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Dorset

Monmouth Beach

7.2 · Beach · Dorset

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.

Should you fish Monmouth Beach?

52 Fair

Today · Best available

Best available: 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide

Most likely species: Ballan Wrasse and Mackerel

Fair conditions. Best available around 06:00-09:00 around the rising tide, but no window reaches the strong threshold today. Good chance of Ballan Wrasse and Mackerel.

NW 4 mph Rain 0% High tide 12:11

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Monmouth Beach — 7-day forecast

Scores and best windows are weighted for .

Met Office Met Office · Open-Meteo

Where the data comes from. Weather and sea-state readings come from the Met Office and Open-Meteo forecast models, refreshed several times a day. High and low water are taken from tide-station predictions for this stretch of coast.

How the score works. Each window is scored 0–100 from the signals that most reliably move fish inshore: tide movement (a running tide carries food, so the last of the flood and first of the ebb are usually the prime spells), wind speed and direction (onshore wind stirs food into the surf — up to the point it makes fishing hard), sea state (a little wave and swell movement helps, heavy swell hurts), and weather — rain, temperature and light. Behind the headline number we score bite opportunity and comfort separately, and run a separate safety check on wind and swell. The size of the tide counts too: spring tides move more water than neaps, so the tidal range for this stretch of coast is weighed alongside the tide's direction, your target species and this mark — and unusually big springs strengthen the safety check, because the water rises faster and covers more ground.

Your target species counts. Pick a species below and the score also weights what we know about it — its season, preferred sea temperature, tide stage and sea state, and whether it feeds by day or night.

The rating is guidance, not a guarantee — conditions change fast on the coast, so always judge the sea in front of you before you fish.

Saturday looks better than today. Unlock the week to see its score and exact window.

· windows & tide

Spring vs neap tides. Spring tides have a larger difference between high and low water, so more water moves on each tide — usually stronger flow that stirs up food and gets fish feeding. Neap tides have a smaller range and generally gentler movement. The range here is compared with what is normal for this stretch of coast, and the cycle swings between springs and neaps roughly every week, following the moon.

Big spring tides: the water rises faster and covers more ground than usual — double-check access routes and cut-off points before you fish.

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Monmouth Beach is best treated as a mobile rough-ground beach/ledge mark rather than a simple shingle chuck. The strongest fishing usually comes on a flooding tide, especially from mid-flood to high water, with bass, wrasse, pollack, mackerel, garfish and after-dark rough-ground species all possible. Short to medium casts are often enough, but the ground is snaggy, so pulley rigs, rotten-bottom links and abrasion-resistant leaders make a big difference.

  • Know when to fish the first ledges west of the Cobb.
  • Time the flood for bass instead of guessing.
  • Pick the right plan for clear water versus coloured chop.
  • Avoid the tide stages that flood the ledges behind you.
  • Use rough-ground rigs that save fish and tackle.
  • Have a backup move ready if swell spoils the ledges.

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Lyme Regis 0.5 mi Lyme Regis 0.8 mi Uplyme 0.9 mi Uplyme 1.2 mi Charmouth 2.1 mi

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Forecast tuning currently supports Bass and Mackerel — more species are on the way.

Overall rating

7.2 /10

Blend of catch potential, access, safety, and overall experience.

Category scores

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

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.

Local knowledge

Monmouth Beach fishing guide

Practical access, seasons, methods, tides, safety and facilities for this mark.

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.

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.

  • Park at the Monmouth Beach (harbour-side) pay-and-display car park by the Cobb; additional parking is available at Cobb Gate or up the hill at Holmbush if it’s busy.
  • From the harbour, walk west onto the shingle; the going is firm at first, then progressively rougher with broken ground and weeded ledges at lower states of tide.
  • No steps or ramps onto the western ledges; expect an uneven, ankle-twisting walk. Trolleys are possible to the open shingle but awkward beyond.
  • Suitable for a short-session lob from the shingle near the harbour; rock-hopping further west requires sturdy footwear and care.

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.

  • Spring (Mar–May):
    • Bass nosing along the shingle and over the first ledges on a flooding tide
    • Pollack and wrasse around the rough ground under the cliffs
    • Early mackerel and garfish in settled, clear water
  • Summer (Jun–Aug):
    • Bass at dawn/dusk on lures or crab baits, especially after a SW push
    • Ballan and cuckoo wrasse, plus corkwing in the kelp; occasional conger after dark
    • Mackerel, scad, garfish; schoolie bass and the odd smoothhound on crab
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov):
    • Peak mixed fishing: bass, wrasse, pollack; mackerel/scad into October on mild years
    • Plaice or small rays are occasional from cleaner patches; pouting at night
  • Winter (Dec–Feb):
    • Whiting, pouting, rockling on night tides; dogfish fairly reliable
    • The odd codling in a blow some winters, but not dependable

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.

