Fishing at Budleigh Salterton

BeachDevon🐾 Seasonal daytime dog ban★★☆ family

A steeply shelving shingle beach beneath red sandstone cliffs, best fished at the Otter Head end where the River Otter meets the sea and bass gather on the flood.

📍 View on the map

What you can catch → Full fish guide

Species	Season	Method
Bass	May–Oct	Fished at the Otter Head end where river meets sea, especially on a flooding tide
Mackerel	Jun–Sep	Feathers or spinners cast from the main beach
Garfish	Jun–Aug	Float fished mackerel strip
Grey Mullet	Jun–Sep	Sight fished with bread or small fly in the pool under the cliffs at Otter Head at high water

Tactics

Head for the Otter Head end where the incoming tide meets the river outflow — the resulting white water pulls bass in close. Mackerel or bluey strip, squid, crab and worm all produce, with crab especially good after a storm has scoured the shingle.

Best tide: Flooding tide · Best time: Summer evenings

Dogs

East Devon District Council runs a seasonal dog exclusion on the main beach from 1 May to 30 Sept; dog walking is still possible early morning or late evening within that window under the PSPO.

Official source: View the rule at source →

Access & parking

Lime Kiln car park sits right behind the beach. Sat-nav: EX9 6ES.Get directions → Family rating: ★★☆ — Shingle beach shelves quickly, so keep younger children back from the water's edge.

FAQs

Where's the best spot to fish at Budleigh Salterton?

The Otter Head end, where the River Otter meets the sea, is the standout spot for bass.

Are dogs allowed on Budleigh Salterton beach?

There's a seasonal exclusion from 1 May to 30 Sept, though early morning and evening access is generally tolerated within that period.

What bait works best at Budleigh?

Mackerel or bluey strip, squid, crab and worm all take fish, with crab particularly good after rough weather.

Nearby marks

Exmouth Beach & Exe Estuary Mouth · Sidmouth (Port Royal) · Teignmouth Seafront & Back Beach

Last updated 16 July 2026 — sources & disclaimer

Compiled from angling guides, forums and the relevant council's dog byelaws, cross-checked where possible.

Rules and conditions change, so always check current signage and tides before you go. We do our best to keep this accurate but can't promise it's error-free.