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.

• Driving: From Corfe Castle or Wareham, follow signs to Kimmeridge; then take the estate toll road down to the bay (sat‑nav: Kimmeridge, BH20 5PF typically gets you to the village).
• Parking: Large paid car park beside the slipway; charges and gate hours are posted on estate signs and can vary seasonally.
• Walk/terrain: Short, gently sloping approach; then broad, weed‑covered rock platforms with fissures and tide gullies. Good boots essential.
• Areas: East towards Hen Cliff and Clavell Tower; west towards the Broad Bench side (note Range restrictions—see safety).
• Public transport: Limited; this is a car‑led venue. Plan self‑sufficiency.

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.

• Spring (Apr–May): Ballan and corkwing wrasse, schoolie bass building to better fish, small pollack, thin‑lipped mullet nosing around the slipway/weedlines.
• Summer (Jun–Aug): Wrasse at their peak; bass (lures and crab baits), pollack, mackerel and garfish on calm evenings, scad after dark, mullet, occasional bream on rough ground, night conger in deeper gullies.
• Autumn (Sep–Nov): Prime bass time in onshore stir; wrasse until first frosts; mackerel/gar can linger to October; scad at night; odd squid on very calm, clear nights.
• Winter (Dec–Feb): Patchy—pouting, rockling, the odd bass in stormy colour; generally a low‑reward period here compared with nearby beaches.

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.

• Lures for bass/pollack: Weedless soft plastics (paddle tails, slug‑go styles 4–6 in), surface walkers and shallow divers worked over flood tide; metals for mackerel/scad in summer.
• Float fishing: Ragworm, prawn or peeler crab for wrasse along ledge faces; small strips of mackerel/sandeel for garfish; adjust depth to run just above kelp.
• Ledgering: Use a pulley/short‑snood setup with a weak‑link/rotten‑bottom to save gear. Baits: peeler crab (A+), hardback, whole sandeel, mackerel fillet; heavy abrasion leaders.
• Mullet tactics: Bread flake or mashed‑bread groundbait, size 8–12 fine‑wire hooks, stealth on the slipway and along weedlines.
• Conger (after dark): Stout gear, 80 lb mono rubbing leader, large fish baits; pick a stable platform and keep fish away from ledge lips.
• Tackle notes: Boots with studs/felts for grip; long‑handled net helps with mullet and wrasse release; barbless or micro‑barb favoured for C&R wrasse.

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.

• Tide state: Flooding mid‑to‑high water often best for bass/pollack; wrasse happy from mid‑ebb to mid‑flood if there’s cover. Neaps give clarity; springs give flow but increase cut‑off risk.
• Conditions: Light onshore push with a hint of colour for bass; bright/clear for wrasse/gar. Long‑period swells make ledges dangerous—avoid.
• Time of day: Dawn and dusk are golden; night brings scad, conger, and better bass in mild seas.
• Reading the ground: Target kelp tongues, reef edges and sand patches; move until you find life—don’t static‑fish dead water.

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.

• Footing: Weed‑covered rock; wear studded or felt‑soled boots. Avoid jumping kelp‑glossed gaps; carry a headtorch if finishing at dusk.
• Swell/tide: Rogue sets wrap into the bay—keep back from ledge lips. Check tide times; do not allow the flood to cut off your route.
• Range restrictions: West towards Broad Bench lies within the Lulworth Firing Range boundary—when red flags/lamps show, do not proceed beyond the marked point/closed gates.
• Cliffs/rockfall: Stay well clear of the cliff base; occasional falls occur.
• Personal safety: A waist‑belted PFD is sensible on slippery platforms; eye protection for lure work; fish with a buddy where possible.
• Accessibility: Short approach but rough underfoot—unsuitable for wheelchairs or those with limited mobility.

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.

• Toilets: Seasonal/limited toilets near the bay (check estate/Wild Seas Centre opening times).
• Food/drink: Clavell’s in Kimmeridge village for café/restaurant options; nothing permanent on the foreshore.
• Tackle/bait: Nearest shops in Wareham, Swanage or Weymouth; bring bait/lures and spares (snaggy ground).
• Phone signal: Patchy; don’t rely on data. No lighting after dark.
• Slipway: Used by surfers/divers/launching—keep clear when casting.

Tips

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

• Scout at low water to mark gulley lines and sand tongues; fish them on the flood.
• For bass in clear water, go stealthy: long fluorocarbon leaders, natural‑coloured SPs, and quiet wading on the edges.
• Wrasse love crab, but fresh prawn can be deadly when crabs are scarce; keep snoods short to avoid snagging.
• Mullet patrol the slipway—drip in mash and wait them out; tiny hooks and patience beat heavy gear.
• Summer evenings often see gar/mackerel pushing in—have a small metal or float rod rigged to switch quickly.
• After swell, give it 24–48 hours for clarity to return; then hit the first calm evening for pollack on SPs.
• Bring plenty of leads and a spare lure box; use weak links to save time and money.

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.

• Marine protected area: The bay sits within the Purbeck Coast Marine Conservation Zone. Recreational angling is allowed, but be extra careful not to damage reef/kelp and avoid handling protected species (e.g., seahorses are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act).
• Range boundary: Westwards towards Broad Bench is within the Lulworth Firing Range area; when red flags/lamps are displayed, access is prohibited beyond the marked points—no exceptions.
• Bait/collecting: Dorset Wildlife Trust promotes a no‑take ethos for rockpool creatures here; hand‑gathering and bait collection may be subject to Southern IFCA rules—check Southern IFCA guidance before collecting.
• Bass rules: Recreational bass retention in England is subject to seasonal bag limits and a minimum size; check current MMO/DEFRA regulations and the 42 cm minimum conservation reference size before retaining any fish.
• Size/limits: Observe national MCRS/minimum sizes for all species and practice catch and release for wrasse to protect local stocks.
• Estate/parking: Smedmore Estate tolls and gate times apply; obey on‑site signage regarding opening hours and any area closures.