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

The wind has dropped a bit, but it is still northerly and cold, ensuring that the water temperature is still dropping instead of increasing as it now should be doing. I see from Windguru that we are due a few days of SW winds. That will bring warmer air in, but as is normal with a SW it will bring some rain as well. We need a period of warmer weather to help bring in the Mackerel shoals over the next couple of weeks. Once they show up a lot of other species will follow them.

I know a coule of guys that are heading down to Cogden for a Plaice fishing session today. With big tides and water that has a fair bit of colour in it, they are going to need a bit of luck to help them. Tides for this weekend look better, I always prefer fishing Chesil on medium size tides.

Sea Conditions: 

Water temperature 6.5*c

Chesil Beach: Calm with a 1.5 swell. There is a band of water that is heavily coloured going out for about 300m

Portland: 1.5m swell and lightly coloured water

Portland Harbour: Wavelets with almost clear water.

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

Chesil Beach forecast: If you have a day off or need a fishing fix then Chesil is worth a go today. With the dirty water you never know what it might throw up. There is always a chance of getting a Bass if you try with large fish baits or live Peeler Crab. Keep it in close. Dogfish, Rockling and Pout will be in the same conditions but normally a little bit further out.

Portland: The normal small Wrasse and some Pollock are the most likely daytime targets, with Conger and large Rockling at night. Mackerel baits for all te species except the Wrasse. Use Ragworm or crab for them.

Portland Harbour: Reports from the harbour show that it is still very quite, but it should not stay that way for long. As soon as the water temperature starts to rise that is one of the first marks to start to liven up.

Weymouth Bay: With a more fishable surf today Preston should produce some late Whiting and early Bass. The Stone Pier will be god for small Pollock, Pout and Whiting.

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]