What a Bream summer

Last year was probably one of the worst years for Bream fishing I have known in the South of England. This year is more than making up for that. I can’t remember the last time, if ever that we have had so many Bream around the Dorset marks. Chesil in particular is fishing exceptionally well for Bream. One of my friends came down from Gloucester for a few days in search of his first Bream. He was far from disappointed, as he managed several on each of his sessions. He also reported some nice Red Mullet.

last week I put up a picture of Gavin Tyte with an 8lb Bass caught on Monmouth Beach. Not to be outdone by her Dad, 13 year old Rowena accompanied him on the next evening and also managed a nice Bass on a surface popper. Using surface lures is my favourite method of fishing for Bass. It isn’t necessarily  the best, but it certainly is the most exciting, when you see a Bass smash into the lure on the surface.

I think I may have had my last fishing session at Kimmeridge. I got up very early on Sunday morning to have a lure session at Kimmeridge. After a pretty poor session with only one fish having a go at the lure, I was walking back along the ledge, when I noticed a few small rocks start to come down from above. As I looked up a huge section of the cliff detached itself and came hurtling down. Luckily I had just enough time to head towards the waters edge. Had I not spotted the initial slide, I may well not have been posting anymore reports.

Sea Conditions:

Water temperature 18.6 °c.

Chesil Beach: Calm with clear water

Portland: Calm and clear water

Portland Harbour: calm with clear water

Weymouth Bay: Calm with clear water.

Chesil Beach forecast:If you can get out on the beach, now is the time to do it. Mackerel. Red Mullet, Garfish, Bream, Gurnard, Bass and Smoothound are all being caught along Chesil. At the moment the Weymouth and Portland end of the beach seems to be fishing best. THe top baits are Ragworm, strips of squid and Mackerel.

Portland: The tides are excellent for an evening Pollock session around the Bill. Wrasse fishing as usual is fantastic, but you need to get the tides correct for best results. Fish the West side of the island on the Ebb tide and the East side on the flood.

Portland Harbour: Now is the time for Gilthead Bream. They can be caught on Mussels, Peeler Crab and Ragworm. However one of the better baits is lugworm. I have had them on the sandbars either side of the channel coming out of the Fleet at Ferrybridge. It is not unusual to pick up Bass at the same time. 

There are some nice Mullet towards Castletown from the end of Portland Marina.

Weymouth Bay:Loads of fish being caught on both piers. I have yet to have a go for the Mullet in the harbour this year, but there looks like plenty to choose from.

Preston can often produce some nice Rays at this time of year. You are always in with the chance of a Bass, especially on the flood and over high water.

 Lyme Regis: A few Bass showing on Monmouth.

Guiding: I still have a few slots left between now and October, so if you are interested in lure or bait fishing drop me an email to [email protected]