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Dorset

Nothe Gardens

7.4 · Rocks · Dorset

Rocky ledges below Nothe Gardens/Nothe Fort at the mouth of Weymouth Harbour. Mixed rough ground with kelp gullies and patches of sand; decent depth and noticeable tide run on springs. Best in late spring to autumn for wrasse, garfish, mackerel and scad; winter brings pouting and occasional pollack. Conger after dark. Sheltered from many westerlies but uncomfortable in easterly swells; access via park paths and steep steps to the rocks.

Should you fish Nothe Gardens?

52 Fair

Today · Best available

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

Most likely species: Ballan Wrasse and Mullet (Thick-lipped)

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 Mullet (Thick-lipped).

W 4 mph Rain 0% High tide 12:17

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

Plan this mark

7-day fishing forecast for Nothe Gardens — 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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Nothe Gardens is a compact, snaggy rock mark where most of the better fishing is close in, around kelp gullies, rock ledges, the headland flow and calmer harbour-side pockets. It is strongest from late spring through autumn for wrasse, garfish, mackerel, scad and lure targets, with pouting and occasional pollack through winter and conger after dark. The key decision is whether to fish the moving water around the point/harbour mouth, or tuck into the calmer coves and kelp edges for float and finesse work.

  • Know whether to fish the headland flow or the calmer coves
  • Pick the right tide window for wrasse, bass, scad and conger
  • Avoid the ledges when springs and E/SE swell make them awkward
  • Use tackle that beats Nothe’s kelp, gullies and rotten ground
  • Have a nearby backup plan before the rocks turn unfishable

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Weymouth 1.9 mi Chickerell 2.7 mi Fortuneswell 2.9 mi Osmington 3.7 mi Grove (Dorset) 4.0 mi

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

Overall rating

7.4 /10

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

Category scores

Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 9/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 5/10
Accessibility 6/10

Bass 8/10
Tip: Paddle-tail or surface lures into rough, foamy water round the headland on a flooding tide at dawn/dusk, esp. after a blow. Whole/live sandeel works too.
Ballan Wrasse 8/10
Tip: Float or freelined crab/rag tight to kelp and rock gullies at Newton's Cove; mid-flood; summer–autumn.
Conger Eel 7/10
Tip: Large fish/squid baits dropped tight to walls/ledges after dark; neap tides best. Use strong gear and a drop net—snaggy ground.
Mullet (Thick-lipped) 7/10
Tip: Bread flake under a float in calm water along the harbour side; slack to first of flood; clear summer–autumn days.
Pouting 6/10
Tip: Small fish/worm baits fished down the slope into the channel from dusk into dark; year-round, best autumn–winter.
Mackerel 6/10
Tip: Small metals or sabikis from the headland/harbour mouth on a clear evening flood, June–Sept.
Scad (Horse Mackerel) 6/10
Tip: LRF metals or sabikis after dark on the flood near the harbour entrance; tiny hooks, glow beads; late summer–autumn.
Corkwing Wrasse 6/10
Tip: Small hooks with ragworm under a float tight to weed/rock; keep baits shallow; mid-flood; summer.
Garfish 6/10
Tip: Float tiny slivers of fish or spin slim metals just under the surface at first light/dusk on the flood in summer.
Pollack 5/10
Tip: Small soft plastics or metals worked along the kelp line at dawn/dusk on the flood; overcast days, summer–autumn.

Local knowledge

Nothe Gardens fishing guide

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

Nothe Gardens, Weymouth (Dorset) sits on the headland by Nothe Fort, overlooking the entrance to Weymouth Harbour and Weymouth Bay. It’s a convenient, urban rock mark with mixed rough ground, kelp, and patches of sand that hold wrasse, pollack, mackerel and bass in season. The gardens offer shelter in prevailing south-westerlies, easy top-side access, and productive short-range fishing with float, lure and light ledger tactics.

This mark is within the public parkland around Nothe Fort on the eastern side of Weymouth Harbour. You fish from the rock and boulder shoreline below the gardens, accessed by footpaths that drop down from the lawns and car park level.

  • Drive through Weymouth and follow signs for Nothe Fort/Nothe Gardens; the access road is via Nothe Parade then up Barrack Road to the pay-and-display car park.
  • Parking: Pay-and-display at the Nothe Gardens/Nothe Fort car park (charges and hours vary—check machine/signs). Limited on-street spaces on Nothe Parade below the headland.
  • Walk-in: 5–10 minutes on good paths through the gardens; final sections to the shoreline are steep and can be slippery, with uneven steps and dirt paths.
  • Terrain: Low rock ledges, boulders and kelp gullies with occasional small platforms at lower states. It’s rough, snaggy ground—boots with good grip are essential.
  • Note: Do not attempt to fish from within the Nothe Fort museum grounds or any fenced/posted areas—use the public foreshore below the gardens.

A healthy, mixed-ground ecosystem produces year-round options, with summer and autumn the pick for variety on light tackle.

  • Spring (Apr–May): Ballan and corkwing wrasse, pollack, school bass, occasional garfish late spring.
  • Summer (Jun–Aug): Wrasse in numbers, pollack, mackerel, garfish, scad (horse mackerel) at dusk, occasional mullet in calmer water, chance of a bonus bass.
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov): Mackerel (early), scad into darkness, wrasse (early autumn best), pollack, increasing bass in lively seas; occasional squid after dark in settled, clear conditions.
  • Winter (Dec–Feb): Pouting, whiting on calm nights, rockling, strap conger after dark; sporadic bass in rough, coloured water.

