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Dorset

Preston Beach

6.8 · Beach · Dorset

A long shingle-and-pebble beach on the eastern side of Weymouth Bay between Greenhill and Overcombe. Clean sand at range with shallow gradient and occasional weed beds; fishes best on the flood into dusk and at night. Summer brings mackerel, garfish and bass, with plaice and sole over the clean ground; winter sees whiting and dab. The Lodmoor/Overcombe outflow can draw in bass and thick‑lipped mullet. Sheltered from westerlies but exposed to easterlies which can create a useful surf for bass.

Should you fish Preston Beach?

52 Fair

Today · Best available

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

Most likely species: Plaice 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 Plaice and Mackerel.

W 4 mph Rain 0% High tide 12:17

Fishable, but pick your timing carefully.

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7-day fishing forecast for Preston 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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Preston Beach is a comfortable shingle-and-pebble beach that rewards timing more than brute force. The dependable pattern is a flooding tide into dusk or darkness, with clean sand at range for plaice, dab, whiting and rays, while bass, sole and flounder can move much closer when there is colour, surf or low light. The Lodmoor/Overcombe outflow is the key feature to investigate for bass, flounder and thick-lipped mullet, while Overcombe Corner can give more room during busy summer periods.

  • Know when Preston is a short-cast sole beach, not a distance game.
  • Pick the Lodmoor outflow or Overcombe stretch with a clear target in mind.
  • Time the flood so plaice, bass, rays and sole are not all fished the same way.
  • Avoid the easterly weed trap before it ruins your session.
  • Use the right range: 10–40m for sole, 60–100m for clean-ground plaice.

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

Overall rating

6.8 /10

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

Category scores

Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 7/10
Accessibility 9/10

Plaice 8/10
Tip: Spring–early summer; daylight over clean sand. Long snoods with beads, lug/rag tipped with squid. Cast 60–100m to sandbars. Best on a flooding tide into high water.
Whiting 7/10
Tip: Late autumn–winter after dark. 2–3 hook flappers with lug or mackerel strips. Cast 40–80m. Best on the flood and first of the ebb when the sea is coloured.
Dover Sole 7/10
Tip: May–Oct on calm nights. Fish close (10–40m) over clean sand with running ledger/boom. Small rag/lug or sandeel strip. Best on neap tides and a gentle flood.
Bass 6/10
Tip: Late spring–autumn. Work the surf line at dusk/dawn or in a blow. Peeler crab, live sandeel, or shallow lures. Focus on the flood and first 2 hrs of ebb.
Dab 6/10
Tip: Winter–spring on clean ground. Small lug/mussel baits, size 2–4 hooks on long snoods. Cast 60–90m. Fishes well on a steady flood and at first light.
Mackerel 6/10
Tip: June–Sept in settled weather. Dawn/dusk; small metals or 3–4 feather rigs. Cast to visible shoals and keep moving. Best on a rising tide.
Scad (Horse Mackerel) 6/10
Tip: Late summer nights. Small sabikis or tiny metals slow-jigged midwater. Try 20–50m range around high water on a flooding tide.
Flounder 5/10
Tip: Autumn–spring. Short casts with running ledger or rolling rigs; rag/lug/peeler baits. Target the flood into HW over clean sand with some movement.
Undulate Ray 5/10
Tip: Late spring–autumn, mostly after dark. Sandeel/squid or crab on a pulley pennel, 40–100m to sand gullies. Best on the last of the flood into HW. Return alive.
Garfish 5/10
Tip: May–Sept in calm, clear seas. Float-fish a sliver of mackerel or sandeel 2–6 ft deep at dawn/dusk around high water along the tide run.
Thornback Ray 4/10
Tip: Spring–autumn. Sandeel or squid/fish cocktails on a pulley rig at 70–110m. Best on mid–large flooding tides in settled seas.

Local knowledge

Preston Beach fishing guide

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

Preston Beach sits on the eastern side of Weymouth Bay, Dorset, running from Greenhill towards Overcombe and Bowleaze. It’s an easy, comfortable shingle mark with town conveniences behind you and a wide, generally sheltered bay in front. The beach produces year‑round sport with flatties, rays, bass and summer species, especially on evening floods and after dark.

Access is straightforward along the promenade that backs the beach, with multiple pay‑and‑display options and very short walks onto the shingle. Most anglers base themselves by Lodmoor/Greenhill or head further east towards Overcombe Corner for more space in summer.

  • Parking: Large Lodmoor car park by the SEA LIFE attraction (approx. postcode DT4 7SX); additional bays along Preston Beach Road and smaller car parks near Overcombe Corner.
  • Approach: Flat promenade access, then short steps onto firm shingle; no long trudges unless you choose to spread out.
  • Terrain: Clean to mixed ground shingle with sandy gullies; some patchy rough at the far eastern end towards Bowleaze/Furzy Cliff.
  • Public transport: Regular buses run along Preston Beach Road/Greenhill; drops are a short walk from the shingle.

This is a classic mixed-ground bay with seasonal variety. Expect better numbers at dusk, night and in settled conditions, with flatties in close and rays/smoothhounds a bit further out.

  • Spring: Plaice, flounder, dabs; early smoothhound on peeler; school bass; occasional thornback ray and gurnard.
  • Summer: Bass, smoothhound, small‑eyed and thornback rays, mackerel, garfish, scad, bream (occasional), gurnard, sole after dark; ballan wrasse on rougher patches towards Bowleaze.
  • Autumn: Bass (often best runs), plaice, sole, gurnard, rays; mackerel/garfish tailing off; increasing whiting and pouting.
  • Winter: Whiting, pouting, dogfish, dabs, flounder; the odd codling in a blow; rays still possible in settled spells.
  • Year‑round visitors: Eels and weever in warm months; spider crabs can be a nuisance late spring to mid‑summer.

