West Bay East Beach Fishing

Summary

West Bay East Beach, Dorset, is the shingle beach immediately east of Bridport Harbour beneath the iconic East Cliff. It’s the western gateway to Chesil and offers classic steep‑to surf fishing with quick access, deep water close in, and a great mix of species through the seasons.

Location and Access

Getting there and getting set up is straightforward, but the shingle is steep and mobile. The beach runs from the harbour’s east arm towards Freshwater, segmented by rock groynes installed for sea defences.

• Drive into West Bay (signed from the A35 via Bridport) and follow signs for East Beach/Harbour; large pay‑and‑display car parks sit by the harbour and behind East Beach.
• It’s a 1–5 minute walk onto the shingle depending on where you park. Expect a steep shingle bank that can be tiring underfoot with kit.
• Terrain is steep pea-to-golf-ball shingle with rock groynes and occasional patches of rough ground near the armour stones; otherwise clean, deep water.
• Public transport: regular buses serve West Bay/Bridport; it’s a short walk from the bus stops to the beach.
• Access is best near the harbour end where the bank is slightly gentler; the further east you go, the more committing the shingle can feel.

Seasons

A classic south coast mixed fishery. Expect summer bass and mackerel in the surf, autumn rays, and winter whiting, with plenty of dogfish year‑round.

• Spring (Mar–May):
  • Bass close in on coloured seas, especially after a blow
  • Smoothhound (late spring into early summer)
  • Mackerel (usually start showing late spring), garfish on calm, clear days
  • Occasional plaice/flats on settled days, plus pout
• Summer (Jun–Aug):
  • Bass in the surf at dawn/dusk or in lively water
  • Mackerel and scad, garfish; schoolie pollack from the pier area
  • Smoothhound, small-eyed ray on settled, warm evenings
  • Dogfish, occasional bream later in summer, eels after dark
• Autumn (Sep–Nov):
  • Small-eyed and occasional undulate ray in calm to moderate seas
  • Bass through to the first heavy frosts
  • Scad and mackerel shoals at dusk, pout and conger after dark
• Winter (Dec–Feb):
  • Whiting in numbers after dark on bigger tides
  • Dogfish, pout, the odd conger
  • Codling are now rare but still possible in a proper stir with cold, coloured water

Methods

Steep shingle and quick depth suit clipped-down shore rigs and surf tactics. Keep baits streamlined for distance and hold bottom with grip leads.

• Bottom fishing:
  • Pulley or pulley‑pennel (4–5/0) with sandeel, squid or mackerel for bass/rays; add a weak link (rotten‑bottom) if fishing near the groynes
  • 2‑ or 3‑hook clipped rigs (size 1–2) with lug/rag/squid strips for whiting, pout, flats
  • 5–6 oz fixed‑wire grip leads to hold in lateral tide; step up on spring tides
• Lure and float:
  • Metals and slim spoons (20–60 g) for mackerel/scad; shallow divers and 12–20 g soft plastics for surf bass at dawn/dusk
  • Float tackle with small strips of mackerel for garfish and mackerel when the sea is calm and clear
• Baits that score:
  • Bass/smoothhound: fresh peeler crab, sandeel, squid, big lug cocktails
  • Rays: sandeel (whole or wrap), squid, bluey; present neatly on a pennel
  • General pickers: lug/rag for whiting, pout, flats; mackerel strip for scad/gar
• Tackle notes:
  • 12–15 lb mainline with 60–80 lb shock leader for clipped casting; 20–30 lb braid + 60–80 lb mono leader for lure work in surf
  • Long sand spikes or tripod needed on steep shingle; keep rods high to avoid dumpers

Tides and Conditions

This mark fishes best with movement in the water and during low‑light periods. Adjust tactics to sea state and tide size.

