Mudeford Spit Fishing

Summary

Mudeford Spit (Mudeford Sandbank), Dorset sits on the mouth of Christchurch Harbour, with a surf-facing beach to the south and the fast-tidal “Run” into the harbour to the north. It’s a highly productive, varied shore mark where you can target bass in the surf, rays and smoothhounds on the sand, and flounder, mullet and gilthead bream around the harbour side. The scenery is superb, but so is the tide—choose your spots and states carefully.

Location and Access

This long sand-and-shingle spit is reached either on foot from Hengistbury Head or by ferry from Mudeford Quay. It’s a popular spot in season, so plan your arrival and pack light if you’re walking in.

• Parking (west side): Hengistbury Head car park (BH6 4EW); pay-and-display, fills quickly in summer. Walk or cycle the level track to the sandbank (about 20–30 minutes to mid-spit, longer to the end). A seasonal land train runs part of the way.
• Parking (east side): Mudeford Quay (BH23 4AB); pay-and-display. Take the Mudeford Ferry to the sandbank (seasonal/daylight only). Check last return times—no evening service.
• Terrain: Firm sand and shingle with timber groynes on the seaward side; harbour side is a mix of sand, mud fringes, and very fast tidal flow near the entrance (“The Run”).
• Mobility: The track from Hengistbury is mostly level but the distance plus soft sand makes access challenging for those with limited mobility. There is no vehicular access onto the spit for the public.

Seasons

A mix of surf, sand and tide means year-round options, with the best variety from spring to late autumn.

• Spring (Mar–May):
  • Bass (schoolies with the chance of better fish at dawn/dusk)
  • Plaice on the outer beach (early tides, clearer water)
  • Flounder inside the harbour and near the Run
  • Thin-lipped mullet (arrive as temps rise), garfish by late spring
• Summer (Jun–Aug):
  • Bass (lures in the surf and along the Run)
  • Smoothhound (peeler crab is king), undulate ray on clean sand
  • Sole after dark on calm nights, occasional gilthead bream in the harbour margins
  • Mackerel, scad and garfish on calm, clear evenings
• Autumn (Sep–Nov):
  • Peak bass time (bait and lures), undulate ray and hounds linger into Oct
  • Whiting appear from late Oct, odd plaice on settled spells
  • Mullet still present in early autumn
• Winter (Dec–Feb):
  • Flounder in the harbour, whiting and pouting on the beach
  • Dabs on calmer nights; an occasional codling is possible but rare nowadays

Methods

Fish the outer beach like a classic surf venue and treat the harbour side as a powerful tidal river mouth. Tackle up for flow near the Run and scale down for finesse with mullet and plaice.

• Surf and sand (seaward side):
  • Bass and rays: 12–15 ft surf rod, 4–6 oz leads (grip leads if cross-tide), pulley or pulley dropper with 3/0–5/0 for crab/squid/sandeel. Night tides for rays/sole.
  • Distance work: Clipped-down 1–2 hook rigs with lug/rag/sandeel for plaice/whiting/sole. Long snoods help plaice; size 1–2 hooks.
  • Lures for bass: 7–9 ft 10–30 g rod, shallow divers, soft plastics on 7–14 g heads, and surface lures (dawn/dusk, gentle surf). Metals (20–40 g) for mackerel/scad when birds show.
• The Run and harbour side:
  • Strong flow tactics: 5–6 oz grip leads; keep end tackle streamlined. Fish the last of the flood or first of the ebb for bass moving through.
  • Mullet: Bread flake under a waggler or bubble float; fine line and size 8–12 hooks. Thin-lips also take small spinners/mepps with Isome.
  • Gilthead bream: Light running ledger or 2-hook flapper with size 2–1 hooks; crab, worm, or shell baits fished along clean patches by weed beds and edges of flow.
• Baits that score: Peeler crab (hounds/bass/bream), lug/rag (plaice/sole/whiting), sandeel, mackerel or squid for rays, bread for mullet.
• Useful extras: Long-spiked tripod to keep lines high over beach traffic; bait clip rigs for range; shockleader for power casts.

Tides and Conditions

Tide strength defines where and how you fish here. Plan around the top and bottom of the tide for presentation, and use surf conditions to your advantage for bass.

• Tide states:
  • The Run: Last 2 hours of flood and first of the ebb are prime for bass and moving fish; mid-ebb can be unfishable due to savage flow.
  • Outer beach: Productive on the flood through high tide; night highs for rays/sole, daylight highs with light surf for bass.
• Springs vs neaps:
  • Springs push fish, but holding bottom is harder in the Run; neaps make harbour presentation easier and suit plaice/sole work on the beach.
• Sea and weather:
  • Gentle SW/W swell (1–3 ft) with clearing water is ideal for surf bass.
  • Clear, calm evenings bring gar, mackerel and mullet interest; onshore blow can bring weed—expect rafts after storms.
• Time of day/seasonality:
  • Dawn/dusk consistently outperform for bass. Summer into early autumn offers the best variety; winter favours flounder/whiting windows.

