Coarse Fishing

Our coarse fisheries include over 275 acres of water with fisheries ranging in size from 2 to 81 acres. Our established lakes are located in outstandingly beautiful and secluded rural areas across the South West.

At South West Lakes Trust Fishing we offer more than just great angling, our unique fisheries are matched with a recognised reputation for great fish quality.

Enjoy the tranquility that our waters provide with established tree-lined banks, lily pads and weed beds with natural woodlands surrounding the lakes. Our coarse fisheries offer a peaceful setting within picturesque and wildlife-rich surroundings.

Coarse fishing in the South West:

We regularly hold carp and match competitions at Upper Tamar Lake with prize money exceeding £3,500. Season tickets are available online. Day tickets are bookable through Catch. Download the Catch app from App Store or Google Play.

Facilities include onsite cafes, parking, toilets, showers, wheelchair access platforms, on-site permit rooms and easy access paths and swims.

SW Lakes Fishing Trust is managed by South West Lakes Trust.

Catch Reports:

Catch reports help us monitor the health of the fish in the lake as well as manage and improve our fisheries. You can submit your catch reports using the button below or directly through the Catch App.

Send in your catch report

Click here to find out why submitting a catch report is so important.

Reporting an Incident:

South West Lakes Trust manages a portfolio of nearly 50 lakes and other natural resources so it is not always possible for our wardens to be on the scene when issues occur. The very remote and rural nature of our estate, the thing that makes them so special, also means that modern mobile communications don’t always cover the areas we would like them to. This makes getting an immediate response to ongoing incidents very challenging.

Please use this form to report any incidents of poaching, illegal fishing or any other form of antisocial behaviour to the management team so that we are able to take appropriate action.

Complete Form

Coarse Fishing at Christchurch Harbour, Lower Avon and Stour

Buy a day ticket

Buy a season ticket

Fishery Information
Fishery Map
Fishery Times
Prices
Check, Clean, Dry
Facilities
Report an Incident

Christchurch Harbour, Lower Avon, Stour and Claypool offers some of the best coarse fishing in Dorset.

Coarse fish are found in large numbers with roach and dace offering quality sport in winter.

Large pike are found above and around Tuckton Bridge and carp up to 30lb in weight are caught along the towpath and bandstand area.

The location offers some of the best sea trout fishing in England, and even the occasional salmon! The area is also famous for specimen mullet and quality bass fishing.

South West Lakes manage the area from Knapp Mill to the confluence of the two lower sections of the Avon. The Lower Avon and Lower Stour together with two thirds of Christchurch Harbour are also managed by the Bournemouth Team of South West Lakes. The boundary of the Royalty Moorings is marked by yellow buoys in the harbour.

Day Permits: Book through Catch. Download the Catch app from App Store or Google Play.

Season tickets can be purchased online.

Fishery Information:

Please note: Throop Fishery to Tuckton Bridge – RDAA members only. To find out more visit www.ringwoodfishing.co.uk

Species: Carp, Roach, Dace, Pike

Boat Fishing from Tuckton Bridge to the boundary permitted only by purchase of a boat day/season ticket (including RDAA members).

Season tickets will be valid 1 year from the date of purchase.

Contact: 01202 581411

Click here for Christchurch Harbour and South West Water Rules

Fishery Times:

No coarse fishing between 15th March and 15th June

Boat Day Ticket: 7:30am to sunset

Bankside Day Ticket: 7:30am to sunset

Bankside 24hr Ticket: 24 hours from 7:30am

Prices:

Season Tickets

Season tickets will be valid 1 year from the date of purchase and include VAT. No discounts or concessions available.

Bank Fishing (single person) £100.00
Boat Fishing (single person) £100.00
Boat Fishing (two persons) £175.00
Boat/Bank Fishing (single person) £175.00
Boat/Bank fishing (two persons) £350.00

Boat Day Ticket (single person, 7:30am to sunset) £20.00
Boat Day Ticket (two persons, 7.30am to sunset) £32.00
Bankside Day Ticket (single person, 7:30am to sunset) £13.00
Bankside 24hr Ticket (single person, 24 hours from 7:30am) £20.00
Junior Bankside Day Ticket (Aged 14-17 inclusive, 7.30am to sunset) £6.00
Bankside Evening Ticket (4pm to sunset) £7.00

Children Aged 13 and under may fish for free but must be supervised by a fully paying adult 18 or over.

(No Concessions on all day tickets. No weekly tickets available)

Invasive plants and animals can carry diseases that kill fish. Protect the environment and sport you enjoy by cleaning your kit before and after using the water.

Find out more here

Facilities:

Local facilities available within the Christchurch area include: toilets, pay and display car parking, disabled access, local shops and cafes.

