Could we see Tuna?

I was told a few weeks ago that there was a large body of warm water moving in the Atlantic, that would bring huge shoals of Mackerel to the UK. Along with the Mackerel and other baitfish, would be Sharks and Tuna. I will admit that I was more than sceptical, but it seems that I may have been a bit hasty in my dismissal. We certainly had a lot of large Mackerel a few weeks ago, even though trying to find many on Chesil last weekend was hard. However I came across this video, posted by Dan Tucker of a shoal of Tuna off Newquay in Cornwall, they varied in size from 4 – 6ft long. Unfortunately as Dan has kept his video listed for friends only, so I can’t copy it on to here.

Chesil beach was back to it’s normal way of fishing, with a few good fish coming out, but a lot of blanks. That is pretty unusual for this time of year, as it is normally very good all along the beach. The fish that were landed were nice. Brenden Moon had a great session with Conger, Cod and Undulate Rays.

Saturday night seen lots of Smoothound, especially from Abbotsbury. Kevin and Ryen Brandwood fished there and managed 9 Hounds and a small Conger between them. Ryen pictured below managed his first ever hound. All the fish came on Peeler, both live and frozen.

We are due another blow on Saturday. It will be similar to last weekends short blow, which did little to improve fishing. However if it continues for longer than the 24 hours it is forecast to do, then we may well see Cod and Bass again.

Sea Conditions: Water temperature 17.8°c

Chesil Beach:  Calm with clear water, changing to rough on Saturday

Portland: Calm with clear water. A large swell will pick up on Saturday and continue on through Sunday

Portland Harbour: Calm and clear

Weymouth Bay: Calm and clear

Chesil Beach forecast: Very few Mackerel around at the moment and the prospects are not looking great for Saturday. However things will improve on Sunday with the chance of Bass and Cod during the day. I would also expect to see Pout and Dogfish in the coloured water. The coloured water wont affect the Smoothounds, which should be plentiful on Peeler Crab.

Portland: There is a good chance of a lure caught Bass from Portland Bill on Saturday. Keep well back from the water if you are venturing on to the lower ledges. Wrasse fishing should be OK today and on Sunday, but poor on Saturday.

Portland Harbour: A good place to fish in the SW wind  and a very good chance to get  Garfish or small Bass.

Weymouth Bay: I have heard some good reports of Mullet being caught from Preston Beach. Not your normal Grey Mullet, but Golden Grey and Red Mullet. Golden Grey Mullet can be caught on small Mepps or bunches of Harbour Rag or Maddies, which are small white Ragworm. Red Mullet will take Ragworm or small strips of Mackerel fished on the bottom. 

As usual the piers will produce plenty of fish, but I expect that they will be very busy.

Guiding: The new guiding season is underway once again. Although we can only keep one Bass, we can certainly catch more. I am hoping that the winter fishing ban and the new commercial quotas, combined with an increase in the minimum landing size, will make for some great Bass fishing. I specialize in lure fishing and I am offering Fly fishing this year as well. I am still more than happy to go after the multitude of species in this area with bait, whether that is big Wrasse, explosive Smoothound fishing or targeting the tastier fish such as Plaice and Bream. If you want to book a session or find out more information drop me an email at [email protected]