  • Bottom fishing:
    • Pulley or pulley-pennel (3/0–4/0) with a weak-link/rotten-bottom lead for bass and conger; 25–30 lb mono or 40–60 lb leader to handle abrasion
    • Two-hook flapper (size 1–2) for mixed species; clip-down variants for a bit of range from the shingle
    • Best baits: peeler or soft crab, ragworm, lugworm, whole squid/sandeel, mackerel strip; crab is king for bass and wrasse
  • Float fishing the ledges:
    • Sliding float with size 1–2 hooks; set 6–15 ft over kelp for wrasse/pollack
    • Baits: ragworm, prawn/shrimp, hermit or soft crab; feed little-and-often with chopped prawn for wrasse
  • Lure fishing:
    • Metals (20–40 g), slim spoons and small surface/shallows minnows for mackerel, garfish and bass in clear water
    • Weedless soft plastics (4–6 inch) on weighted belly hooks or Texas rigs for bass through kelp lanes
    • Small hard lures or paddletails at dusk for pollack tight to the edge
  • Timing tactics:
    • Dawn and dusk are prime for bass and lure work; after dark brings pouting/whiting and the chance of a strap conger
    • Fish a mobile approach along the ledges; static ledgering is best from the cleaner shingle near the harbour

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.

  • Tide state:
    • Mid-flood to high water is the top window for bass over the shingle and first ledges
    • Over low water the ledges open up for wrasse/float fishing; beware the flood cutting you off
    • Neaps are kinder for ledge access; big springs can run hard and flood quickly
  • Sea conditions:
    • Light SW–W chop with colour = crab baits for bass; avoid heavy swell on the ledges
    • Calm, clear water = lures, float fishing and mackerel/garfish action
    • After storms, allow a day for kelp/weed to drop out before lure fishing
  • Time of day/season:
    • Dawn/dusk year-round for bass; summer evenings for scad/garfish; winter nights for whiting/pouting
    • Late summer/early autumn often gives the most consistent mixed bags

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.

  • Cliff and landslip risk: keep well clear of the cliff base, especially after rain; rockfalls are common
  • Tide cut-off: sections of ledge west of the harbour flood behind you; note your route and retreat before the push
  • Slippery ground: weeded limestone is slick—wear boots with good grip; waders helpful but beware waves
  • Swell/surge: SW groundswell can suddenly lift; avoid the edge in a heave and consider a PFD if working close to water
  • Snags: use rotten-bottom links and carry spare leads/rigs; eye protection advised when casting near boulders
  • Crowds: fossil hunters and bathers in summer—leave plenty of space and moderate casting power near the harbour end
  • Accessibility: the open shingle near the car park is the easiest area; the western ledges are not suitable for limited mobility
  • Night fishing: bring a reliable headtorch, spare light and a charged phone; mobile signal can be patchy under the cliffs

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.

  • Parking: Monmouth Beach (harbour) pay-and-display by the Cobb; additional town car parks if full
  • Toilets: public toilets at/near the harbour and along the seafront (seasonal opening hours may apply)
  • Food and drink: cafés, kiosks and pubs around the Cobb/harbour; takeaway options on Marine Parade
  • Tackle and bait: options available in Lyme Regis or nearby towns along Lyme Bay—check opening hours outside peak season
  • RNLI/harbour: lifeboat station and harbour staff nearby; obey any temporary safety notices
  • Signal: generally good on the open beach, variable right under cliffs
  • Bins: litter and recycling facilities near car parks—pack out waste from the ledges

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.

  • Carry both a lure rod and a stout bottom outfit; switch with the water colour
  • Use short, powerful leaders and rotten-bottom clips; snags are inevitable—don’t let them cost you the fish
  • For wrasse, fish float gear tight to kelp lines feeding tiny prawn pieces; upgrade hooks and rub leaders frequently
  • Bass often show on the first push over the stones—arrive 90 minutes before your chosen tide window
  • Watch for terns working tight in; casting behind the shoal often finds bass shadowing mackerel
  • After dark, a whole squid or big crab bait near drop-offs can produce a surprise strap conger
  • Fossil hunters frequent the ledges at low water—be courteous and pick casting spots with clear backswings
  • In summer heat, scale down to small metals and clear floats for garfish; keep retrieves brisk and high in the water

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.

  • Bass (European seabass): recreational limits in the English Channel include a minimum size (42 cm) and seasonal bag limits; confirm current open months and daily allowance with the MMO before fishing
  • Southern IFCA district: local byelaws apply along this coast; review minimum sizes and any restrictions on shellfish or bait collection on the Southern IFCA website
  • Protected areas: the wider Lyme Bay has protected features and restrictions on some commercial gear offshore; shore angling from the beach is permitted
  • Harbour/bathing zones: temporary or seasonal no-fishing zones may be signposted near the harbour slipway or bathing areas—comply with instructions from harbour staff and posted notices
  • General: return undersized fish promptly; consider voluntary catch-and-release for wrasse to protect local stocks; no littering or leaving line/rigs on the rocks