Preston Beach Fishing

Last updated: 6 days ago

Preston Beach Fishing Map

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.

Ratings

⭐ 6.8/10 Overall
Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 7/10
Scenery & Comfort 8/10
Safety 7/10
Accessibility 9/10

Fish You Can Catch at Preston Beach

🐟 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.

Preston Beach Fishing

Summary

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.

Location and Access

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.

Seasons

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.

Methods

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.

Tides and Conditions

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

Safety

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.

Facilities

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

Tips

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

Regulations

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.