Fishing in Wiltshire, South West

Places to fish in Wiltshire

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Fishing Marks in Wiltshire

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Fishing in Wiltshire

Summary

Wiltshire is landlocked, but it’s a brilliant central base for sea anglers: within 60–120 minutes you can pick from three very different coasts — Dorset’s clean shingle and piers on the English Channel, Hampshire’s fast-tidal Solent, and Somerset’s Bristol Channel with its massive tidal range. This variety lets Wiltshire-based anglers choose the coast that best matches the day’s wind, tide, and target species.

Location and Access

South: Dorset & the Jurassic Coast

Character: Clean surf beaches, the long shingle of Chesil, rock ledges around Portland, and friendly piers (Weymouth, Bournemouth/Boscombe). Generally clearer water than the Bristol Channel.
Species: Summer mackerel, garfish, black bream, bass, wrasse, gurnard; spring–autumn rays; autumn squid; winter whiting/dabs with the odd codling.
Access from Wiltshire: A350/A354 to Weymouth and Portland; A338/A31 to Bournemouth/Christchurch. Drive times typically 1.5–2 hours from Salisbury/West Wilts; 2+ hours from Swindon.

Southeast: The Solent (Hampshire coast, incl. Lymington–Calshot–Hill Head–Hayling)

Character: Tidal channels, banks and sheltered shingle/sand beaches. Good boat options and plenty of shore marks with parking.
Species: Smoothhound (late spring–summer), bass, bream (summer), rays, dogfish, pout, sole, school codling/whiting in winter, squid in late autumn.
Access from Wiltshire: A36 to Southampton; A27/M27 for eastern Solent. Roughly 1–1.5 hours from south/east Wiltshire; ~1.5–2 hours from north Wiltshire.

West: Bristol Channel (Somerset coast — Clevedon, Portishead, Burnham, Brean, Minehead/Watchet)

Character: Enormous tidal range, murky water, strong currents, soft mud in places. Productive for power species and rays; more sheltered options in North Somerset.
Species: Thornback rays most of the year, smoothhound (late spring–summer), conger, dogfish, whiting (winter), codling in colder spells, bass in rough summer surf.
Access from Wiltshire: M4/M5 or A36/A46 to the M5 corridor. About 1–1.75 hours from Swindon/Chippenham to Clevedon/Portishead; 2 hours to Minehead/Watchet.

Southwest: East Devon (Lyme Regis, Seaton, Beer, Exmouth)

Character: Mixed ground, clean beaches, harbour/charter access. Often a quieter alternative to Chesil with similar Channel species.
Species: Mackerel, bass, bream (summer), plaice (spring), rays, wrasse, pollack off rougher ground; winter whiting/rockling.
Access from Wiltshire: A303/A30 or A35; typically 2–2.5 hours.

Charter boats within 2 hours of Wiltshire

Weymouth/Portland, Poole, Lymington/Southampton, Portsmouth, Lyme Regis, Watchet/Minehead. Targets include wreck/reef pollack, cod (when about), bass, bream, tope, rays, ling and conger depending on season and venue.

Seasons & Species

Season	Dorset (English Channel)	Solent (Hampshire)	Bristol Channel (Somerset)
Spring (Mar–May)	Plaice on clean sand (early), rays pick up Apr–May, early bream late May, bass building	Smoothhound start late May, bass, early bream May, rays steady	Thornback rays reliable, hounds late spring, bass in rougher spells
Summer (Jun–Aug)	Mackerel, gar, black bream peak, bass, wrasse, gurnard; evening rays on shingle	Smoothhound peak Jun–Jul, bass, bream, rays, sole, mackerel off piers, garfish	Smoothhound peak, thornbacks, conger, dogfish; bass in surf; mackerel sporadic
Autumn (Sep–Nov)	Bass peak Sep–Oct, bream to Oct (clear water), squid Oct–Nov from piers/harbours, rays, whiting begin	Bass strong through Oct, rays, bream into Oct, squid runs, whiting appear	Rays consistent, codling possible in cold snaps, whiting start, conger good
Winter (Dec–Feb)	Whiting, dabs, pout, rockling; occasional codling in blows; calm spells can be slow	Whiting, pout, dogfish; school codling some years; rays linger; harbours for flounder where present	Whiting, codling in colder spells, conger, big rays; tough weather but productive

Notes:

Bass regulations change periodically (bag limits/closed months). Check current MMO/IFCA rules before retaining fish.
Bream need clear water and neap tides; rays tolerate colour. Bristol Channel species often feed best on bigger tides.

