Scad (Horse Mackerel) Fishing in Dorset

After dark under lights; small sabikis or size 6–8 hooks with mackerel slivers. Mid-to-late flood along the outer wall.

Late summer/autumn after dark; fish sabikis or small metals under the lights along the wall on a flooding tide.

July–Oct after dark. Small sabikis or size 6–8 hooks tipped with mackerel, slow retrieve under the rod tip. Best around dusk on the flood.

Often after dark in warmer months; small sabikis/feathers and strips fished midwater in the flow.

Late summer/autumn nights; sabikis under a small glow float or slow-jigged metals mid-water with a headlamp.

Size 6–8 sabikis or small metals under lights at dusk into night. Retain contact to avoid snags. Peak Aug–Oct on the flood.

Small sabikis or size 6–8 feathers, slow retrieve under pier lights at night. Mid–late summer on the flood.

Late summer/autumn after dark; tiny sabikis or small slivers under a steady retrieve; add a small glow bead for attraction.

Mini-sabikis or 5–15g jigs at night under quay lights on a flooding tide; late summer–autumn.

LRF metals or sabikis after dark on the flood near the harbour entrance; tiny hooks, glow beads; late summer–autumn.

Late summer nights; small sabikis tipped with fish, slow retrieve through mid-water in the harbour mouth on the flood.

After dark in late summer-autumn; small sabikis or micro-jigs worked midwater under any ambient light; best on the flood into high.

Late summer-autumn nights; small sabikis or size 6 hooks tipped with fish. Keep gear high in the water, slow retrieve under light surf.

Warm nights Aug–Oct; small metals or sabikis worked mid-water in the tide run, particularly at dusk into dark.

Late summer–autumn nights; small sabikis under harbour lights, slow retrieved midwater.

Late summer to autumn at dusk into night; sabikis or small metals under a float with a glow bead, steady retrieve midwater.

After dark under lights; small sabikis/feathers fished midwater can pick up strings when they’re in.

Late summer/autumn nights; small sabikis or 1–2 inch soft plastics mid-water from the Chesil side. Try the first of the flood.

Aug–Oct, dusk into dark. Small sabikis or size 6–8 feathers worked slowly under the surface. Best on the flood in clear water; add a small glow bead to the top dropper.

Late summer evenings; sabikis under a float or small metals in eddies at dusk. First of the flood is prime.

Late summer evenings into dark. Small sabikis or size 6 hooks with mackerel slivers under a float set midwater over the drop; flood to high works.

Jul-Oct at dusk into dark; small sabikis or 10-20g metals worked midwater. Add a glow bead above the trace.

Late summer evenings into dark; small sabiki or jigs worked midwater on the flood.

Late summer evenings and after dark; small metals or sabikis under a float, retrieve slowly in midwater along kelp edges. Some tidal flow helps.

Aug–Oct nights. Sabikis under a float or slow retrieve; tip with tiny fish strips. Fish midwater near the edge of light, start at dusk on the flood.