Here is hoping that the fishing today was as good as it was yesterday. We are on medium sized tides now, which are my favourite ones. I was asked recently to recommend the best rig for fishing West Bexington. Basically I use two types of rig. A single long flowing trace that I use clipped, normally as an up and over rig. Depending on species I will use a size 1/0 hook for Plaice and other smaller species or a size 4/0 for Bass and Smoothound. The other rig I use is a2 or 3 hook clipped down rig. Normally baited with Ragworm tipped with squid on one of the hooks and mackerel on another, with one just with worm.
Water Temperature: 16.4*c Weymouth High Tide: 11.27pm, 1.81m
Wind: SW 10mph dropping to 5mph this afternoon.
Sea Conditions:
Chesil Beach: Small waves with a small swell. I expect it to become even calmer as the day progresses. The water has a slight milky tinge to it.
Portland: Small swell this morning dropping off to calm by sunset. Water is slightly coloured.
Portland Harbour: Calm. Water is clear
Weymouth Bay: Calm with the water clear.
Chesil Beach forecast: I would expect the Mackerel to be back within easy casting distance today. Bream, Gurnard, Garfish and Scad, Smoothound and the odd Bass can be caught all along the beach. Towards Abbotsbury and West Bay you can expect Plaice and Dabs with some Rays. Chesil Cove has produced a few large Wrasse to 5lb on ledgered Ragworm.
Portland: The fishing on Portland has improved over the past couple of days, with some nice catches of Wrasse and Pollock. They have come from float fished Ragworm or Mackerel and lures. Portland Bill has been the best mark and is the easiest to access.
Portland Harbour: A few small school Bass have been caught on lures from the area along the Rodwell Trail towards Sandsfoot Sailing Club. Surface lures such as the Seaspin Pro-Q and the Savage Gear Sammy imitations have been the most successful. You are also far less likely to lose these and you can easily cover the shallow water that most people ignore when Bass fishing. It is one of the biggest lure fishing mistakes you can make.
Weymouth Bay: Lots of different species coming from the Stone Pier, but nothing of any great size. The harbour is full of Mullet, both thick lipped and thin. Bread or cheese paste for the Thick lips and a small Mepp with a size 4 or 6 hook and a small piece of Ragworm.
Boat & Kayak fishing: A good day to be out and about on a boat or a Kayak. Calm conditions and plenty of fish in Portland Harbour and around the banks and reefs of Portland. Try jigging with large Jigs. You will be surprised at the number of Cod around in the deeper water at the moment.
Olympic The beach is still empty. Parking at Chesil beach centre is plentiful as is the Bill.
Boat trip!! I have a chance of 5 places on a short boat trip from Weymouth Harbour tomorrow morning. 9.45am for 5 hours. Cost is £25. If anyone is interested please call me ASAP on 07792 559272