South Beach Studland Fishing

Summary

South Beach, Studland sits on the southern lip of Studland Bay beneath the chalk of Old Harry Rocks. It’s a sheltered, sandy venue with rougher corners that offers varied fishing from flatties on the beach to bass and wrasse around the rockier fringes.

Location and Access

Reaching the mark is straightforward and the last approach is short but a little steep. It’s popular in summer, so plan early or late sessions to avoid crowds and parking pressure.

• Drive via Corfe Castle (A351) into Studland village, or come across on the Sandbanks chain ferry and follow Ferry Road to Studland
• National Trust South Beach car park near the Bankes Arms (postcode: BH19 3AU); pay-and-display, often busy in peak season
• Footpath descends 3–5 minutes to the beach; compacted earth and steps in places, then soft sand
• Terrain: clean sand in the bay; patches of low rock and weed towards both ends, increasingly rough towards Handfast Point/Old Harry
• Public transport: Purbeck Breezer buses stop in Studland village, a short walk from South Beach

Seasons

The bay fishes differently through the year, with the sandy middle and rougher ends producing distinct mixes. Expect clearer water species in settled weather and scavengers after a blow.

• Spring (Mar–May): school bass, flounder, plaice; odd gurnard; early garfish late spring
• Summer (Jun–Aug): bass (dawn/dusk), mackerel and garfish on calm days, scad at dusk, wrasse from rough ground, occasional black bream near the point, smoothhound and thornback ray possible at night, sole on warm, still nights
• Autumn (Sep–Nov): peak bass, more sole opportunities, thornback ray, increasing whiting, pout after dark
• Winter (Dec–Feb): whiting, dogfish, pout, flounder and dab; chance of a storm-bass in onshore seas

Methods

Both light beach ledgering over sand and more targeted lure/float work around the rough ground score well. Keep tackle light and mobile to fish the short-range gutters that run along the beach.

• Beach ledgering: 2-hook flapper with size 2–1 hooks for flounder/plaice; long flowing trace or up-and-over with size 1/0–3/0 for bass/sole/rays
• Rigs: clipped-down for distance when needed; pulley or pulley dropper with 3–4 oz leads if targeting rays or working the edges of rough ground
• Baits: ragworm and lug for flats and sole; peeler crab for bass/wrasse/smoothhound; sandeel or mackerel strip for bass/ray; squid/mackerel cocktail after dark for dogs/whiting/rays
• Lures: surface and shallow-diving plugs or 12–20 g soft plastics for bass along the margins at first/last light; metal jigs or small spoons for mackerel/scad when shoals show
• Float fishing: small slivers of mackerel or sandeel for garfish; whole prawn over the rock patches for wrasse on calm, clear evenings
• Times: dawn and dusk are prime in summer; winter favors after-dark sessions for whiting/dogs

Tides and Conditions

Studland faces east and is sheltered from prevailing south-westerlies but exposed to anything with east in it. Water clarity is often good after a settled spell.

• Best tide: the flood into high and the first of the ebb; fish move along the gutter tight to the beach on the making tide
• Conditions: light SW/W winds give calm, clear water—great for wrasse/gar/sole; a bit of colour after a blow switches on the bass
• Avoid strong easterlies: they drive surf and drifting weed that can make it unfishable
• Springs help bass and rays; neaps can be excellent for sole and finesse ledgering
• Night fishing avoids beach crowds and brings in whiting, dogfish and rays; first light is top for lure-caught bass

Safety

This is an accessible sandy venue, but it’s a busy bathing beach in season and the rock fringes and nearby headland have hazards. Fish with care and give space to water users.

• Summer crowding: avoid daytime peak; only cast when the water in front of you is clear of swimmers and paddlecraft
• Path is short but uneven/steep in places; not ideal for wheelchairs or heavy barrows; soft sand makes trolleys hard work
• Rocks toward Old Harry are wave-washed, weeded and slippery; watch for rockfall and avoid the cliff base
• Tidal stream around Handfast Point can be strong—do not wade near the headland; keep to the sandy bay if unsure
• Drifting ribbon weed/eelgrass can foul lines—keep rod tips high and check gear often
• Wear a PFD if fishing from rocks or wading; headtorch and spare batteries essential after dark

Facilities

Studland is managed by the National Trust with seasonal facilities nearby. Expect good general amenities but minimal lighting and no on-beach services at night.

• Parking: National Trust South Beach car park (BH19 3AU); additional NT car parks at Middle/Knoll Beach
• Toilets: at Knoll Beach visitor facilities (seasonal hours); limited village facilities; pub toilets for patrons only
• Food/drink: Bankes Arms pub above South Beach; cafés and facilities at Knoll Beach; more options in Swanage
• Tackle/bait: Swanage Angling Centre (Swanage); multiple shops in Poole if coming via ferry
• Phone signal: generally good on major networks, occasional patchy spots towards the cliffs
• No lighting on the beach—bring your own; no water taps on the sand

Tips

Treat it like two marks: a clean, short-range surfy gutter on the sand and a wrasse/bass venue on the rough fringes. Travel light and be ready to move with the fish.

• In summer, fish first/last light with small surface or subsurface lures along the edge of the weed line for bass
• For sole, scale down: size 4–2 fine-wire hooks, long snoods, tiny baits of rag or lug; little or no grip on the lead
• After a modest SW blow, try a big crab or squid/sandeel combo at dusk for a bonus ray or bass
• Keep casts moderate—many fish run within 20–50 yards along the gutter
• Spider crabs and starfish can strip baits in late spring; check and refresh often
• Expect drifting weed after easterlies; switching to clipped rigs and keeping the rod high helps keep lines clear

Regulations

Studland Bay is a Marine Conservation Zone focused on protecting eelgrass and seahorses. Shore angling is permitted, but there are important local protections and national rules to follow.

• Studland Bay MCZ: protections target moorings/anchoring and sensitive habitats; shore fishing is allowed—avoid trampling eelgrass beds and follow on-site signage
• Anchoring/mooring controls: MMO byelaws restrict damaging anchoring for vessels in parts of the bay (relevant if you arrive by boat/kayak); use designated eco-moorings where provided
• National Trust site rules: no open fires or disposable BBQs; respect seasonal dog restrictions; follow any signed swim zones where fishing may be curtailed
• Southern IFCA area: check local byelaws for bait digging and netting; only small-scale hand-gathering for personal use and never in the dunes/eelgrass
• Sea bass (Area 7d–h): as last published (2024), minimum size 42 cm; recreational bag limit typically 2 fish per angler per day during the open season with catch-and-release outside—check current 2025 dates before you go
• National minimum and local IFCA sizes apply to retained species; return wrasse from rough ground if possible—many local anglers treat them as a catch-and-release species
• Night access/parking: some car parks may have seasonal hours—check NT notices to avoid being locked in
• Always verify the latest regulations with the MMO, Southern IFCA, and on-site signage before fishing