Catch report & fishing forecast for Dorset including Chesil Beach, Portland & Weymouth

I have finally got my car back, so I can get out and about again. I may well head out towards Cogden as my mate is going to be fishing   down there today. He managed 3 Plaice and a load of Rockling from the same mark yesterday. Interestingly he had the Plaice on Ragworm tipped with Lugworm. Reports coming from Seaton are that some early Small Eyed Rays are showing to Sandeel.

I am not sure if any of you noticed I have put up two galleries as promised. One is to show every different species of fish that I catch this year. I know there are only 2 pictures in it at the moment, but I have been a bit lazy with my camera, so that needs to change. Everything I catch no matter how small, will be photographed and put in the gallery. My main aim this year is to hit 30 different species. The other gallery is for the fish of the month. I want you guys and girls to send me pictures so it can be filled up every month. Starting on Friday I will take entries for the March competition. Each month there will be a prize for the best fish. It does not need to be the heaviest fish, just the one that I think is the most worthy. Each monthly winner will then go on to the fish of the year competition, where I hope to have a nice prize that I can announce soon.

Sea Conditions: 

Water temperature 7.1*c

Chesil Beach: Small waves, and very little swell. The colour is slowly dropping out of the water and it looks to have a milky tinge to it.

Portland: Calm and almost clear water

Portland Harbour: Surf on the Easterly facing beaches with clear water.

Weymouth Bay: A small surf going out about 100m. The water has a bit of colour in it.

Chesil Beach forecast: Big tides today will make the Plaice fishing a bit patchy as they tend to wait for the tide to drop in intensity before feeding. Dabs and Rockling seem to feed throughout the tide, as do the Pout and Dogfish that will appear at nightfall. It is worth setting up a long flowing trace for an early Ray. Try using a couple of Sandeels secured on to a 4/0 hook with bait elastic.

Portland: I expect to see a few Wrasse and Pollock caught today from around the Bill. Night tides are likely to produce Pollock, Conger, Rockling and Bull Hus to large fish baits.

Portland Harbour: The few people that I did speak to over the weekend did not get into any fish from the harbour, but I do expect the first Mullet to start showing soon.

Weymouth Bay: Still plenty of Small Whiting and Pollock coming from the Stone Pier. Some of the LRF guys have been getting some good results from all along the inner harbour. If you are looking for Flounder then have a go in Weymouth Harbour. I think the bitterly cold NE wind has put a lot of people of fishing at Preston.

Guiding & Lessons: I know it is the heart of winter, but now is a good time to think about booking a 1 to 1 lesson or get on one of my fishing workshops. This will give you plenty of time to practice the techniques you learn before the fish turn up again in the spring. Have a look on the guiding link at the top of the page or drop me an email for more details to [email protected]