The one shop that I have missed visiting during the lockdown is my local tackle shop. The good news is that from the 15th of June most of the tackle shops will be open, subject to them being able to provide social distancing. So what have you missed most about your tackle shop? For me it’s the little things, like lure clips, hooks and seeing what latest lures have come on the market. If I want a new rod or reel, I like to feel it so I can tell how the balance will be and the build quality. Sure we can all go online and often get those larger purchases at a lower price, but if we lose our tackle shops we lose the ability to see and feel for ourselves and where are you going to get your bait. So please support your local tackle shops once they are open again.
Fishing has been pretty good around the coast again this week, with some notable catches of Bass, Smoothound and some cracking Wrasse. Its also good to see Mackerel showing on many of the beaches.
The biggest problem is still trying to get fresh bait.
Conditions:
Water Temperature: 12.5°C
Chesil Beach: light winds and calm with clear water
Portland: scale with clear water
Portland Harbour: calm with clear water
Weymouth Bay: Calm with clear water.
Chesil Beach forecast: Very calm conditions and very light winds should be good for Plaice, Gurnard, Smoothound, Rays and Mackerel. We might even see some early Bream. The usual baits for most species are going to be Mackerel, Squid and Ragworm. For the Smoothound you cant beat Peeler Crab
Portland Harbour: I expect to see small Pollock and Wrasse from Ferrybridge and Sandsfoot Castle as well as quite a few Bass. Plenty of Garfish are turning up around the bridge and float fished Mackerel strip will take them. Further round towards the sailing club and the helicopter base you can get some big Thick lipped Mullet on bread.
Portland: The Wrasse fishing all along the South coast has been fantastic with some colourful hard fighting fish coming out on lures and Ragworm. Lure fishing for Wrasse seems ever more popular.
Night fishing on the Rocks can produce huge Conger this month. Big baits and heavy gear are essential, but well worth the effort.
Weymouth Bay: Preston Beach is one of the first places that Gurnard start to show. It can also produce some good rays and plenty of Flounder and Dabs.
Lets now hope that once the tackle shops are opened that they are not only used for bait but for capital items of tackle. The angling community risk even more shops closing due to under utilization and that would be a crime especially as they are the eyes and ears as far as historical information is concerned.
Loved to spend a while checking out the new gear, discussing the weather and planning my next fishing trip with Steve Ace at Veals in Bristol whilst the boss was emptying all the clothes stores. Sadly Veals have gone into liquidation and will never reopen, and I for one will sorely miss them.