Easter break in Dorset

[BigBadCol]

Week in Dorset 10th – 16th April.
Unfortunately my 8 days off fell over the Easter holidays this time but with a nice week of weather expected the LHG & myself booked a weeks camping down Dorset. Of course I was taking my fishing gear but with fishing, photography & now my new drone to play with I wasn’t sure how much fishing I’d get done.
I had a quick hour on our day of arrival down West Bexington. In the hour I fished I managed a spider crab and a hermit crab. I was only in my shorts and the temperature soon dropped as the sun disappeared.

Second session was just a quick 4 hours on Sunday, I headed this time to Abbotsbury, plan was just to walk over the top and find a spot. 10minutes later I was settled & fishing. Again not a lot to report apart from a suicidal mackerel throwing itself on my hook as I reeled in.

Monday saw me heading out to the Stone Pier early doors to fish the flooding tide. I arrived 1 hour before high water and left 1 hour after. It was a better day I had several wrasse and a solitary small pollack.
Corkwing


Pollack


Rock Cock (small mouthed wrasse)



I think another corkwing





It was a productive couple of hours plus I got to play with the Mavic for a while.

Tuesdays plan was to target the plaice so I headed out to Hive beach. I expected it top be busy with tourist however I was pleasantly surprised to see no many people there. I set myself up 100 yards to the East of the beach. Plan was fish the last 2 hrs of the ebb and a couple up. I had my plaice rigs out and threw a whole squid & sand eel wrap just in case there was a ray about (I doubted it as the water was crystal clear). The ebb produced a hermit crab (which I saved for bait) soon after low water the bites came and I was soon into a plaice, so target species acquired.



Believe it or not this as did 3 of the 6 plaice I had fell to the whole squid n eel wraps on a dropper.
Here’s 2 of the best that I took for their BBQ. The smaller 1 went to 1lb 4oz but then my battery died in the scales so no idea what the larger one weighed.



My next session I had planned for Thursday night. I was heading to Bournemouth to try for a small eyed ray or my nemesis at the moment an Undulate. However both a text from Gazza and a call from my mate put Plan B into action. I headed to Abbotsbury Wednesday night instead. Unfortunately I was greeted by a rammed beach so headed off to the dragons teeth. After 10 minutes I had to turn around as I’d left my phone in the car. I dumped my gear and jogged back. Luckily I dad as it was sat on the seat in full display. So after about 20 mins I was at the teeth. Plan was fish the last 2 now 1 hour of the flood & then all the way to low water @ 0200hrs. I was soon set up and in the water. Tactics here was 1 rod full squid/sand eel blasted out 1 rod the same bait close in and play with the travel rod for small bits. I was soon into the dreaded dog fish in fact I don't remember not reeling in a dog fish lol. I even managed a couple more hermits which also caught dogs lol. As low water arrived I could see both big baited rods heading west. I thought that’s strange its slack water, nowt should be moving anywhere. Anyways I reeled 1 in and was rewarded with a strap conger.



The other rod had the same only slightly bigger at 2lb. It was now about 0300hrs so I called it a day n headed back to base camp.

Thursday was a nice lazy day where I did nowt but fly the drone. My final session was to be back down the west end at Burton Bradstock to fish the edge of the reef there. It's about a mile walk up and along the cliff but its lovely and I was next to the water & set up in no time. Same tactics here again big baits and bits. First cast resulted in a wee Huss



I must have miss calculated my position as I lost a couple of rigs to the reef before I switched to rotten bottoms. That was about it here really just a spider crab and hermit crabs. I fished 3 hours n headed again back to base camp and a great night out with the LHG.

Yes it’s a long way to go, but it was a holiday, in my eyes it was a success as I caught a few new species for the tally and I’m happy catching owt. Here's a wee video of my weeks antics.


https://youtu.be/V2kBn9NG1Qo



Cheers for reading

BigBadCol

[rob f]

Well done Col What away to spend the easter hols , go catch loads of Great report & some cracking pics

[billbob]

Well in there Col its always great to see your reports.

[skatenchips]

Top week away on the shingle col,and good to read that you were successful,and that er indoors enjoyed our famous pile of bricks at Stonehenge..........

sorry I couldn't get out mate,.........



until these poxy things have healed I'm stuck at home.

pleased you enjoyed your trip down...and am enjoying your flying display with the new toy.

end of april re the species we spoke of mate..ill keep an eye on catch reports..reliant on good steady warm weather though.

Gazza

[BigBadCol]

Thank you for your kind replies guys.

Cheers Gazza I'm off again from the 5th of May and then again 2nd of June. So hopefully we can try at least.

Col

[liphook]

A mother great read Col A real variety of species and some nice looking plaice

[shacky]

Top report as always excellent mixed bag of fish