FISHING


TART Bay encompasses the great sweep of sea between the Dart estuary in the north and the jagged headland of the imposing start Point in the south.


Start Bay Fishing S


FOR THOSE READERS KEEN TO TRY OUT A SPOT OF FISHING ON/AROUND START BAY, BY THE DART PROVIDES A QUICK GUIDE


One of the most beautiful strips of coastline in the country backs the east-facing bay, boasting fantastic views, memorable beaches and the spectacular freshwater Slapton Ley. The South West Coast Path covers much of the coastline, taking in from south to north, Hallsands, Beesands, Torcross, Slapton Sands, Strete, Blackpool Sands and Stoke Fleming. It’s no surprise the magnificent coastline overlooking


Start Bay has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and with its blue-green seas, exotic vegetation, steep cliffs and sandy coves, it is classic family holiday territory. Many visitors know about Start Bay’s stunning coastline of high sweeping cliffs interspaced with long beaches and ancient fishing villages, now awash with colour and serving the needs of a modern society, with cafes, shops and old-fashioned country pubs. Some also discover its rich history which includes secret


wartime exercises, villages lost to the sea and tales of people who lived there. Perhaps less widely known are the bay’s fantastically rich fishing grounds which include the sandy Skerries Banks. The Skerries are renowned for their abundance of


plaice, blonde ray and other flatfish. One of the biggest blonde rays ever caught off British


waters was caught on the Skerries Banks in April 2006, weighing in at a whopping 39lbs 10ozs.


Start Point is one of the most exposed


The plaice lie on the shingle just behind the edge of the banks, waiting for small food items to be wafted into their vicinity by the tidal flow.


peninsulas on the English coast, running sharply almost a mile into the sea on the south side of Start Bay and its gullies are awash with bass and wrasse. Early mornings or evenings are the best times to fish here for bass. Start Bay is also littered with wartime wrecks which shelter a myriad of different species. Wreck fishing is the most spectacular


branch of sea fishing and it provides anglers with the opportunity to consistently catch specimen fish. While many different species are found on wrecks, the sport is dominated by conger, ling, pollack and bream.


The Skerries Banks provide excellent fishing and it is


possible to catch good flatfish, including the tasty plaice, there throughout the year. The majority of plaice fishing is done from either a


charter or private boat while freely drifting on the tide along the edges of the banks where the shingle falls off into deeper water. The plaice lie on the shingle just behind the edge of the banks, waiting for small food items to be wafted into their vicinity by the tidal flow. Fishing enthusiasts can expect great sport from charter


boats, of which there are an excellent number plying out of Dartmouth, or their own craft, with catches as diverse as conger, pollack, cod, ling, pout and bream from wrecks and bass, plaice, dab, conger, bull huss, wrasse and bream, plus blonde, small eyed, spotted and thornback ray from inshore marks. If you have your own small boat but little knowledge of these waters, chose a calm day and follow the majority of other anglers until you know where you are going and the location of the best marks. Electronic navigation aids are recommended to hit the best spots and a GPS chart plotter and a good fish finder will make the task much simpler.


Fantastic fishing can also be had from the bay’s array of


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