April 2008

SHORE:
Plaice will be dominating sport at West Bexington, Cogden and Abbotsbury with fish expected in numbers during settled spells. A big tide along with a flat calm sea and lugworm fished at distance seems to be the winning combination. Dabs should also figure along with dogfish, pout, small whiting and the odd codling and big sole from the Abbotsbury stretch. Bass and silver eels should also make their presence felt from many marks, while flounder will start to filter back into the harbours after spawning. Mackerel should also start to appear in greater numbers towards the end of the month with pout, dogfish and the odd sole being the main target during night sessions. The Weymouth end of Chesil will be slow with a chance of codling showing from the Bridging Camp and Boundary Stone sections. Apart from a few pollack and rockling the Portland rock marks will still produce some quality wrasse with a number of specimens caught. The smaller fish however will start to disappear now.
BOAT: Pollack and ling will be the main target for boats heading out to mid-channel wrecks off Weymouth. Drift fishing with pirks, artificial eels and jellyworms generally scores well. Thornback rays should figure from the Adamant and Lulworth banks, while undulate and blonde rays will show over the Kidney banks. The first good double-figure turbot and brill should appear from the Shambles along with a good smattering of plaice. Drifting with spoons and beads as attractors is best with the top baits being rag/crab cocktails on a size 2/0 hook for the plaice. Think about returning more fish. Bass can also be expected from a number of locations with sandeel proving most effective. Dogfish, gurnard and some decent plaice will show on the clean grounds. Wrasse fishing around Portland will still show the odd big specimen fish. The odd big plaice should be taken by dingy anglers fishing within Portland harbour, while the wreck of the Hood in the southern entrance should provide some superb pollack and bass action. Float fished white rag will do the business.

May 2008

SHORE:
The whole Dorset coastline will once again come alive as mackerel appear. Chesil beach and the Portland areas will be the first to reap the benefits with marks to the east of the county coming on tune a couple of weeks later. Trigger fish should start to appear along the Weymouth section of Chesil while red and tub gurnard, smoothhound, scad, dogfish and pout setting the tempo from the Bridging Camp so long as the 'May water' doesn't hamper fishing. Mackerel will be numerous towards dusk and will show by day at Abbotsbury, West Bexington and Cogden. Expect sole, pout, dogfish and smoothhound at night. Some very big mullet along with the odd bass will show from the Fleet running behind Chesil. Float fishing from the ferry bridge will provide great sport for mackerel, pollack, garfish and scad. Wrasse, small pollack and the odd bass will be supplying most of the action from Portland rock marks with Pulpit and Ocean rock areas the most productive. The Stone Pier will be alive with mini species, while mullet and some big silver eels will show in the harbours.
BOAT: Boat anglers can expect some great sport especially to the west of the region where plaice, ray, turbot and brill will be the main target. This area often sees an early run of black bream. Weymouth boats can expect turbot and bass from the Shambles with the odd big plaice. Pollack will filter inshore towards wrecks and reefs and conger eels will be active from deep-water marks. Mid-channel wrecks should offer some superb pollack action. Ling and conger eels will also show as mackerel becomes plentiful throughout the region. Thornback rays can be expected over the Lulworth banks and spurdogs will figure from the ten-mile mark. Big blonde rays will be taken on fresh mackerel bait from the Kidney bank. Plaice should also figure for boats fishing off Chesil while bass can be taken from the Race. Drift fished mackerel or sandeel will take the bigger fish. The Stenis Ledges and M2 mark will provide some good mixed bags while conger eels will be moving over inshore reefs and the rough ground areas.

Pocket guide to sea angling and tide table booklet available from all south coast
tackle shops
Trevor Sutch