Chinook III Charter Fishing Report – March

This entry was posted on 23rd March, 2017

The last fortnight has seen a big influx of thornback rays into all the inshore areas in the Thames Estuary. These fish are early this year but with the lack of cod they are very welcome.

We are starting to see some big female rays with one reported at 20 lb last week, the best we saw on Saturday was a whopper caught by Peter Hudson at 16 lb. Not only was this his best thornback but his biggest ever fish. All the females are carrying eggs and should be returned alive.

Best baits are herring, squid, mackerel and most other fishy baits, remember to use heavy traces and strong hooks as the trace quite often gets caught around their spines and tail.

The piers and shore marks are fishing well for thornbacks, whiting and dabs with the bigger tides best, mid flood to mid ebb usually. Quite often this time of year you see some different species like gurnards or other flatties.

Offshore has been good for thornbacks, whiting and dabs with some dogfish turning up, best baits are squid and herring although if you want a chance of a spurdog then mackerel is very good as well. These hard fighting sharks give good sport and are protected so should be returned alive. They can grow up to 25 lb or so!

Prospects are excellent, there will be some spurdogs turning up in a few offshore places soon, lots more thornbacks and odd bass.