Flatties

The upper side colour of flatties cannot be relied upon as a means of identification because it is susceptible to change as a form of camouflage enabling them to blend with their surroundings:

"Fisherman's Handbook" The Marshall Cavendish Volume 2, Part 51 (1978) Harvey Torbett at page 1429

The feeding behaviour of flat fish has been studied to identify factors which are responsible for stimulating feeding. In these experiments the "prey" presented to the fish was in the form of models, scents and tastes. The models used were spheres of 1, 2, 4 and 8 centimetres diameter, a small model fish and a plastic shrimp. The spheres were simply meant to represent food items of different sizes and lead weights of equivalent volume would weigh about ¼oz, 1½oz, 12oz and 6½lb. The scents used were the juices of mussel or shrimp and, for experiments with turbot and brill, the juices of sole or cucumber smelt.

The first tests were made with the sole, a highly specialised nocturnal-feeding, flat fish with a very well developed sense of touch on the underside of the head. The sole was attracted to the three smaller spheres and to the plastic shrimp but it panicked at the sight of the largest sphere. In all cases the attractiveness of the models was increased by the presence of mussel or shrimp juice in the water. Significantly the sole also showed a strong panic reaction to the presence of a small codling in its tank.

The sole, although it is almost exclusively a night feeder, uses its powers of both vision and taste to locate its prey. As in the case study of the stickleback, the effects of each stimulus were increased by the presence of another. The plaice, the flounder and the dab (unlike the sole) showed no interest in any of the spheres, expressing neither feeding nor flight reactions.

Occasionally all three species would approach and snap at the plastic shrimp but only when it was moving. In fact, the dab even swallowed the shrimp on one occasion. In contrast, when the juices of mussel or shrimp were in the water all three swam up to, and even bit at, the spheres.

A second set of tests also with plaice, flounder and dab were designed to see how good these fish were at locating their food. To do this a fine jet of seawater was squirted from a tiny glass tube, the tip of which projected just above the surface of the sand on the bottom of the tank. The plaice was the only one of the three to react to a plain jet of water. Plaice, it should be noted, often feed on the siphon tubes of burrowing clams, tubes from which little jets of water are constantly being pumped by the molluscs. Where very dilute shrimp juice was added to the water jet, both the plaice and the flounder located and bit at the end of the glass tube.

The dab was unable to locate the tube and just swam about aimlessly snapping its jaws. It clearly sensed the shrimp juice and when the 2cm sphere was presented it promptly attacked it. The dab is by nature a more active hunter than either flounder or plaice, eating shrimps and similar fast-swimming creatures.

During the holiday period in late December and early January some big dabs move through the English Channel. Locals call these "sprat dabs" because of their liking for sprats which become a "hot cocktail bait" at this time: "Tip off your worm with a sliver of sprat, herring or a thin strip of squid."

All three fish are essentially daytime hunters in which both sight and taste are important.

The turbot and brill are closely related and very similar. They are active daytime feeders, mainly eating fish. Both species ignored the three smaller spheres even when mussel, shrimp or fish juice were in the water, nor did they show any reaction to the juices alone. As in the case of the sole, the largest sphere caused a very strong flight (panic) reaction. Fish that were previously buried in the sand came out and swam quickly away.

In conclusion, when fishing for turbot or brill, beware the use of short traces, which place the bait too close to large lead weights. If they were moving, models of fish were approached and snapped at by turbot and brill. Moving plastic shrimps were also attacked, but neither mussel, shrimp or fish juice enhanced this feeding behaviour.

"The Art of Angling, Rock and Sea Fishing: with the Natural History of River, Pond and Sea Fish" (1740) Richard Brookes at pages 79 & 80

Of The Flounder or Fluke

The Flounder, in Latin Passer fluviatilis, is in shape much like a Plaice, only the body is somewhat longer, and when it is full-grown it is thicker. The colour is of a dirty olive. Sometimes they are beautifully spotted, but I never met with any of these, except far up the river. The scales are exceeding small, and adhere so closely to the skin that there is no perceivable roughness on it. The lateral line is composed of small prickles, from whence arises that roughness which may be felt along it from the head to the tail. The eyes are of the right side, and are of the same colour as the body, only a little more grey. The mouth is small, the tongue narrow, and there is a row of teeth in both jaws.

The Flounder is both a river and a sea-fish; but the former are not so black, and are more soft than the latter. But this difference seems to arise only from the nature of their food.

They are in season all the year, except in June and July, which is their time of spawning, and then they are sick and flabby, and infested with worms which breed in their backs.

The flesh is white, soft, innocent and nourishing; but it is always best when it is most firm. The taste of it is much like that of the Plaice, from which it differs but little in any respect.

It is the nature of all flat fish to lie and feed at the bottom; some indeed are fond of mud, but the Flounder avoids it as much as possible, delighting to lie on sandy or gravelly bottoms, especially on the declivity of a deep hole near a bank.

They may be angled for either with a float or a running-bullet, but I prefer the latter. The bullet should rest at least a foot from the hook, that the bait may be at liberty to be put in motion by the water. If you use a float let it lie flat on the water, and when you perceive it to move along slowly, and soon after become upright, then strike, and you'll be sure of your prey. But always remember that he is some time in sucking the bait into his mouth before he gorges it.

The best baits are red-worms, or very small marsh-worms put on a small hook. You should bait the ground with a handful of small red-worms cut in two pieces. They may be angled for all the day, but early in the morning is the likeliest time.

"The Art of Angling, Rock and Sea Fishing: with the Natural History of River, Pond and Sea Fish" (1740) Richard Brookes at pages 115 & 116

Of The Turbot or Bret

This fish in the southern parts of England is call'd a Turbot, but in the northern a Bret. The Latin writers term it Rhombus maximus asper non squamosus, to distinguish it from others of the same figure, it being the largest of the kind, and rough, but without scales.

