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Overview

How to target

Smoothhound
Species ID: smoothhound

Smoothhound

Smoothhounds show in numbers from late spring through autumn along southern, western and some eastern UK shores, favouring estuary mouths, surf beaches and mixed-to-clean ground wh...

🌊 Tide: flood 💨 Wind: southerly 📅 Peak: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Best tide

flood

Moon

spring

Season

May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Wind

southerly

Max weight

12 kg

Day vs night

Day 60%
Night 90% (best)
Smoothhounds show in numbers from late spring through autumn along southern, western and some eastern UK shores, favouring estuary mouths, surf beaches and mixed-to-clean ground where shore crabs are moulting. A flooding tide into dusk and early night is prime, especially on spring tides that stir crabs and scent; look for warm, settled spells with a gentle southerly and a bit of colour, but avoid heavy weed or a big swell. Peeler crab is the standout bait, with hardback or hermit crab good backups; small squid or fish strips can work as a cocktail but crab is king—bind baits neatly with elastic. Fish a simple running ledger/zip-slider or up-and-over with a 4/0–6/0 strong J or circle hook, 60 lb leader and a 20–30 lb mono/fluoro snood of 60–90 cm; use a grip lead to hold in tide. Cast to sand gullies, channel edges and seams of clean ground among rough; they can be tight in, so cover 30–80 m and don’t ignore the margins in 1–3 m of water. Keep the rod in hand for positive takes, set a smooth drag, and release fish quickly—supporting the body and avoiding the gill area.

Temperature

12–19°C

Depth range

1–15 m

Baits

  • Peeler Crab 9.5/10
  • Soft Crab 9/10
  • Hardback Crab 8.2/10
  • Hermit Crab 7.8/10
  • Prawn / Shrimp 6.5/10

Rigs

  • Pulley Pennel Rig 9.2/10

    Top choice over mixed/rough ground. Pennel holds big peeler/hardback crab, pulley lifts gear from snags and copes with long runs. Strong snood and hooks suit powerful smoothhound.

  • Running Ledger 8.8/10

    Great on clean surf beaches and estuary mouths. Long snood gives natural presentation with minimal resistance on the take—ideal with peeler crab at dusk/into dark.

  • Up and Over 8.5/10

    Clips down for long casts yet fishes a long snood once settled. Reaches gullies/sandbars and presents crab baits away from the lead for clear bite registration in tide.

  • Long & Low 8.2/10

    Streamlined and distance-friendly, fishing low to the seabed where hounds patrol. Best on clean sand in tide lanes with peeler crab; sensitive to shy takes.

  • Pulley Pennel Dropper 8.1/10

    Clip-down distance plus a pennel for big crab, then converts to a pulley on the strike. Ideal for mixed ground and powerful runs, reducing snag risk on the retrieve.