We normally associate Squid fishing as a winter past time in this area. however having followed Brighton fishing guide, Robin Howard’s diary, I knew that they get a good run of Squid from Brighton in April. This set me thinking that maybe we would get them down in Dorset as well. I then came across a video taken only last week of Squid in Chesil Cove. There is a video of them on my Facebook page, but as I don’t have permission yet to embed the video onto the website then click this link Fishing Tails Facebook to see it.
Excited by this and knowing that they are catching them in Plymouth Harbour as well, I sent a message to a friend who is a bit of a Squid expert. Marlon lives near Bournemouth, so he decided to have a look on Boscombe Pier. Sure enough him and his mate managed to catch some nice Squid over high water.
I am certain we should be able to get some off Weymouth Pleasure Pier. All you need are some cheap Squid Jigs like these ones Squid Jigs
The main topic on most anglers minds at the moment is Plaice fishing, and this weekend we had the Weymouth Angling Centre, Chesil Open Flatfish Competition. 136 anglers took part with 29 returning fish to the scales it was great to see so many being kept alive and returned to the sea. Well done to Kirk Watson on winning, he caught 5 plaice with a total length of 164cm winning £500 .
Longest fish went to Julian Shambrook with a plaice of 40cm winning £250.
I am pretty excited about some of the articles we have for you this week. I should have the “How to collect Peeler Crab” video ready for tomorrow or Wednesday. We also have a couple of guest writers this week. Steve will be producing a lure fishing article based in Cornwall, and contributor Dan Konig of Adventure Angler, is just back from Morocco, and he assures me he has a great article about his adventures there.
It is going to be a pretty busy week for me, as I am shooting a video tomorrow with a well known casting instructor. It is not going to be another boring Pendulum casting video, showing how easy an expert can make it. We will be doing something for those anglers looking to make the advancement from a simple overhead thump, to getting somewhere nearer that magic 100 yds, with bait cast. I also have a wrecking trip to look forward to on Wednesday.
Sea Conditions: Water temperature 9.9°c
Chesil Beach: Calm with clear water
Portland: Calm with clear water
Portland Harbour: calm and clear water
Weymouth Bay: Calm and clear water
Chesil Beach forecast: Well we know that the Plaice are around, and for the early part of this week, the fishing for them should be good. Mackerel should continue to turn up in ever increasing numbers, and with them will be Herring.
As some of you will know I lost my rod last week at Checkpoint, when it was hit by a good fish. Unfortunately it has not turned up yet, so I doubt it will now. However Chris Duddle who was down from Lancashire liked the idea of trying to get his first Smoothound from the same spot using Peeler Crab. That is exactly what he ended up with.
Portland: It was a bit tough to fish most of the marks on Portland this weekend due to the swell. That has now died down and conditions are almost perfect for Wrasse and Pollock. I mentioned last week that April is a good time to pick up a large Garfish from the Bill area. I especially like to try for them from the crane that is just round from the lighthouse. Use small strips of Mackerel on a float. The best time seems to be on the ebb tide.
Portland Harbour: Still a bit quiet in the harbour, but within two weeks that will all change as more bait fish come in on each tide. You can pick up some nice Flounders there now.
Weymouth Bay: I spotted lots of shoals of small Thin Lipped Mullet in the harbour, but I am yet to see any of the bigger fish. I expect them to show at any time now.
Don’t forget what I said about the Squid! I am sure if you give it a go you will be able to catch some from the Pleasure Pier.
Guiding: I am now taking bookings for plaice trips as well as some basic fishing workshops for the next month. In the workshops I teach all sorts of skills, that will give you a good grounding for your fishing adventures for the rest of the year. I am happy to do lure or bait sessions and the workshops are 2 hours lonng and limitied to 3 people. If you are thinking about booking a guided lure or bait session for the later on in the year, then now is the best time to do it, to grab the best tides.
This year we will be offering boat guiding sessions from your own boat, from Weymouth and Portland and shore guiding in the Poole and Purbeck area. If you want more details then drop me an email to [email protected]