Summary
Worbarrow Tout is the rugged limestone headland at the eastern end of Worbarrow Bay, between Tyneham and Mupe, on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast. Its clear water, fast tide run and rough ground make it a first-class mark for wrasse, pollack and bass, with summer pelagics close in. Access is within the Lulworth Firing Ranges, so opening times and safety rules strictly govern when you can fish.
Location and Access
This is a remote, MOD-range shore mark reached via Tyneham Village when the Lulworth Ranges are open. Expect a fair hike and uneven terrain, but the ledges reward the effort when conditions line up.
- Drive to Tyneham Village car park (donation parking; BH20 5DE gets you close) when the Lulworth Ranges are open; check official range opening times before travelling.
- From the car park, walk 15–20 minutes down the access road to Worbarrow Bay, then head east along the shingle to the headland; allow 35–45 minutes total in normal conditions.
- Final approaches involve boulders, sloping limestone ledges and patches of slippery weed; sturdy boots are essential.
- Terrain is steep shingle and sharp rock; not suitable for trolleys. Travel light and keep hands free for scrambling.
Seasons
Species vary with season and conditions, with rough-ground residents backed up by summer visitors and occasional rays over the bay’s sand/shingle.
- Spring: ballan and corkwing wrasse, pollack, early bass, garfish later on, occasional plaice and small rays from the bay, pout and rockling.
- Summer: wrasse (plentiful), pollack, mackerel, scad, garfish, bass (lures and bait), occasional black bream, smoothhound on crab from the bay, conger after dusk (when access permits), gurnard and the odd ray.
- Autumn: bass at dusk and into rougher spells, larger pollack on the drop-offs, wrasse until the first real chills, mackerel/scad tapering off, whiting begin.
- Winter: whiting, pout, rockling, conger in the rough, chance school bass in a surfy bay; cod are very rare here nowadays.
Methods
Rough-ground tactics and lure work shine around the Tout; lighter beach gear suits the bay’s cleaner patches.
- Lure fishing: 9–10 ft rods, 15–30 g rating; weedless soft plastics (slugs/paddles on 5/0–6/0 offset hooks), metal jigs 20–40 g and slim minnows for pollack, bass and mackerel. Fish the tide run edges and drop-offs, especially at dawn/dusk.
- Float fishing: set 8–15 ft for wrasse, gar and mackerel with ragworm, prawn, sandeel strip or mackerel sliver. A sliding float helps in swell.
- Bottom fishing (ledges): 12–13 ft rough-ground rods, 25–30 lb mainline with 60 lb leaders; pulley or pulley-pennel with a rotten-bottom/weak-link lead. Baits: crab (peeler/hard-back), ragworm, squid, mackerel head/fillet for conger.
- Bottom fishing (bay): 3–5 oz leads on pulley/pulley dropper and long flappers for rays, hounds, plaice and whiting. Sandeel, squid, bluey or crab work well; keep rigs simple and long snoods for flatfish.
- LRF/HRF: small metals, isome and pintail worms for mini species around the fringes; great fun on calm, clear days.
- General: use abrasion-resistant leaders, strong hooks (1/0–4/0 for wrasse/bass; 5/0–8/0 for conger), and carry a long-handled net where ledge height makes landing tricky.
Tides and Conditions
The Tout is influenced by a notable tide run; pick states you can fish safely and present baits properly.
- Tide: mid-flood through the first of the ebb is often best for movement without the worst of the race; neaps are more forgiving than big springs.
- Conditions: light northerlies and slight seas give excellent water clarity for wrasse and lure fishing; a building southerly swell quickly makes the ledges dangerous.
- Time of day: dawn and dusk are prime for bass and pollack; bright, clear midday can still score wrasse tight to rock/kelp.
- After a blow: as the sea settles, try the bay ground for bass and rays in a residual surf; avoid the ledges during heavy swell or strong onshore winds.
- Water clarity: clear to lightly tinged suits lures and wrasse; a bit of colour can help bass on bait in the bay.
Safety
This is a committing rock mark inside an active firing range; plan carefully and keep conservative margins.
- Range access: absolutely no entry when closed or red flags/lights are displayed; gates are locked at published closing times—do not get stranded.
- Ledges: sudden depth changes, slippery weed and swell surges—never fish with swell breaking onto your platform; always have a safe retreat.
- Tidal pull: the race off the Tout is strong on springs; avoid casting too far into the stream if you can’t hold bottom or control lures safely.
- Rock stability: expect loose limestone, scree and occasional rockfall; helmets are sensible if you’re close to the cliff line.
- Personal kit: wear grippy boots and a coastal lifejacket; carry headtorch, spare light, first aid and a charged phone/VHF. Fish with a partner if possible.
- Accessibility: not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility. The long walk and scrambling require good fitness.
- Waste and fires: no bins on the mark; pack out all litter and do not light fires or BBQs on MOD land.
Facilities
There are no facilities at the mark itself; treat this as a remote session.
- Parking: Tyneham Village car park (donation) when ranges are open; information boards show opening/closing times.
- Toilets: basic facilities at Tyneham when open; none at the beach or the Tout.
- Food/water: bring everything; no taps or shops. Nearest cafés/shops at Lulworth Cove/West Lulworth and Wareham.
- Tackle/bait: tackle shops in Wareham, Swanage and Weymouth; pre-buy bait, especially crab and quality worm.
- Signal: mobile reception is patchy to poor in the bay; better on higher ground but do not rely on it.
Tips
A few small tweaks can transform sessions here, especially around the tide edges and in clear water.
- Fish mobile: work along the ledges to find fish sitting on eddies and drop-offs rather than camping one spot.
- Weedless is king: texas-rigged soft plastics save gear and reach fish lurking in kelp pockets; add tungsten nail weights to fine-tune sink.
- Rotten-bottoms: use 8–12 lb weak links to your lead when bottom fishing; it’ll save rigs and keep you fishing after a snag.
- Colour choice: natural/sardine patterns in clear water; darker/contrast lures when there’s a hint of colour or low light.
- Chum slick: a little mashed mackerel keeps gar/scad around the float; keep feeds light to avoid overdoing it.
- Wrasse care: unhook over a wet mat/rock, barbless or crimped barbs help; quick photos and release—big ballans are precious.
- Identification: learn your rays; undulate rays are common along this coast—release them carefully and check current rules before retaining any ray.
- Be punctual: allow time to walk out and, crucially, to walk back; the MOD locks gates at closing time even in fine weather.
Regulations
Access and fishery rules apply; check official sources before you go as details can change.
- MOD/Lulworth Ranges: access is only permitted when the ranges are open; obey all signage, flags and wardens. Keep to marked paths, no climbing on structures, no camping or fires, and leave by the stated closing time.
- Night access: the ranges are generally open in daylight hours only; assume no night fishing unless official schedules explicitly allow late opening.
- Minimum sizes/bag limits: Southern IFCA byelaws and national rules apply—know and follow minimum conservation reference sizes for all species.
- Bass (recreational): current national measures typically include a closed catch-and-release period in winter and a limited daily bag with a 42 cm minimum in the open season; check the latest UK Government/MMO notice for exact dates and limits before retaining any bass.
- Protected species/areas: parts of the Purbeck coast fall within designated conservation areas; do not collect live baits from protected rockpools/reef features and release any prohibited species (e.g., undulate ray) unharmed.
- General: no setlines or unattended rods; dispose of line and hooks responsibly; observe local seasonal bird nesting restrictions on cliff paths when posted.