Rough ground and close-range structure favour float-fishing, light ledger with a rotten-bottom, and modern LRF/spinning approaches. Keep tackle simple and expect snags.

  • Float fishing: Ragworm or small crab for wrasse and pollack; mackerel strip for gar and scad. Set depth to just clear the kelp (typically 1.5–3 m).
  • Lures: Small metals (14–28 g) for mackerel/gar/scad; 7–12 cm weedless soft plastics (paddletails or stickbaits) for pollack/bass worked through gullies and along the point. Micro-jigs and LRF hardbaits pick up corkwing, pollack and scad.
  • Bottom tactics: 1–3 oz leads are usually sufficient. Use a simple running ledger or short pulley with a weak-link (rotten-bottom) to save gear. Size 1–2/0 hooks for wrasse/bass; size 4–6 for smaller species.
  • Baits: Ragworm, peeler/soft-back crab, strips of mackerel or squid. For conger after dark, larger squid or mackerel baits on heavier gear.
  • Times: Dusk into darkness switches on scad, pollack and bass; daytimes are excellent for wrasse on a float in clear water.

The headland creates tidal flow near the harbour entrance and calmer pockets inside the coves. Plan around swell height and the state of tide for safe ledge access.

  • Tide state: The flood into and around high water fishes well; first of the ebb along the point can suit bass and pollack. Mid-tide over kelp is prime for wrasse.
  • Sea state: Sheltered in prevailing SW winds; exposed and weedy in strong E/SE. Best after 1–3 days of settled weather for clear-water lure/float fishing.
  • Time of day: Dawn and dusk are most consistent for pelagics (mackerel/gar/scad) and hunting species (pollack/bass). Nightfall brings scad, pout and conger.
  • Tidal range: Springs push water up onto low ledges—great movement but increased risk of swamping/cut-off. Neaps are easier for float and finesse methods.

It’s a benign-looking park top-side, but the shoreline is real rock-fishing with all the usual hazards. Choose stable perches, keep an eye on the sea, and have a retreat route.

  • Slippery kelp and weeded rock—wear boots with good grip; consider cleats in winter weed.
  • Low ledges can be awash on springs or with vessel wash from the harbour entrance; never turn your back on the water.
  • Cut-off risk on some lower platforms—note the tide and escape paths before starting.
  • Rough, uneven ground is unsuitable for wheelchairs/buggies; the gardens and fort area above are accessible but the foreshore is not.
  • A manually inflated lifejacket is strongly recommended, and a head torch if staying into dusk/night.
  • Observe any local signage; avoid casting near the small Nothe beach or swimmers in summer; do not fish from fenced or museum areas.

You’re fishing beneath a popular public park, so facilities are close by, with full town amenities a short walk or drive away.

  • Toilets: Public toilets near the Nothe Gardens/Nothe Fort area (typically daytime/seasonal opening—check locally).
  • Food & drink: Seasonal kiosks/cafés near the fort and pubs down on Nothe Parade/Weymouth harbourside.
  • Tackle & bait: Several tackle shops in Weymouth town/harbour area supply fresh bait and lures (ask for local bait runs and tide notes).
  • Seating/bins: Benches and bins in the gardens; please carry litter up from the rocks and dispose of it properly.
  • Mobile signal: Generally good on major networks around the headland.

Small adjustments make a big difference here: think finesse, stealth, and good fish care on the wrasse. Expect snags and plan for them.

  • Fish light and local: Most action is within 10–30 m—no need for heavy beach gear unless targeting conger at night.
  • Wrasse tactics: Float-rigged rag or crab with a long fluorocarbon trace; keep baits moving just above the kelp to reduce crabs and snags.
  • Scad after dark: Downsized metals or small glow-sleeved sabikis fished slowly under a clip-on light can be deadly from late summer.
  • Weedless wins: Texas-rigged soft plastics shine among the boulders; pause the retrieve to let pollack and bass hit.
  • Ground baiting: A light breadcrumb/fish-oil mash can pull garfish and mullet into range—use sparingly to avoid feeding the crabs.
  • Rotting-bottom: Always use a weak link to your lead; it saves rigs and time. Carry a long-handled disgorger for deep-hooked wrasse/pout.
  • Etiquette: The gardens are busy with walkers—keep gear tidy on paths, warn before casting, and avoid peak bathing times at the small beach.

Sea angling is generally permitted from the public foreshore below Nothe Gardens, but there are a few important rules and norms to observe. Always check the latest official guidance before your trip.

  • No licence is required for recreational sea angling in England; a licence is required only for migratory salmonids (not typically targeted here).
  • Do not fish from within Nothe Fort museum grounds or any fenced/posted areas; follow local signage and keep clear of the harbour fairway.
  • Bass (recreational) rules change—check current UK Government/MMO guidance. As a guide, recent rules have included seasonal catch-and-release periods and a small daily bag limit with a 42 cm minimum size.
  • Shellfish and crustacea: Minimum sizes apply and berried (egg-carrying) lobsters/crabs must not be retained. Check Southern IFCA byelaws for sizes, methods, and any local closed areas.
  • Wrasse: There is no national MLS, but local conservation strongly encourages catch-and-release for larger ballan wrasse; some commercial wrasse fisheries have been restricted—anglers should practice careful handling and quick release.
  • Respect bathing and safety zones at the small Nothe beach; never cast near swimmers or watercraft. Dispose of line and litter responsibly.
  • For authoritative updates, consult Southern IFCA and the harbour authority/borough council notices before fishing.