Safety

This is a dynamic, tide-dominated entrance with heavy public use. Give the water and other users plenty of respect, and never underestimate the current.

• The Run: Extremely strong currents on the ebb—do not wade. Keep back from the edge, especially at night or in swell.
• Lifeboat/ferries: Stay clear of the RNLI lifeboat slipway and ferry channels. Do not cast when boats are manoeuvring.
• Groynes and edges: Slippery timbers and algae; avoid climbing wet structures. Shingle shelves can collapse underfoot in surf.
• Swimmers and beachgoers: In summer, lifeguarded bathing areas are often flagged—do not fish between the red/yellow flags or where wardens direct.
• Night fishing: No lighting on the spit. Take headtorch, spare light, warm layers, and tell someone your plan. Mobile signal is generally good but can vary.
• Personal safety: A waist-belted PFD is sensible near the harbour mouth. Use appropriate footwear and keep hooks covered when moving through crowds.
• Accessibility: It’s a long walk over sand; a trolley helps. The ferry does not operate at night—plan your exit.

Facilities

You have basic amenities nearby but expect a walk. In peak season the spit is well served; after dark or off-season, it’s sparse.

• Toilets: At Hengistbury Head car park/visitor area and on the sandbank near the café complex (seasonal opening). Facilities at Mudeford Quay too.
• Food and drink: Beach House-style café and a kiosk on the sandbank (seasonal hours); cafés and pub at Mudeford Quay; snack vans at Hengistbury in season.
• Tackle/bait: No tackle shop on the spit. Nearest options in Christchurch/Bournemouth area; Avon Beach shop sometimes carries basic bait in season—check ahead.
• Other: RNLI Mudeford lifeboat station by the harbour mouth; good mobile reception for most networks; bins present but fill quickly—pack out line and bait waste.

Tips

Treat it as two venues in one: a lively surf beach and a fast estuary mouth. Travel light, watch the water, and move to where the fish are working.

• Bass patterns: Work surface lures at first light along the outer beach; switch to soft plastics as the sun rises. On coloured water, fish crab or sandeel baits tight to the groyne gutters.
• Hounds and rays: Peeler or crab/squid cocktails on pulley droppers, long casts across the sand runs between groynes around high water at dusk.
• Plaice detail: Early spring on neaps, use long snoods with coloured beads and small worm baits; keep leads light enough to slowly roll and search.
• The Run timing: Hit the last push of the flood for intercepting bass. When it roars on the ebb, step back and wait for the first of the slackening flow.
• Mullet and gilt-heads: Burley with mashed bread on the harbour side for mullet; for giltys, fish small crab/worm baits along clean patches adjacent to weed beds and flow seams.
• Crowds and wardens: In summer, expect lifeguards to move anglers from flagged swimming zones. Evening and early morning sessions are quieter and often more productive.
• Weed watch: After blows, expect ribbon weed on the ebb. Use stronger grips and keep lines high to reduce fouling.

Regulations

Regulations can change—always check current notices on-site and consult official sources before you go. This area falls within the Southern IFCA district and the entrance to Christchurch Harbour is subject to specific protections.

• General: Recreational sea angling is allowed from the shoreline of Mudeford Spit, but you must keep clear of the RNLI lifeboat slipway and any signed exclusion areas. Do not fish within lifeguarded bathing zones when flags are displayed.
• Bass rules: Check the latest UK recreational bass measures (DEFRA/MMO). As of 2024 they included a 2-fish daily bag limit per angler from 1 March–30 November with a 42 cm minimum size, and catch-and-release only in December–February. Verify current-year dates and limits before retaining bass.
• Christchurch Harbour/Bass Nursery Area: Parts of Christchurch Harbour are designated a Bass Nursery Area with seasonal restrictions on fishing for bass from boats. While shore angling on the spit is permitted, avoid targeting juveniles inside the harbour and release any undersize fish promptly. Check the MMO BNA list and maps for up-to-date boundaries and rules.
• Southern IFCA: Follow any local byelaws and the Recreational Hand Gathering Code. Sensitive habitats (saltmarsh/eelgrass) within the harbour are protected—do not bait-dig or disturb these areas. Some gathering activities may be restricted; consult Southern IFCA guidance.
• Minimum sizes/retention: Adhere to UK minimum conservation sizes for species you intend to keep (e.g., bass 42 cm). Keep only what you’ll eat; many anglers practice catch-and-release here.
• Access and conduct: Respect beach hut areas and public walkways, especially in summer. Take all litter and line home; discarded hooks and line are a hazard to wildlife and other beach users.