Chesil Beach
What is it about the 18 mile long stretch of shingle that makes it so attractive to shore anglers? Access to much of Chesil beach is difficult because of the large saltwater lagoon, called The Fleet, situated behind it.
A long hike from the Portland end of the beach over energy-sapping shingle is required to reach venues like Moonfleet, the Bridging Camp and Langton Herring, unless you have a dinghy to cross the Fleet.
Easier access venues, like Abbotsbury and West Bexington, are favorites with match anglers and the summer mackerel fishers, while Cogden is a supreme plaice venue in Spring.

The Chesil shingle is forever on the move with wind and tide grading the stones continuously from west to east. This is a major reason why there are nearly always fish around close to the beach. The scouring sea produces a regular food supply in the deep gutter it gouges at the base of the beach and it is here that the fish are often found.

Chesil offers a realistic chance of cod to 20lb, conger eels to 30lb+ as well as big pollock, smoothhounds, plaice and a bite a cast from the smaller population of poor cod, scad, mackerel, pout and garfish. Beware though, Chesils reputation for brilliance is often subject to weather with rough seas producing the best fishing. At such time the steep, moving shingle and huge swell poses danger for the unwary, who at best may get away with a soaking and at worst be buried or drowned in a maelstrom of sea and shingle.
You have been warned!

West Bexington
Situated towards the western end of Chesil beach, West Bexington produces its best
sport in big tides, although calm conditions are better for mackerel, garfish and flatfish.
Coloured water after rough weather is better for whiting and codling. Best time is the last 2 hours of the fllood and the first 2 hours of the ebb. Dusk to dark is best for sole and bass.

Abbotsbury
The Abbotsbury section of Chesil beach holds some of the most consistant marks, all of which are easily accessible. The steeply-shelving shingle beach, which gives way to deep water at close range, offers numerous species and despite a strong seasonal bias, fish can be caught almost all year round.

In autumn and winter the species include whiting, cod, pout, poor cod, dogfish, dabs, pollock and rockling, while plaice, bass, smoothhound, doggies, pout, dabs, sole, mackerel, garfish, scad, silver eels, tub & red gurnard and black bream all show up in warmer months. February to May is the lean period but specimen sized plaice and other small species can still be taken. The bigger tides are most productive, especially when fished 2 hours either side of low water or 2 hours either side of high water.

Flat calm conditions produce during the summer while a good blow to colour the water is really needed during the winter when targeting the cod or whiting.

Weymouth
Weymouth harbour area bustles with commercial boats and an ever growing charter fleet, while dinghy anglers, towing their own boats into town, use the handy town slipway to launch their boats.
While some ports and towns try to mug you when you want to launch your boat, Weymouth is quite happy to charge you just a fiver to use the slip and another couple of quid to park the trailer. Ferrybridge, between Wyke Regis and Portland, also has a slipway.
Skippers launching their own boats will find winds from the north and north-east ideal, the rest of the time you should only launch in calm conditions and then the weather must be monitored throughout.

Taking a heading 9 miles east out of Weymouth harbour towards Worbarrow Bay, aiming to fish Mupe rocks at the western end of the bay. Drift close in on the flood tide for pollock, bass, garfish and mackerel from May to September. Anchor on the landside of the last rock for big wrasse or move into Worbarrow Bay and anchor for ray. Check with the Army Range Safety people (Channel 8) to see if the area is clear of firing.
On the way to Worbarrow you will pass Durdle Door and Bats Head. Fish very close to Durdle for wrasse or come off half a mile and anchor for ray. Drift the Bats Head reef between Durdle Door and Bats Head for pollock and bass.

Ringstead is one of the best and most under-rated bass marks. Small boats fish between May and October and enjoy some good sport. Dinghy anglers seem to get the better fishing, probably because they can sneak in quietly and pick off fish on live sandeels. Find the fish by looking for the 30ft ridge on your sounder, then drift the mark using light tackle.
Not a lot of people know this, but Ringstead is a very good spot for night-time conger.