West Bexington Fishing

Last updated: 6 days ago

West Bexington Fishing Map

West Bexington is a classic stretch of Chesil Beach: a steep shingle bank with quick access to deep water, famed for seasonal variety and fast-changing conditions. Parking is close at the end of Beach Road (paid), but the heavy shingle makes even short walks tiring; pick a spot with a defined gulley if possible. Spring brings plaice and gurnards at range; summer sees mackerel, scad and garfish shoals, plus bass in the surf and rays after dark; autumn/winter produce whiting, pouting, dabs and the occasional cod in a blow. Best results are typically on a flooding tide into dusk or after dark; in daylight, long, clipped-down casts find flats and gurnards, while short-range baits in the surf line tempt bass and sole. Standard tactics include 2- or 3-hook clipped rigs with worm/sandeel for flats, and pulley pennels with squid/sandeel or fish cocktails for rays and hounds. Weed can be heavy after storms, and the shore dump can be severe—avoid big swells, keep well back from the water, and never turn your back to the sea.

Ratings

⭐ 7/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 7/10
Safety 5/10
Accessibility 6/10

Fish You Can Catch at West Bexington

🐟 Lesser Spotted Dogfish 8/10
🎯 Tip: Very common after dark on clean shingle. Fish small mackerel or squid strips on two-hook flappers; keep baits just off bottom. Best on a flooding tide.
🐟 Mackerel 8/10
🎯 Tip: Summer shoals within casting range; feathering, small metals or baited sabikis. Dawn/dusk on a flooding tide; move along the beach to find fish.
🐟 Bass 7/10
🎯 Tip: Work the surf after a blow or at dawn/dusk on a rising tide. Lug, peeler or whole squid on pulley rigs, or metal/soft-plastic lures when clear. Cast into the surf line.
🐟 Whiting 7/10
🎯 Tip: Winter evenings. Clip-down rigs with lug or mackerel strip for distance. Fish the first of the flood into darkness; bites at range as tide eases.
🐟 Smoothhound 7/10
🎯 Tip: May–Sep. Fresh peeler or hard crab on 3/0-4/0 running ledger or pulley. 30–80 yds over clean shingle; best dusk into night on a pushing tide.
🐟 Pouting 6/10
🎯 Tip: Year-round but best at night. Small fish or squid strips on two-hook flappers; steady bites through the flood, often close in.
🐟 Plaice 6/10
🎯 Tip: Feb–May run. Long casts (80–120 yds) with lug, rag or sandeel; add beads or spoons. Best on bright days with a gentle flood.
🐟 Dover Sole 6/10
🎯 Tip: Jun–Oct, settled seas after dusk. Rag, lug or maddies on long snoods, short lobs 10–40 yds. Slack water to early flood fishes best.
🐟 Starry Smoothhound 6/10
🎯 Tip: Alongside smoothhounds in summer. Fresh crab baits, evening flood, moderate range over clean ground; keep rigs simple.
🐟 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 6/10
🎯 Tip: Aug–Oct nights. Sabikis under a float or slow retrieve; tip with tiny fish strips. Fish midwater near the edge of light, start at dusk on the flood.
🐟 Black Bream 6/10
🎯 Tip: Late spring to autumn. Calm, clear days. Small squid/razor strips or rag on size 4–6 hooks, light rigs; fish at range over clean shingle on the flood.
🐟 Garfish 5/10
🎯 Tip: May–Oct. Float-fish slivers of mackerel or twitch small metals at dawn/dusk on a rising tide; keep baits shallow and moving.

West Bexington Fishing

Summary

West Bexington sits on the central stretch of Dorset’s Chesil Beach, between Cogden and Abbotsbury. It’s a classic steep shingle mark with quick access, clean ground and serious depth under the rod tip, offering year‑round action from plaice and rays to summer mackerel and autumn/winter whiting. When conditions line up, it’s one of the most consistent and comfortable open‑beach options on the Jurassic Coast.

Location and Access

Reaching West Bexington is straightforward via the B3157 Coast Road, turning south down to the beach village and its car park. Access is about as easy as Chesil gets, with a short shuffle over shingle to the water, though longer walks west towards Cogden or east towards Abbotsbury quickly become strenuous on the stones.

Seasons

This mark produces a broad mix typical of Chesil, with seasonal peaks. Expect clean-ground species most of the year, plus pelagics in summer and classic winter staples after dark.

Methods

Standard Chesil tactics score here, with clean ground suiting distance work and fine presentations. Adjust rigs to either reach plaice at range or present bigger baits for bass and rays in a lift.

Tides and Conditions

West Bexington will fish across the tide, but certain states and seas stand out. Think clear, settled water for spring plaice, and a building surf for bass.

Safety

Chesil’s beauty hides real hazards—treat the shingle and swell with respect. Conditions can deteriorate quickly in onshore winds or long-period swells.

Facilities

West Bexington is one of the more convenient Chesil access points. Facilities are close, but still plan as if you’re on a remote beach.

Tips

Small tweaks make a big difference on this clean, deep beach. Fish light and neat for plaice; go robust and pinned-down when it builds.

Regulations

Rules can change—always check current local and national guidance before you fish. The following points are commonly applicable on this stretch of the south coast.