Fishing the Teign at the end of March

[Steve_640]

Hi, I am going to be in Shaldon for a few days at the end of March, so I can be prepared before I go, can anyone please give me advice on fishing the teign estuary. I guess at the end of March the Flounder will have gone. Would I be waisting my time spinning/plugging for Bass of the rocks at the Ness so early in the year. Tips regarding what rigs and weights I would require would be appreciated.

Thanks Steve

[wellyfish]

hi steve ,it is possible to catch flounder in march,the flounder start leaving the teign from january,but they are coming and going from jan- april so i would say yes ,give it a go ,carp rods are good for this ,wish bone rigs with crab is what i prefer and 1-2 oz ball weight so it moves around...good luck....as for the bass it is possible to catch the odd few around the mouth of the teign ,i tend to catch mine on a dextor wedge... i also think this part of the teign is nursery ground and you need to check what you can and cant take from this part im not to sure ....hope this helps a bit ...if you want to know a few spots to fish for the flounder then pm me

[Steve_640]

Thanks, I think you are right, according to the ferryman last time I was there, there is a minimum limit on the size of bass you can take, I am not sure how different this is to the national limit. He also mentioned that fishing from a boat in the narrowest part of the channel was not allowed. I have however seen people catch bass there from the shore and from the spit on the teignmouth side.

Steve.

[luke6661982]

I know this might be a bit late but I think I might be able to help you. At the moment, I haven’t heard about a lot of fish being caught. Flounder fishing has been very poor this year, but it is not to late to catch them. In the teign, we normally have a late run of flounder, especially late march to early april. I have caught them up to 2lb 8oz at this time of the year. I know it isn’t the biggest fish, but a fish is a fish. I think it is a bit too late to fish the high teign, so I would recommend you to fish the lower part, maybe the lowest the better. I suggest, maybe gasworks, pollysteps, the sand quay, or even the back beach or shaldon beach. The best tackle to use is either a light beach caster, or a spinning rod, 10lb line, and a simple running ledger. The ideal bait to use is crab, but worm could work.

As for the bass fishing, I haven’t seen anyone fishing for bass yet, so I couldn’t tell you if they are about. But you could also try your bass fishing alongside the floundering, as the lower marks will produce both. Anyway, good luck, and if this post is too late, then I am sorry.

[Steve_640]

Thanks, its not to late, as its next week that I will be down there. Where abouts are the polysteps?

Steve.

[luke6661982]

Pollysteps is on the Teignmouth side of the river, lower side of the bridge and higher side of the docks. it is the area that follows on from the docks, and also where you can launch your boat. you will be fishing on silt, or on in between mussell beds. anywhere along this stretch will produce fish (hopefully).

[Steve_640]

Well, I have just got back from my two week family holiday, unfortunately I only managed to fit in two fishing trips, one from shaldon beach and one from teignmouth back beach plus sandbank off the spit. Both trips resulted in no fish. Got so fed up with the crabs stipping the bait off the hook within about 30 seconds, I even had a go at plugging for Bass.

After some very expensive and poor quality frozen lug from the local tackle shop, I also had my first go at digging for lugworm. Thats bloody hard work and a there is a definate art to it, which took me alot of digging before I evan began to find it.

Apart from crabs, thats 3 blanks in a row for me now. Begining to get some stick from the Mrs. I am planning to go back to Shaldon in the summer, so hopefully will have more luck with the Bass.

Steve.