Summary
White Nothe is a striking chalk headland between Ringstead Bay and Durdle Door on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast. It offers adventurous rock and ledge fishing over rough, kelpy ground with fast tidal movement and clear water. When conditions allow, it can produce quality wrasse, pollack and bass, with conger and huss after dark.
Location and Access
Set on the South West Coast Path, White Nothe is remote and exposed; access is for fit, experienced anglers only. Most anglers approach from Ringstead or from the Durdle Door side and then pick their way to lower ledges in calm seas and on manageable tides.
- Parking options: National Trust car park above Ringstead (approx. DT2 8NQ), a seasonal private beach car park at Ringstead, or Durdle Door main car park (approx. DT2 8HY)
- Approaches: from Ringstead, follow the coast path west to White Nothe (30–50 minutes on undulating path). From Durdle Door, follow the path east (45–70 minutes with steep climbs/descents)
- Terrain: chalk and flint paths, exposed cliff sections, and undercliff boulders; lower rock platforms are uneven, weeded and slippery
- Descent: very steep paths near the headland; the old smugglers’ route is exposed and not advisable in wind, rain or darkness
- Access at sea level is tide- and swell-dependent; some ledges get cut off on a rising tide
Seasons
This is mixed rough ground with kelp, chalk reefs and tide run. Expect classic rock mark species in season, plus occasional surprises.
- Spring (Mar–May): ballan wrasse starting, pollack on lures, garfish from late spring, early mackerel shoals, occasional black bream from May
- Summer (Jun–Aug): ballan and corkwing wrasse, pollack, mackerel, garfish, scad at dusk, bass at dawn/dusk, black bream around reefy pockets, pout; occasional smoothhound and thornback/undulate ray in adjacent bays
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): bass at their best in lively seas, pollack on dusk floods, late mackerel/scad, conger and bull huss after dark, whiting appearing later
- Winter (Dec–Feb): fewer options but conger and huss remain, with pout and whiting in settled spells; rare chance of a channel codling in a hard winter
Methods
Rough ground tactics shine here. Travel light, use abrasion-resistant leaders and plan how you’ll land fish from uneven ledges.
- Lure fishing: 20–40 g metals for mackerel/scad; weedless 10–20 cm soft plastics and slim minnow plugs for pollack and bass at dawn/dusk
- Float fishing: mackerel strip, prawn or ragworm set 6–15 ft for wrasse, garfish and pollack along kelp fringes
- Bottom fishing: pulley or pulley-dropper with rotten-bottom link; 4/0–5/0 hooks and 40–60 lb leaders for huss/conger; whole squid, squid-and-bluey wraps, or fish baits
- Wrasse tactics: strong hooks (1/0–2/0), crab or prawn baits, short snoods, strike and hold to keep fish out of kelp
- Night sessions: scaled-up gear, headtorch and tidy rigs; expect conger/huss bites close in on flooding and first of the ebb
- Lines and leaders: 20–30 lb braid with 40–60 lb mono/fluoro leader; check and trim frequently due to chalk abrasion
- Landing: a long-handled net or drop-net is advisable on higher or awkward ledges; avoid gaffing for release-friendly practice
Tides and Conditions
White Nothe is influenced by a noticeable tide race and swell wrapping around the headland. Choose neaps and calm-to-moderate seas until you learn the mark.
- Tide: neap to mid-range tides are easiest; springs can rip and make presentation difficult
- States: productive around the flood and first of the ebb; wrasse often from mid-flood to high, pollack/bass at dusk on a flooding tide
- Access: some lower ledges are only safely reached near low water and may be cut off as the tide rises
- Wind and swell: the Ringstead (east) side can offer shelter in prevailing SW winds; easterlies rough up the east side quickly
- Water clarity: wrasse prefer clearer water with a small swell; bass often show after a blow with some colour in the water
- Time of day: early mornings and evenings for lures; after dark for conger/huss in settled or gently rolling seas
Safety
This is a serious rock mark beneath high, actively eroding chalk cliffs. It is not suitable for novices, young children or those with limited mobility.
- Steep, exposed paths; avoid in wet or high winds; do not descend or climb in the dark unless you know the route well
- Cliff and rockfall risk: give the cliff base space, especially after heavy rain, frost or strong sun
- Swell and surge: long-period swells can surge onto lower ledges; wear a PFD and never turn your back on the sea
- Cut-off hazard: identify safe exit routes and set an alarm for the turning tide
- Footing: weeded, glassy chalk and loose boulders; use studded boots or rock boots and carry minimal gear
- Comms: mobile signal can be patchy below the cliffs; tell someone your plan and carry a whistle/torch/spares
- Fish handling: use a drop-net or long-handled net where safe; keep fingers away from conger/huss teeth; carry pliers
Facilities
Expect a wild, no-frills venue. All food, water and safety kit should be carried in.
- Parking: National Trust car park at Ringstead; seasonal private beach parking at Ringstead; Durdle Door car park to the west
- Toilets: usually at Durdle Door car park; seasonal/basic facilities sometimes by Ringstead beach in peak months
- Tackle and bait: Weymouth Angling Centre and Chesil Bait n Tackle (Weymouth) are the nearest reliable shops
- Refreshments: seasonal beach kiosk at Ringstead; Smugglers Inn at Osmington Mills inland
- Phone/data: reasonable on cliff tops, unreliable under the cliffs; download maps and tide tables offline
- Bins: pack out all litter and line; there are no bins on the headland or ledges
Tips
Treat White Nothe as you would a small offshore rock: plan, pack light and fish smart. Ten minutes of watercraft from the cliff path often tells you more than an hour of blind casting.
- Use rotten-bottom links and stronger leaders; the ground is unforgiving and snags are common
- Check colour lines and tide seams from the path to choose the most active side of the headland
- Keep a lure rod rigged: mackerel and garfish often push tight to the point, especially on a flooding evening tide
- For wrasse, fresh peeler crab or prawn out-fishes worm once crabs are active; strike hard and bully fish clear of kelp
- Night baits for huss/conger: whole squid or mackerel flapper, fished tight to structure with a locked drag
- Inspect leaders and knots frequently; chalk edges are abrasive and will find any weakness
- Birdlife is abundant (fulmars, gulls). Cast low and watch for birds working bait to find pelagics, but avoid hooking them
- Car parks may have seasonal opening times or gates; check closing times to avoid being locked in
Regulations
This coastline sits within the Southern IFCA district and the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site; rod-and-line angling is generally permitted. Always follow local signage and any National Trust estate notices.
- Bass: rules change periodically; check MMO/DEFRA before you go. Recent measures have included a 42 cm minimum size and a limited daily bag in spring–autumn, with catch-and-release only in winter months
- Pollack: management measures were tightened in 2024 for ICES areas 6 and 7; check current recreational rules, as catch-and-release-only has applied at times
- Tope: it is illegal in England to retain tope caught by rod and line; release alive
- Undulate ray: protected in much of the Channel; treat as catch-and-release and return promptly
- Minimum sizes: consult the latest DEFRA/Southern IFCA minimum conservation reference sizes; when in doubt, release
- Bait and access: respect National Trust guidance (no fires/camping) and private land; use stiles and close gates
- No special local angling ban is known at White Nothe, but restrictions or temporary path closures can occur due to erosion or nesting birds; heed any posted notices
