Help On Chesil Beach

[Black Rat]

I am planning a trip next Friday / Saturday down to chesil for the first time. Any advice regarding tactics and bait would be appreciated along with where to fish (trying to avoid the crowds).

Thanks in advance

[stormedwurzel]

Hi Black Rat. Chesil is fishing very well at the moment but mainly at the Ferrybridge end. I fished Cogden last week and it was very slow with only a dab and two pin whiting to show after a five hour session. Lots of mackerel down there, I took twenty home for eating but could have had a lot more if I wanted. I would go to Abbotsbury or Ferrybridge ,that is where the fish are at the moment with cod, bream, gurnard and bass being caught. Baits should rag or lug tipped with squid for the bream on small hooks or the same for bass and cod on larger hooks. Sand eel is also worth a go . Long casts are needed at both above venues but if you decide to fish Cogden end then a three hook flapper with size 1 hooks cast short at about thirty or forty yards will work best. I am no expert at fishing Chesil and the best marks are a closely guarded secret but fifty yards in the right direction can make all the difference so if you are not catching move a bit further in another direction. Hope this helps and good luck.

[Pugsie]

Give gazza a pm he's called skatendchips on here bud.

[Black Rat]

Thanks for the help on locations. Was the mackerel all caught oh feathers?

[stormedwurzel]

Mackerel were caught on feathers and on bottom fished sand eel and strips of mackerel. There was so many that they would have taken anything that day.

[skatenchips]

Ferrybridge is fishing well ...2 hours either side of LW ....and not so well over HW during daylight,
Darkness can produce over LW and HW,if your chasing the codling 2 hook clipped size 1,s with blow lug tipped with crab legs or squid strip seems to be working.

This combo also works well for the Bream but you will have to cast as far as.....IMO.

Small hooks (4,s)with Rag or fish baits seems to attract the Red Mullet and Tub Gurnards during daylight.

another winner for macks/gars/is a pop up rig....long rod...10 foot rig body....8 foot 6lb snood attached to the top swivel to a size 12,s with a couple of pop ups on enough to raise a small sliver of macky belly
you can also stick a small snood baited with worm just above the 4 oz lead,that way your fishing top and bottom.

as to where you try is all about how far you can haul your kit,3 mates walked for 1 hour right of the car park the other day for their coddies and mullet,but the shingle is small and a feckin killer if yuve too much stuff.

As was mentioned try for an hour in one spot,if its snaggy or fishless MOVE....there are so many new
humps and hollows on that 17 mile long dance floor now after last years winter storms.

The BEST info by far would be too drive to Abbotsbury angling and speak to Tom he is an X diver and all his diving buddies that are diving chesil NOW will have up to date info on what condition certain parts of the beach floor are in......ie.....wrecks resurfaced...and reef pieces that attract the fish.

If you want Rays then Masonic CAR PARK after dark is the best area,its about 1 mile further on from Ferrybridge and a straight walk up and over the shingle bank....a 2/0 up and over with medium sandeel can get you amoungst Small eyeds,Undulates and Blondes...is it mixed ground so expect to lose kit.

if you want macks or horsemacks the shoals are immense at the mo and can turn up anytime.

Darkness down the edge on mack flap can see good bass but if your after congers then metal traces and whole macks can produce HUGE wrigglers.

Ask TOM about the plaice at west bexington if you walk right about 600yds you may be lucky
with some autumn spotties,that are arriving now....single hook rag tipped with fresh shell fish bound on
can produce on its day....size 2 up and over.

car parkin for most areas is £6 ish all day.

Gazza

[Pugsie]

Ferrybridge is fishing well ...2 hours either side of LW ....and not so well over HW during daylight,
Darkness can produce over LW and HW,if your chasing the codling 2 hook clipped size 1,s with blow lug tipped with crab legs or squid strip seems to be working.

This combo also works well for the Bream but you will have to cast as far as.....IMO.

Small hooks (4,s)with Rag or fish baits seems to attract the Red Mullet and Tub Gurnards during daylight.

another winner for macks/gars/is a pop up rig....long rod...10 foot rig body....8 foot 6lb snood attached to the top swivel to a size 12,s with a couple of pop ups on enough to raise a small sliver of macky belly
you can also stick a small snood baited with worm just above the 4 oz lead,that way your fishing top and bottom.

as to where you try is all about how far you can haul your kit,3 mates walked for 1 hour right of the car park the other day for their coddies and mullet,but the shingle is small and a feckin killer if yuve too much stuff.

As was mentioned try for an hour in one spot,if its snaggy or fishless MOVE....there are so many new
humps and hollows on that 17 mile long dance floor now after last years winter storms.

The BEST info by far would be too drive to Abbotsbury angling and speak to Tom he is an X diver and all his diving buddies that are diving chesil NOW will have up to date info on what condition certain parts of the beach floor are in......ie.....wrecks resurfaced...and reef pieces that attract the fish.

If you want Rays then Masonic CAR PARK after dark is the best area,its about 1 mile further on from Ferrybridge and a straight walk up and over the shingle bank....a 2/0 up and over with medium sandeel can get you amoungst Small eyeds,Undulates and Blondes...is it mixed ground so expect to lose kit.

if you want macks or horsemacks the shoals are immense at the mo and can turn up anytime.

Darkness down the edge on mack flap can see good bass but if your after congers then metal traces and whole macks can produce HUGE wrigglers.

Ask TOM about the plaice at west bexington if you walk right about 600yds you may be lucky
with some autumn spotties,that are arriving now....single hook rag tipped with fresh shell fish bound on
can produce on its day....size 2 up and over.

car parkin for most areas is £6 ish all day.

Gazza

There you go :0) can't ask for better than that :9)

[Black Rat]

Cheers for the advice Gazza its very much appreciated.

[grandadruss]

Cheers for the advice Gazza its very much appreciated.

When you catch mate and I'm sure you will
You then need to pm Gazza for the recipe needed.
That man needs to bring a cook book out

[Black Rat]

Just had a look at some of Gazza's recipes in the cookery section which sound tasty but first will have to catch one.