Sole

[nearly70ty]

Hi gents,
just a quick one when do the sole head out to spawn, and do thay stop taking baits in the cold what would the water temp be when they don't bite.

 

[Gold’nOldie]

Had sole in every month of the year, but generally, best chance in my neck of the woods (south coast), is between April and November. Peak time is August to October for me. From November, the pin whiting move in, in numberless hordes, so even if the sole are still about, they rarely get chance to beat the whiting. No idea on spawning times, can’t help you there, but someone (or Google) may be able to help. Cheers, Bob.

 

[Mr Fish]

In my experience of the Bristol Channel, November is about the cut off though I’ve heard of the odd fish in December.
Then forget about it until June, though May is a possibility for sure.

As Oldie Goldie says, the pest fish come ashore in huge numbers and impale themselves on a worm bait pretty quickly, so the more sedate flatties probably don’t get a look in

 

[squidword]

You can catch sole on chesil every month of the year if you get the correct conditions and tides. It gets more difficult though due to the whiting invasion. You need the biggest of spring tides and calm clear water.

As for the bristol channel, the fish tend to move around depending on the time of year. The colder it gets, the more they tend to drop down the Channel. There will be a few around until January, they return in April by May in numbers.

 

[nearly70ty]

Many thanks for the reply, reading between the lines from December on they tend to be a by catch but still a possibility. Much appreciate your imput, and if you anybody else have any observation on sole fishing times feel free to comment.

 

[squidword]

I've not fished the upper reaches of the BC for a few years but May is the time to target the muddier spots....

 

[nearly70ty]

I've not fished the upper reaches of the BC for a few years but May is the time to target the muddier spots....
View attachment 74883

Thats a fine haul of sole "Respect"

 

[Seymour]

I've not fished the upper reaches of the BC for a few years but May is the time to target the muddier spots....
View attachment 74883

That's a hell of a catch. What sort of size were they? It must have been one of those days when they were being very active. I've seen it a couple of times, though not many in the big scheme of things..

 

[Wolf]

Great catches

 

[squidword]

That's a hell of a catch. What sort of size were they? It must have been one of those days when they were being very active. I've seen it a couple of times, though not many in the big scheme of things..

If I remember correctly, there was one small one @ 1lb10oz and the biggest was 2lb9oz. Most of them were over 2lb. I did put a few back that were lightly hooked and left feeding fish as I didn't want to take any more back home. They do have a habit of swallowing a bait out of site. I've had similar sessions on chesil.... Good tides.... Good conditions... Good bait = a great catch. Sole are very predictable!