Hive Beach Fishing

Summary

Hive Beach (Burton Bradstock), Dorset sits on the Jurassic Coast where steep shingle meets clean sand in Lyme Bay. It’s a classic open-coast venue that rewards thoughtful tactics with bass, rays, turbot in spring, and dependable summer mackerel. Easy access, serious depth off the shingle, and fast-changing conditions make it a favourite for mobile, well-prepared anglers.

Location and Access

Set beside the village of Burton Bradstock, Hive Beach is managed by the National Trust and is straightforward to reach by road. The beach itself is immediately below the car park, with longer, quieter stretches reachable by walking the shingle either way.

• Parking: National Trust Hive Beach car park (pay-and-display; NT members usually free). Postcode: DT6 4RF
• Approach: From Bridport follow signs to Burton Bradstock/Hive Beach via the B3157; brown NT signage guides the final turn
• Walk-in: 1–3 minutes to the shingle from the car park; expect heavy going if you continue along the beach (shingle is energy-sapping)
• Terrain: Steep, loose pebbles/shingle shelving into deep water; no lighting after dark
• Space: Popular near the café in summer—walk 10–20 minutes east towards Cogden or west towards Burton Freshwater for elbow room

Seasons

A mixed, clean-ground mark with classic Lyme Bay species. Expect a strong spring/turbot period, summer surface species, and consistent autumn nights.

• Spring (Mar–May): plaice, turbot, bass, rays (thornback, small-eyed), dogfish, occasional gurnard
• Early summer (Jun–Jul): mackerel, garfish, scad, bass, smoothhound, rays, plaice
• Late summer (Aug–Sep): sole (after dark), bass, rays, mackerel/scad, gurnard, pout
• Autumn (Oct–Nov): bass (blows and coloured water), rays, sole, plaice, whiting, pout, dogfish, conger after dark
• Winter (Dec–Feb): whiting, pout, dogfish, dab; the odd codling in colder spells (hit-and-miss)
• Occasional/bonus: turbot (best spring/early summer), small to medium conger after dark, smoothhound runs on peeler in late spring/early summer

Methods

Standard shingle-beach tactics apply, with a premium on clean presentation and the ability to adapt range as the tide and surf change.

• General beach work: clipped down 1- or 2-hook distance rigs (size 2–1/0) for plaice/flatfish; 5–6oz grip leads to hold in tide and surf
• Rays/bass: pulley or pulley dropper with 3/0–4/0 pennel; sandeel, squid, mackerel strip or squid/sandeel cocktails
• Turbot/plaice: long flowing snoods with beads/spoons; bait with sandeel, bluey, mackerel belly, or lug/rag tipped with squid
• Sole (late summer nights): small hooks (size 4–6), short snoods, lug/ragworm or worm/squid slivers; keep it close in
• Smoothhound: peeler crab on a simple running ledger or pulley, medium wire hooks (2/0–3/0)
• Lures for bass/mackerel: metals and slim jigs for range; surface or shallow-diving lures at dawn/dusk in a gentle surf
• Times: first light and dusk are prime; nights for rays/sole/whiting; move to find features like colour lines and seams

Tides and Conditions

Hive fishes across the range, but certain states and weathers consistently shine. The beach is exposed—conditions change quickly with wind direction.

• Tide states: the flood and first of the ebb often best; last 2 hours of the flood into high water can switch on bass and rays
• Springs vs neaps: neaps for comfort and presentation; springs carry more lateral run—use heavier grips and streamlined rigs
• Wind/sea: a moderate south-westerly producing a manageable surf is excellent for bass; full-on blows are dangerous and unfishable
• Clear, calm water (often with easterlies): better for plaice/turbot/garfish; coloured water post-blow draws bass tight in
• Seasonality: turbot best in spring/early summer; sole from late summer evenings; winter nights for whiting/pout
• Range: fish can be at your feet in surf; when calm/clear, step up casting range to find the sand tongues beyond the shingle drop-off

Safety

This is a steep, energetic shingle beach beneath notoriously unstable cliffs—treat both sea and land with respect. There are no piers or barriers, and backwash can be severe.

• Cliffs: do not sit, fish, or set gear beneath the cliff line; keep well back (at least the height of the cliff) due to frequent rockfalls
• Surf/backwash: powerful on larger tides and onshore winds—avoid wading; keep rod tips high and drag set appropriately
• Tidal run: expect strong lateral pull; use wired leads; step back if surf builds—shingle can collapse underfoot
• Night fishing: headlamp, hi-vis, and a PFD strongly recommended; mark your exit point from the car park before dark
• Public beach: in summer, avoid crowded bathing areas near the café; give wide berth to swimmers and water-users
• Mobility: short approach but the loose shingle is not wheelchair-friendly; a wide-wheeled trolley helps but the slope is demanding
• Weather: check forecasts and swell; if in doubt, don’t fish—there are safer, sheltered options nearby

Facilities

Facilities are good by Dorset beach standards, especially close to the car park; they thin out quickly as you walk the shingle.

• Parking: National Trust pay-and-display car park beside the beach (busy in peak season)
• Toilets: public toilets at/near the car park (usually daytime/seasonal opening)
• Food/drink: Hive Beach Café by the car park; seasonal kiosks at busy times
• Tackle/bait: tackle shops and bait in Bridport and West Bay (pre-order worms/peeler in summer)
• Bins: limited—take all line and litter home
• Phone signal: generally fair, but cliff shadowing can cause patches of poor reception
• Lighting: none on the beach; bring headlamps and spare batteries for night sessions

Tips

This stretch rewards mobility and attention to detail—small tweaks add real fish to your tally. Work the conditions rather than fighting them.

• Walk 10–20 minutes away from the crowds for better fishing and safer casting angles
• After a SW blow, fish the settling sea for bass with big crab/sandeel baits or metals in the white water
• For turbot in spring, use long flowing traces and fresh sandeel/mackerel belly—don’t overcast; fish the drop-off and sand tongues
• Plaice like beads/spoons and steady retrieve lifts; look for clearer water and a gentle sea
• Sole show at dusk into dark in late summer—small hooks, small worm baits, and quiet, close-in casts
• Weed can be brutal on onshore winds—clip down, fish streamlined baits, and be prepared to move
• Feathers/sabikis take mackerel/scad at first light or dusk; swap to a single metal when shoals are finicky
• Keep out of bathers’ zones in summer and set up well clear of the cliff line—both courtesy and safety win you more fishing time

Regulations

Sea angling is permitted from Hive Beach, but you must follow national and local rules and any National Trust site guidance posted on boards.

• No rod licence is required for sea fishing in England (a licence is needed only for salmon/trout and some estuarine situations)
• European seabass (bass): minimum 42 cm; a seasonal daily bag limit applies to recreational angling—recent years have been catch-and-release in Dec–Feb and up to 2 fish/day in spring–autumn. Regulations change—check the UK MMO website before your trip
• Minimum sizes: follow UK/CEFAS/IFCA minimum conservation reference sizes for species like plaice, rays, bass, crabs, and lobsters; never retain berried (egg-bearing) crabs/lobsters
• Southern IFCA district: local byelaws apply (e.g., netting restrictions, MLS, and gear rules). Angling with rod and line is generally unaffected but you must comply with any posted local notices
• National Trust site rules: no camping, respect any BBQ/fire restrictions, keep dogs to posted seasonal rules, and remove all litter/line
• Be considerate: avoid fishing among swimmers and water users; use lights responsibly at night
• If unsure, ask a local tackle shop or check Southern IFCA and MMO pages for the latest updates