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Overview

How to target

Sprat
Species ID: sprat

Sprat

Sprats shoal tight to the coast in winter, especially around piers, harbour walls and estuary mouths. After dark they gather under lights and near structure, usually midwater to su...

🌊 Tide: flood 💨 Wind: calm 📅 Peak: Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec

Best tide

flood

Moon

none

Season

Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec

Wind

calm

Max weight

0.06 kg

Day vs night

Day 30%
Night 90% (best)
Sprats shoal tight to the coast in winter, especially around piers, harbour walls and estuary mouths. After dark they gather under lights and near structure, usually midwater to surface. Use very small gear: size 6–10 sabikis, 3–10 g micro-metals or tiny soft plastics; a light float rig or small paternoster with size 8–12 hooks and slivers of fish also works. Keep weight minimal and search the water column until you locate the shoal, then maintain a steady, gentle retrieve. Flood tides push shoals in and high water around harbour lights is often best. Calm, clear nights help. Handle gently (they shed scales) and fresh sprats make prime winter cod/whiting bait.

Temperature

5–12°C

Depth range

1–30 m

Baits

  • Sabiki 9.5/10
  • Micro Metal (LRF) 7.8/10
  • Casting Spoon 6.2/10
  • Soft Plastic (Finesse Minnow) 5.8/10

Rigs

  • Feathers / Sabiki 9.5/10

    Tiny sabiki (size 8–14) jigged from piers/harbours under lights picks up dense sprat shoals mid-water. Use 1–2 oz lead and slow lifts to work through the column on the flood or ebb.

  • Float (Sliding) 7.8/10

    Set shallow (1–3 m) and drift a single small bait or fly around pier lights. The sliding float lets you track sprats as they move with tide and depth; ideal in calm harbours at dusk/night.

  • Dropshot 7.2/10

    LRF dropshot with size 12–16 hook and tiny isome/bait slivers holds at the exact depth sprats are seen under lights in calm marinas; twitch gently to trigger takes.