Methods & Tackle

Shore beach gear: 12–13 ft beachcaster rated 4–6 oz with 5500–6500 size reel. Use 5–6 oz grip leads for tide (Bristol Channel often 6–7 oz). Shockleader 60–70 lb (or 0.65–0.75 mm mono) for casting. Lighter 3–4 oz setups are fine for Dorset neaps and close-range work.
Lure fishing: 8–9 ft rod rated ~10–35 g, 15–20 lb braid, 20–25 lb fluoro leader. Use sandeel-style soft plastics, metal jigs, and surface lures for bass/gar/pollack on clear Channel coasts.
Rigs: Pulley pennel (3/0–5/0) for rays/bass on surf and shingle; up-and-over for rays/plaice; two/three-hook flappers with size 1–2 for bream/whiting; long snoods and small hooks (size 4–6) for sole. Use rotten-bottom links over rough ground (Portland/Kimmeridge/East Devon). Drop net for piers.
Baits: Fresh lug/rag, peeler or hard crab (smoothhound/bass), sandeel, squid/mackerel strip, shellfish for bream. In the Bristol Channel, crab/squid cocktails and fish baits excel; in Dorset, worms/sandeel and small shell baits score in clear water.
Casting distance: Chesil and some Solent marks often reward 80–120 m casts; Bristol Channel fish can be surprisingly close on the flood. Adjust lead/rigs to hold bottom without over-tackling.
Boats/charters: 12–20 lb class rod for inshore reefs/bream; 20–30 lb for wrecking/conger. Braid mainline with mono top-shots, flowing traces for bass/pollack, and 1–2 lb leads for deep wreck drifts.

Tides and Conditions

English Channel (Dorset/East Devon): Moderate tides. Clear water on light northerlies/ easterlies favours lures and bream. A fresh SW/W wind builds surf and colour — great for bass but dangerous on steep shingle like Chesil. Big springs can add weed and drag; neaps are kinder for fine tactics and bream.
Solent (Hampshire): Strong tidal streams. Many marks fish best on the last two hours of flood and first hour of ebb, or around neaps for finesse species (bream/sole). Wind against tide creates short, steep chop; plan for shelter. Boat and shipping traffic adds wash and undertow near channels.
Bristol Channel (Somerset): One of the world’s largest tidal ranges. Expect fierce flows and fast-flooding shores. Many venues are timed around specific states (e.g., 2 hours either side of HW). Springs often fish best for rays/hounds/codling, but bring heavy leads and robust rigs. Westerly blows colour the water (fine), but swell and soft mud make some marks unsafe.
General safety calls: Avoid onshore gales on Chesil/shingle beaches; beware cliff ledges and swell on the Purbecks/Portland; never venture onto Bristol Channel mudflats; and always check live firing/access notices around Lulworth ranges and port/harbour bylaws.

Safety & Acccess

Plan from Wiltshire with tide, wind, and venue in mind; choose the coast that offers shelter. Allow extra time for holiday traffic on A31/A35 and around Weymouth/Portland.
Chesil and steep shingle: Powerful undertow on onshore winds; avoid in big surf. Keep well back from the swash at night.
Cliffs/rocks (Purbecks/Portland/East Devon): Good boots, headlamp, and a personal flotation device. Wet weeded ledges are slippery; carry a rope only if you know how to use it safely.
Solent channels/pontoons: Strong streams and boat wash — secure kit, use a drop net, and keep clear of navigation channels. Obey harbour bylaws.
Bristol Channel: Never step onto soft mud; know escape routes. Some marks flood behind you on the flood — identify cut-off points in daylight.
MOD/Bylaws: Lulworth ranges and some harbour walls/piers have restricted access or hours. Check local notices and range firing schedules.
Parking and security: Many coastal car parks are pay-and-display and lock at night; don’t leave valuables on show. Use well-lit areas for night sessions and tell someone your plan.

