Ringstead Point Fishing

Last updated: 1 month ago

Ringstead Point Fishing Map

Rocky limestone headland on the east side of Ringstead Bay with kelp-filled gullies and quick access to deeper water. Best in settled conditions on a flooding tide, especially into dusk; summer to early autumn sees prolific wrasse and surface-feeders, with pouting and conger after dark. Access from the National Trust car park at Ringstead via the beach/coast path (about 20–30 minutes) and a short scramble over boulders. Hazards include slippery weed, swell rebound and a noticeable tide run on springs—avoid in heavy south-westerlies.

Ratings

⭐ 6.9/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 4/10
Accessibility 5/10

Fish You Can Catch at Ringstead Point

🐟 Ballan Wrasse 8/10
🎯 Tip: Fish rough kelp gullies on the point; float-fished hard crab or ragworm, short casts. Best on a flooding tide, clear to moderate water, May–Oct. Use strong gear; tackle losses likely.
🐟 Bass 7/10
🎯 Tip: Plug or soft plastics through white water around ledges on a rising tide, or peeler/whole squid after a blow. Evening into dusk, May–Oct. Keep mobile along the point.
🐟 Pollack 7/10
🎯 Tip: Work small metals or sandeel/mackerel strip on float or weedless soft plastics tight to kelp edges at dawn/dusk on a flooding tide. Summer–autumn.
🐟 Pouting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Night fishing into rough ground with small hooks and strips of mackerel or squid; short casts over gullies on the flood. Year-round, best late summer–winter.
🐟 Mackerel 6/10
🎯 Tip: Feathers or small metals from deeper water off the point on calm evenings, June–Sept; best on the flood and at first light.
🐟 Corkwing Wrasse 6/10
🎯 Tip: Floatfish ragworm or small crab tight to weeded rock faces, short casts. Best 2 hours either side of high on settled summer days.
🐟 Black Bream 6/10
🎯 Tip: Small strips of squid/mackerel or worm on light rigs over mixed ground and reef edges on neap tides. Late May–Sept, clear water, flooding tide.
🐟 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 5/10
🎯 Tip: After dark in late summer, small metals or size 6 sabikis under a float light near the surface; best on the flood in calm, clear water.
🐟 Conger Eel 5/10
🎯 Tip: After dark, large mackerel/squid baits lowered into kelp-lined gullies; short, locked-down gear. Fish the first half of the flood. Summer–autumn.
🐟 Garfish 5/10
🎯 Tip: Float small slivers of mackerel near the surface off the point on clear, calm days, June–Sept; best on a rising tide.

Ringstead Point Fishing

Summary

Ringstead Point sits on the Jurassic Coast between Osmington Mills and White Nothe in Dorset, offering mixed ground that fishes well through the seasons. Shingle, boulder patches and rocky ledges create natural ambush spots for bass and a highway for rays and hounds after dark. It’s a scenic, relatively quiet mark with plenty of options for both bait and lure anglers when the conditions line up.

Location and Access

This is a classic walk-in mark on the eastern side of Ringstead Bay, with access either along the beach or via clifftop paths. The final approaches are uneven and can be slippery, so pack light and wear stout footwear.

  • Parking: National Trust car park above Ringstead (postcode roughly DT2 8NG); free for NT members, pay-and-display for others.
  • Alternative parking: Private beach car park via the toll road through Ringstead village (seasonal fees; often card/cash, but bring coins just in case).
  • Walk-in: 15–30 minutes depending on start point and fitness. From the beach car park, follow the shingle east and pick your way around boulders toward the point; from the NT car park, follow signed coast paths then drop to the shoreline.
  • Terrain: Shingle, clay/limestone ledges, weeded boulders and occasional kelp beds. It’s not wheelchair accessible and is challenging with heavy gear.
  • Approach notes: At higher tides or in swell, the toe of the cliffs and some ledges can be awkward or temporarily cut off—time your arrival with a falling or low tide if unsure.

Seasons

Ringstead Point benefits from a blend of clean and rough ground, attracting a broad mix of species across the year. Night sessions are particularly productive for larger fish.

  • Spring (Mar–May):
    • Bass on crab and sandeel, especially on flooding tides into dusk.
    • Smoothhounds in late spring on peeler/soft crab.
    • Plaice and dabs from nearby sand patches on smaller baits; wrasse around rocky tongues.
  • Summer (Jun–Aug):
    • Bass, mackerel and garfish in clear, calm water; pollack and wrasse on the ledges.
    • Small-eyed and thornback rays on sandeel/squid cocktails at night.
    • Gilt-head bream are occasional visitors on crab or shell baits after blow-throughs.
    • Triggerfish can turn up in warm summers around the rough ground (occasional).
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov):
    • Rays (thornback, small-eyed; undulates possible and must be returned), bass and hounds after dark.
    • Whiting and pouting numbers build; conger and bull huss from the rougher patches.
  • Winter (Dec–Feb):
    • Whiting, pouting, dogfish and the odd codling in cold snaps.
    • Rockling in the kelp and mixed ground; occasional ray on calmer, settled nights.

Methods

You can fish Ringstead Point with both bait and lures; success hinges on reading the ground and matching conditions to your approach. Stagger rods to cover both the sand run and the foul margins.

