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Overview

How to target

Plaice
Species ID: plaice

Plaice

Plaice are visual, daytime feeders that favour clean sand or fine gravel, especially alongside mussel beds, shingle patches and the edges of rough ground. From shore marks, target...

🌊 Tide: flood 💨 Wind: calm 📅 Peak: Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct

Best tide

flood

Moon

spring

Season

Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct

Wind

calm

Max weight

3.5 kg

Day vs night

Day 90%
Night 20%
Plaice are visual, daytime feeders that favour clean sand or fine gravel, especially alongside mussel beds, shingle patches and the edges of rough ground. From shore marks, target open sandy beaches, estuary channels, harbour mouths and the downtide sides of banks and gutters. They push in on the flood as sea temps rise in late winter and spring; clear, settled water and bright conditions help. The first half of a rising tide and the period around high water are classic windows. Use distance-capable two- or three-hook flappers or clipped-down rigs with long, supple snoods (60–120 cm) and size 2–1 hooks. Small beads, sequins or a spoon can boost takes, and a plain lead (3–4 oz) lets the bait creep and search. Recast every 10–15 minutes to cover ground, working both short gutters and the far edge of the first bank. Top baits are ragworm and lugworm (blow or black), often tipped with a sliver of squid or mackerel; mussel or peeler crab can score where available. Spring tides usually fish best as movement uncovers food, though heavy swell and coloured water can switch them off. Best shore sport is March–June with another lift in September–October; many fish move offshore in mid-winter. Typical shore fish are 0.5–1.0 kg, with occasional 2 kg+ in prime venues; true 3 kg+ specimens are rare from the shore.

Temperature

7–18°C

Depth range

1–15 m

Baits

  • Lugworm 9/10
  • Ragworm 8.8/10
  • Razorfish 7.2/10
  • Mussel 7/10

Rigs

  • Long & Low 9.2/10

    Classic flatfish beach rig. A very long, low snood keeps bait tight to clean sand and wafting in tide—ideal for plaice on banks and gullies. Clipped for distance; works well with small beads/spoons and worm or shellfish baits.

  • Wishbone Clip Down (2-Hook) 8.8/10

    Twin small baits close to the seabed boost scent and pick-ups from shoaling plaice. Clip-down improves casting range. Fish clean sand in gentle–moderate tide with size 1–2 hooks and subtle beads/spinners.

  • Loop Rig (Portsmouth Loop) 8.4/10

    Pins snoods hard on the bottom and releases on splashdown, suiting plaice that hug the sand. Stable in tide and casts far from open beaches or piers. Use long snoods and small attractor beads.