April used to be the month for plaice and early bream, but this year April was the monthfor dogfish and small congers with a few bonus fish if you were lucky. I was a bit worried that the SMAC Bream Competition would be a struggle with so few bream showing, but on the day plenty were weighed in. See our separate report for details.
May turned out to be full of fishable days, especially for those who have the option to fish midweek! Bream are around but not in the numbers we remember. Bass and pollack are coming from the wrecks, and Mark Banks hooked a huge John Dory as a bonus while wrecking.
I am seeing more Gilthead Bream reported in this area than previously, and certainly larger than the average Black Bream seem to be. Maybe that is another sign of fish boundaries moving with the temperature changes.
The first mackerel and garfish are being caught in the Solent which is another sign of summer. We should be seeing the large tope following them as they come inshore to pup. The first few Smoothhound have appeared and some good fish can be found inshore in shallow water and in the harbours. Stingray are also here if you target them in the same places, but with large ragworm baits.
After a week or two of settled weather we now seem to be in for a blow, but hopefullly we can be out again soon and seeing what can be caught in June!