Summary
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.
Location and Access
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.
Seasons
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.
Methods
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.
Tides and Conditions
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.
Safety
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
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.
Tips
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.
Regulations
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.