Fishing at Hunstanton Cliffs & Beach

Beach / Cliff markNorfolk🐾 Seasonal daytime dog ban★☆☆ family

Hunstanton's famous striped cliffs give lure anglers a dusk-and-dawn bass mark right under the chalk, while the open sand either side produces flounder and eels on bait.

📍 View on the map

What you can catch → Full fish guide

Species	Season	Method
Bass	May–Oct	Lure fishing under the cliffs at dusk and dawn; also caught to bait close in
Flounder	Aug–Dec	Lugworm fished hard on the deck from the open beach
European Eel	Autumn	Worm bait after dark
Smooth-Hound	Summer	Peeler crab on a simple running leger
Dab Plaice	Summer–autumn	Small hooks and worm over clean sand

Tactics

Fish the cliff base around the sailing club ramp and about 100 yards along under the main cliffs — there's rough chalk ground here so watch tackle losses, but it's produced bass close in. The open beach either side is more forgiving for flounder and dab on standard two-hook rigs with lug or peeler.

Best tide: Two hours either side of high water · Best time: Dusk and dawn for bass; daytime for flatfish

Dogs

The Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk (not North Norfolk District Council) excludes dogs from the beach between the power boat ramp and the northern end of the promenade, 1 April to 31 October inclusive — a longer window than the 1 May-30 Sept most other Norfolk beaches use. An on-lead requirement applies to the promenade in the same zone and period.

Official source: View the rule at source →

Access & parking

Park at the cliff-top car park above the beach; access down to the sand via the ramps near the lighthouse and sailing club. Sat-nav: PE36 6EL.Get directions → Family rating: ★☆☆ — Good sandy beach for kids either side of the cliffs, but the cliff-base lure marks are for adults — loose rock and a falling tide need care.

FAQs

Can you fish under Hunstanton cliffs?

Yes — the cliff base is a known bass lure mark, especially around dusk and dawn, though the ground is rough chalk so expect some tackle loss.

Is Hunstanton beach dog friendly?

There's a seasonal PSPO restriction on the main beach from 1 May to 30 September; some stretches remain dog-friendly year-round.

What can you catch off Hunstanton beach?

Bass, flounder, silver eels, smooth-hound and dab/plaice depending on season, with bass the main summer target under the cliffs.

Nearby marks

Wells-next-the-Sea Quay & 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.