Boat Fishing For Big Smooth Hounds

This entry was posted on 14th August, 2014

Thursday saw us up and about around 3.30am, we had arranged a days charter fishing on Phil White's boat, the Chinook II, out of Bradwell, fishing the sheltered waters in and around the Thames Estuary.

After a relatively easy 2 hour 30 minute drive from Norwich, we met Phil on the moorings around 6.40, a few minutes ahead of schedule but it gave us time to have a chat with him and to enjoy a quick cuppa before steaming out to the fishing grounds.

For anyone who doesn’t know Phil is a regular in and around these waters and has been fishing and most importantly catching fish from the Thames since he was knee high to a grasshopper!



Phil had already sorted the bait, a good fresh, live supply of Hermit Crab and some of the biggest Ragworm I'd ever seen! The plan was to try and target some Smooth Hound, as we were told by Phil that this time of year and for around the next 4-6 weeks some of the bigger, female fish can be caught. With great excitement and anticipation we motored out to the fishing grounds and it wasn't long before we had the first baits in the water.

Rigs, tackle and tactics were kept simple; a standard 18-25lb class boat rod, fixed spool reel, 14kg mono, standard zip slider, 8oz of lead, 40lb snood mono and a strong size 4/0 hook, baited with a mixture of the Hermit Crab and Ragworm.



With all the rods fishing and a nice scent trail heading down tide we didn't have to wait long for the first action of the session as the Penn reel burst into life with the sound of an angry Hound! After an extremely spirited fight, the fish was eventually safely in the net. A pristine female fish of around 8-9lb! I'd previously landed fish of a similar size from the beach, but the fight from this fish was something else! I guess the clearer slightly deeper water perhaps had something to do with it!

After she was safely returned we carried on fishing in the same spot for around half an hour, but strangely, considering they like to hunt in packs, no other Smooth Hound followed, so Phil suggested a move to a slightly different area, so this is exactly what we done!

It wasn’t long; perhaps only 10 minutes later and all the rods were fishing again.



By now the tide had really started to run, the sun was shining, the sea was calm and confidence was high, however we could never have guessed what would happen next, or how the day would pan out…

As for the next 6 hours we enjoyed some of the finest fishing I'd ever experienced, landing so many Smooth Hounds we lost count! Not small fish either, with the average size being around 8-9-10lb! It really was crazy. We had numerous double and treble hook ups, with each fish giving us a real work out!



By 2.30 the tide had started to ease and the fishing had started to slow, we agreed we'd give it another half hour before heading back to shore, just as we said this another rod was away and another battle ensued!

The site that greeted me next will be something I will never forget, as after 10 minutes of battling away a monstrous Smooth Hound broke surface next to the side of the boat, it was certainly the biggest of the day and it was certainly the biggest Smooth Hound I'd ever seen!

Soon she was in the net and on the deck, the proportions of the fish were staggering, the thickness across the back and her general all-round size was a sight to behold! On the scales she went a few ounces over 20lb, not just the biggest fish on the day, but a fish of a lifetime.

After a couple of quick trophy shots, like all the other fish landed on the day, we carefully released the big girl back to her watery home, before packing away and returning for home ourselves.



I’d just like to say a massive thanks to Phil, who was not only a first class skipper, but also a first class gentleman. He worked hard throughout the day and gave us a great insight into the Thames Estuary and how to effectively fish it, he also made sure we were on the fish, something which you cannot put a price on, something that only comes through years of experience.

Oh… He also he kept the kettle on all day and supplied the biscuits! I would not only recommend him and his boat, but also his coffees!

If you would like more information on Phil, or if you’d like to enquire about a days fishing with him then you can do so by visiting his website…

Phill White Charters

Finally before I sign off, we also filmed the whole session for our YouTube channel, which you can see below…

Hope you enjoy it, tight lines and be lucky.

Cheers Chris



The Tackle Box Shakespeare Boat Rod 18-25lb Class Penn Fixed Spool Reel 14kg Clear Mono Breakaway 8oz Grip Lead Breakaway Zip Slider Kamasan 4/0 Hooks