Summary
Worbarrow Bay sits on the Purbeck coast between Lulworth and Kimmeridge, inside the MOD Lulworth Ranges in Dorset. When the ranges are open, it offers a handsome sweep of shingle and sand with rocky fringes—prime mixed-ground fishing with real variety through the seasons.
Location and Access
Access is straightforward when the Lulworth Ranges are open, but the bay is completely off-limits during live firing. Plan ahead and check the official range opening times before you leave. Parking is at Tyneham village, followed by a walk on the range road down to the beach.
- Access window: The MOD Lulworth Ranges open most weekends and some holidays; red flags/lights mean no entry at any time, including for fishing
- Parking: Tyneham village car park (donation requested); gate hours can be enforced—check closing time on arrival
- Walk-in: Around 20–30 minutes on tarmac/gravel to the bay, then a steeper descent onto shingle; allow extra time on the way back
- Terrain: Coarse shingle beach with clean sand patches; rock and kelp around Worbarrow Tout (east end) and toward the headlands
- Alternative spots: The eastern side towards Pondfield Cove offers mixed ground and rock-ledges; the central bay is cleaner and better for long-range beach work
- Public transport: None practical to the gate; self-drive required
- Note: No access at all when ranges are closed; do not cross fences or ignore flags/signage
Seasons
This is classic mixed-ground fishing: clean sand in the middle for flatfish and rays, with wrasse, bream and bass around the rockier fringes. Species turnover is seasonal and conditions-driven.
- Spring (Mar–May): Plaice, dab, occasional turbot; bass in a building surf; increasing chance of thornback and undulate rays; early smoothhound on crab
- Summer (Jun–Aug): Black bream, wrasse (ball/cuckoo), bass, smoothhound, gurnard, mackerel, scad, garfish; conger after dark from rough ground; occasional triggerfish in hot, clear spells
- Autumn (Sep–Nov): Bass peak in onshore swell; rays remain a good target; bream linger into Oct in clear water; sole possible at night; mackerel/scad into late evenings
- Winter (Dec–Feb): Whiting, pout, dogfish; the odd codling after big blows; dab and flounder on the cleaner patches; conger from rough margins after dark
- Always possible: Pollack around the Tout on lures/float; school bass in calm, clear water at dawn/dusk
Methods
Match your approach to the ground. Clean and mixed areas respond best to distance beach tactics, while the rocky ends suit float fishing and lures.
- Clean/mixed sand (central bay): 12–13 ft beach rod, 5–6 oz leads; clipped-down two-hook flappers for general fishing; long flowing traces or up-and-over for rays/plaice
- Rocky fringes/Tout: Shorter 2–3 oz lure rods or 10–11 ft light ledgers; weedless soft plastics, metals, or float rigs for wrasse, pollack, mackerel, gar and school bass
- Rigs: Two-hook flapper (size 2–1) for plaice/dabs; long flowing trace with size 1/1–0 for rays/bass; pulley pennel 3/0–4/0 for rays/smoothhound; Wessex or one-up-one-down for bream
- Baits: Rag/lug for flats and general; peeler/soft crab for smoothhound and bass; squid/sandeel cocktails for rays; small squid or rag strips for bream; mackerel strip for gurnard/scad
- Plaice tweaks: Beads/spoons (yellow, red) on 30–60 cm snoods; keep baits small and neat and consider a slow drag
- Lures: 20–40 g metals for mackerel/scad; 10–20 g weedless shads and soft jerkbaits for bass/wrasse around kelp; surface lures at dawn in calm seas
- Timing: Dusk into dark lifts bites for bass, rays, sole, conger; daylight and clear water favour bream and wrasse
Tides and Conditions
Worbarrow is not overly tide-swept but reacts strongly to wind and clarity. Choose your window to match the species you want.
