Estuary fishing from a small boat.

[doug748]

I plan to do some fishing from a rowing boat this winter, in the West Country. Might be Falmouth but probably on the River Tamar. I have my Grandad's old 8ft, cane pike rod but that is probably due retirement. More up to date is a glass 6 ft light boat rod which says 200 - 500g, with a multiplier reel attached, line maybe 15lb. Somewhere I also have a centre pin reel with similar line.

Any advice welcome on set ups, bait, fish to go for etc. Don't want to spend anything on expensive, fancy new gear really. Thanks.

.

 

[Ammonite]

Winter estuary fishing is generally pretty tough as the fish head off to deeper water but the Fal is particularly deep so its possible to catch mackerel, bass, rays, flounder, wrasse etc all year round. Whiting and codling also make an appearance in winter. I think the Tamar is similar if you seek out the deeper spots. When I used to live in Flushing (Falmouth) I used to drift around the Cross Roads area with either feathers or a live ragworm (which can readily be dug at low tide on the foreshore). The lighter the tackle the more fun but 15Ib and a 2-4oz lead would be fine. A flounder spoon baited with ragworm also works well. If you start getting bitten off and you are over one of the wrecks / rougher patches it's probably a conger.

 

[AndrewB]

I never did all that well either. Back in the 1950's, we regularly got a good catch of dabs {small sole} in the Tamar and Tavy, but that was drift netting. Plus the occasional illicit salmon!

More recently, I've gone for mackerel off Start Point and Rame Head, but earlier in the year, August. Pollock are also possible by line at that time of year but best further west, off the Lizard.