10 TOP UK VENUES
Here is a selection of some of the nation’s best places to catch smoothhounds…
1 SELSEY
Always a stand-out venue every year for anglers seeking hounds. The West Beach is the popular area where evening flood tides in calm weather are considered best.
2 SKEGNESS
The flat, sandy beaches along the Lincolnshire coast are well known for their prolific fishing for smoothhounds in the summer. Skegness is a favourite, but try Chapel Point, Huttoft and Sutton on Sea too.
3 ABERTHAW
Fish two and a half to three hours either side of low water on mid-range to neap tides at this prolific venue in South Wales. Other top marks inlude Porthkerry, Marcross, Monknash, Newton and Sker.
4 THE SOLENT
Many of the Solent venues produce hounds. Try the front of Hayling Island, where sometimes you’ll see the fish feeding close in to the beach. On the Isle of Wight, marks at Hampstead, Thorness, Gurnard and Cowes can produce big fish.
5 CHESIL BEACH
It’s hard to leave out this famous shingle beach, where the best hound fishing is often at Abbotsbury.
6 MINEHEAD
The Somerset coast is also noted for its smoothhounds, with fish likely at Minehead, Blueanchor and Dunster, as well as Lilstock and St Audries.
7 HOLDERNESS
The sandy beaches of the Holderness Coast, from Bridlington to Spurn always produces plenty of action with feisty smoothhounds.
8 NEW BRIGHTON
The Rock Channel on the Wirral side of the mouth of the Mersey can produce hectic sport. Other marks on the estuary, such as Bromborough, produce good sport too.
9 WEYBOURNE
Bites from smoothhounds can be thick and fast on many of the North Norfolk shingle beaches.
10 FYLDE COAST
After the holidaymakers leave the Blackpool area beaches, anglers will be out in calm conditions at evening low water. Anchorsholme and the Five Bar Gate are popular areas.