Kimmeridge Bay Fishing

Last updated: 1 week ago

Kimmeridge Bay Fishing Map

Kimmeridge Bay is a reef and ledge venue of flat rock platforms, kelp beds and gullies, with clear water and a gentle slope into deeper ground toward the bay mouth. It fishes best on a flooding tide, at dawn/dusk, and through the summer into early autumn when baitfish and predators patrol the reefs. Wrasse and other rough-ground species are the mainstay, with lure fishing for pollack and bass productive in a light swell. Access is via a toll road to a car park by the bay, followed by short walks over uneven, slippery rock. Beware surge, swell, and rapidly rising water that can cut off the outer ledges. Stunning scenery and geology make it a rewarding, if occasionally challenging, mark.

Ratings

⭐ 7.1/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 5/10
Accessibility 6/10

Fish You Can Catch at Kimmeridge Bay

🐟 Ballan Wrasse 9/10
🎯 Tip: Fish crab or hardback close to kelp-filled gullies on the flood. LRF metals/softs also work. Best by day, spring–autumn. Use strong gear; very rough ground.
🐟 Tompot Blenny 8/10
🎯 Tip: LRF hooks with bits of prawn or rag in rockpools and ledge holes at low to mid tide. Instant bites year-round.
🐟 Bass 7/10
🎯 Tip: Work weedless soft plastics or surface lures along reef edges on a flooding tide with light surf; dawn/dusk or after a blow. Peeler crab or sandeel also score.
🐟 Pollack 7/10
🎯 Tip: Cast small sandeel-pattern soft plastics or metals parallel to kelp beds; best at dusk on the flood. Keep lures high to avoid snags.
🐟 Corkwing Wrasse 7/10
🎯 Tip: Float-fish ragworm or small crab tight to weed and rock in 2–5 m; steady sport on the flood, late spring–autumn.
🐟 Rock Goby 7/10
🎯 Tip: Mini-lures or size 12–16 hooks with rag or squid slivers around boulder edges and pools; bites all states, best in calm water.
🐟 Shanny 7/10
🎯 Tip: Tiny hooks with ragworm or mussel in crevices and rockpools at low water; very common year-round.
🐟 Pouting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Small strips of mackerel or worm down the ledges at dusk into darkness; mixed rough ground—use short snoods and a weak-link sinker.
🐟 Mackerel 6/10
🎯 Tip: Feathers or small metals from the ledges June–Sept; best on the flood at first/last light. Keep gear high to avoid kelp.
🐟 Garfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: Float small sandeel or mackerel strips shallow over reef edges in clear summer seas; best at dawn/dusk on the flood.
🐟 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 5/10
🎯 Tip: Small metals or Sabiki rigs at dusk into dark late summer–autumn; work mid-water over deeper gullies on the flood.
🐟 Conger Eel 5/10
🎯 Tip: Big fish baits dropped into gullies after dark; fish the ebb or slack with heavy mono and a rotten-bottom to cope with very rough ground.

Kimmeridge Bay Fishing

Summary

Kimmeridge Bay, on Dorset’s Isle of Purbeck, is a classic low-tide rock‑ledge venue famed for clear water, fossils, and lively lure and float fishing. The shallow limestone platforms and kelp gullies hold wrasse, bass, pollack and summer visitors, rewarding mobile anglers who read the ground and time the tides.

Location and Access

Set within the Smedmore Estate, access is via a toll road from Kimmeridge village, with a paid car park right by the water. The terrain is flat but very uneven shale/limestone ledges; most marks are a 2–10 minute walk from the car park.

Seasons

Kimmeridge fishes best from late spring to autumn, with resident wrasse and pollack and roaming bass; summer brings pelagics in clear water. Winter options are limited but not impossible after storms.

Methods

Mobile, snag‑aware tactics shine. Think lures over shallow reef, float fishing along kelp edges, and cautious bottom gear with sacrificial leads when you must drop a bait.

Tides and Conditions

The venue comes alive with moving water. Use low tide to read the ground and position; fish the flood into dusk for bass and pollack.

Safety

These ledges are notoriously slippery and can be cut off by a rising tide. Plan your exit, watch the swell, and treat the Range boundary as a hard stop when active.

Facilities

It’s a scenic but fairly basic venue. Expect pay parking by the water and seasonal facilities, with most services back in the village or nearby towns.

Tips

Think “light, mobile, and precise.” Kimmeridge rewards those who read the reef, match the forage, and keep moving until they find fish.

Regulations

Shore angling is generally permitted at Kimmeridge Bay, but this is a sensitive marine area with additional access and conservation considerations. Always check current notices on site and official sources before you go.