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

I can’t believe it is March already. I start to get excited in March, as I know so of our favourite species start to return and then before you know it the summer species arrive 🙂 I know we are not quite at that stage yet but I certainly expect to see a lot more Plaice moving onto the beach. The past couple of years have seen the Mackerel shoals come in very early, even as early as mid March. Looking at the sea temperature this year I cant see them being earlier than April.

Despite my better judgement I will be out trying to catch some Bass on lures. I am pretty sure that it is too cold, but the reports I have had from reliable sources say that there are some about, especially on bait. I have a friend coming down from London, so I think we will spend a the morning down at Kimmeridge, then head of for some Pike and Perch fishing in the afternoon.

Sea Conditions: 

Water temperature 6.9*c first time in 4 years the sea has dropped below 7 degrees around here.

Chesil Beach: Calm and almost clear with just a tinge of colour.

Portland: Calm and almost clear water

Portland Harbour: wavelets with clear water.

Weymouth Bay: Wavelets with a slight colour in the water.

Chesil Beach forecast: I am sure that there will be plenty of anglers coming down this weekend for a Plaice fishing session on the beach. It is still a bit early but there have been patches of fish that have been caught. As usual they are at distance, however if you can locate one of the clay beds in closer you might get lucky. Your main catch apart from the Plaice during the day will be Rockling. Night tides are producing some Pout, Dogfish and small Whiting.

Portland: I have had quite a few people ask me if it is worth traveling down to Portland for lure fishing this weekend. Well the tides are good, but the water temperature is so low it will make it difficult. However as clarity is good and there are Wrasse and Pollock about it is well worth a go. If you fancy trying some LRF fishing for Rockling, Sea Scorpions and other mini species the conditions on the West side are almost perfect. If you want to stick with traditional bait methods then fish hard on the bottom with rotten bottoms and Crab or Mackerel baits and hope you don’t lose to much gear. Night fishing will produce Conger, Pollock, Bull Huss and large Rockling.

Portland Harbour: Even the Flounder seem to have disappeared from the harbour.

Weymouth Bay: Expect small Pollock, Wrasse and Pout from the Stone Pier. Preston could throw up a Bass especially if the wind from the NE picks up a bit later on.

Boat & Kayak fishing: All of the charter fleet should be out this weekend and looking at the sea state they should easily be able to hit the offshore wrecks for big Pollock. Closer inshore, small boat owners could do well over the Hood entrance of Portland harbour. This is a favourite spot of mine for Kayak fishing. Another Kayak spot has to be launching from West bay on a flooding tide and drifting along Chesil about 200yds out for Plaice. Use large baits just like you would if you were boat fishing for them.

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]