely on cover at Greenhill—check signs.
• Bins: Seafront litter bins present—pack out waste if bins are full.
• Phone signal: Generally good across major networks along the seafront.

Treat Greenhill as a mobile venue—cover water until you find life, then settle in. Small detail changes make a big difference on this clean ground.

• Look for colour: A milky tinge after an easterly lifts bass confidence; fish bigger worm/crab baits tight to the first breaker.
• Read the beach: Identify subtle gutters and small hollows on the flood; a 10–20 m move can double bites.
• Plaice polish: Use small yellow/green beads and a size 2 hook with maddies or lug tips; keep baits neat and fresh.
• Sole in the dark: Size 4 hooks, long snoods and slender worm/squid cocktails; 30–50 yards is a good starting range.
• Gar/grandkids combo: Float a tiny sliver of mackerel under a small float at dusk—great fun on light gear when it’s calm.
• Mackerel etiquette: Walk-and-cast metals to find shoals; avoid mass feathering near bathers or beach huts.
• Gear choice: 11–13 ft beach rod or a light surf setup with 12–15 lb mainline and a 50–60 lb shock leader covers most needs on this beach.

Angling is generally allowed at Greenhill, but this is a busy bathing beach with seasonal controls. Always follow on-site signage and national fishery rules.

• Seasonal beach rules: During peak summer, parts of Weymouth/Greenhill may have restrictions in designated bathing areas or hours. If signs indicate no fishing, move along the beach to permitted stretches.
• Bass rules: Recreational bass fishing in the Channel has specific size and bag limits (minimum size commonly 42 cm, with seasonal/day limits). These can change—check current MMO/DEFRA guidance before your session.
• Local authority: Weymouth & Portland (Dorset Council) beach byelaws apply; respect any marked zones for swimming or watercraft.
• IFCA: Southern IFCA manages local sea fisheries; check for any relevant byelaws or minimum sizes before retaining fish.
• General: Use barbless or crushed barbs if releasing, handle fish over wet shingle or a mat, and observe catch-and-release best practice for undersize or protected species.