The Run Mudeford Fishing

Summary

The Run at Mudeford is the narrow, fast-flowing entrance between Christchurch Harbour and the open sea in Dorset. It’s a classic tide-swept mark that draws bait and predators together, offering exciting sport for bass, mackerel, garfish and mullet when the water is moving.

Location and Access

Mudeford Quay sits on the Christchurch side of the harbour entrance, opposite the Hengistbury Head/Mudeford Sandbank. Most anglers fish from the quay railings or the sandspit side into the main channel known locally as “The Run.”

• Access points: Mudeford Quay (hard standing, railings) and the Hengistbury/Mudeford Sandbank side (shingle/sand with groynes)
• Parking: Large council pay-and-display car park at Mudeford Quay; spaces fill quickly in summer and on spring tides
• Alternative approach: From Hengistbury Head side via the land train/walk from the Hiker Café car park, then along the sandspit to the channel
• Terrain: Quay is flat concrete with steps and ladders; sandspit side is soft sand/shingle with timber groynes and uneven footing
• Busy site: Expect heavy boat, ferry and RNLI traffic in season; obey any local signage around slips and ferry stages

Seasons

The Run fishes best when the tide is moving and water temperatures are up, but it holds life year-round. Expect surface species in summer and more bottom dwellers and mini-species after dark or in colder months.

• Spring to autumn (peak May–Oct): bass, mackerel, garfish, scad (horse mackerel), thin- and thick-lipped mullet
• Summer nights: scad, pouting, occasional conger eel tight to structure; schoolie bass in eddies
• Autumn into early winter: whiting on smaller tides/darker nights; school bass remain in mild spells
• Winter (inside harbour fringes): flounder and the odd dab on neaps; occasional pout
• Occasional visitors: black bream in clear summer water, gurnard on sandy patches, smoothhound strays in hot spells

Methods

Fast tide calls for simple, efficient presentations that either hold bottom cleanly or trot naturally with the flow. Scale your approach to the water clarity and current speed.

• Bass: free-lined or lightly weighted live sandeel/mackerel strip; long flowing traces (3–6 ft) with size 1–2 hooks; soft plastics on 10–20 g heads worked down-tide in the seams
• Mackerel/gar/scad: small metal jigs 10–30 g, float-fished slivers of mackerel, or sabikis (size 6–10) at dawn/dusk on making tides
• Mullet: breadflake or prawn under a stick/float, trotted along the edge; fine gear, size 8–12 hooks, fluorocarbon 4–8 lb
• Bottom options: link-ledger with plain leads (2–5 oz) to “roll” baits like rag/lug/squid across sand; on hard run use 4–6 oz grippers to pin a bait in an eddy
• Night tactics: small baits (mackerel/squid slivers) for scad/pout; heavier mono (60–80 lb) and big fish-safe rigs if targeting conger near structure
• Handy extras: a drop net for high water at the quay; polarized glasses to read eddies; spare leads for inevitable snags

Tides and Conditions

Movement is everything here. The Run lives up to its name, with fierce spring tides creating standing waves and fast drifts; neaps are more forgiving and often better for presenting baits.

• Best states: first of the flood and first of the ebb; short slack windows around high/low are ideal for lure work
• Springs vs neaps: springs bring bait but are harder to hold bottom; neaps help control presentations and suit mullet work
• Time of day: dawn and dusk see mackerel, gar and bass push bait to the surface; after dark draws scad, pout and conger closer in
• Water clarity: coloured water after a blow favours bass; clear, bright conditions are good for mackerel/gar
• Wind: onshore SW can be messy on the quay; light northerlies are comfortable and keep clarity
• Seasonality: May–Oct is prime for surface action; winter rewards patient anglers on neaps and at night

Safety

This mark is powerful and unforgiving on big tides, with heavy boat and ferry movements. Treat edges with respect and never wade into the channel.

• Strong currents: 4–6+ knot flows on springs; do not climb down ladders or fish below rail level during peak run
• Boat traffic: ferries, charter boats and RNLI operate here—stop casting when boats approach and keep clear of slips/berths
• High quayside: use a drop net to land fish; wet weeded steps and edges are extremely slippery
• Sandspit hazards: soft sand, uneven groynes, waves reflected off the flow; head torch and stable footwear essential at night
• Children/pets: close supervision required around edges and when crabbing crowds are present
• Personal safety: wear a lifejacket on the quay or near water’s edge; avoid fishing alone at night in strong runs
• Accessibility: quay is broadly level with railings and nearby parking; sandspit approach is a longer, uneven walk

Facilities

Mudeford Quay is well served, especially in summer, with amenities on the doorstep. The sandspit side is more basic once you’re out along the huts.

• Toilets: public toilets at/near the quay (seasonal opening hours)
• Food/drink: café kiosks and a pub at the quay; seasonal kiosks along the sandspit/Avon Beach area
• Tackle/bait: local tackle shops in Christchurch; some kiosks may stock basic bait in season—call ahead
• Waste: bins at the quay—pack out line and spare hooks; limited bins along the sandspit
• Phone signal: generally good on both sides; lighting on the quay, dark on the sandspit after hours
• RNLI presence: inshore lifeboat station at the quay—keep approaches clear at all times

Tips

Think edges, seams and eddies—predators pin bait against structure and slack lines. Small tackle tweaks make a big difference in the fast water.

• Watch the water: fish the crease lines off the quay corner and the eddies behind groynes on the sandspit side
• Trotting trick: a cigar float with just enough shot to cock will carry a prawn or strip naturally down-tide for bass/gar
• Mackerel timing: first proper shoals often show in The Run before open beaches—be there at first light on a building tide
• Lure selection: compact metals and slim soft plastics outfish bulky lures in hard flow; match the hatch to 2–4 inch sandeels/whitebait
• Crowd control: summer crabbing is popular—be courteous, use short underarm casts, and avoid fouling lines
• Fish care: barbless or crushed barbs help with gar/scad; a rubber-mesh drop net protects fish and reduces lost gear
• Bait gathering: harbour prawns/shrimp are top bass/mullet baits where permitted—use a hand net from safe spots and respect local byelaws

Regulations

Rules can change—always check on-site signage and current byelaws before fishing. This is a busy working/quay and ferry channel with specific local restrictions.

• Local restrictions: no fishing from lifeboat slips or active ferry/landing stages; stop casting when boats pass; follow any yellow-hatched/marked no-fishing zones
• Southern IFCA: Christchurch Harbour and its entrance are within the Southern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority district—check for seasonal protections, bait-digging guidance and any nursery/closed area provisions
• Bass: recreational bass limits apply in the English Channel (ICES 7d–e). Check current UK Government guidance for size/bag limits and any seasonal retention closures before taking fish
• Eels and shad: release any European eel or allis/twaite shad if encountered; do not intentionally target them
• Size limits: observe national MLS where applicable (e.g., bass minimum size); when in doubt, measure and release
• Protected sites: parts of the harbour/sandspit have environmental designations—avoid damaging seagrass, dunes and vegetated areas; follow any bait-collecting restrictions
• General: carry a drop net for safe landing, use responsible tackle disposal, and respect other water users and residents