Mupe Bay Fishing

Summary

Mupe Bay sits just east of Lulworth Cove on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast, backed by dramatic cliffs and fronted by kelpy, rock-strewn ground with pockets of cleaner shingle. It’s a rugged, low-pressure mark that rewards thorough preparation and careful fishing. When the Lulworth Ranges are open, it offers excellent wrasse, pollack and bass sport with real chance of a conger or huss after dark.

Location and Access

This is a range-controlled coastline: access is only permitted when the MOD Lulworth Ranges are open, typically some weekends and holidays. The bay lies a 30–50 minute walk from Lulworth Cove via the coastal path and range track.

• Park at Lulworth Cove pay-and-display (BH20 5RQ); arrive early in peak season as it fills quickly.
• Follow signage for the Range Walks toward the Fossil Forest, then continue east to Mupe Bay; expect undulating paths, gates and occasional livestock.
• Final approach is steep in places with loose chalk and boulders; stout boots are essential. The beach is bouldery with rocky platforms at either end (Mupe Ledges to the east).
• No vehicle access to the bay; bicycles are not permitted on most range paths.
• Access may be closed without notice for firing; obey red flags/lights and posted barriers—do not proceed when displayed.

Seasons

Mupe Bay fishes like a classic rough-ground Purbeck mark, with kelp-lined gullies and close-in reef. Summer and early autumn are prime, but select winter windows can produce.

• Spring (Mar–May):
  • Ballan and corkwing wrasse close to weed and rock.
  • Early bass on building tides if there’s some swell and colour.
  • Pollack from the ledges; occasional garfish in May.
• Summer (Jun–Aug):
  • Wrasse in numbers (ballan dominant); occasional black bream in calmer, clearer spells.
  • Pollack to lures or float; mackerel and scad at dawn/dusk.
  • Bass along the white water; garfish on bright days.
• Autumn (Sep–Nov):
  • Peak bass time on spring floods and lively seas.
  • Bigger pollack at dusk; wrasse still steady into October.
  • Bull huss and conger after dark from rough ground; pout plentiful.
• Winter (Dec–Feb) [range access is limited]:
  • Conger and huss on settled nights; pout and poor cod.
  • The odd codling in a strong northerly blow is possible but rare in modern seasons.

Methods

Fish to the ground in front of you—most bites come within 10–40 yards in the gullies and alongside boulders. Robust tackle and abrasion resistance are key.

• Wrasse and pollack (daylight):
  • Float fishing with ragworm, prawn, hardback crab or strips of squid; set depth 6–15 ft to track kelp edges.
  • Lure fishing with weedless soft plastics (10–20 g heads) for pollack; small metals for mackerel/scad.
• Bass (dawn/dusk and lively seas):
  • Surface and sub-surface lures (pencils, SLD minnows) worked along the wash; or a simple running ledger with peeler/crab, prawn or squid.
• Rough-ground ledgering (evening/night):
  • Pulley pennel 3/0–4/0 with a weak-link/rotten-bottom to save leads; 60 lb rubbing leader, 20–30 lb mono or 30–50 lb braid.
  • Baits: whole squid, mackerel fillet or head section for huss/conger; rag/squid cocktails for mixed species.
• Scratch options:
  • 1–2 hook flappers (size 1–2) with small baits for bream, pout and gurnard where cleaner tongues of shingle exist.
• General tackle notes:
  • Long stems or wires on leads help lift above kelp; carry spare gear for inevitable losses.
  • Polarised glasses to pick out gullies; travel light for the walk and scrambling.

Tides and Conditions

Tide, clarity and swell direction dictate results here. Plan around range opening times and daylight for the walk-in/out.

• Tide states:
  • Flood tide into dusk is consistently good for bass and pollack.
  • Top of the tide over slack can see wrasse push right in tight to the rocks.
  • Springs add movement that helps predators; neaps favour calmer float fishing.
• Sea and wind:
  • A modest southwest-to-south swell creates fishy white water for bass—avoid heavy swells that surge across the platforms.
  • Clear, calm water favours wrasse, bream and visual lure work; slight colour benefits bass.
• Time of day/season:
  • Dawn and last light are standout windows all year.
  • Summer–early autumn is most reliable; winter sessions hinge on short, settled spells.
• Watercraft:
  • Target kelp gullies, rock points and the edges of any cleaner shingle tongues; move to find life if it’s quiet.

