Salty stuff
Colder and shorter, darker days. It may feel like winter is fast approaching and having that get up and go attitude can be challenging at times but with some real specimens about now, effort really does equal rewards at this time of year.
November is a typically a tricky month weather wise often with the first of the years cold snaps really being felt. Having said that, water temperatures are often surprisingly warm in comparison to air temps so keep this in mind. There’s still time to target those lingering summer species before they disappear.
On the channel, whiting are now prevalent as they move into the upper reaches. It’s nice to see some better specimens around this year with reports of 8oz+ fish being pretty commonplace at the moment. We did hear of a 1lb+ whiting caught from Kingston Seymour recently which is great to see. Its been a long time since we saw larger whiting up this end of the channel, lets hope they are returning.
Arguably as a result of the whiting, some larger congers have started to migrate inshore in recent weeks. If you fancy targeting a big eel, a freshly presented whiting on some larger heavy gauge hooks such as Varivas Big Mouth Extras, Sakuma Manta Extras or Cox and Rawle’s Meat hooks are all worth trying. Congers do have a habit of barrel rolling and twisting in the water when hooked and will easily bite through lighter lines so go prepared and fish a minimum of 60lb snoods to avoid disappointment. They are wily creatures, often using every trick in the book to get off the hook including shaking vigorously side to side and, perhaps more commonly, using the body of a rig to their advantage by wrapping themselves around it and using it for leverage to pull or bend hooks out. For this reason, consider using a rig like a drop down pulley, up and over or even a basic running ledger as often the longer snoods of these rigs aid in keeping the fish away from the body of the rig and twisting up. Short snoods can prove troublesome and inadvertently lead to lost fish. Prime spots for larger conger at this time of year tend to be in the lower reaches of the channel, particularly areas like Bossington and Porlock but don’t dismiss upper channel marks around Clevedon and Weston Super Mare, particularly if there is a deeper body of water nearby like a river channel where they will often stray.
Ray fishing locally has been reasonable of late with the odd blonde ray showing amongst the thornbacks. Try a freshly presented Cornish anchovy. Utilising the dongle rig can be advantageous when targeting rays as they do have a habit of hovering over and engulfing baits which can lead to deep hooking. Dongle rigs will help prevent this and make life that much easier when unhooking.
Flounder fishing in the upper reaches is now well underway with some healthy reports of fish in recent weeks. Try the shallow marginal water, set back from the tide. The incoming tide is often the more productive period for flounders and try using a long shanked styled hook like a Aberdeen or similar as this can both improve hook up rates, aid in presenting a worm bait better and be easier to remove if they take the hook in deep. Flapper rigs and clip downs should be in your armoury, don’t dismiss a rolling lead if the tide allows. Cocktail baits of lug and rag are favoured although they can be readily caught on black lug and occasionally on small fish baits like a strip of mackerel. They can be active feeders and their tell tail rattly bites are very distinctive. Don’t allow bites to develop for too long as they will deep hook themselves.
Bass are still frequenting the shallow grounds but are becoming less prevalent and are more likely to be found on the slightly deeper marks as it becomes colder. Worm baits still have their place but a large whole squid presented short can also be deadly. When using fish baits to target stray bass, it’s often a matter of perseverance as congers and the like will also be around in numbers and can beat them to it. That being said, if a bass does come along and pick up that larger fish bait, it could be a real good one at this time of year.
Sadly, cod numbers have been as poor as expected to date but there’s always that outside chance of one gracing your hooks. Try spots like Battery point in the next few weeks as temperatures continue to drop. Aim for the neap tides. Consider worm baits on 1/0 or similar sized hooks as occasionally this will pick up a monster sole as ‘bycatch’. Some of the biggest sole of the year get caught in the next few months and often by accident when targeting cod. You never know, that fish of a lifetime could be lurking around right in front of you!
Other toothy predators like huss and spurs will be about too on some marks so consider a wire trace approach if you fancy targeting one of these species. Fresh English squid, bluey and mackerel should be tried. As the spurs start to show, try small fish baits as they can be quite finicky feeders and a smaller bait approach can pay dividends.
Further afield, squid fishing is in full swing with some monsters being caught from marks along the south coast. Check out our range of squid fishing tackle in store, we’ve some squid fishing pros amongst our team so don’t be afraid to ask for UpToDate advice on areas and tactics.
Portishead Marina
It’s starting to get tougher in Portishead Marina of late but still worth a try if you fancy scratching that itch. At this time of year, sometimes the best tactics are just simply to sit it out and ledger on the bottom with worm baits. Flounders should start to show in better numbers in coming weeks along with the occasional slip sole that reside in this waterway. Bass will continue to show but may not be as active. Whiting will move in and replace many of the small bait fish.
On a more disappointing note, there has sadly been some reports of issues with fishing and anglers at the Marina recently. We remind all anglers to be respectful of this fantastic facility and fish responsibly. Keep well away from boats, be mindful of other site users and use sensible light tactics. This is not a venue for big leads and heavy tactics. No more than a light spinning or float rod is required for this type of venue. If you are unsure as to how to approach fishing in the marina, speak to our staff shop will be able to advise.
Coarse, Carp and Predator Fishing
On a predator front, the perch fishing in Bristol Docks has been great of late with some 3lb+ fish being reported. Try Baltic Wharf or near the Ostrich pub. Light lure and dropshotting tactics will work alongside ledgered worm baits tight to the deck with a little movement. Be respectful of other water users and keep casts away from boats. Not all of the Bristol Docks is fishable so check out the Bristol City Council website for info.
On a coarse and carp front, keep that bait going in! Now is the time where you really need to keep bait going in regularly to draw fish to your swim. Pop in store and check out our vast range of ground-baits, pellet, boilies, goos and much, much more! We’ve just topped up our Dynamite bait selection and have some new products in store. Have a look at the dynamite particle jars including krill and hemp and hemp and corn. They are packed with a punch and can be used to create a good bed of free offerings to retain interest.
The rivers of the Wye, Avon and Kenn continue to produce. The Wye and Avon should continue to provide some good barbel and chub fishing but keep an eye on water levels as they can fluctuate heavily at this time of year. A falling river after a flooded period on the Wye can be productive so keep an eye on those levels to give yourself the best chance. Halibut pellet, Dynamites ‘The Source’ and rolled meat can all work well on their day.
For all your tackle and bait needs, drop in store and speak to our team.
Tight lines
The Reel Fun Fishing Team