Monmouth Beach Fishing

Last updated: 6 days ago

Monmouth Beach Fishing Map

Shingle-and-rock beach immediately west of the Cobb at Lyme Regis, with reefy ledges, kelp beds and gullies that fish well on a flooding tide, especially at dawn/dusk in summer and early autumn. Expect mixed rough-to-sand patches; short to medium casts are usually enough and snags are common—use pulley/rotten-bottom rigs. Lures score for mackerel, pollack and garfish in clear water; ragworm, crab and fish strips take wrasse, pouting and rockling tight to the rocks. Access is via Monmouth Beach car park with a short walk over pebbles. Hazards include slippery weeded boulders, swell rebounding off the Cobb, quickly flooding ledges and occasional cliff falls—avoid standing beneath unstable scarps after heavy rain.

Ratings

⭐ 7.2/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 5/10
Accessibility 7/10

Fish You Can Catch at Monmouth Beach

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Dusk/dawn on a flooding tide; work surfy gullies with peeler crab or sandeel, or fish shallow-diving plugs/soft plastics. best after a blow along the rough ground west of the Cobb.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 8/10
🎯 Tip: Fish tight to kelp-covered rocks/ledges on the flood with crab, prawn or rag. Weedless soft plastics also score. Strong tackle needed for snags and powerful fish.
🐟 Pollack 7/10
🎯 Tip: Evening into dark. Cast metals or sandeel-pattern soft plastics parallel to the reef and retrieve slow. Float-fished rag/sandeel beside weed beds near high water works.
🐟 Mackerel 7/10
🎯 Tip: Summer; find tide run and birds. Spin small metals or float mackerel strip 6–12 ft deep over deeper water near the Cobb end. Best on the flood and at dusk.
🐟 Pouting 6/10
🎯 Tip: After dark over rough ground; small fish/squid strips or rag on 2-hook flappers. Short casts to boulder edges. Top of tide and first of ebb best.
🐟 Corkwing Wrasse 6/10
🎯 Tip: Target pockets of kelp on the flood with small hooks and rag or prawn. Gentle lift bites; short casts around ledges in summer.
🐟 Conger Eel 6/10
🎯 Tip: Night among boulders; big mackerel/squid baits dropped close in. Fish the top of the tide. Heavy abrasion-resistant gear and rotten-bottom recommended.
🐟 Garfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: Calm summer days; float a small sliver of mackerel shallow on fine wire trace. Work tide lines near the Cobb on the flood.
🐟 Three-bearded Rockling 5/10
🎯 Tip: Winter/spring after dark in gullies; small worm or fish strips fished static close in. Short casts to rough ground produce.
🐟 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 5/10
🎯 Tip: Late summer evenings into dark. Small sabikis or size 6 hooks with mackerel slivers under a float, fished mid-water. Dusk on the flood is best.
🐟 Bull Huss 4/10
🎯 Tip: Occasional from deeper gullies at night; big squid/mackerel baits. Use heavy mono and weak links for snaggy ground.

Monmouth Beach Fishing

Summary

Monmouth Beach sits immediately west of the Cobb at Lyme Regis, Dorset, on the Jurassic Coast. It’s a classic shingle-and-ledge mark that produces bass, wrasse, mackerel and winter species, with stunning scenery and fossil-studded slabs under the cliffs. Expect rough, snaggy ground in places and rewarding fishing for those who prepare accordingly.

Location and Access

Reaching the mark is straightforward from Lyme Regis harbour, with the beach extending west from the Cobb along a shingle strip backed by cliffs. Access is easy to moderate, but the terrain quickly turns uneven with boulders and limestone ledges toward Ware Cliffs.

Seasons

This stretch fishes year-round, with summer variety and a more limited but worthwhile winter draw. Species respond strongly to water clarity and tide height.

Methods

Rough ground tactics reign here: fish strong, fish simple, and use rotten-bottom links. Lure and float fishing shine along the ledges when the sea is calm and clear.

Tides and Conditions

Monmouth Beach fishes best on a building tide with some movement, but it’s exposed to SW swells. Read the sea carefully—clarity and chop dictate your approach.

Safety

This is an erosion coast with active cliffs and tide-washed ledges. Treat it like a rock mark: plan your exit, watch the swell, and don’t linger beneath the cliff face.

Facilities

Lyme Regis is well served right by the harbour, making Monmouth Beach convenient compared with more remote Dorset marks. Expect seasonal crowds and summer parking pressure.

Tips

Local patterns repeat here: movement brings fish, clarity brings lures, and crab unlocks the rough-ground residents. Treat it as a roving venue, not a sit-and-wait beach.

Regulations

Shore angling is generally permitted at Monmouth Beach, but always follow local signage, especially near the harbour and bathing areas during peak season. Regulations can change—check before you go.