Standard Dorset beach tactics score here, with lighter end gear for flatties and more robust rigs for rays and hounds. Night sessions let fish move closer, so you don’t always need extreme range.

  • Bottom fishing: 2‑ or 3‑hook flappers with size 2–1 hooks for plaice/flatfish/whiting; long‑snood flossed bead/spoon rigs for plaice in spring.
  • Distance work: Pulley or up‑and‑over pennel with 3–5 oz leads for rays/smoothhound; aim to find clean sand seams beyond any weed line.
  • Lures: Metals and small spoons for mackerel/garfish; surface/sub‑surface minnows or soft‑plastics for bass in a light surf or at first light.
  • Float fishing: Slim floats with mackerel strip or sandeel for garfish during calm, bright conditions.
  • Baits: Ragworm and lugworm for plaice/flatties; crab (peeler/soft) for smoothhound and bass; sandeel and squid or squid/sandeel cocktails for rays; mackerel strip for garfish and general summer activity.
  • Tackle notes: Use clipped‑down rigs for distance; incorporate rotten‑bottom links if pushing east towards rougher ground.

Weymouth Bay is fairly sheltered, so Preston fishes consistently in moderate conditions. Elevated success often comes around dusk into dark and on the flood.

  • Tide: 2–3 hours either side of high water is dependable; the first half of the flood can switch on plaice and bass; neaps can be kind for finesse flattie fishing.
  • Time of day: Dusk into night is prime for bass, sole, whiting and rays; mornings can produce plaice in clear water.
  • Sea state: A light onshore ripple stirs bass; prolonged strong easterlies can dump weed and make it uncomfortable.
  • Water clarity: Settled, clear spells are great for plaice/garfish; slight colour helps bass and rays.
  • Wind: SW–S winds are generally kinder due to shelter from Portland; brisk easterlies create drift and weed lines.

This is a relatively forgiving urban beach, but shingle banks, weed rafts and surf edges deserve respect. Always consider other seafront users behind you on the promenade.

  • Shingle slope: Beware of underfoot slippage, especially when descending wet shingle or in waders.
  • Weed and snags: After easterlies, floating weed can pull lines; carry a knife and avoid over‑tightening drags.
  • Bathers and water sports: In summer daylight, expect swimmers, paddleboarders and wind/kitesurfers (especially near Overcombe). Give wide berth and fish early/late.
  • Night fishing: Take a headtorch; keep rod tips angled seaward so back casts don’t sweep the walkway; tidy hooks when pedestrians pass.
  • Mobility: The promenade is flat and well‑lit; the final step onto shingle is the main obstacle for wheelchairs or reduced mobility.
  • PPE: A modern inflating lifejacket is sensible when close to the wash, on wet shingle or if wading to land fish.

The mark benefits from Weymouth’s seafront amenities and is one of the most convenient beach venues in Dorset.

  • Toilets: Public conveniences near Lodmoor/Greenhill and seasonally at seafront points; facilities also by the SEA LIFE complex.
  • Food and drink: Cafés and kiosks along Greenhill and at Overcombe Corner; numerous takeaways and shops within a short drive towards town.
  • Tackle and bait: Several tackle shops in Weymouth stock fresh/frozen bait and beach gear; check opening hours, especially off‑season.
  • Parking and lighting: Large pay‑and‑display at Lodmoor; promenade lighting is good in the evening.
  • Phone signal: Generally strong across the bay.

Preston has little quirks that repay attention to detail. Small moves and bait choice often out‑fish brute distance.

  • Lodmoor outflow: The freshwater trickle can draw flounders and bass—fish just uptide with worm or crab baits.
  • Plaice polish: Beads, sequins and slow‑rolling long snoods lift spring plaice numbers; keep baits small and tipped with slivers of squid.
  • Rays line: Step up to 20–25 lb mainline or a strong shockleader and aim just beyond any weed line with sandeel/squid cocktails.
  • Hounds window: May–July peeler crab at dusk can be electric for smoothhounds—keep hooks sharp and drag smooth.
  • Night soles: After dark with little lift, fish small lug/rag baits tight in for sole; keep noise and headtorch glare down.
  • Weed watch: After a hard easterly, walk 100–200 m to find a clearer gutter; ten minutes of recon often saves a session.
  • Etiquette: In high season, fish evenings/nights and give space to bathers; a friendly word with water‑users avoids tangles.

Sea angling from the beach is generally permitted here. There is no national requirement for a recreational sea angling licence in England, but rules still apply.

  • Local bylaws: Weymouth & Portland/BCP seasonal beach management may restrict fishing around busy bathing zones in peak daylight—observe any signage and avoid casting among bathers.
  • Bass measures: Bass have strict, frequently updated size, season and daily bag limits. Check current DEFRA/MMO guidance before targeting or retaining bass.
  • Minimum sizes and protections: Southern IFCA and national rules set minimum conservation reference sizes for common species (e.g., rays, flatfish, gurnard) and protections for berried/soft‑shelled crabs and lobsters. Know your species before retaining fish or shellfish.
  • Closed areas: Lodmoor is a nature reserve inland of the beach; do not access restricted wildlife zones. Shore angling from the open beach is permitted.
  • General: Use barbless or crushed barbs if practicing catch and release; take all litter and line home. If unsure on a regulation, err on catch‑and‑release and verify with Southern IFCA/MMO.