Smallmouth Bay Fishing

Last updated: 2 days ago

Smallmouth Bay Fishing Map

Sheltered shingle-and-sand on the Portland Harbour side at Ferrybridge (Smallmouth Bay), with easy parking and level access. Clean-to-mixed ground with patches of boulders; best on a flooding tide and into dusk when baitfish push in. Suits light ledgering, float tactics and small metals/feathers. Summer brings mackerel, scad, garfish and mullet; autumn–winter sees whiting and pouting. Watch the Fleet outflow for stronger currents, and expect drifting weed in summer.

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 Smallmouth Bay

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Work soft plastics or shallow plugs along the Smallmouth/Ferrybridge current on a flooding tide; or ledger sandeel/peeler at dusk into the channels.
🐟 Plaice 7/10
🎯 Tip: Rag/lug cocktail or rag tipped with squid to clean sand beyond weed beds on the flood in spring; long snoods, small beads, slow lift-and-drag retrieve.
🐟 Mullet (Thick-lipped) 7/10
🎯 Tip: Float bread flake by the slipway and weed fringes on calm, clear days; early morning or dusk on neap tides.
🐟 Flounder 6/10
🎯 Tip: Winter target; lugworm on a flowing trace cast to channel edges; trickle retrieve across clean sand; last of the flood and first of the ebb.
🐟 Golden-grey Mullet 6/10
🎯 Tip: Small rag or isome on size 8s worked slowly across the surfy edge over sand; summer, best on a pushing tide.
🐟 Gilthead Bream 6/10
🎯 Tip: Peeler or hard crab on a running rig into sandy gullies by weed patches; late spring to early autumn, best on the flood and at dusk.
🐟 Dover Sole 5/10
🎯 Tip: Warm months after dark; fish ragworm or lug close-in over clean sand with light grip leads; gentle flood most productive.
🐟 Starry Smoothhound 5/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–summer nights; peeler crab on a light running ledger lobbed into the channel; best on a flooding tide.
🐟 Mackerel 5/10
🎯 Tip: Clear, calm summer evenings; small metals or float-fished strip cast toward the channel on the flood.
🐟 Garfish 4/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring–autumn; float sandeel strip or work tiny metals fast across the surface at first light on a rising tide.

Smallmouth Bay Fishing

Summary

Smallmouth Bay sits on the Portland Harbour side of the causeway between Weymouth and the Isle of Portland. It’s a sheltered, easily accessed beach that offers consistent light-tackle sport and a real chance of bass, flounder, mullet and gilthead bream.

The water here is generally calm, making it a great option when the open coast or Chesil is unfishable, and it rewards thoughtful, scaled-down tactics.

Location and Access

This mark lies just north of Ferrybridge, facing into Portland Harbour, a short hop from Weymouth. Access is straightforward and largely flat, with short walks to reach the sand and shingle.

Seasons

Smallmouth Bay holds a classic mix of harbour species with seasonal highlights. Think finesse rather than brute force.

Methods

This is a light-tackle venue where subtlety pays. Keep end tackle neat and baits small to mid-sized to tempt wary harbour fish.

Tides and Conditions

Tide movement is the key driver here, especially around the Ferrybridge pinch point, but avoid the fiercest springs for comfort and safety.

Safety

This is a relatively friendly venue, but the currents at Ferrybridge and mixed user traffic (swimmers, paddle craft, sailors) demand care.

Facilities

Facilities are decent within a short radius, with more options in Weymouth and on Portland.

Tips

Local knowledge here is about finesse, timing and reading the subtle flow lines.

Regulations

Recreational sea angling is generally allowed from the beach, but Portland Harbour and the adjacent Fleet have local rules. Always obey on-site signage and current byelaws.