Poole Harbour

Poole Harbour Marks

I recommend that you open the ‘larger map’ in a new window. Click on the fish on the map for the venue name.

Rockley Sands
Fishing is from the beach running alongside Rockley Sands Holiday Park. There is a good car park that can be reached by driving into the park and turning left immediately after the entrance to the outdoor swimming pool. Walk towards the shore and you will find steps leading down to the beach. This area only dries out on the lowest of springs. Primarily a Flounder venue during the winter months this area does produce some large Flounder especially during the early part of the Fliounder season. The Flounder fishing can be severely affected by prolonged periods of rain causing the nearby freshwater influx from the River Frome and other small steams to kill the fishing. Large crab population so pop-up baits almost an essential until the frosts have removed their interference. Some good Mullet shoals here and always a good possibility of migrating Sea Trout (remember your game license).

Ham Pier and Beach
Car parking immediately adjacent to the beach and pier. Fishing from the beach – as Rockley. Also fishing available from Ham Pier which can produce some excellent Bass and Mullet and occasionally some good Black and Gilthead Bream, Garfish, Mackerel and Smoothhound catches. Snaggy sea bed in places.

Holes Bay
Alongside the A350 leading into Poole town centre. Parking is possible along the bay side grass verge at the side of the carriageway, but be warned that although this has been taking place for many years by many anglers, this is not a given right and though not officially confirmed, rumours have been around for a long time that the local police take a dim view to this. However, many anglers still park there most evenings and I personally have not experienced or heard of any problems – just be safe and sensible. Alternative parking is not easy with most side roads double yellowed.
Fishing is from a footpath running around the east bank of the bay. This pathway has a wide rock reinforcing wall running down to the waters edge that can cause a little difficulty when retrieving or landing any fish and I personally always take a 3m landing net pole and large net with me when fishing this mark. Holes Bay can produce large numbers of Flounder at times including some quality specimens. There are some sections that dry out on lows but a few deeper section, leats and channels just within casting distance on all but the lowest of tides. Large crab population so pop-up baits almost an essential until the frosts have removed their interference. If Holes Bay has one major drawback (other than parking) it is the huge numbers of juvenile Bass in residence throughout most of the year. These Bass can sometime appear in plague proportions and will hit your bait before it has time to settle.

Baiter
A very popular spot that produces some good numbers of Flounder each year. Baiter is an area of reclaimed land that is well signposted to the Southern end of Poole Town Harbour. Several car parks available with the furthest from the town being recommended to get to the most popular spots. Gravel / Silt Mud sea bed producing Ragworm at low tides. Distance casting is not necessary. Most anglers choose to fish between the sluice gates (drainage channel form Poole Park Lake) to about halfway towards the public slipway towards Poole Town (approx 400m stretch).

Evening Hill
Gravel and Silt / Mud bed. Some good Ragworm beds, some small Lugworm and Razorfish. Dries out bog time at low tide. Fishing is from a pathway that follows round the base of Evening Hill or from the wall running alongside the main footpath adjacent to the road to Sandbanks. Mainly known as a Flounder venue but does throw up some good Bass with the occasional double or near double in season. Distance casting not required from under the hill but may help from the wall.

Holly Bush
This venue is opposite the main Sandbanks car park on Shore Road just before the mini-roundabout that marks the beginning of the Sandbanks peninsula. Fishing is from a wide, low walled footpath. A Flounder and Bass venue with less gravel on the bed. There are a number of moorings dotted around so care must be taken not to snag into these. Short casting only needed with Flounder being caught almost right up to the wall. The section nearest the Sandbanks peninsula only dries out on extreme lows, but the further back towards Poole you walk, the more is sea bed is exposed.

Gravel Point
Across the car ferry onto the Studland Peninsula. Parking along the road beyond the roundabout just past the Toll Booth. No overnight parking and stick to the proper parking areas as tickets given here are frequent. There are quite a few paths from the road towards the shore that overlooks Brownsea Island. Gravel Point is a small promontory just to the east of a number of houseboats. Fishing is from a stony beach with most anglers fishing from the point or between the houseboats and the start of Jerry’s Point to the west (known as Bramble Bush Bay). Long casting is not necessary on high tides.

Jerry’s Point
This is situated appox 400m to the west of Gravel Point and is a large triangular shaped headland pointing towards Brownsea island. Produces some good specimen Flounders every year and is a popular late season venue.

Redhorn
This is situated appox 450m to the west of Jerry’s Point and is a large headland pointing towards Brands Bay and Goathorn Head. Produces some good specimen Flounders every year and is a popular late season venue. The east section dries out on low tides but fishing is still possible casting towards Goathorn or Brownsea Island. There are a number of deep leats and channels around the point.