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WAC local knowledge

Local fishing around Weymouth

Town piers, harbour sessions and nearby beaches. Explore the marks already on WAC’s doorstep, with practical tackle ideas and the rules to check before you go.

Plan the session: Check weather, swell, tide, access and any temporary closures. Town piers are working harbour structures. Easier access does not mean low risk.

Weymouth & nearby marks

Postcode DT4 8DZ

Pleasure Pier

What to expect

A popular town mark with harbour structure, pier walls and mixed ground close by.

What you might catch

Mackerel, garfish, pollack, wrasse, pout, dogfish, bass, squid and mini species.

Methods

Float fishing, small lures, LRF, dropshot rigs and simple bottom rigs.

Baits and lures

Ragworm, mackerel strip, squid, small metals and soft plastics.

Before you go: Check harbour notices and pier access before setting up. Fish only from permitted positions and keep tackle clear of vessels and other users.

Open map

Postcode DT4 8TX

Stone Pier

What to expect

A town pier with access to mixed ground on its seaward side. Harbour entrance restrictions and boat traffic affect where you can cast.

What you might catch

Wrasse, pollack, mackerel, garfish, pout, bass, flounder, dogfish, squid and bream.

Methods

Float fishing, LRF, small soft plastics, metals, dropshot rigs and light bottom rigs.

Baits and lures

Ragworm, squid, mackerel strip, small metals and paddle tails.

Before you go: Use permitted positions and obey harbour signs. Never cast across the entrance or obstruct vessels; check current harbour directions before setting up.

Open map

Postcode DT4 8BG

Weymouth Harbour

What to expect

Sheltered harbour fishing with walls, boats, moorings and plenty of structure.

What you might catch

Mullet, bass, wrasse, pout, gobies, blennies, pollack, flounder and eels.

Methods

LRF, dropshot, tiny jig heads, float fishing for mullet and light ledger rigs.

Baits and lures

Bread, ragworm, tiny soft plastics, small fish baits and light hooks.

Before you go: From 1 April to 30 September, casting rods into the Inner Harbour Entrance is prohibited. Gear must never obstruct navigation. Use the current harbour directions and on site signs.

Open map Harbour fishing directions

Postcode DT2 8NQ

Ringstead

What to expect

A scenic shingle and mixed ground mark with reefy areas, clean patches and rougher ground nearby.

What you might catch

Bass, mackerel, garfish, wrasse, pollack, dogfish, bull huss, conger, rays, pout and whiting.

Methods

Pulley rigs, rotten bottom rigs, float fishing near rocks, lure fishing and bigger fish baits after dark.

Baits and lures

Squid, mackerel, sandeel, crab, ragworm, plugs, metals and soft plastics.

Before you go: Take a mix of tackle. Lures and floats help avoid snags, while stronger rigs are handy if you fish rougher ground.

Open map

Postcode DT3 6HS

Preston Beach

What to expect

A shallow, cleaner beach mark that can be a good option when other marks are too rough.

What you might catch

Flounder, plaice, small bass, garfish, gurnards, gilthead bream, sole, smoothhound, whiting, dab and pout.

Methods

Two hook flappers, running ledgers, light beach gear, worm baits and small crab baits.

Baits and rigs

Ragworm, lugworm, fish strips, squid, small hooks and lighter leads when conditions allow.

Before you go: Choose the beach to suit the actual wind, swell and tide on the day. Preston is not automatically safe because Chesil is rough. Stay clear of swimmers and other beach users.

Open map

Sea fishing size limits & rules

Checked 4 November 2026. This local summary covers recreational angling in the Southern IFCA district. Use the official sources for the full rules and any later changes.

Selected legal minimum sizes

Measure finfish from the snout to the end of the tail fin. Skate and ray measurements are wing tip to wing tip. Release undersized fish immediately.

Species	Minimum size
Bass	42 cm
Black seabream	23 cm
Mackerel	20 cm
Horse mackerel / scad	15 cm
Plaice	27 cm
Dover sole	24 cm
Flounder	27 cm
Dab	23 cm
Pollack	30 cm
Whiting	27 cm
Ballan wrasse	18 cm
Conger eel	58 cm
Thick lipped & thin lipped grey mullet	42 cm
Golden grey mullet	36 cm
Whole skates & rays, where retention is lawful	40 cm wing width

A minimum size is not permission to keep a protected species or exceed a bag limit. Species not listed here may have other restrictions.

Southern IFCA minimum sizes Full local size byelaw (PDF)

Bass: the 2026 rules

1 February to 31 March: catch and release only with rod or handline.
During January and 1 April to 31 December: a maximum of three bass per person per day, each at least 42cm.
The rules cover both shore and boat anglers.
Nursery areas have additional restrictions. In the Fleet, fishing for bass from a boat is prohibited throughout the year.

MMO bass guidance 2026 Southern IFCA bass & nursery areas

Other catch rules & local restrictions

The UK and EU agreed a three fish daily recreational pollack retention limit for 2026. Check the latest implementation and area rules with the MMO before retaining pollack. European eels and shad must be returned unharmed. Protected skate, ray and shark species have separate restrictions.

Follow local signs and harbour directions, keep fishing gear clear of navigation and never assume a map pin gives permission to fish.

Southern IFCA rod & line rules MMO fishing regulations 2026 pollack agreement

From the guide to your tackle box

Start with our harbour and coastal lure selection. Choose a lure weight to suit your rod, match clips and line to your setup, and ask us if you need help.