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Print versionDartmouth
A port set inside the confines of the Dart Estuary and protected from the worst of the weather. It carries a healthy number of modern, electronically up to date charter boats that cater for general bottom fishing parties, reef work and offshore wreck fishing. The port is maybe most famous for the quality plaice fishing in the spring.
WHERE TO FISH
When weather conditions keep boats inshore there are marks inside the estuary that produce thornback ray, principally the College Buoys area and the deep pits off the Philip Boat Yard. These are popular with dinghies, mainly. Just east of the Dart's mouth lies the Mewstone, a rock mark giving good catches throughout the year. Further east lay the Blackstone banks, a mix of rough and cleaner ground.
Heading west, a group of near surface breaking rocks, the Dancing Beggars is a noted hot spot, as are Bull Rocks and the Bollards. The famous Skerries banks begin about 3 miles out, though some of the better banks are double that distance from shore.
The wrecks are numerous and can be anything upto 40 miles offshore. Some of the larger vessels also undertake trips of several days duration to grounds off Guernsey and the Channel islands, staying in a local port overnight.
SPECIES
Thornbacks move into the Darts channels during February and stay until mid November. Flounder fishing can be excellent through the winter months until late February. Bass restrictions apply within estuary limits, those limits being inside a line drawn from Combe Point to Inner Forward Point from April 30 to November 1st.
February also sees the plaice return to the Skerries banks, but the best months for the species are late March through to June. Fish over 4lbs are taken yearly. Pollack, bass and wrasse move back onto the reef ground during late April and stay until Christmas. Some big huss and gurnards are always possible. Mackerel are close to shore by early May, with pilchards also taken. Rays, including thornbacks and blonde ray, show over the cleaner ground, and some turbot and brill are recorded, though catches are not what they used to be thanks to heavy commercial pressures.
Autumn and winter catches include excellent whiting from deep cleaner ground close to the Skerries, and also huge dabs which can top 2lbs in weight. Dinghies also find big dabs at this time off nearby Slapton Sands.
The best of the wreck fishing for pollack occurs during January, February and March when the female fish are heavy with spawn. Double figure fish are common, with 20lbers not unusual. Other wreck species encountered are cod, ling, coalfish and conger, the latter best sought during the summer months and early autumn. Occasional big turbot take close to the wrecks and red bream, though scarce, are resident.
TACKLE
Given the variety of species and ground, you'll need a good armoury of rods to accommodate all possibilities.
For the ray fishing in the estuaries and flounder, a uptide rod gives good sport, though some anglers choose light spinning rod options for the flatfish.
Over the reef and rock pinnacles, a 15lb class rod some 8 to 9ft is best for pollack, but again, some anglers with a sporting inclination drop down to a 10ft spinning rod, small fixed spool reel and just 10lb to tackle the bass on freelined live sandeels. A 20lb class rod is suited to drifting a fish baits over the banks for general bottom fish, including the whiting in the winter. Spring tides mean a change to 30lb class gear and weights over the pound in places.
Wreck fishing, given the high average size of fish possible, needs 50lb class gear when after cod and ling, or when fishing multi rigs taking two or three pollack or coalfish at once. For redgill fishing, then drop back to the 15lb class longer rod and 15lbs. Some anglers prefer to fish a short 20lb class outfit instead of the lighter 15lb. On neap tides, single pirks and baits can be fished on lighter 30lb class tackle.
TIDES
Spring tides can really motor over the Skerries Banks and to some extent over the inner rock pinnacles. The best of the wreck fishing is on the smaller to average sized neaps, but even normal sized spring tides will produce fish.
BAITS
When inside the estuary after rays and flounder stick with peeler crab. Pollack and bass over the reefs and rock marks take live sandeel and launce. Fish baits like mackerel, herring ad squid prove good for rays, ling, conger, whiting and dabs. Plaice take cocktails of rag or lug mixed with crab and long strips of squid or sandeel.
Carry plenty of artificial eels of varied colours and sizes when wrecking. Also muppets and pirks. Losses can be very heavy,so have plenty of ready made rigs available.
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