Local fishing

Poulner Lakes, Ringwood
Poulner Lakes, Ringwood

You’re welcome to try your luck on the Moors River on the boundary of our park if you have a rod license. However, the Hampshire Avon and Dorset Stour are renowned for providing some of the best fishing in the country and sea fishing is available on the coast. There are also many lakes in our area, some of which used to be gravel pits. The fisheries, lakes and tackle shops listed below are located in and around Ringwood, Christchurch and Wimborne. 

Ringwood and District Angling Association (RDAA)
The RDAA manages many fishing locations in the area. Guest tickets are available for 17 nearby locations. For more information, visit their website.

Christchurch Angling Club
The club manages nearby lakes and ponds, as well as sections of the Hampshire Avon, Dorset Stour and Frome rivers. Visit the website for information

Self drive boat hire, Christchurch

You can hire a boat licensed to fish on the River Stour between Tuckton Bridge and the bottom of Christchurch Harbour from Bournemouth Boating Services, based at Tuckton Tea Gardens if you have a rod license. See their website for details.

Lin Brook Carp Fishery
This carp and catfish day ticket fishery in Ringwood must be pre-booked by the 24-hour session – minimum 48 hours weekends. Week tickets and 12-hour day/night tickets from Sunday to Thursday are also available, visit their website for details.

The Royalty Fishery
A premier mixed fishery open to day ticket anglers during the coarse fishing season and salmon fishing season. The fishery is within an SSSI and conservation of wildlife is actively managed and fishing for all species is strictly catch and release only. Some swims are suitable for anglers with limited mobility. Tickets must be purchased in advance from Davis Tackle (see below). 

Moors Valley Country Park
Our local country park has roach, rudd, tench, perch and dace and is open for fishing every day in the season from 9am. Please note fishing is only permissible on Moors Lake. Crane Lake cannot be fished at any time. Day tickets are required and available from the Information Centre. 

Somerley Estate Fishery
One of the largest and most diverse fisheries in private ownership in the country, this fishery offers double bank game and coarse fishing along five miles of the River Avon, as well as sizeable, well stocked coarse fishing lakes and a one 8-acre trout lake. Run as an in-house syndicate it costs several hundred pounds per year to join. 

Rockbourne Trout Fishery
This fishery offers fly and trout fishing in a beautiful location. Anglers can swap their catch for smoked trout! Pay online on their website

Hordle Lakes
Day ticket carp fishing near New Milton in the New Forest, with bream, tench, perch, rudd, chub and roach. There are seven lakes and refreshments on site. Day tickets, overnight and 12-hour tickets available.

Fishing in and around Christchurch
Day tickets for the Lower Stour and Christchurch Harbour, including boat fishing, are available form Davis Tackle in Bargates. 

Ringwood Tackle
For local information and day tickets visit Ringwood Tackle at 5 The Bridges, Ringwood BH24 1EA or call 01425 475155.

General information

You’ll need an Environment Agency Rod Licence before fishing anywhere.

All the river fisheries are closed to coarse fishing during the statutory coarse fish close season (March 15 – June 15). Christchurch Harbour is also closed to coarse fishing but permits remain available to fish for both game and sea fish during this period.

Please note that this information was correct at the time of writing and may be subject to change.