I know some of you are thinking that you have not seen many reports this week, and there is a good reason for that. I am writing this report from Spain, so it is not as first hand as it could be, but I have been keeping in contact with what has been going on and my partner Ade, will be adding some posts on a couple of items he has been reviewing recently.
I am busy trying to film a video on lure fishing in Spain. I am hoping to get enough time to do one on the Black Bass fishing in the region. Black Bass are the same as the American Large Mouth Bass. They are extremely aggressive and fantastic sport to catch on lures. I have caught a lot of them when I was a fishing guide in Spain, but I do not know if I will get enough time to concentrate on them during this trip. According to my wife I am supposed to take some time off for a holiday whilst I am here. Surely a man is allowed to go fishing when he is on holiday 🙂
I received an email from a friend of mine that I go beating with in the winter. He is a member of the Fleet Wildfowlers (not sure that is the right name). He told me that he attended a recent wildfowlers meeting, where the owner of the land around Moonfleet manor hotel, had informed them that he was intending to remove all the boats pulled up on his property, whose owners are not known to him. So if you have a boat there, make sure you either make yourself known to the land owner or move your boat. Unfortunately I do not know who the land owner is, so I can’t give you any contact details.
I have heard plenty of complaints recently that the fishing has been poor this year, and that is not just in Dorset, but pretty much all along the South coast. Well hold on to your hats, because hopefully all of that is about to change. Looking at the forecast for the weekend. it looks like we are in for a bit of a blow on Sunday. This will really stir the water up and produce some great fishing conditions for Bass. It might even tempt some of the Codling that have recently put in an appearance to come closer to shore.
The Bass are starting to show on the boats fishing around Portland Bill and in the Race. Joey Mackerel will be the best bait for the next couple of weeks. After that lures are deadly. Sidewinders and Redgill’s are normally the best lures from the baot. I will put up a more detailed post up at the end of the month, showing how to set the lure up for drifting for Bass. As you can see from the picture below Josh Simmonds managed to get his clients in to them on his boat Fish-On.
Sea Conditions:
Water temperature 17.3*c.
Chesil Beach: small swell the water is clear
Portland: small swell with clear water
Portland Harbour: Calm and clear water
Weymouth Bay: Calm with clear water
Chesil Beach forecast: You have today and tomorrow to have a go at Bream, Gurnard, Trigger Fish and Plaice, before the wind really picks up on Sunday. You will still be able to go after those species but it will be tough conditions. When the wind does get up conditions will be great for Bass. Use big baits close in, but be careful of the surf. It can easily drag an unwary angler in.
Portland: The Bill has been fishing well over the past few days. Some large Ballan Wrasse have been caught from the Pulpit Rock on Hermit Crab. Pollock, Garfish and Mackerel are around in good numbers for those trying lures. Church Ope Cove should fish well during darkness tonight, with the chance of Sole, Rays and Bass.
Portland Harbour: I know that there are still plenty of Gilthead Bream and Flounder between Ferrybridge and Sandsfoot sailing club. Mullet fishing from Castletown is good at the moment.
Weymouth Bay: There are still loads of Mullet in Weymouth Harbour. Most of them seem to be Thick Lipped, so the best bait for those Mullet is going to be bread. However as they are becoming ever more wary, you might want to think about trying floating dog biscuit. Lots of anglers catch Carp on them in the warmer months, and I have had Mullet on them in the past. It is best to use them on days when they winds are light.
Both the Stone Pier and the Pleasure Pier are producing Mackerel, Scad, Pollock and Garfish to float fished strips of Mackerel. Use Ragworm to tempt the Wrasse from all along the pier.
Guiding & Lessons: Despite September and October being the best months for lure fishing for Bass, I still have quite a few days left. Have a look on the guiding link at the top of the page or drop me an email for more details to [email protected]
Hi fished abbo Friday nyt till 9 ish got blown off the beach 30 mph wind straight into ur face ended up with 2 fish 1 scad caught on a mackie head in the surf and 1 plaice which weighed just over 4 1/2 pound very happy with that
Love this website Sean u do an amazing job can’t wait to catch some cod this year that’s if the trawlers don’t get them all 🙁
Tight lines Tom