  • Bait fishing:
    • Rigs: Pulley pennel (4–5 oz lead) for bass/rays; 2-hook flapper for whiting/flatfish; long flowing trace for surf bass.
    • Baits: Peeler/soft crab, fresh lug and rag, sandeel (whole or section), squid, mackerel strip; shell baits (razor, prawn) when crabs are active.
    • Casting: Aim a bait to the sand tongues/seams and another tight to rough ground. Use a weak-link (rotten-bottom) on snaggy areas.
  • Lure fishing:
    • Soft plastics (weedless paddletails, 10–20 g) for bass/pollack along the ledges on a flooding tide.
    • Shallow-diving minnows and surface lures at dawn/dusk in clear water with a light onshore push.
    • Float-fishing mackerel strip or prawn for garfish and wrasse around tide turns.
  • Timing:
    • Dusk into the first half of darkness for bass and rays; pre-dawn also good in summer.
    • After onshore blows, switch to bigger smelly baits (squid/crab) and beef up leaders.

Tides and Conditions

Tide state and sea colour govern this mark. Think coloured water and movement for bait fishing; clear and calm for lures.

  • Tide:
    • Best on the flood through to high water and the first of the ebb; springs add flow along the point’s seams.
    • Neaps suit wrasse/pollack tight in; springs help push rays onto the sand runs.
  • Wind/sea state:
    • A moderate SW–S push adds colour and surf for bass and rays.
    • Easterlies flatten and clear the water—great for lures but can slow bait fishing.
  • Time of day:
    • Dusk into darkness is prime for bass, hounds and rays; daylight for wrasse/pollack around structure.
  • Seasonality:
    • Late spring to early autumn is the most consistent window, with winter producing smaller fish and the odd bonus ray/codling after storms.

Safety

This is an exposed rock-and-shingle venue with cut-off risks and unstable cliffs typical of the Jurassic Coast. Plan ahead, check the tide, and avoid committing to ledges if you’re unsure of your retreat route.

  • Cut-off risk: Some ledges and beach sections become awkward around mid-to-high water in swell—know your escape paths and time your session.
  • Cliffs/rockfall: Keep well back from the cliff base; avoid loitering under crumbly sections after heavy rain/freeze-thaw.
  • Footing: Weed-slimed rock is extremely slippery; wear cleated boots or spiked soles. Take a wading staff if balancing on boulders.
  • Swell: Long-period swell wraps the point—rogue waves can surge higher than expected. Keep a safe margin; a lifejacket is strongly recommended on ledges.
  • Night access: Head torch with spare batteries; the return over shingle is tiring—pack light.
  • Mobile signal: Patchy in places; tell someone your plan and carry a charged phone.
  • Accessibility: Not suitable for buggies, wheelchairs, or anglers with limited mobility.

Facilities

Facilities are limited once you leave the car parks, so go self-sufficient. The beach area has seasonal amenities.

  • Parking: National Trust car park (up on the hill) and a private beach car park via toll road (seasonal fee).
  • Toilets/café: Seasonal toilets and the Ringstead Beach Café typically operate near the beach car park in main season.
  • Tackle/bait: Head to Weymouth for year-round bait and tackle shops; pre-order live bait in summer weekends.
  • Food/drink: The Smuggler’s Inn at Osmington Mills is the nearest pub; more options in Preston/Weymouth.
  • Lighting/water: No lighting on routes; no potable water on the beach—bring everything you need.

Tips

Little details make a big difference at Ringstead Point. Treat it like two marks: the rough edge for ambush predators and the adjacent sand for foragers.

  • Fish a split plan: One rod tight to rough for bass/wrasse/pollack, one onto the sand run for rays/flatfish.
  • Crab window: The first push of the flood in late spring/early summer with peeler is prime for smoothhounds.
  • Rotten bottoms: Use a weak-link clip or lighter snood on leads when probing the ledges.
  • Read the colour: Tea-stained water after a SW blow screams bass—fish big crab/squid baits confidently.
  • Lure line-up: Carry a weedless 12–15 cm paddle tail, a shallow diver and a surface walker to cover changing sea states.
  • Travel light: The shingle slog back is real; a rucksack, chest box and minimal rods makes life easier.
  • Mackerel runs: Dawn/dusk in July–August see shoals push tight to the point—have a spinner or small metal ready.
  • Quiet spells: If the point is slow, step 50–100 m along to intersect a different sand seam; small moves often reset your fortunes.

Regulations

Shore angling is permitted at Ringstead Point, but you are responsible for complying with national and local rules. Regulations change—always check the latest before you go.

  • Bass: Recreational bass rules apply in the English Channel (minimum size and monthly/seasonal bag limits). Check current MMO/DEFRA guidance; retention is limited and some months may be catch-and-release only.
  • Rays: Undulate rays are protected in Dorset waters—photograph and release unharmed. Know how to identify them; use barbless or crushed barbs if you’re targeting rays.
  • Minimum sizes: Observe UK Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes and Southern IFCA byelaws for finfish and shellfish.
  • MPAs/SSSIs: The coastline is within designated conservation areas; rod-and-line angling is allowed, but do not disturb nesting birds or protected habitats, and avoid collecting from rock pools.
  • Access rules: Follow National Trust/local signage—no fires or camping on the beach, take litter home, and keep clear of cliff-top fences and private land.
  • Night fishing: No specific prohibition, but be considerate with lights near properties and wildlife.
  • For authoritative updates: Consult Southern IFCA, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), and government notices to mariners before your trip.