Sandsfoot Castle Fishing

Last updated: 1 month ago

Sandsfoot Castle Fishing Map

Sandsfoot Castle sits on the north side of Portland Harbour near Weymouth, offering sheltered rock and shingle ledges with sand and weed patches in front. It fishes best on a flooding tide into dusk and after dark. Summer brings surface activity and bait fish; winter sees small whiting and pouting. Access is via Sandsfoot Gardens with steps down to uneven, sometimes slippery rocks. Short casts find clean patches for flatfish; close-in rough ground and kelp hold wrasse and mini species. Float tactics, light LRF gear, and small metals or soft plastics all produce here. It is generally comfortable and scenic, but take care of slippery weed and swell on spring tides.

Ratings

⭐ 6.9/10 Overall
Catch Potential 6/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 6/10
Accessibility 7/10

Fish You Can Catch at Sandsfoot Castle

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Work soft plastics or surface lures at dawn/dusk on a flooding tide along weed fringes and gullies; peeler crab or rag baits also score after blowy seas.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 7/10
🎯 Tip: Fish close to rocks and kelp from mid to high tide with peeler crab or large rag on a short paternoster; strong tackle for snaggy ground.
🐟 Mullet (Thick-lipped) 7/10
🎯 Tip: Freeline bread flake or fish a small bread-mash feeder in calm, clear water by the wall and beach, summer–autumn; use fine line and keep quiet.
🐟 Flounder 6/10
🎯 Tip: Cast rag or lug on a light running ledger to sandy patches inside the harbour; best on the ebb and in winter; slow lift-and-drag retrieve.
🐟 Corkwing Wrasse 6/10
🎯 Tip: Tiny hooks baited with rag or prawn dropped tight to kelp-covered stones at high water; delicate bites.
🐟 Pollack 5/10
🎯 Tip: Work small dark shads or metals along weed beds and drop-offs at dusk into darkness on the flood; keep lures just above kelp.
🐟 Plaice 5/10
🎯 Tip: Long snood with beads/spoons and rag tipped squid to clean sand at range, spring to early summer; fish the flood and first of the ebb.
🐟 Mackerel 5/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–summer evenings; cast small metals or a slim 2–3 hook feather rig and retrieve midwater when baitfish show; clearer water after tides fishes best.
🐟 Garfish 5/10
🎯 Tip: Float-fish small mackerel strip or sandeel or work tiny metals high in the water, late spring to autumn on the flood in clear seas.
🐟 Gilthead Bream 4/10
🎯 Tip: Target clean sand fringes with peeler or hardback crab on size 2–1 hooks, summer evenings on the flood; keep drag light for powerful runs.

Sandsfoot Castle Fishing

Summary

Sandsfoot Castle, Weymouth (Dorset) is a picturesque, sheltered mark inside Portland Harbour, beneath the Tudor fort and gardens on Old Castle Road. Rough, kelpy ground meets small sand patches, offering reliable summer sport and a handy fallback when Chesil is unfishable. Expect wrasse, garfish, school bass and pollack close-in, with flatties and scad showing at times.

It’s a compact venue with easy top-side access and a short walk to several rock ledges and the nearby Castle Cove beach. Fish light, fish close, and prepare for snaggy terrain.

Location and Access

Getting there is straightforward, with parking around Sandsfoot Gardens on Old Castle Road and a short walk to the shoreline ledges. Access to the rocks is via informal paths; Castle Cove beach lies a few minutes west along the same frontage.

  • Postcode for sat nav: Old Castle Road, Weymouth, DT4 8QE (Sandsfoot Gardens area)
  • Parking: Small car park by the gardens plus limited on-street spaces along Old Castle Road; arrive early in summer weekends
  • Approach: From the gardens, follow paths towards the shoreline; expect uneven ground and short, steep sections down to ledges
  • Terrain: Kelp-covered rock, broken ground and pockets of clean sand; the beach at Castle Cove is sandy and popular with swimmers
  • Public transport: Local buses from Weymouth town run to/near Old Castle Road; check current timetables

Seasons

This is a mixed ground, summer-focused mark with dependable close-range action. Flatties and winter bits are possible but not the main draw.

  • Spring (Apr–May): School bass, wrasse (ballan, corkwing), garfish late May, occasional pollack; odd flounder/plaice over sand patches
  • Summer (Jun–Aug): Ballan wrasse in numbers, corkwing wrasse, garfish, mackerel, small pollack, scad at dusk/dark, occasional black bream, mullet mooching tight-in
  • Autumn (Sep–Nov): Bass peaks on blowy, dropping seas; scad, gar, late mackerel, wrasse until the first cold snaps; odd bream persists into early autumn
  • Winter (Dec–Feb): Small whiting, pout, rockling, pin conger after dark; flounder possible over cleaner patches; expect generally slower sport

Methods

Close-quarters fishing excels here; keep gear robust to beat the kelp and snags. Lures and float tactics shine in clear water, while simple bottom rigs work for wrasse and flatties.

