Plaice fishing

[Plod]

My missus and kids are going away on 25/3 for the Easter Holidays. Obviously, I'm going to miss them loads and thought that in order to make the lonely time go quicker, I'd get as much fishing in as I can.
I am pretty new to this game, and was wondering if anyone can give me some advice on when, where and how to catch plaice off the shores in and around Torbay.

I need to gather as much info as I can ie. best tides, best weather, best time of day, best baits, best rigs, best places.

Sorry to ask so much, but as I say, I don't have a scooby!!

Cheers, Plod

[pixybasher]

Hi Plod,
Unfortunately you dont get many Plaice in the Bay area, you can get them but the numbers arent really there to really target them.
A mate some 23years ago spear gunned a Plaice from Broadsands beach, I cant accurately remember the weight but it was the size of a dustbin lid, it was huge!!
Probably the best nearest place would be East Portlemouth on the Salcombe estuary, I've fished the beach on a few occasions and always done ok.

[Plod]

Cheers Pixybasher,
I'd heard of that area from a mate at work, but it is quite a way to travel without a second opinion. I'll give that a try I think. Do you or anyone else know what works well there? Tides, bait, day or night, etc. I'm grateful for anything that may break my blanking run!!

Darren

[pixybasher]

If I'm going for the Plaice I tend to use Rag or Lug tipped with a small bit of squid.
I also use some coloured beads above the hook, I prefer yellow or orange as they seem to show the best results.
Another killer bait is small pieces of Black Lug, but my favourite bait to use for the flatties is gutted Blow lug about 3-4 days old.
CANT BEAT IT!!!
As long as you present the bait on the bottom you shouldnt go far wrong,However use a 20/30lb breaking strain just in case you hook into a Ray.
I have fished Portlemouth into the night but it went dead.
In the summer months its also a great place for Black Bream.

[Plod]

That's just the sort of information I'm after. Cheers, matey. One more quickie, where do you get your lug from? The shop in Brixham never seem's to have any worm except rag.

Cheers, Darren

[luke6661982]

I used to fish East Portlemouth quite alot.i always found an early tide best, because sometimes it can get really busy. i find peeler crab used to work really well, ive never had a huge plaice off there but several plate sized fish. and i agree with the strong line, ive also had thornbacks to 12lb fishing the same mark. im off down there in april, so if you have any luck, please let us know!!

[devondave]

im off to portlemouth on thursday plod if you fancy coming down ..
i trust your good reading a map because i dont drive so dont let me direct you.
i just waste bait and talk rubbish
interesting too know which marks you all fish down there though we generally fish just below the passenger ferry i think.. behind the posh houses :P

[Plod]

Cheers guys, I'm definately gonna try it. Where is the nearest bait shop, is it in kingsbridge?
Devondave, thanks for the offer but they don't go until Friday, so I've not got a pass until then!

Darren

[luke6661982]

i fish to the left of the ferry mostly just past all the posh houses. ive also fished up on the right area with the yellow bouys, seems to be a nice pit on the left hand side of the first yellow bouy. fished there alot but cant say ive had a plaice from there yet, just flounder, ray, bass and pollack.

[devondave]

well plod i will let you know how thursday goes