The size of this fish seldom exceeds a yard in length, nor two foot and a half in breadth. Tho' he has no scales, he has a rough granulated skin full of exceeding small prickles, placed without order on the upper part. The colour of the same part is ash, diversify'd with a great number of black spots, some of which are large, others small. The lower part is white.

The mouth of the Turbot is proportionably wider than that of the Plaice, it has likewise a greater number of teeth both in the jaws and in the palate. The nostrils are not placed in the same line with the back-fin, but below it. The eyes are placed on the left side; or, to speak more intelligibly, on the right side of the mouth; there is likewise more distance between them, and they are farther from the back than in others of the same kind.

The liver of this fish is pale, the spleen red, and the gut has but one fold. The stomach is very large, the kidneys long, and the urinary bladder pretty capacious.

It is taken very frequently in the British and German Ocean, and is the largest of all this kind of fish except the Halybut. The flesh is white, firm, delicate and wholesome, far excelling the Plaice, and all other fish that resemble it in shape. Nay it is so highly esteemed by some, as to be preferr'd before all the inhabitants of the water. It is a fish of prey and lives upon others, particularly crabs which it is a great enemy to; for which reason it lies near the mouths of creeks and great rivers.

"The Art of Angling, Rock and Sea Fishing: with the Natural History of River, Pond and Sea Fish" (1740) Richard Brookes at pages 117 & 118

Of The Plaice

The Plaice, in Latin Passer, is a fish extremely flat; sometimes we meet with them of the length of a foot, and seven inches broad. The upper part is of a dirty olive, painted with round spots of a vermilion dye; the lower part is white. This is a scaly fish, but the scales are small, and are in a manner concealed in hollow cavities, insomuch it requires no little trouble to separate them. At the upper edge of the coverings of the gills are placed seven boney tubercles, the fifth from the eyes being the highest and largest. There is no asperity in the lateral line, nor in the circumference of the body at the roots of the surrounding fins. There is one row of teeth in both jaws, and a cluster of teeth on the palate. The eyes are prominent, very near together, and placed on the right side to the left of the mouth. One of the nostrils is situate on the upper side near the eyes, and the other on the lower side under the eyes. The tail is long and roundish at the end.

As for the internal parts the liver is long, undivided and red; the gall-bladder large, and the spleen blackish. There are three kidneys, which are joined to a large urinary bladder by a long duct.

This fish is every where to be met with. The flesh is soft, sweet, pleasant and wholesome, and by some thought of equal goodness with a sole; but these things depend much upon fancy.

"The Art of Angling, Rock and Sea Fishing: with the Natural History of River, Pond and Sea Fish" (1740) Richard Brookes at pages 118 & 119

Of The Dab

The Dab, in Latin Passer asper sive squamosus, is a little thicker than a Plaice, but much about the same size. He is a scaly fish, and the scales are large for one of this kind. He feels pretty rough if you draw your fingers from the tail upwards, but he has no prickles neither on the middle of the sides, nor at the root of the surrounding fins. The situation of the eyes are like a Plaice. The colour of the upper part is of a dirty olive with a reddish cast and speckled with spots of a dusky yellow. The mouth is of a middle size, and there is one row of teeth in both jaws.

It differs from a Plaice in being thicker, in having larger scales, in having no tubercles near the head, in wanting the vermilion spots; though some have yellow ones.

The fish is frequently met with in all parts of the sea that surround our coast. The flesh is firmer, and is thought to be better relish'd than that of a Plaice.

"The Art of Angling, Rock and Sea Fishing: with the Natural History of River, Pond and Sea Fish" (1740) Richard Brookes at page 120

Of The Sole

The Sole, in Latin Solea, is a flat longish fish, in shape much like the soal of a shoe, from whence it derives its name. It is often seen of the length of a foot, and sometimes a little longer. The upper part is of a dark ash-colour, and the lower white. The scales are very small. The lateral line passes directly from the head to the tail through the middle of both sides. The corners of the mouth are rough with a sort of small bristles or hairs. The body is surrounded with short fins, which on the upper edge begin near the eyes and are continued to the tail; on the lower edge it proceeds from the tail to the vent, which is placed near the head. The eyes are situate in the left side of the head, and are small, round, and cover'd with a loose skin. The pupils are small and of a shining green. The tail is round.

The flesh is more firm and solid than that of a Plaice; and for sweetness of taste, the plenty of nourishment it affords, and the goodness of its juice, far excels it; for which reason, in some countries, they stile it the Sea-Partridge.

"Prose Halieutics or Ancient and Modern Fish Tattle" (1854) Reverend Charles David Badham M.D. at pages 43 & 44

Chapter III

Vivaria

With regard to the diet of fish, continues our author, the flats (pisces jacentes) just mentioned - turbot, soles, and plaice - require a softer aliment than the saxatiles, having no teeth to bite their food, which they accordingly swallow whole: for the last, salt garbage, guts and gills of any little fish, or the pisciculi themselves, or the sweepings of the stalls, are particularly to be recommended; service-apples, figs, nuts broken in the hand, and above all (if the year's provision of the dairy permit), new cheese, may all, or any of them, be given; but no food proves so serviceable, by reason of its strong smell, to flat fish - as salt fish.

Lying with their bellies on the ground, they are more guided by the nose than the eye; for though they see what is above them perfectly, all that is on the same level, whether to the right or left, they see not, and so may lose a dinner which depends only on eyesight; but once offer to their nostril the trail of a salt anchovy, and no other guide is needed than the scent. If, in consequence of the severity of winter, you cannot feed your fish high as you could wish, slices of apples or dried figs may always be given, especially those of the better kind, Bætic or Numidian. There are some who give nothing to their watery live-stock, but let them fare as they may, and fatten if they can. These persons are blind to their own interest; whenever such produce comes to market, all the world despises its leanness, and nobody will buy this skeleton or scavenger fish offered for sale - "macies enim indicat eum non esse libero mari captum, sed de custodia elatum; propter quod plurimum pretio detrahetur."

