Fishing forecast for Chesil Beach, Portland & Weymouth. 2nd August 2012

The wind is picking up this afternoon and gusting to almost 30mph. It is a good opportunity to have a go for a Bass on Chesil Beach. Use a large bait such as a Mackerel head very close in and wait to see if a big Bass comes along. More big summer Bass are caught with a Mackerel head along Chesil Beach than any other bait. It is what the Bass are used to finding at close range at this time of year.

A friend of mine, Will Harding has been having a lot of fun and success with light rock fishing (LRF) mainly around Weymouth Harbour. The number of species that he has clocked up over the past few months on very light gear is incredible. Reading of his exploits on Facebook and on his blog has pushed me over the edge. I am going to go and buy an LRF rod this weekend and have a go at targeting mini species. I hear a lot of you mocking, but I think a lot of fun can be had on ultra light tackle. Take a look at Will’s blog for more details http://ngangling.blogspot.co.uk/

Water Temperature: 15.9*c             Weymouth High Tide: 8.01pm, 2.32m

Wind: SW 21mph

Sea Conditions:

Chesil Beach: 2m waves turning rougher this afternoon. Water is slightly coloured. Rafts of weed building in Chesil Cove

Portland: 2m waves. Water is clear

Portland Harbour: Calm. Water is clear

Weymouth Bay: Calm with the water clear.

Chesil Beach forecast: The wind this afternoon may well stir the beach up a bit, but the wind will die down later to allow for more reasonable fishing conditions. Casting is going to be a bit of a problem for novice anglers and the Mackerel do not like coloured water, so they are likely to move out of casting range. It does not stop the Bass or Smoothound feeding. Peeler Crab will be the best bait, but for those not willing to pay the extortionate price for crabs, then try a large fish bait of the Bass. Bream and Gurnard can be caught with a strip of Squid being a great attractant.

Portland: I didn’t manage a Wrasse session yesterday and because of the wind, I wont get a chance today. Wrasse are predominantly sight feeders, so they move into water that is less coloured and out of casting range. However the Bass move into the rough water and feed on anything that gets dislodged. Pollock use their amazing eye site and have no problems seeing in the rougher water.

Portland Harbour: Wrasse and small Pollock are being caught around Ferrybridge. Mullet are plentiful around Sandsfoot Castle.

Weymouth Bay: I spoke to a couple of anglers yesterday that have been fishing Preston Beach. They showed me several pictures of some nice Bass and a couple of Small Eyed Rays that they had caught over the past couple of evenings.

Boat & Kayak fishing: Not great boat conditions today, but some of the Charter fleet will be out. I have to apologise for mainly mentioning the fishing around Weymouth and Portland when it comes to boat and Kayak fishing. I know that there are other ports within Dorset that offer great fishing. West Bay is one example. Access to the reefs around West Bay is just a quick steam from the harbour and they provide excellent mixed fishing. Good catches of Bream, Pollock and Rays, as well as Cod and Conger are all regular hauls.

Olympic Update: The beach is still very empty and car parking at all the usual fishing marks such as Chesil Beach and Portland Bill all have plenty of spaces.