Safety

This is a committing, uneven mark inside an active military training area. Treat both the walk and the water with respect.

• MOD access:
  • Only enter when the Lulworth Ranges are open; if red flags or red lights are shown, access is prohibited. Opening times can change at short notice.
  • Range walks are often daylight-only; night access may be closed even on non-firing days—check the published times before planning an evening session.
• Terrain and sea:
  • Steep, chalky paths, loose boulders and slippery weeded rocks; sturdy boots with good grip recommended.
  • Swell rebound off the cliffs causes sudden surges on the ledges; keep well back and never turn your back on the sea.
  • Some ledges and gullies can become awkward or cut off in a pushy swell—maintain an exit plan.
• Cliffs and hazards:
  • Rockfall risk beneath the cliffs; avoid sitting directly under unstable faces.
  • Do not touch any suspicious metal items or munitions; mark the spot and call 999/Coastguard.
• General:
  • Wear a modern PFD when fishing from rocks; carry a headtorch plus spare, first-aid kit, and charged phone.
  • Mobile coverage is patchy; tell someone your plan and timings.

Facilities

There are no facilities at Mupe Bay itself—treat it as a remote venue. All amenities are back at Lulworth Cove/West Lulworth.

• Parking: Lulworth Cove car park (BH20 5RQ), pay-and-display with seasonal tariffs.
• Toilets: At the Lulworth Cove visitor area during opening hours.
• Food/drink: Cafés, pub and kiosks around the cove; none on the range.
• Tackle/bait: Closest full-service stores are in Weymouth, Swanage or Wareham; buy bait before you arrive.
• Bins: None at the mark—pack out all litter and line.
• Phone signal: Intermittent in the bay and along the cliffs.

Tips

Small, thoughtful adjustments make a big difference here. Fish efficiently and accept some tackle losses as the price of fishing serious ground.

• Use a weak-link/rotten-bottom on every bottom rig; a short length of lighter mono (8–12 lb) to the lead saves time and money.
• Prawn and hardback crab are standout wrasse baits when they’re finicky; strike positively and keep pressure on to bully fish clear of kelp.
• Work lures along seams of fizzing white water created by swell rebounding off the cliff—classic bass ambush lanes.
• On calm, clear days, a slim sliding float with a long trace out-fishes heavy ledger rigs for both wrasse and pollack.
• Look for small tongues of cleaner shingle amid the rock—dogfish, gurnard and the odd bream patrol these edges.
• Start at first light to beat both heat and footfall on open days, and to secure the better ledge positions.
• Bring spare footwear or dry socks; weed-slick boulders and shallow surges get most anglers at least once.

Regulations

Rules here combine general sea angling law with MOD and conservation designations. Always check for updates close to your trip.

• MOD Lulworth Ranges:
  • Public access allowed only when ranges are open; obey red flags/lights and all on-site signage. Do not pick up suspected ordnance.
  • Range walks are typically open in daylight hours on non-firing days; night access may be prohibited—confirm timings on the official MOD/GOV.UK Range Walks page.
• Conservation:
  • The coastline forms part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and lies within local SSSI and the Purbeck Coast MCZ. Rod-and-line angling is generally permitted, but do not remove rocks, living reef, or geological features; avoid trampling eelgrass or sensitive shore life.
• Fisheries management (Southern IFCA/MMO):
  • Bass (recreational): At time of writing (2024), a 2-fish daily bag limit applies from 1 March–30 November (minimum size 42 cm); catch-and-release only in Dec–Feb. Check current MMO/Southern IFCA notices before you go.
  • Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes and any seasonal/spatial byelaws (netting, potting, bait collection) are enforced by Southern IFCA—review their website for Dorset-specific rules.
• General:
  • No fires or camping on the range; drones may be restricted.
  • Keep dogs under close control where livestock are present and follow the Countryside Code.