Latest

Roadford Nature Reserve Volunteer Day

Join us on Thursday 16 July for a volunteering day at Roadford Nature Reserve to remove tree guards and help maintain the grounds.
Friends of South West Lakes Trust: Single Local Friendship

By joining us as a Single Local Friend, you will not only be supporting our work, but you will also enjoy year-round parking at one lake of your choice.
Become a Friend of South West Lakes Trust

Become a Friend of South West Lakes Trust to support our work caring for the lakes you love, with options incorporating an annual car parking pass for one or all of our lakes.
Cornwall Invasive Species Forum

The Cornwall Invasive Species Forum, hosted by South West Lakes Trust and kindly funded by CINNG (Community Invasive Non-native (Species) Group), brings together lots of organisations to tackle the growing challenge of invasive non‑native species across the county.

Royalty Fishery

Located in Christchurch, Royalty Fishery is a premier fishery with a long and distinguished history.
Upper Tamar

Upper Tamar Lake, nestled on the Devon and Cornwall border, is the perfect spot for your next angling adventure, voted the best still water coarse fishery in the UK in 2021! There are three miles of bank to be explored and several bays and attractive marginal areas, which produce plenty of great sport and some lovely peace and quiet.
Argal

Located on the outskirts of Penryn in Cornwall, Argal Reservoir has a National reputation for being one of the leading fisheries in the South West with many of the carp having been re-located from the prolific College Reservoir many years ago.
Porth

Porth Reservoir, set in a steep sided valley surrounded by woodlands just outside Newquay, is a beautiful destination for your next fishing escape. This Cornish coarse fishery is very mature with overhanging treelines and large beds of lily pads and weed.
Lower Tamar

Lower Tamar is a stunning coarse fishery and holds specimen fish of each species. It’s the perfect place if you’re looking for some peace and quiet and great fishing. The lake is shallow with around nine to ten foot maximum depth with 15 swims to choose from.
Squabmoor

Squabmoor fishery is simply beautiful. Situated on Woodbury Common, which is a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), this scenic Devon fishery offers 15 immaculate swims for you to choose from. The shallow end of the reservoir has an attractive area of lily pads which the carp in particular love to patrol.
Jennetts

With a national reputation for its carp fishing, Jennetts Reservoir is known as a ‘runs' water. This popular Devon coarse fishery holds carp to 32lb which can be caught off the bottom or off the surface.
Bussow

This peaceful 7 acre coarse fishery is placed close to the popular coastal resorts of St Ives and Penzance in Cornwall. Bussow has mirror and common carp to 32lbs with a handful of fish over 30lb and really good head of back up 20lb fish.
Melbury

This picturesque and mature Devon coarse fishery borders forestry and farmland near Bideford in North Devon. It is well stocked with a good mix of mirror and common carp to 30lb, the perfect spot for your next angling escape. There are some stunning, highly sought after fish such as ‘The fully scaled’ at over 25lbs and ‘The Train’ at around 27lbs.
Lower Slade

Lower Slade, tucked away in the rolling hills of Ilfracombe in North Devon, is a must visit on your next angling escape. This long narrow lake has a great mix of fish species and is a really great venue for the all-round angler or pleasure fisherman.

Current reservoir levels

See the current water levels in our reservoirs.
Wimbleball Lake, Exmoor

Wimbleball is a hub of colour and activity throughout all the seasons. Nestled within the rolling hills of Exmoor National Park, there are plenty of ways to get active at Wimbleball. With an array of walking and cycling trails winding around the 530 acre site, and a fantastic range of watersports and other activities available, this is the perfect location to spend a day outdoors – whether you are looking for a leisurely stroll or a challenging expedition.
Equipment Hire

Experience the ultimate family adventure by exploring the lakes at your own pace. We have a variety of watersports equipment available to hire including; kayaks, canoes, stand up paddleboards and more.
South West Lakes Trust Booking Confirmation

Thank you for your South West Lakes Trust booking. You’ll receive a confirmation email shortly with details of your booking.
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Self-launch and Launch Membership

Already have your own kit? You can launch your own kayak, canoe, dingy or stand up paddleboard at our lakes! And, if you are a regular visitor, you can even become a member and launch as often as you like at all five activity centres!
Wimbleball Campsite (Somerset, Exmoor)

Experience a family camping holiday like no other at Wimbleball Lake, nestled in the hills of Exmoor National Park. Create the ultimate camping break packed with adventure, creating lasting memories for the whole family.
Roadford Lake, Devon

Roadford Lake sits within the stunning surroundings of the Wolf Valley, close to Launceston on the Cornwall border. One of the biggest and busiest inland waters in the South West, the lake is surrounded by a variety of natural habitats, including Culm Grasslands, woodlands, old pastures and orchards.
Siblyback, Cornwall

Surrounded by the striking backdrop of Bodmin Moor, Siblyback Lake lies within the Cornwall National Landscape. There is a beautiful 5km round lake circuit, which is perfect for pushchairs, wheelchairs and bicycles. The path runs adjacent to the lake, and passes by the impressive Siblyback Dam and through woodlands.F
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