Editor's note: The two archaic terms - pisces jacentes and "saxatile" - mean, respectively, "flatfish" and "growing on or living among rocks".

"Prose Halieutics or Ancient and Modern Fish Tattle" (1854) Reverend Charles David Badham M.D. at pages 357 to 360, 363 & 364

Chapter XVI

Gadeans and Pleuronects

Flounder or Fluke

… Northern seas furnish another fish belonging to the present subgenus, the Platessa limanda, or dab, which has larger eyes than the common flounder, and a rough skin, whence it derives its name, from lima, a file. Dabs, being a cheap and a much better flavoured fish than the flounder, have a great sale in the London and Paris markets, where there are no less than five different species occasionally exposed for sale; the commonest of all is the P. limanda, and next P. microcephala, "town or lemon dab", as it is commonly called at the fish-stalls.

Though the flounder be mentioned complacently by Pope in conjunction with the gudgeon, as what "his Thames affords", and though Thames flesi seem to enjoy a sort of cockney reputation of their own, yet a poorer fish, except plaice (for what is more flat than a flounder?), it would not be easy to name.

… The best time for taking him is at dawn, when he is on the prowl for a breakfast:

He that intends a flounder to surprise,
Must start betimes and fish before sunrise.

Flesi have qualities invaluable in the angler's eye, being greedy, playful, and full of pluck. "These fish," writes Franks in his "Northern Memoirs", "are bold as buccaniers, of much more confidence than caution, and so fond of a worm that they will go to the banquet, though they die at the board: they are endowed with great resolution, and struggle stoutly for the victory when hooked; they are also more than ordinarily difficult to deal with by reason of their build, which is altogether flat, as it were a level. The flounder, I must further tell you, delights to dwell among stones; besides, he is a great admirer of deeps and ruinous decays, yet as fond as any fish of moderate streams; and none beyond him, except the perch, that is more solicitous to rifle into ruins, insomuch that a man would fancy him an antiquary, considering he is so affected with reliques."

Having thus summarily disposed of the coarser plaice, flounders, dabs, and holibut, with all of which the ancients were happily unacquainted, we come to three much more delicate flats, those princely pleuronecte - turbots, brills, and soles.

The first (Rhombus maximus) was so well known to the ancients, that to cite all the passages where the mention of it occurs would be tedious, and might give our readers a fish surfeit, which we should be sorry to have on our conscience. It was held by the two rival representatives and exponents of taste in civilized man in as high favour as it now is with us: "nothing to a turbot" was a Greek sentiment as well as a Roman proverb, and "Th' untasted turbot shows his tempting flank," was no doubt either a poetic license intended by Horace to be received as a pleasantry.

… Frequent allusions to the size of the turbot occur in Latin writers, thus -

Great turbots and late suppers lead
To debt, disgrace, and abject need.
The border of the broadest dish
Lay hid beneath the monster fish.

The Dutch, those indefatigable fishers for the benefit of the world at large, and of themselves in particular, furnish for London consumption alone, eighty thousand rhombi; and to eat these as Nature always intended them to be eaten (though Apicius and Lucullus never found out the secret!) one million of Norway lobsters, for which we pay from twenty-two to twenty-five thousands sterling a year, accompany them up the river.

Ælian mentions a curious mode adopted in some places in his time for taking flat-fish, founded on their well-known peculiarity of keeping close in the sand, like hares in their forms: the plan is extremely simple; a number of fishermen at low water walk over the sand in sabots; as the water comes in, various small pleuronects resort to the footprints, and are easily seen and taken. The modern plan is very different, and adapted for taking turbot of much larger dimensions: the fishermen on our northern coasts go out in parties of three to a cobble, each man carrying his long line, the united ends of which are a league in length, and draw after them fifteen hundred and twenty baited hooks; these lines, as they are to lie across the current, can only be shot twice in twenty-four hours, when the rush of the waters slackens, as the tide is about to change. In place of the small cobble used on our coast (which is but twenty feet long by five feet broad), the Dutch repair to the Dogger Bank in a boat twice the length, and three times as broad, carrying besides six fishermen engaged in the craft, a cook as well, who no doubt has plentiful experience in dressing turbot. Here, as the fishing is continuous, and the bank never fails to furnish supplies, the expedition is generally successful, and the proceeds highly lucrative.

Editor's notes:

"betimes" means "early".
Ælian, Claudius Ælianus (ca 175 - ca 235) was a Roman author and teacher of rhetoric.
Captain Richard Franck (ca 1624 - 1708) was an English author on the subject of fishing. Northern Memoirs, written in 1658, compiled in 1685, and published in 1694, is an example of euphuistic literature the style of which is turgid. Its full title runs "Northern Memoirs, calculated for the Meridian of Scotland. Wherein most or all of the Cities, Citadels, Sea-ports, Castles, Forts, Fortresses, Rivers, and Rivulets are compendiously described. Together with choice Collections of various Discoveries, Remarkable Observations, Theological Notions, Political Axioms, National Intrigues, Polemick Inferences, Contemplations, Speculations, and several curious and industrious Inspections, lineally drawn from. Antiquaries and other noted and intelligible Persons of Honour and Eminency. To which is added the Contemplative and Practical Angler by way of Diversion,' with more of the same character. By Richard Franck, Philanthropus. Plures necat Gula quam Gladius, 1694." The Latin proverb "plures necat gula quam gladius" translates as "the gullet kills more than the sword".
A "sabot" is a kind of simple shoe, shaped and hollowed out from a single block of wood, traditionally worn by French and Breton peasants.
A "cobble" is a small, flat bottom fishing boat with a lugsail on a raking mast.

