Last updated: 2 weeks ago
Planning a session in Ailwood, Dorset? Start with Swanage Beach, Dancing Ledge and Seacombe. Switch between lures for summer shoals and ledger rigs over rough ground; the nearby marks below include distances, access notes and species tips.
2.5 miles from Ailwood
A long, gently shelving sandy beach within Swanage Bay. Clean sand between timber groynes offers easy, comfortable fishing with parking, shops and toilets along the promenade. Best fished outside peak bathing hours. Expect surf-seeking bass on a ripple, flatfish over the clean ground, summer pelagics on calm evenings, and winter...
2.7 miles from Ailwood
A famous Purbeck rock ledge south of Langton Matravers with very deep water close in, kelp-fringed drop-offs and a man-made tidal pool. It fishes best in settled weather on a flooding or high tide for wrasse, pollack and summer pelagics, with pouting and conger after dark. Expect snaggy ground—use rotten-bottom/weak...
2.9 miles from Ailwood
Seacombe is an exposed rocky cove on the Purbeck coast near Worth Matravers. Stepped ledges, kelp-filled gullies and deep holes hold wrasse, pollack and pouting, with bass and mackerel in settled summer seas and conger after dark. Access is a long, uneven coastal walk with a short scramble; only attempt...
3.0 miles from Ailwood
A Victorian pier projecting into sheltered Swanage Bay. Day ticket fishing from designated areas only—check opening hours (often daytime). Depths around 3–8 m with mixed ground: weeded piles, kelp and timbers close in, with sand and silt patches further out. Resident blennies, gobies and wrasse make it perfect for LRF...
3.0 miles from Ailwood
A long, gently shelving sandy beach in Studland Bay with clean sand and nearby seagrass beds. Productive across flooding tides, especially at dusk and into dark. Best for flatfish with bass in onshore surf, winter whiting, and summer mackerel/garfish; occasional rays and smoothhound. Easy access and facilities via National Trust...
3.0 miles from Ailwood
Sheltered, gently shelving sandy beach at the southern end of Studland Bay with clean ground and seagrass beds, plus small patches of rougher ground toward the headlands. Best on a flooding tide, especially at dawn or dusk. Summer brings bait and lure opportunities close in, while winter sees flatties and...