  • Wrasse: Running ledger or short pulley with rotten-bottom link; 1–3 oz leads; 20–30 lb hooklength; strong size 1/0–2/0 hooks; baits: peeler/hardback crab, rag/lug, prawn, mussel
  • Bass: Dawn/dusk soft plastics (weedless paddletails 3–5 in) along weed edges; surface lures on calm mornings; baits: peeler crab, live prawn, sandeel
  • Pollack: Light spinning or weedless soft plastics; small metals or sandeel imitations; also effective under a float with sandeel/strip
  • Gar/mackerel/scad: Float rigs set 8–12 ft, small slivers of mackerel/sandeel; sabikis worked steadily through mid-water at dusk
  • Flounder/plaice: 2-hook flappers with beads/attractors; rag/lug or tipped with squid; aim for sand patches rather than the heaviest kelp
  • Tackle notes: 9–10 ft lure rod for mobile work; 11–12 ft light beach/estuary rod for bottom fishing; braid mainline with 3–5 ft mono/fluoro leader; always use a weak link for the lead
  • Night sessions: Scad, pout and small conger respond to small fish baits; carry a headlamp and minimize white light over the water

Tides and Conditions

Portland Harbour gives shelter and clarity, so the mark fishes well when open coast marks are wild. Movement helps, but you rarely need heavy leads.

  • Tide state: Flood to high water is prime, especially last 2 hours; first of the ebb can also be good for wrasse
  • Springs vs neaps: Neaps bring clearer water and suit lures/float; springs add life but increase drifting weed
  • Time of day: Dawn/dusk for bass, pollack and gar; after dark for scad/pout and opportunist bass on bait
  • Sea state: Excellent when Chesil is blown out—harbour is usually calmer in prevailing SW–W winds; avoid heavy onshore easterlies that push weed into the margins
  • Water clarity: Clear water boosts wrasse, gar and lure work; a slight tinge can improve bass confidence

Safety

This is a rock-ledge venue with kelp and slippery weed—treat it with respect. The gardens above are easy-going, but the fishing platforms are not wheelchair accessible.

  • Footing: Very slippery weeded rock; wear studded soles or rock boots and take your time on descents
  • Swell/tide: Some ledges reduce at spring highs—know your exit route and don’t get cut off
  • Cliff/erosion: Do not fish directly beneath unstable faces; observe any fencing around the castle remains
  • Bathers/boats: Castle Cove is a bathing beach; expect swimmers, SUPs and kayaks in summer—avoid casting near people and moorings
  • Gear: Use a lifejacket when close to the water’s edge; carry a first-aid kit and fish with a mate where possible
  • Lighting: Headlamp and spare batteries for dusk/night; keep light off the water if targeting mullet or bass

Facilities

You’re close to town amenities while enjoying a green, garden-topped shoreline. Most essentials are a short drive away.

  • Nearby: Sandsfoot Gardens with seating; seasonal café/kiosk often operates here (hours vary)
  • Toilets: Seasonal/limited provision near the gardens; otherwise use facilities in Weymouth or at Ferrybridge
  • Tackle/bait: Weymouth Angling Centre (town), Chesil Bait & Tackle (Ferrybridge) for fresh/live bait and advice
  • Food/drink: Cafés and shops in Wyke Regis and central Weymouth within a few minutes’ drive
  • Mobile signal: Generally good on all major networks along Old Castle Road

Tips

Fish are tight to the structure—accuracy beats distance. Keep mobile, hop ledges, and present baits naturally in the kelp edges.

  • Wrasse: Lower the lead gently, hold bottom, and lift to pop free from kelp; rotten-bottoms save rigs and fish
  • Lures: Weedless SPs shine; count down and work parallel to the weed line; change angles rather than endlessly changing lures
  • Floats: Set depth to fish just above the weed canopy; a slow, steady retrieve often out-fishes a static float
  • Bass windows: First light and last light on a flooding tide, especially after a mild blow that colours the harbour slightly
  • Flatties: Seek the pale sand tongues between weed beds; gentle, regular twitches can trigger plaice
  • Mullet: Free-line or light waggler with bread flake in calmer corners; be stealthy and downsize tackle

Regulations

Angling is generally permitted along this shoreline, but observe local signage and courtesy to bathers and boats. Regulations can change—check before you go.

  • Local authority/land: Respect any no-access fencing around the castle structure and any seasonal beach notices at Castle Cove
  • Portland Harbour rules: Do not fish from restricted commercial/military structures or across navigational channels; avoid casting into active moorings
  • Minimum sizes/bag limits: Southern IFCA/UK national rules apply (e.g., bass MLS 42 cm and annual daily-bag/seasonal measures that can change); verify latest on MMO/Southern IFCA websites
  • Species protections: Observe closed seasons and MLS for wrasse/bass/bream and release undersize fish promptly
  • Litter/lead: Take all litter and line home; consider lead-free options where practical and use rotten-bottoms to reduce lost tackle