Tips

Use your location to choose the best coast: SW/W winds favour Bristol Channel or sheltered Solent marks; NE/E winds clear the Dorset water for bream and lures.
For a first Dorset trip, start on Weymouth Stone Pier or Bournemouth/Boscombe Piers — easy access, mixed species, and family-friendly.
On Chesil, scale down for bream (size 4–6 hooks, small squid/cuttle or prawn strips) during neaps and clear water; step up to pulley pennels with sandeel/squid for evening rays.
In the Solent, smoothhound love peeler or hard crab; fish the flood with a strong grip lead and long flowing trace.
Bristol Channel rays often sit where tide eases — edges of banks, rock patches, and near groynes; present a tough bait (squid/sandeel wraps) that resists dogfish.
Carry both plain and wired leads; switch when drag or weed dictates. A single tweak can transform your session.
Autumn squid runs: try small jigs (size 2.5–3.0) under a float or on light spinning gear at dusk in Weymouth/Poole/Portsmouth areas.
Keep a venue diary with tide stage, wind, water colour and catches; patterns emerge quickly when you fish three distinct coasts.
Always check current size/bag limits (especially bass) and local IFCA bylaws before retaining fish.
Ring coastal bait shops the day before; fresh worm/crab is often limited in summer weekends.

Nearby

Dorset – Jurassic Coast shingle and rocks, great summer variety and rays.
Hampshire – The Solent: tidal channels, smoothhound, bass, bream and autumn squid.
Somerset – Bristol Channel power fishing: huge tides, rays, conger, winter codling spells.
Gloucestershire – Upper Severn Estuary access (extreme tides, mud; specialist venues).
Berkshire – Inland; serves as an additional travel base to the south coast.
Oxfordshire – Inland; nearest sea via M4 to Bristol Channel or A34/A31 to Dorset/Hampshire.

FAQs

Do I need a licence to sea fish?
No rod licence is required for sea angling in England from the shore, but local permits/bylaws may apply on piers/harbours, and you must follow minimum sizes and bag limits (check current IFCA/MMO rules).
Where’s best for a beginner from Wiltshire?
Weymouth Stone Pier, Bournemouth/Boscombe Piers, Hengistbury Head groynes, or Hill Head (Solent) offer easy access, facilities, and mixed species in season.
Can I night fish?
Yes on many beaches and piers, but some car parks close and certain structures have restricted hours. Night fishing on Chesil and in the Bristol Channel can be very productive — plan carefully and fish with a partner.
How long is the drive to the coast?
Roughly 1–1.5 hours to the Solent, 1.5–2 hours to Weymouth/Portland or Bournemouth, and 1–2 hours to North Somerset/Bristol Channel depending on your start point in Wiltshire and traffic.
What about bass rules?
Regulations change. In recent years there’s been a limited bag during spring–autumn with closed months. Check the latest government/IFCA updates before retaining any bass.

Summary Table

Area (from Wiltshire)	Typical access	Best species	Go-to methods	Prime season	Safety notes	Facilities
Dorset – Chesil & Portland	A350/A354 to Weymouth/Portland (1.5–2 h)	Bass, rays, black bream, mackerel, squid (autumn)	Pulley pennel with sandeel/squid; 2–3 hook flappers for bream; lures in clear water	May–Oct (bream/bass); Oct–Nov (squid); winter for whiting/dabs	Steep shingle, strong undertow in onshore winds; cliff/ledge hazards	Good parking, tackle shops, Weymouth pier access
Dorset – Bournemouth/Christchurch	A338/A31 (1.5–2 h)	Mackerel, gar, bass, rays, sole	Feathers/float; light ledger; surface/soft plastic lures; evening ray baits	Jun–Sep (macks/gar/bass); late spring–autumn (rays/sole)	Piers have rules; watch swell and crowds	Piers, cafes, wide beaches, pay parking
Hampshire – Solent	A36/M27 (1–1.5 h)	Smoothhound, bass, bream, rays, squid (late autumn)	Crab for hounds; long flowing traces; small hooks for bream; jigs for squid	May–Jul (hounds/bream); Sep–Nov (bass/squid)	Fast tides, boat wash, channel bylaws	Ample parking/harbours, many charters
Somerset – Bristol Channel	M4/M5 corridor (1–2 h)	Thornback rays, smoothhound, conger, whiting, codling (cold spells)	Heavy grips (6–7 oz); pulley pennel; tough fish/squid baits	Late spring–summer (hounds/rays); winter (whiting/codling)	Huge tidal range, mud, rapid flooding/cut-offs	Mixed; some rough access, check tide windows
East Devon – Lyme/Seaton/Beer	A303/A35 (2–2.5 h)	Bass, bream, rays, wrasse, mackerel	Flappers for bream; pulley for rays; lures on clear days	Jun–Sep (variety); Sep–Oct (bass peak)	Rock ledges, swell on easterlies less common but possible	Harbours/charters, pay parking

Wiltshire