"The Book of Household Management" (1861) Isabella Beeton at pages 117, 132, 148, 157, 159 & 166

Chapter 7 - Fish

The Natural History of Fishes

Fish as an article of human food

215. The love of fish among the ancient Romans rose to a real mania … Hortensius, the orator, wept over the death of a turbot which he had fed with his own hands; and the daughter of Druses adorned one that she had, with rings of gold. These were, surely, instances of misplaced affection; but there is no accounting for tastes.

218. The general use of fish, as an article of human food among civilized nations …
III. As food for invalids, white fish, such as the ling, cod, haddock, coal-fish, and whiting, are the best; flat fish, as soles, skate, turbot, and flounders, are also good.
IV. Salmon, mackerel, herrings, and trout soon spoil or decompose after they are killed; therefore, to be in perfection, they should be prepared for the table on the day they are caught. With flat fish, this is not of such consequence, as they will keep longer. The turbot, for example, is improved by being kept a day or two.

Chapter 8 - Fish Recipes

Fish

The Brill

This fish resembles the sole, but is broader, and when large, is esteemed by many in a scarcely less degree than the turbot, whilst it is much cheaper. It is a fine fish, and is abundant in the London market.

To Choose Brill

The flesh of this fish, like that of turbot, should be of a yellowish tint, and should be chosen on account of its thickness. If the flesh has a bluish tint, it is not good.

The Flounder

This comes under the tribe usually denominated Flat-fish, and is generally held in the smallest estimation of any among them. It is an inhabitant of both the seas and the rivers, while it thrives in ponds. On the English coasts it is very abundant, and the London market consumes it in large quantities. It is considered easy of digestion and the Thames flounder is esteemed a delicate fish.

The Plaice

This fish is found both in the Baltic and the Mediterranean and is also abundant on the coast of England. It keeps well and, like all ground-fish, is very tenacious of life. Its flesh is inferior to that of the sole and, as it is a low-priced fish, it is generally bought by the poor. The best brought to the London market are called 'Dowers Plaice' from their being caught in the Dowers, or flats, between Hastings and Folkestone.

The Sole

This ranks next to the turbot in point of excellence among our flat fish. It is abundant on the British coasts, but those of the western shores are much superior in size to those taken on the northern. The finest are caught in Torbay and frequently weigh 8 or 10lbs per pair. Its flesh being firm, white and delicate, is greatly esteemed.

The Sole a favourite with the Ancient Greeks

This fish was much sought after by the ancient Greeks on account of its light and nourishing qualities. The brill, the flounder, the diamond and Dutch plaice which, with the sole, were known under the general name of passeres, were all equally esteemed and had generally the same qualities attributed to them.

The flavour of the Sole

This, as a matter of course, greatly depends on the nature of the ground and bait upon which the animal feeds. Its natural food are small crabs and shell-fish. Its colour also depends on the colour of the ground where it feeds; for if this be white, then the sole is called the white, or lemon sole; but if the bottom be muddy, then it is called the black sole. Small-sized soles, caught in shallow water on the coasts, are the best in flavour.

How soles are caught

The instrument usually employed is a trawl net, which is shaped like a pocket, of from sixty to eighty feet long, and open at the mouth from thirty-two to forty feet, and three deep. This is dragged along the ground by the vessel, and on the art of the fisherman in its employment, in a great measure depends the quality of the fish he catches. If, for example, he drags the net too quickly, all that are caught are swept rapidly to the end of the net, where they are smothered, and sometimes destroyed. A medium has to be observed, in order that as few as possible escape being caught in the net, and as many as possible preserved alive in it.

The Turbot

This is the most esteemed of all our fish. The northern parts of the English coast, and some places off the coast of Holland, produce turbot in great abundance and in greater excellence than any other parts of the world. The London market is chiefly supplied by Dutch fishermen who bring to it nearly 90,000 a year. The flesh is firm, white, rich and gelatinous and is the better for being kept a day or two previous to cooking it. In many parts of the country turbot and halibut are indiscriminately sold for each other. They are, however, perfectly distinct; the upper parts of the former being marked with large, unequal and obtuse tubercules, while those of the other are quite small and covered with oblong soft scales which firmly adhere to the body.

The ancient Romans' estimate of turbot. As this luxurious people compared soles to partridges, and sturgeons to peacocks, so they found a resemblance to the turbot in the pheasant. In the time of Domitian, it is said one was taken of such dimensions as to require, in the imperial kitchen, a new stove to be erected, and a new dish to be made for it, in order that it might be cooked and served whole: not even imperial Rome could furnish a stove or a dish large enough for the monstrous animal. Where it was caught, we are not aware; but the turbot of the Adriatic Sea held a high rank in the "Eternal City".

"Sea Fish & How to Catch Them" (1863) William Barry Lord at pages 63 to 66

Flounders and Plaice

These fish abound in nearly all large tidal rivers, even far beyond the influence of the tide, and in such creeks and estuaries as have rivers discharging themselves into them. Considerable numbers are to be taken with the rod and line, either with or without a float, using tow or three hooks … either mud-worms, common earthworms, or small pieces of fish bait may be used successfully. The bait should drag the ground … Numbers may be taken from the boat by using the chop-sticks, and just keeping your sinker clear of the ground, so as to allow the baits to drag a few inches. Considerable numbers of fresh-water eels are often taken when fishing in this way, as well as numbers of other fish.

Turbot

Few fish are held in higher estimation for the table than the turbot, which, by some, is preferred even to the lordly salmon; and from their remains being found, as they sometimes are, associated with ancient coins and utensils discovered amongst the remains of cities long passed away, one is led to suppose that they were in great request amongst the gourmands of past days … at particular seasons two sand banks, known as the Varne and the Ridge, which lie between the Kentish and French coasts, are visited by numbers of French and English fishermen engaged in the turbot fishery … The season lasts from the end of March to the middle of August.

