Early season Cod
Cod fishing on Chesil Beach normally starts towards the end of October, with last year being an exception, as it started in late September. This year everything has been turned on its head. We have been seeing good catches of Codling for weeks, and they seem to be getting larger by the week. Danny Woodcock had this 8lb Cod from Chesil 
It would seem that the top baits for Cod at the moment are the usual Lugworm and Hermit Crab, and of course my favourite, Peeler Crab.
It is not just Cod that are being caught. Fishing in general is at its peak. Part of the reason that I have not put a new post up for over a week, is that I have been fishing for up to 20 hours a day over the past 10 days, and the fishing have been fantastic. I have been guiding all this week and I have managed to help all my clients get into some nice fish including Bream, Gurnard, Bass, Mackerel, Pollock and Garfish to name a few.
Sea Conditions:
Water temperature 17.8 °c.
Chesil Beach: Flat calm and clear.
Portland: Calm and clear
Portland Harbour: calm with clear water
Weymouth Bay: 1m surf running for 70m, the water is coloured.
Chesil Beach forecast: With an easterly wind on your back, Chesil remains flat calm. The wind also helps with casting, not that the fish are out far. Most of the fish I have had recently have come between 40 and 70yds. 
Garfish are around in large numbers and can be caught easily with a sliver of mackerel fished on a float or on a flyer. There have not been so many Mackerel, but the Bream and Gurnard are making up for that. Codling have been coming just before dark and into darkness.
I have heard reports of some early Whiting down at Abbotsbury.
Portland: Portland is fishing well for Wrasse and a few Pollock. Church Ope Cove may well start to produce Sole.
Portland Harbour: With the tides increasing in size the harbour should see an increase in the number of Bass around Ferrybridge and the reefs along from Sandsfoot Castle. Lures will always out fish bait for Bass on those marks. There are plenty of Garfish and Mullet around, as well as Scad after dark.
Weymouth Bay: As usual both piers are fishing well for lots of different species. Mackerel and Garfish are around in big numbers. If you are after a Bass today then head for Preston Beach. With a lovely surf running it will be full of Bass. Guess where I am going this morning 🙂
Guiding: I still have a few slots left between now and November, so if you are interested in lure or bait fishing over the next two most productive months of the year then drop me an email to [email protected]
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Once again i have to say how much i enjoy reading your blog. I hate fishing forums normally, dull uninteresting places. This is informative, interesting and great photos.
I live more than seventy miles away but have fished chesil for more than twenty years. I love it but gaining info can be hard to come by. Thanks
I shall be down on Monday for the day once again to take advantage of the many bream gurnard and mullet i have already had this year. I shall be targetting the triggers of course as a lot of fun. Where is the best place to buy hermits on a monday?
There is a boat the moors up opposite the fish shop in Weymouth that sells Hermit Crab, though you usually have to be there first thing in the morning or when they come back in the afternoon.