Ballan Wrasse Fishing in Dorset

Float fish or freelined crab/limpet tight to kelpy ledges; mid–high tide; daylight; summer–early autumn; use abrasion-resistant gear.

Hardback or peeler crab on strong gear; fish tight to kelp and boulders on the flood. Daylight, summer to autumn. Use a rotten-bottom to beat snags.

Fish crab or hardback close to kelp-filled gullies on the flood. LRF metals/softs also work. Best by day, spring–autumn. Use strong gear; very rough ground.

Summer–autumn; float or light ledger crab/rag tight to kelp-filled gullies on the flood. Use strong gear and lift fish clear of ledges.

Rough boulder/kelp ground; float-fished rag/crab or weedless soft plastics tight to the ledges. Best on flooding tide, spring to autumn. Use strong gear and rotten-bottom to beat snags.

Kelpy, rough ground; fish crab or hardbacks tight to rocks. Best on the flood to high, May–Oct. Use strong gear and rotten-bottoms to beat snags.

Float or light ledger with crab or worm tight to kelp-covered ledges; daylight, May-Oct; rising tide best. Strong gear, expect snags.

Fish close-in over kelp and rough ground on the flood using crab or worm baits; summer to autumn; strong tackle and short casts.

Crab/limpet baits or weedless soft plastics tight to kelp and ledges; fish the flood in settled seas. Strong gear; expect snags.

Rough kelp gullies; fish crab or rag on short strong traces, size 1–1/0; daylight on a flooding tide; keep fish away from snags.

Prime target in kelp gullies; fish peeler crab or rag on strong hooklengths and a fixed/spinning ledger; strike early to keep them out of weed.

Crab, hardback or limpet tight to kelp/boulders; float or weedless jig. Best on a flooding tide with slight swell, May–Oct.

Best target in summer; fish float-fished crab/mussel tight to kelp and boulders, strong gear for pulling power.

Crab or big rag on strong tackle, drop straight down by kelp-covered legs. Daytime on the flood with some movement.

Rough ground on either side of the cove. Float-fished ragworm or hard crab tight to kelp/rock in summer on a flooding tide. Use strong gear to steer fish from weed.

Float or freelined crab/rag tight to kelp and rock gullies at Newton's Cove; mid-flood; summer–autumn.

Float or freelined crab/prawn/rag into kelp gullies; daylight on the flood, spring-autumn; use strong gear and abrasion-resistant leaders.

Fish tight to kelp-covered rocks/ledges on the flood with crab, prawn or rag. Weedless soft plastics also score. Strong tackle needed for snags and powerful fish.

Reliable close-in around kelp; float-fish crab, rag or mussel. Use strong tackle—hits hard and dives for weed.

Close-range over kelp with crab/mussel on strong tackle; expect savage bites and need to steer fish clear.

Float-fished ragworm or hardback crab tight to kelp and rocky reef. Best on the flood with a little swell. Summer to early autumn.

Crab or hardback baits into kelp gullies on the flood. Short snoods, strong hooks, rotten-bottom link. Best spring–autumn in daylight.

Rough kelp and reef; float or light ledger crab, prawn or rag into gullies on the flood. Best May-Oct; avoid heavy swell. Use strong gear to steer fish from snags.

Crab, prawn or rag fished tight to kelp gullies on the flood; summer–autumn. Short traces and a rotten-bottom/pulley help beat snags; keep baits hard on the bottom.

Rough kelp gullies; fish crab or hardback close in on the flood. Daylight, May-Oct. Strong gear to bully fish from snags.