"Sea-fishing as a sport" (1865) Lambton J. H. Young at pages 89, 90, 125 & 127 to 133

Chapter III

Fish

(Taurulus bubalis, known as the long-spined bullhead or the long-spined sea-scorpion) … is not eaten on our coasts, being looked upon as useless even for bait, although the Dutch prefer it to most others in turbot fishing, from its living for a long time on the hook, and by its struggles to get free showing itself to the fish when on the feed.

Common Dab

This delicious fish is found on all parts of our coasts in company with the plaice and flounder. Vast numbers are brought to the London market, being caught by the trawlers in seine nets and by spillers and hooking; the lug-worm is their favourite food, but they also eat small fish, crustacea, testacea. The spring is the best time of the year to eat them, when large numbers are sold in the Paris markets, being preferred to the plaice and flounder … any sandy tract of ground a short distance from the coast is almost sure to produce the dab, and you may find a "dab ground" off every fishing village on the coast.

The Turbot

This well-known and highly esteemed fish is justly considered one of the best as well as the largest of flat-fish, and notwithstanding the immense quantity consumed is still caught in great numbers.

Though very considerable quantities of this fish are now taken on various parts of our own coasts, from the Orkneys to the Land's End, yet a preference is given in the London market to those caught by the Dutch, who are said to have made £80,000 a year by the supply of the turbot alone, and the sauce for this luxury has caused the Danes to be paid about £15,000 per annum for a million of lobsters sent from the rocky coasts of Norway. One fourth of the supply of turbot to the London market is provided by Dutch fishermen: each boat brings from one hundred to one hundred and fifty fish, and pays a duty of £6, and a large trade is carried on between the Dutch and English fishermen at sea, the latter purchasing the fish and bringing them into our market free of duty.

On our southern coast turbot are caught by trawling vessels, and long line fishing at particular seasons, on the two extensive banks of sand known as the Varne and the Ridge, the first about seven miles, and the second twelve from Dover towards the French coast. The French also fish with long lines on those banks, and if unsuccessful in selling their turbot at sea, which they prefer, one or more of their boats is freighted with them and sent into Dover, paying the usual duty prior to selling the fish. They are not, however, allowed to sell any fish but turbot, except under particular circumstances. If in want of provisions, or their boat has suffered damage from bad weather, they are permitted by certificate from a magistrate to sell as much fish as will procure them food or pay the cost of repairs.

The turbot generally feeds on small fish, crustacea, and mollusca. They spawn in August and rapidly recover their condition and firmness.

Turbot have been taken seventy pounds weight each; recently the number of turbot brought to the Billingsgate market was 90,000 in one year, and the sauce from them caused the consumption of 2,000,000 lobsters. The fisheries on the Varne and the Ridge, two sandbanks off Dover, commence in the spring with both line and trawl-net. The Varne lies east-north-east and west-south-west, about six miles in length, and one and a quarter mile in breadth, having two and a half fathoms of water on its shoalest part, with thirteen fathoms close to it. The Ridge lies nearly north-east by east, and south-west by west, nine miles in length, and two miles in breadth, at the back of the Varne, and has on it from nine feet to four fathoms; this bank, like the Varne, is composed of sand and shells, and the fish generally taken throughout the spring of the year are, turbot, brills, and soles; summer, mackerel, plaice, and bream; autumn, cod and whiting; winter, herrings, sprats, and oysters. On these banks the spring tides run two and three quarter knots, and the neap one and a quarter.

The Brill or Pearl

The Brill is exceedingly well known, and brought in great abundance to the London market; they are caught on the same ground and in the same manner as the turbot … and are very good eating. It is the broadest species of the genus after the maximus (turbot), and was the largest flat-fish taken in the time of Domitian. It is a very voracious fish, greedily seizing on any animal that may come within its reach. The brill is caught in the European seas, and on our own coast from the Straits of Dover to the west coast of Ireland principally; nearly every fishing vessel comes in with a few brills, taken at all seasons, but usually from the fisheries on sandy bottoms, where they seem to obtain the most plentiful supply of food.

"Guide to Sea Fishing and the rivers of south Devon and descriptive catalogue of their prize river and sea fishing tackle, cricket, archery, croquet, umbrellas, parasols &c" (1875 - 7th edition) J. N. Hearder & Son at pages 93 & 94

Part Second

Ground or Deep Sea Fishing

There is a species of ground fishing not so much followed as it might be; viz.,

Dab Fishing

The Dab is a rich-tasted fish, and well repays the trouble of catching. The ordinary mode of fitting a line for this kind of sport is to use with it a boat-shaped sinker, of a weight sufficient to keep the bottom; to this is attached a snood of gimp or gut of four or five feet in length, terminated by a hook, and having one or more hooks strung at short distances above the end one.

These are baited with mud-worm, mussel, or shrimp, and are allowed to lie upon the ground. If the lead be lifted a very short distance off the ground, the bites are felt more easily. A still better mode, especially where the run of the tide is small, is to use a leger trot (page 16). This consists of a flax line of sufficient length to reach the bottom and allow for tidal drift. To the end of the line is attached a small plummet sinker, say about a half pound. Six inches above the sinker a loop is made in the line, and to this is attached one end of a gut line, termed a leger line or trot; this may vary in length according to the wish of the fisherman, from one yard to six or eight yards, and may be of single or twisted gut, or even of fine flax snooding. Hooks with short gut snoods are strung upon this, at the distance of a foot or so from each other, and a second lead is attached to the further end. To lay this trot, the first lead is lowered into the water, the hooks are baited, and then the line is paid out until the leads reach the bottom in succession, but the boat is at the same time moved, so as to lay the string of hooks between the two leads flat on the ground; the second lead being down, the line is tightened, so as just to feel the lead without raising it. By this means the tenderest bite is felt and better sport is ensured, as the fish are sometimes gentle feeders. The hooks may vary from Nos. 3 to 8, depending on the size of the fish likely to be met with.

