West Bay East Pier Fishing

Summary

West Bay East Pier sits on the east side of Bridport Harbour in Dorset, looking out onto the shingle of East Beach and the open waters of Lyme Bay. It’s a versatile, easy-access mark that produces mackerel and garfish in summer, bass around the harbour mouth, and whiting and flats in the colder months. The mix of harbour flow, surf line, and structure means there’s usually something to target if you pick your conditions well.

Location and Access

Getting to the East Pier is simple and level, making it popular with families and visiting anglers. Arrive early in summer as the area gets busy with holiday traffic.

• Follow signs for West Bay from the A35 at Bridport and head for the harbour; multiple pay-and-display car parks sit on both sides of the water.
• The East Pier is the long, flat-topped wall on the east side of the harbour mouth, a 2–5 minute walk from the nearest car parks.
• Surfaces are mostly flat concrete with railings in places; the outer face has rock armour that is not safe to clamber over.
• Trolleys and prams handle the pier top fine; there are some steps to lower levels and ladders to the water in places.
• In peak holiday weeks, aim for dawn or evening to secure space and avoid crowds.

Seasons

The pier offers a genuine mixed bag through the year, with fast summer sport and steady winter fishing at night.

• Spring (Mar–May):
  • Plaice on clearer-water days from the seaward end on worm baits.
  • School bass around the harbour mouth on the flood, especially with a light surf.
  • Thick‑lipped mullet nosing into the inner harbour on neap tides.
• Summer (Jun–Aug):
  • Mackerel, garfish, and scad at dawn/dusk off the outer corner; occasional herring late evenings.
  • Bass patrolling the surf line and eddy seams on spring tides.
  • Pouting, small pollack, wrasse close to structure; LRF minis (gobies, blennies, scorpionfish).
  • Dogfish after dark; occasional smoothhound on crab baits; odd gilthead bream reported along this coast.
• Autumn (Sep–Nov):
  • Mackerel and scad linger into September; garfish on bright, calm days.
  • Whiting arrive at night; sole on the East Beach side in calm, warm spells.
  • Dabs, flounder, and the odd conger from the rougher corners after dark.
• Winter (Dec–Feb):
  • Whiting, pouting, and rockling on small fish/squid baits.
  • Dabs and flounder in the quieter water; the odd coalie or herring on small spoons or sabikis.

Methods

Simple methods catch here, but presentation and positioning are everything. Tailor rigs to the tide run at the harbour mouth and the clean sand just off the shingle.

• Spinning and feathering:
  • 20–40 g metals or slim spoons for mackerel/scad; vary retrieve and let lures sink through the water column.
  • Small sabikis (size 4–8) catch better than heavy feathers when fish are picky; add tiny mackerel or squid strips.
• Float fishing:
  • Pencil float, 5–8 ft trace, size 6–1 hooks; sandeel strip or mackerel for gar and mackerel.
  • Bread flake under a small float for mullet inside the harbour; loose‑feed bread mash sparingly.
• Bottom fishing:
  • Two‑hook flapper, size 2–1, with rag/lug for plaice, dabs, and whiting on the clean ground.
  • Pulley/pulley‑pennel 2/0–3/0 with squid, mackerel, or peeler crab for bass, dogfish, and the chance of a hound.
  • For sole, use a single long‑shank size 4–6, small worm or worm‑tipped fish bait, and keep casts short.
• LRF/HRF:
  • 1–7 g jigheads with isome or small paddletails tight to walls for minis, pout, and small pollack.
  • Tiny drop‑shot rigs excel around steps, ladders, and eddy pockets.
• Tackle notes:
  • A long‑handled drop net is the safest way to land decent fish over the rail.
  • Use 3–4 oz leads on the open side; step up if the flood is ripping through the entrance.

Tides and Conditions

The pier fishes best around moving water, with the flood drawing bait and predators past the harbour mouth. Match wind and water clarity to your target species.

