Worbarrow Bay Fishing

Last updated: 1 month ago

Worbarrow Bay Fishing Map

A broad, steeply shelving shingle-and-sand beach inside the Lulworth Ranges (open limited days). Clean sand dominates the middle of the bay, with mixed/rough ground and kelp around the flanks near Worbarrow Tout and the eastern rocks. Reasonably deep water for a bay and a useful push on spring tides. Best on a flooding tide into dusk, after a southerly blow for surf, and during settled summer evenings for pelagics and rays. Expect summer mackerel, garfish and scad, bass in the surf, wrasse and pollack from the rocky ends, and pouting/dogfish after dark. Long walk from Tyneham car park, no facilities or shelter—always check range opening times.

Ratings

⭐ 7/10 Overall
Catch Potential 7/10
Species Variety 8/10
Scenery & Comfort 9/10
Safety 6/10
Accessibility 4/10

Fish You Can Catch at Worbarrow Bay

🐟 Bass 8/10
🎯 Tip: Surf or along the gutters on a flooding tide; dawn/dusk or after a blow. Shallow diving plugs or 10-20 g soft plastics; peeler crab or sandeel in the surf spring-autumn.
🐟 Mackerel 7/10
🎯 Tip: Summer shoals in settled weather; evenings best. Metals or feathers from casting points; move to find the fish. Flooding tide helps.
🐟 Ballan Wrasse 7/10
🎯 Tip: Fish the rocky ends (Mupe Rocks/Worbarrow Tout) 2 hrs either side of HW; ledger crab or rag on strong gear, or float-fish tight to kelp. Best May-Sept.
🐟 Black Bream 7/10
🎯 Tip: Target broken ground near Mupe on calm, clear days May-Oct. Size 4-6 hooks, small strips of squid or worm, light rigs; keep baits off the weed.
🐟 Pollack 6/10
🎯 Tip: Dusk into dark around rocky points; slow-rolled soft plastics or metals parallel to the ledges. Best on a flooding tide with some swell.
🐟 Starry Smoothhound 6/10
🎯 Tip: Late May-Sept over sand patches from the beach; fresh peeler crab on pulley rigs. Fish the flood into dusk; release carefully.
🐟 Garfish 6/10
🎯 Tip: Clear, calm summer days; float-fish sandeel or rag strip near the surface from headlands. Flood or first of the ebb.
🐟 Pouting 5/10
🎯 Tip: Reliable after dark around the rocks; small worm/squid baits on size 2 hooks. Fish the flood over rough ground; autumn-winter best.
🐟 Undulate Ray 5/10
🎯 Tip: Occasional from the beach on dusk/night tides June-Oct; squid/sandeel cocktails on pulley rigs over clean sand. Aim for first of the flood.
🐟 Scad (Horse Mackerel) 5/10
🎯 Tip: After dark Aug-Oct; small sabikis or 7-15 g metals worked midwater from the rocks. Lights attract shoals; fish the flood.

Worbarrow Bay Fishing

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