Knoll Beach Fishing

Last updated: 2 days ago

Knoll Beach Fishing Map

A long, gently shelving sandy beach in Studland Bay with clean sand and nearby seagrass beds. Productive across flooding tides, especially at dusk and into dark. Best for flatfish with bass in onshore surf, winter whiting, and summer mackerel/garfish; occasional rays and smoothhound. Easy access and facilities via National Trust car park; summer crowds mean night sessions are quieter. Watch for lesser weever fish when wading barefoot.

Ratings

⭐ 7.4/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 8/10
Accessibility 9/10

Fish You Can Catch at Knoll Beach

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Dawn/dusk on a flooding tide; work shallow lures in the surf or fish peeler crab/sandeel in the gullies.
🐟 Smoothhound 7/10
🎯 Tip: May–Sept evenings; fresh peeler crab on pulley or running ledger, 2/0–3/0. Fish the flood over clean sand. Quick release.
🐟 Whiting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Oct–Jan nights on the flood; small mackerel/squid strips or lug on size 1–2 two-hook flappers at medium range.
🐟 Dover Sole 6/10
🎯 Tip: Warm nights Jun–Sept; short casts close in with rag or lug tipped with maddies on long snoods and light leads over clean sand.
🐟 Undulate Ray 6/10
🎯 Tip: Spring–autumn; dusk into night on the flood. Fresh sandeel or squid/mackerel cocktail on pulley rigs, 4/0, cast beyond first bar. Handle carefully—release.
🐟 Plaice 5/10
🎯 Tip: Mar–May and Sept; daylight at range over clean sand. Beads/bling with rag or lug tipped with sandeel on long-trace rigs.
🐟 Starry Smoothhound 5/10
🎯 Tip: Jun–Sept evenings; soft/peeler crab at medium range on light pulley with 2/0 hooks. Flood tide fishes best. Release.
🐟 Flounder 4/10
🎯 Tip: Winter–spring; short casts with ragworm or lug near gutters and seams on two-hook flappers. Slow lift-and-draw helps.
🐟 Thornback Ray 4/10
🎯 Tip: Spring–early summer; sandeel or bluey/squid baits on pulley pennels. Cast to the second bar on the flood and first of ebb.
🐟 Mackerel 4/10
🎯 Tip: Jun–Aug in calm, clear water at dawn/evening; small metals or a single feather at range when baitfish show.
🐟 Garfish 3/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–autumn; float-fish mackerel strips or cast small spoons near the surface on the flood in clear water.
🐟 Weever Fish (Lesser) 3/10
🎯 Tip: Summer in shallow surf; tiny rag or mackerel slivers on small hooks close in. Handle carefully—venomous spines.

Knoll Beach Fishing

Summary

Knoll Beach at Studland, Dorset is a broad, gently shelving, sandy shoreline backed by dunes and heath, managed by the National Trust. It’s a classic family beach that also rewards patient sea anglers with surf‑zone bass, flatfish and summer pelagics, all with easy access and good facilities close at hand.

Location and Access

Set on the eastern side of the Isle of Purbeck, Knoll Beach sits within Studland Bay and is easy to reach by road or ferry. Access is straightforward with a large National Trust car park behind the dunes and short, level paths to the sand.

Seasons

This is a clean, sandy venue with seasonal variety. Expect surf predators in onshore blows, flatfish over daylight tides, and small pelagics at dusk through summer.

Methods

Standard beach tactics excel here, with light surf gear and tidy presentation making the difference on a shallow, clean bottom. Mobility helps—fish the features you can see: gutters, bar edges, and any colour lines.

Tides and Conditions

Knoll fishes best when there’s movement and cover in the water. Use low tide to read the bars and gutters, then return to fish them on the flood.

Safety

This is a friendly, open beach but it’s busy in summer and conditions can change quickly around the offshore bars. Respect lifeguarded swim zones and always prioritise public safety.

Facilities

Facilities are a major plus at Knoll Beach, making longer sessions comfortable and family‑friendly. Most amenities are seasonal but well signposted on site.

Tips

Treat Knoll as a classic read-the-beach venue—find the fish by finding the features. Small adjustments in position often outfish big cast changes.

Regulations

Knoll Beach lies within the Southern IFCA district and the Studland Bay Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ). Rules can change—always check current signage and official sources before you fish.