"The Sea-Fisherman" (1884 - 4th edition) James Carrall Wilcocks at pages 118 to 127 & 170 to 173

The Dab (Platessa limanda)

The Dab is an excellent fish, and when in perfection, which is in the early spring, has a very delicate flavour.

This is very frequently confounded with the flounder or fluke (Platessa flesus), as it is of a similar size and shape, but much inferior in quality; it may be easily distinguished therefrom, as the dab is rough on the back and nearly transparent, whilst the flounder is smooth and opaque.

It is a very nice looking fish when first taken out of the water, being of a delicate brown hue on the back, mottled with crescent-shaped spots of a bright orange, but these hues fade in death, and the spots become nearly invisible, so that the fish loses the attractive appearance it possessed on being first taken from its native element.

They are found on all the sandy and oazy shores of the British Isles, and are taken both with the trawl net and hook and line, of which six may be used, that is to say, three pairs of leads of the respective weights of 1½, 1, and ½ a pound, which will generally be found sufficiently heavy in any depth under ten fathoms; but if leads of ½ a pound should be found too light, let those of 1 pound be used instead, and leads of 3 pounds take the places of those of 1½ pound weight forward.

In some quiet bays with very little tide, much lighter leads may be used, such as of 4, 8, and 12 ounces' weight, and finer lines also, but all must depend on the depth of water and the strength of the tide. Provided the leads will keep the bottom, they are sufficiently heavy. The three pairs of the above mentioned size are a useful average weight.

These fish mostly remain at the bottom, consequently plenty of line should be given in order that the leads and baits may keep the ground, as although they occasionally rise from the bottom it is not usually the case.

The boat-shaped leads are the best adapted to this fishing, and the snood with two hooks only (No. 13) should not altogether exceed 5 feet in length from the lead. The baits should be fresh mussels or lug-worms, of which mussels are decidedly the better for dabs, but for plaice lugs are preferable. For baiting with mussels, see under 'Baits', p. 49; as to lugs, it is only necessary to pass the hook through them three or four times. Fine white hemp snooding or yellow silk is best for this fishing, unless you use stout gut.

Your lines should be nearly twenty fathoms in length each, supposing the water to be from seven to ten fathoms in depth, as it is necessary to pay out much more line than the depth of water when there is any tide running, which is the best time to fish, as dabs and other flat fish - and in fact all fish - are then actively on the look out for food.

The finer kind of whiting lines are strong enough for this sport.

Having moored your boat and baited the two hooks, take the line of the heaviest lead in your right hand about eighteen inches above it, and the snood in your left hand, and swinging it two or three times to and fro, cast it from you on one side of the boat as far as possible (taking care not to hook your fingers whilst so doing), and thus proceed with the whole six; the lines will then radiate from the boat like the spokes of a wheel, and reach further as well as keep clearer than if merely lowered alongside; they will also thus collect the fish together, as the lines, by the force of the stream, will be drawn towards a common centre.

These fish are from 10 to 15 inches in length, and 8 to 12 in breadth, and a man will, single handed, take from three to ten dozen in four or five hours when they are abundant.

Mussels of which the shells do not exceed 1½ inch in length are the best size for dabs, small whiting, or pout; if larger they should be cut in two, leaving the tongue in one part and the round gristle in the other to hold the hook.

I have given an illustration of the mode of spreading the lines round the boat in dab or flounder-fishing.

Dabs and flounders constantly gorge the bait: to extract the hook insert your thumb in the gills and split them open, or use a disgorger.

Star-fish, hermit-crabs, &c., are often troublesome, robbing the hooks, which must be frequently examined in turn. Great numbers of dabs and also other flat-fish are taken with trots or spillers, which are long lines having a hook at every nine feet or two fathoms, tied to fine snooding three feet in length, and moored securely by stones, with a buoy line at each end; these lines have from one hundred to five hundred hooks, and a stone of about two pounds in weight attached every four fathoms, which prevents the rolling, and thereby the twisting of the snooding; at both extremities of the line the stones should be from ten to twenty pounds in weight.

N.B. - Trots are mostly shot across the tide in order that the hooks may stream out clear from the main line. Fishing in this extensive manner is comparatively rarely attempted by amateurs, as it is very troublesome and requires too much time; a short trot of forty or fifty hooks, however, may sometimes be used with advantage if set over night, as it may be taken up next morning, and is fishing whilst the owner is sleeping. I recommend, as a rule, however, that amateurs stick to hand-line fishing, which affords the best sport, although in quiet weather the result in the quantity of fish is generally greater with the trot or spiller.

In order to prevent entanglement of the hooks of the trot, boulter, or spiller, a basket with hook holders should be provided, both which are described at page 147. The dab is by no means confined to the shores of Britain, but has a very wide range over the northern seas; Captain Dixon met with large quantities on the NW. coast of America in 1787, off Port Mulgrave. Whilst dab-fishing you will now and then catch a 'sordid dragonet' (Callionymus dracunculus), an ugly-looking flat-headed fish, having a three-forked broad spine over the gills; to unhook this fish safely place your foot on it, as the spines are sharper than needles, and may make an ugly cut in your fingers if due caution be not used. The points are nearly covered with skin, and may escape your observation. As a rule, be on your guard in particular against every sea-fish having a head like the river bull-head or miller's thumb. The dab is particularly good when nicely fried either with or without eggs and bread-crumbs. Having more than you know how to dispose of fresh, cut off the heads and that portion of the belly which covers the intestines, sprinkle them thickly with salt, and lay them an hour or two in a pan to allow it to penetrate, then hang them up on a line or drying frame … or on a fish-stick, taking care when suspended that they do not touch each other, and they will keep good a fortnight or more after being dried. If you desire to preserve them longer, they must receive rather more salt at first, be dried still more, and opportunity must be taken afterwards to spread them in the sun occasionally. Toasted or broiled on a gridiron, they will be found an excellent tea and breakfast fish; to extract a portion of the salt, after toasting pour boiling water on them in a basin and let them soak three minutes, then take out, drain, and immediately spread over them a bit of butter whilst still hot. The dab is a very slimy fish and must be well scraped in cleaning; it should not, however, be allowed to soak in the water, but be dipped sufficiently to rinse off the impurities only.

