Starry Smoothhound Fishing in Gloucestershire

Jun–Sep evening floods; fresh peeler on long traces, 20–50 m to crab beds. Hold bottom with strong grippers.

Late May–Sep on peeler or hardback crab. Fish 2 hrs before to 1 hr after HW. Gripper leads and a rotten-bottom help in rough patches.

Peeler crab on strong pulley rigs; late May–Sept on big springs. Put baits 30–60yd into the flow; 6–7oz grippers.

Late spring-summer on peeler crab. Target the flood toward HW; hold bottom with strong grips and keep baits nailed down.

Evenings May-Sep on fresh peeler crab. Fish the last 2 hrs of flood from the steps; hold bottom with strong grippers and present baits along the tide seam.

Fresh peeler crab on a running ledger to the first drop-off; mid to late flood into dusk, May–Sep. 5–6oz grip leads.

Late May–Sept on spring tides; peeler crab on 3/0–4/0 pulley rigs. Cast to sand runs between boulders on the flood into dusk. Strong gear needed.

May-Sep on neap tides. Fresh peeler crab on strong gear; fish channel edges at range. 6oz grip leads and a smooth drag for powerful runs.

Peeler crab on pulley pennel; May–Aug; fish flooding tide over crab-rich mudbanks and channel edges; 4–6oz grip leads.

Peeler crab essential; late spring–early summer; first of the flood at dusk; 6oz grippers and pulley rig to tide seams.

Peeler crab on strong rigs into the seam just inside main flow; May–Sep on the flood over crab-rich mudbanks. 5–6oz grip leads.

Uncommon but possible on big summer floods; fresh peeler crab fished along crease lines. Strong tackle needed to cope with fierce run.

Peeler or soft crab on fixed-wire grip leads; first of the flood May–Aug along crab-rich seams. Occasional this far upriver—handle and release carefully.

May–Aug on bigger floods; peeler crab over cleaner patches at the pill mouth. Fish an hour either side of HW; circle hooks help.