Dab Fishing in Vale of Glamorgan

Daytime sport on smaller baits; 2-hook flapper with lug/squid tipping works well over clean sand on a steady tide.

Good filler species; small lug/sandeel strips on size 2–1 hooks, keep baits moving with the tide.

Reliable on small worm or squid strips; cast modest distance onto sand; good filler species when tides aren’t big.

Light-tackle fun on cleaner sand; small worm baits on size 1–2 hooks; best when the sea is relatively settled.

Common on lug/squid cocktails; keep traces light and baits small for more bites.

Common on small worm baits; use a short paternoster/2-hook flapper and keep bait size modest for consistent takes.

Common filler on worm baits on sand; good for bites when conditions are quiet. Two-hook flapper works well.

Regular over sand; light running ledger with rag/mussel, especially mid-tide.

Common over clean ground; small worm baits on size 2–1 hooks, fish smaller tides for better bite detection.

Small hooks with cocktail of rag/tip of squid; target cleaner sand where possible.

Common on clean sand; small hooks and lugworm. Good filler species when conditions are settled.

Small hooks (size 2–1/0) with lug/rag; often shows in calmer conditions on the flatter sand.

On the cleaner ground, especially in calmer spells; small worm or squid strips on smaller hooks.

Pick up over cleaner sand in steadier water; small worm or tipping baits works.

Often on the sandier areas; small hooks and lug; useful when conditions are calm and clear.

Small dabs show on mixed sand among the reef; two-hook flapper with rag or small squid strips works when tide eases.

Longer casts to cleaner sand; small worm or fish strip on 1–2 hook flapper. Useful “bonus” species when ray fishing.

Present on the cleaner ground; small lug/rag baits and smaller hooks improve catches, mainly in calmer conditions.

Clean sand areas; small worm baits on size 1–2 hooks, especially on the early flood when water first covers the flats.

Simple two-hook flapper with lug/rag can pick up dabs when the surf is moderate.

More likely on the cleaner ground; small strip baits or rag on a light/medium rig for bites in calmer spells.

Small flats on clean patches; lug or squid strips on smaller hooks; tends to show in calmer conditions.

On the sandier edges of the point; small worm/strip baits, best on calmer nights and neap-to-mid tides.

Small baits on lighter gear over sand at mid tide; useful when rough ground fishing is slow.

Small flatfish on cleaner sand; lug or small strips of mackerel, usually more frequent in cooler months.