The Flounder or Fluke (Platessa flesus)

The flounder or fluke frequents large tidal rivers, and although evidently a sea-fish, will wander far into perfectly fresh water, and there live and thrive.

It is very similar in shape to the dab but much inferior in quality, yet in the winter until the beginning of spring it is tolerably firm, and being at this season full of spawn will be found very palatable, if broiled over a clear fire, or nicely fried. (Note. - In cooking flat-fish by either broiling or frying, remove the roes and dress them alone, as they are rarely sufficiently done if left in the fish.)

Use the same tackle as for the dab; for bait I have never found anything equal to the soft crab, which is sufficiently tough, and not so quickly taken off the hook by the green crabs, which abound so much in all our estuaries. This crab, warned by an all-wise Providence of its approaching defenceless state from the casting of its shell, seeks shelter and concealment under stones or in holes, until a new one is formed over its naked body, as during this period it is equally an object of pursuit to all the finny race as to its brethren who have not parted with their coats of armour.

Use four or six lines, and act in the same way in casting and arranging the lines as in dab-fishing. To bait the hooks, take a crab, and having cracked the shell and pulled it off, cut the body with a sharp knife into three or four baits, and place a piece on each hook, by putting the hook twice through it; crack the shell of the large and small legs also, and they will form one or two more baits. Whilst fishing for flounders, you will also occasionally take large freshwater eels and bass, which are very fond of the soft crab.

If you reside near any harbour having muddy shores, it will be quite worth while to contrive a number of artificial shelters for the bait-crabs, which is to be effected by procuring a quantity of old earthenware pots, old saucepans, or frying pans, to the number of two or three hundred or more, and placing them on the shore between half tide and low water mark; turn them upside down, leaving a small opening for the crabs to enter, which they will not fail to do; you will thus have a supply of bait always at hand.

Where the water is entirely fresh, or in the upper part of an estuary where the fresh water preponderates, flounders will take earthworms as freely as eels; but where the water is entirely salt, or the salt preponderates in the mixed water, the soft crab or mudworm is preferred.

The quantity of eels to be taken with the soft-crab bait in some estuaries is very great: I have heard of as much as a hundred weight in a single day's fishing in Southampton water. Strong flax or hemp snooding is chiefly used for eels in these localities.

In fishing from shore for flounders or eels, use from four to six leger lines of very stout snooding, with a quarter pound lead or stone at the end, and two hooks, No. 13, a foot apart, tied to twisted gut or fine gimp or snooding.

This tackle is also suitable for pout-fishing off a pier or rocks, with the addition of a couple of revolving chopsticks, which may be made of whalebone or brass wire … Whilst angling with the rod and the paternoster line from piers and quays, you will often take flounders if you bait the bottom hook with a boiled shrimp, which, being carefully peeled, is to be placed on the hook by entering the point at the larger end of the bait and threading it on nearly to the tail. For this bait a No. 3 Limerick or 13 Exeter bend is a good size, and preferable to a Kirby, the lateral curve of which is likely to break the bait. The shrimp cannot be recommended for throw-out lines, for which the rag-worm is better calculated, not falling off the hook.

Flounder Spearing

There are two kinds of spears - the Fork and the Fluking-Pick.

The Fork should be two pronged, 6 inches in length, of square iron, the edges a trifle jagged to prevent the fish falling off, and of the stoutness of a ten penny nail, securely fastened into a light stiff ash pole eight feet in length. To use it, procure a small flat-bottomed boat or one of light draught, and sitting astride across the bow, having first placed a heavy stone in the stem, propel the boat slowly up stream by help of the spear in shallow branches of the river, and carefully scanning the bottom you will frequently discover the fish, by its eyes only protruding above the surface of the sand, when you will find no difficulty in spearing it. You will also take many flounders in the same manner, without a boat, in the drains and water-courses of embanked lands, and even with your hands, for the fish will often seek shelter under your feet if wading; this latter method is termed 'Grabbling'.

Calm and quiet weather, and clear water with a fine sandy bottom, should be chosen for taking flounders with the fork, but for 'Grabbling' or 'Fluking' it is not so important.

It is perhaps needless to advise the reader to avoid a stony or rocky bottom, as it must of course speedily ruin any spear.

In forking flounders, if two hands are in the boat, one should propel the boat at the stern with another fork and spear a flounder when occasion offers, whilst the bowman watches the fish scuttling away ahead, and marking where they stop to bury themselves, signals the steersman by inclining his spear either to the right or left as required.

The Fluking-Pick or Pike

In the narrow parts of harbours and tidal rivers, large numbers of flounders are taken by the Fluking-Pick, by continually striking the bottom therewith, as the boat drifts down the stream; and where the water is sufficiently shallow, it is the custom to wade instead, in the summer season.

The Fluking-Pick is thus made: A piece of tough ash 2½ feet long and 2 inches square has introduced into it, at distances of 3½ or 4 inches, seven or eight teeth or tines, 5 inches in length, the edges of which have been jagged, and thus form barbs to prevent the fish falling off; a long spill or spike is set in this on the opposite side, and is securely driven into the end of a light fir pole from 10 to 14 feet in length. This is a cheap kind of pick, but a much superior one may be made for a shilling or two extra by substituting iron for the wooden cross head, and setting it edgeways as this passes through the water with far less resistance. (See the woodcut.)

