FLATTIE FANTASTIC
Here’s where you can catch big flounders around the shores of Poole Harbour
Where to target those big flounders.
Being one of the largest natural harbours in the world, Poole offers countless opportunities throughout the year for a wide variety of species, but it is particularly flounders, which show during the winter, that attract anglers to this shoreline, in search of a magical four-pounder.
For those targeting flounders, Poole Harbour has one great advantage over many of its West Country rivals where peeler crabs rule supreme.
Crabs can often be expensive and difficult to source during the winter, but, luckily, ragworms are far the most productive bait within Poole Harbour, and these can be bought at a reasonable price from the many tackle shops that serve the area. For instance, £10 should buy more than enough for a day’s fishing.
December and January are the prime months for big flounders in the harbour, but you need to fish those marks capable of producing that real biggie.
TOP SPOTS
I favour four marks. For those where fitness is not an issue, Shipstall Point on the Arne Peninsula is at the top of my list. Be warned, this mark involves a fair hike of around 30 minutes, so is not for the angler who wants to fish close to their vehicle. The other three marks I recommend are Baiter, Evening Hill and Holes Bay, all of which you can be fished within 40 metres of your car.
In recent years there has been a significant fluctuation in the number of flounders being caught within the harbour. A number of reasons have been suggested, such as commercial netting, pollution and predators. I believe it is a combination of commercial pressure and poor breeding cycles. The few immature flounders that do find their way back into the harbour soon become prey for the harbour’s bass population. Being a nursery area, the number of small bass has exploded in recent years.