- Tide state: Flood tide into high water is generally best; first of the ebb can fish too; avoid heavy weed on springs after blows
- Wind: Light–moderate SW produces a useful surf for bass; easterlies flatten and clear the water—great for bream/wrasse/lure work
- Sea state: Settled, slightly coloured water at dusk suits rays and smoothhound; gin-clear, calm days suit bream/gar/mackerel
- Range of cast: Long casts help on the clean ground for plaice and rays; fish closer in low light or when surf builds for bass
- Seasonality: Peak variety Jun–Oct; winter is quieter but can throw up whiting runs and occasional surprises after a storm
Safety
This is an MOD range with real restrictions and a wild, uneven shoreline. Treat closures, signage and the sea with absolute respect.
- MOD rules: If red flags/lights are showing, the area is closed—no access, no fishing; stay on waymarked paths when open
- Unexploded ordnance: Do not touch metal objects or military debris; report concerns to range staff
- Slips and falls: Steep shingle banks and loose pebbles—use sturdy footwear; rocks around the Tout get greasy with weed and spray
- Sea hazards: Atlantic swell can wrap in; avoid the rock ledges in big seas; rogue waves possible on rising tides
- Cliffs: Keep well back from the base—rockfall risk; never sit under overhangs
- Night fishing: Take headtorch, spare light, and a paper map; phone signal is patchy
- Mobility: The approach includes gradients and uneven shingle—challenging for those with limited mobility
- Safety gear: A belt-mounted lifejacket is recommended on rock marks; carry a first-aid kit and warm layers
Facilities
Expect minimal facilities: this is a remote, range-managed coastline. Go self-sufficient for food, water and tackle.
- Parking: Tyneham village car park (donation box); check gate opening/closing times
- Toilets: Basic/seasonal facilities may be open at Tyneham when the ranges are open—do not rely on them
- Shops/tackle: Head to Wareham, Swanage or Weymouth for bait and tackle before you arrive
- Food/drink: Nearest cafes are around Lulworth; nothing at the beach
- Bins: Often none—take all litter and line home
- Signal: Mobile coverage can be weak or intermittent around the bay
Tips
Little tweaks make a big difference here, especially with distance and presentation. Travel light for the walk and be ready to adapt.
- Long-range casting opens up the cleaner sand for plaice and rays; clip-down rigs and aerodynamic baits help
- For plaice, add two or three bright beads or a small spoon and keep baits small; a slow retrieve can trigger takes
- Fish dusk into the first two hours of darkness for bass and rays; keep a second rod simple with a big squid/sandeel cocktail
- Crab baits from late spring transform your smoothhound chances; use a long pulley trace and let it soak
- Work the east end (near the Tout) with weedless soft plastics on the flood for wrasse and ambushing bass in the gullies
- Weed can be brutal after a hard SW blow—carry spare leaders and be prepared to move
- Triggerfish sometimes appear in late summer on small squid strips near rough ground—strike fast and keep pressure on
- Keep an eye on the Tyneham gate time; give yourself a buffer for the walk back, especially after dark
Regulations
There are two layers of rules here: national/IFCA fisheries regulations and MOD access restrictions. Always check current notices before your trip.
- MOD Lulworth Ranges: Public access only when open; red flags/lights mean no entry; stay on marked paths; do not touch or remove military debris
- Conservation: The coastline forms part of protected designations (e.g., MCZ/SSSI) where recreational sea angling is generally permitted—avoid damaging habitats and do not disturb wildlife
- Bass rules (England, recreational): As of the latest published guidance in 2024, a 42 cm minimum size applies and a two-fish daily bag limit typically operates during the open retention season; outside that season it is catch-and-release only—check current DEFRA/MMO notices before fishing
- Southern IFCA: Local byelaws and minimum sizes apply; check Southern IFCA for any seasonal/gear restrictions (e.g., netting byelaws, hand-gathering limits)
- Rays and sharks: Some species have specific protections and identification can be tricky; return any fish you cannot positively ID
- General: No fires or camping on the ranges; take litter home; respect private land and any temporary closures
- Always verify: Check MOD range opening times and government/IFCA regulations immediately before your session