• Tide states:
  • Productive both flood and ebb; the last 2 hours of flood into high and first hour of ebb are reliable for bass and mackerel shoals
  • Rays often show around dusk into dark over neaps to mid‑range tides with a gentle swell
• Sea conditions:
  • Bass: building SW/S swell with some colour, especially after 24–48 hours of blow then a easing wind
  • Rays/dogs: settled, clear to lightly coloured water, minimal weed
  • Winter whiting: dark, cold nights on bigger tides
• Time of day/season:
  • Dawn and dusk are key; night fishing is consistently good for rays, dogs, pout and conger
  • Summer holiday days are busy with bathers; evenings and late sessions are better for both fishing and space
• Practicalities:
  • Expect strong lateral pull on springs; fish slightly uptide of a groyne pocket to hold a line
  • Weed can be heavy after storms; step up lead weight and streamline rigs

Safety

East Beach is steep, shingly, and fronted by powerful dumpers—treat it with respect. The East Cliff is notorious for rockfalls; keep well clear of the cliff base.

• Steep shingle shelving and a strong undertow; wading is not advised
• Dumping surf even on modest swells; never turn your back to the sea
• Keep well away from the cliff base and any overhangs due to frequent rockfall
• Rock groynes are slippery and uneven—avoid climbing/fishing from the armour stones, especially when wet
• Use a headtorch at night and keep gear high on the bank; waves can run up quickly
• Wear a PFD when fishing near the swash line and use cleated boots on shingle
• Mobility: the loose shingle makes access challenging for those with reduced mobility; choose the harbour‑end for the gentlest approach
• In summer, RNLI lifeguards operate bathing zones—do not fish between the red/yellow flags or cast across swimmers

Facilities

West Bay is a busy seaside hub with excellent amenities. You can fish, eat, and get warm within a short walk of your peg.

• Public toilets near the harbour and main car parks
• Cafés, kiosks, pubs, and fish & chip shops around the harbour
• RNLI lifeboat station and seasonal beach lifeguards (check local boards for hours)
• Tackle/bait: available in West Bay/Bridport from local angling shops; call ahead for fresh bait
• Bins in the car parks and along the promenade; take litter and line home if bins are full
• Generally good mobile signal; it can dip right under the cliff
• Lighting near the harbour; the beach itself is dark—bring a good headlamp

Tips

Little tweaks make a big difference on this beach. Think neat baits, clean presentations, and working the pockets around the groynes.

• Fish the down‑tide side of a rock groyne to reduce line belly and find feeding lanes
• After a blow, switch to crab or sandeel for bass mooching in the coloured suds tight in
• For rays, keep baits aerodynamic and fresh; a whole sandeel with a squid wrap on a tidy pennel is a banker
• Don’t ignore close range: bass often take in the first breaker, especially at dusk
• Use a proper shock leader and clipped rigs—distance can be key when the sea is calm and clear
• Keep rigs high on the rest to minimise surf drag; a tall tripod or long spike helps on the steep bank
• Summer evenings can see scad and mackerel push tight—swap to a float or small metals at last light
• Weed warning: if the line starts to “kite”, step up lead or move a bay along to find cleaner water

Regulations

Normal English recreational sea angling rules apply, and local seasonal bathing zones restrict where you can cast. Always read on‑site notices and check current byelaws before you fish.

• Do not fish or cast into designated lifeguarded bathing zones (marked by red/yellow flags) when in operation
• Bass regulations are set annually by UK government; check the current season dates, bag limits, and the 42 cm minimum size on the official gov.uk guidance before retaining any bass
• Southern IFCA byelaws apply along this coast; observe any netting/gear restrictions, and minimum conservation reference sizes for finfish and shellfish
• It is illegal to take berried (egg‑bearing) lobsters or edible crabs; adhere to local MLS for any shore‑collected shellfish
• No vehicles on the beach; respect the Jurassic Coast/SSSI status—no digging into cliffs or damaging features
• Use barbless or crushed‑barb hooks where practical and take all litter/line home; release undersize fish quickly and unharmed