Eighteen miles of steep shingle running from Portland to West Bay — the most storied beach mark in the south. The shelf drops fast at the Portland end, putting deep water under your rod tip; further west toward Abbotsbury the beach flattens and works better on the flood. Cod and bass move along the shingle through autumn; spotted ray, smoothhound and bull huss show through summer; turbot and plaice come into the deeper sections in spring.
Target species here
Tide times for this venue
Bournemouth →
Best on the flood
Access & rules
Park at Ferrybridge, Cogden or West Bexington. Long walks down the back of the beach — wheels for your tackle barrow are essential. The steep shelf at the Portland end is unforgiving on tackle but produces the biggest fish.