Chesil Beach shore‑spinning starter pack
Chesil Beach from West Bay to Portland Bill concentrates sea bass at dawn on the flood.
One rod, one reel, one spool of braid, three lures and a simple trace. Stick to a 9'6" medium spinning rod rated 10–30g like the Major Craft Crostage paired with a Daiwa Ninja 2500. Load 18lb Daiwa J Braid for distance and feel. Short fluorocarbon traces 60–70cm, 7kg, fitted with gemini clips at each end speed up lure changes and keep the trace abrasion‑resistant around shingle.
Lures and retrieves
Run shallow: no deeper than 15cm. Carry an IMA Kimono II for tight walk‑the‑dog surface action; a Seaspin Coxieda for a solid wobble on medium retrieves; and a Z Claw for twitchy, pause‑and‑strike work near the Portland Bill approaches and the sailing club headland. Fast strips, twitch‑pause, and medium steady retrieves cover the range.
Knots, casts and tide windows
Use a double uni to join braid to the fluorocarbon trace. For lure-to-clip connections a small Palomar holds well. Learn the Fatima Whitbread flick cast: smooth acceleration, relaxed wrist, timing over brute force. Fish high water and the opening flood; dawn to mid‑morning sessions give the best early chances. Position on the edges of the shingle ridges where current funnels along the beach.
Recommended: 9.6ft surf rod