• Tide states:
  • Last two hours of the flood and first of the ebb are prime at the harbour mouth.
  • Neaps favour mullet and flats; springs fire up bass and mackerel runs but increase lead size needed.
• Sea state and clarity:
  • Clear, calm water for mackerel, garfish, and LRF minis.
  • A gentle, coloured surf for bass; too much swell makes the outer corner dangerous and unfishable.
• Time of day/year:
  • Dawn and dusk are standout for pelagics and bass.
  • After dark brings whiting, pout, dogfish, and summer sole; winter nights are steadier than days.
• Wind patterns:
  • Strong south‑westerlies and big swells can overtop the pier—avoid the seaward end.
  • Easterlies can push weed onto the East Beach side; look for clearer lanes along the wall.

Safety

This is a public working harbour wall with changeable seas; treat it with the respect you’d give any open coast structure. If in doubt about conditions, don’t step onto the outer section.

• Waves can overtop the seaward end even on moderate swells—keep back from the edge in broken water.
• Surfaces get slick with spray and algae; wear grippy footwear and consider a self‑inflating lifejacket.
• Railings are not continuous; use a drop net rather than hand‑lining fish up the wall.
• Respect harbour operations: do not cast across the entrance or block ladders, bollards, or emergency gear.
• The RNLI may launch at short notice; be prepared to clear the area when instructed.
• Family‑friendly on calm days, but children should be closely supervised; gulls will mob bait and fish.
• Accessibility: the top path is generally level and suitable for most users; steps to lower ledges are steep and can be slippery.

Facilities

West Bay is a busy seaside village with excellent amenities within a few minutes’ walk of the pier. Expect crowds and queues at peak times.

• Public toilets near the harbour and promenade (seasonal opening hours).
• Multiple cafés, kiosks, fish‑and‑chip huts, pubs, and ice‑cream stands around the basin.
• Pay‑and‑display parking on both sides of the harbour; arrive early in summer weekends.
• Tackle and bait: limited seasonal availability quayside; fuller tackle shops are in Bridport—bring what you need.
• Harbour lighting is present but patchy; carry a headtorch for night sessions.
• Good mobile phone coverage for most networks.
• RNLI lifeboat station (west side); heed any cones, cordons, or instructions.

Tips

Local patterns here repeat year after year—small tweaks in placement and presentation make the difference. Keep mobile, watch the water, and fish the seams.

• On a flooding tide, cast just uptide of the harbour‑mouth eddy seam and let a bait or paddle‑tail swing through for bass.
• When mackerel are shy, fish two small sabiki hooks under a float rather than a full string of feathers.
• For sole, short casts of 20–30 yards onto clean sand at night outfishing long chucks; keep baits tiny and static.
• A small bread mash trail brings mullet within range; switch to delicate tackle and patience.
• If weed builds on an onshore breeze, step along the wall to find clear lanes rather than fighting it.
• Clip‑down rigs reduce shingle rash on baits and improve casting accuracy in a crosswind.
• Dawn midweek sessions avoid the holiday bustle and give you the pick of the spots.

Regulations

Rules here are a blend of national sea angling measures and harbour safety byelaws. Always read and follow on‑site signage and any instructions from the Harbour Master.

• Harbour and local rules:
  • Expect restrictions on casting within the inner harbour and across the fairway; some sections may be temporarily closed during busy periods or bad weather.
  • Be prepared to clear the entrance during vessel movements or RNLI activity.
• Bass fishery (check current rules before you go):
  • As of 2024 guidance, recreational anglers in this area of the Channel could retain up to two bass per angler per day between 42 cm+ during the open season, with catch‑and‑release only outside that window. Regulations are reviewed annually—confirm with MMO/DEFRA before retaining any bass.
• Minimum sizes and protected species:
  • Observe recommended or legal minimum sizes for common species; return undersized fish carefully.
  • Return European eels and any shad or undulate rays if encountered; treat all skate/rays with care and release promptly.
• General conduct:
  • No littering; take all line and hooks away. Do not clean fish on the wall or block public walkways.
  • Use a drop net rather than gaffs from height to avoid injuring fish and for public safety.