The Sole (Solea vulgaris)

This excellent fish is generally taken with the trawl-net, but is sometimes caught with the hook. A trot or spiller, as recommended for dabs, is suitable for this work, and the baits lug or rag-worms; they feed best in the night.

Soles are also often taken in a trammel-net.

The Sole, in common with other flat-fish, frequents the sandy and oazy bottoms of our coasts, and is taken also in the various tidal rivers whilst of a very small size, especially in the lower part of the river Exe, by seine-nets. I have seen Soles thus caught not more than 6 inches in length, which from their small size are locally called tongues and are sold in quantities at times by the fish-hawkers. At night in the open sea, the fish frequent the shore, and, when the wind is strong enough off the land for their purpose, trawling-vessels scrape the coast-line, to the prejudice of the fishery in general; the laws being a dead letter, because no one is charged to enforce the same. It has always been considered that the bays and shores are the nurseries of the smaller fish, which therefore should remain undisturbed by trawl-nets, whose proper sphere of operations is the offing, but who continually work the shores, whenever favourable circumstances render it worth their while so to do. The greater part of the fish supply of Plymouth having been caught in sight of my residence on the confines of Devon and Cornwall, I have had constant opportunities of seeing, from the cliffs, as well as from the sea, these operations in progress amongst the passing vessels. It is a great pity that our legislators are not more qualified by their own experience to deal with our fisheries, as important evidence respecting them is frequently suppressed, and that given before commissions so cooked as not to afford any means of arriving at the truth. That the shallows of the shore are the nurseries of the small fish is constantly proved by the quantity of small plaice, soles, turbot, &c., caught when shrimping in the sand-pools on every strand. I have taken numbers myself in these situations, allowing them to escape by inverting the net. In a trawl this is impossible, as it is dragged long distances, and the fish are killed, the whole mass not infrequently being churned up, so to speak, into a kind of paste. The destruction permitted in this way is something frightful to contemplate, and much is caught, and sold as manure, which, if allowed to live and grow, would tend to make up for the destruction of fish-life always in progress.

The destruction in river-seining has also been great, as it is the habit to capsize the bunt of the net, and leave quantities of young fish to die in the sun.

The Plaice (Platessa vulgaris)

Large quantities of plaice are taken with the trawl, also with the trot or spiller, consisting of a whiting-line and hooks, No. 10, on a double thread snood of fine twine laid up with a twisting machine; single twine will not answer as well, being more liable to foul. Occasionally they are caught with hand-lines, and where they are very plentiful may be fished for in a similar manner to that employed for dabs: best baits, lugs and large rag-worms. Small plaice, dabs, flounders, and freshwater eels, may be taken from off most piers on the coast, by the rod and a Paternoster line, hooks No. 4 size, Kirby or Limerick, and the bait a boiled shrimp peeled, rag-worms, and lugs. For harbour-trots use No. 13 hooks.

The Turbot (Rhombus maximus)

This highly-prized fish frequents sand-banks in all parts of the British Seas, and is taken by the trawl and long lines or boulters. The size of the hook one inch from the point to the shank, fastened to strong snooding three feet in length, and from 1 to 2 fathoms apart, on a stout line of about the thickness of window-sash line, coiled in a box, tray, or basket, the hooks baited with half a smelt or atherine, large sand-eels, a piece of herring, mackerel, long-nose, otherwise called gar-fish, or other fresh fish. The Lampern is also an excellent bait and is much used by Dutch fishermen for their long lines. A fishery for Lamperns has existed at Teddington on the Thames for ages.

This line is secured by stones at certain distances, or anchors, and supplied with buoy-lines to raise it when necessary.

From two to three thousand hooks are sometimes attached to one line, extending a mile or more in length, and shot across the tide. Large boats in the North Sea carry frequently as much as ten miles of long lines or trots.

The Brill (Rhombus vulgaris)

The brill, like the turbot, is a bank-frequenting fish, and is commonly caught in the trawl-net, occasionally on turbot trots, but rarely on a hand-line. Although a good fish it is not held in the same estimation as the turbot, the flesh not being so firm.

"Angling in Salt Water: A Practical Work on Sea Fishing with Rod and Line from the Shore, Piers, Jetties, Rocks and from Boats" (1887) John Bickerdyke at pages 103, 105, 106, 109 & 113

The Brill. This well-known flat fish is very rarely taken by the amateur sea fisherman, unless he is the owner of a trawl net. It frequents banks, and will take a large variety of baits, especially sand-eels and smelts.

The Dab is a small, flat fish, found in most of our harbours, estuaries, and sheltered bays, of which the bottom is sand or mud, and, indeed, on most sandy bottoms round our coasts. It is often mistaken for the flounder, but may be known by being rough on the back and clear looking. Dabs are excellent eating, especially in the spring, when they are in their best condition. The tackle to use for them is the leger in shallow water, or, which I prefer at all times, the paternoster, with its lower link prolonged and bearing two hooks. The gut may be fine, and the hook about No. 7 or No. 8. Lugworms; ragworms; cockles; the tail of the hermit crab; peeled, unboiled shrimps; and mussels, are all good baits.

The Flounder is a flat fish, usually of a small size, which is found mostly in harbours and estuaries, and sometimes pushes its way up into perfectly fresh water. Of late years a number have been placed in the Thames by the Thames Angling Preservation Society, above Teddington, where they appear to do well. Many are taken in the Canterbury Stour, where the water is not even brackish. They may be known from the dab by their smooth backs, and they lack the clear appearance of their little cousin. Leger tackle, with two or more hooks, or the paternoster used for dabs, with a No. 7 hook, is best suited for them; and the best baits are soft crab, lugworms, the tail of the hermit crab, live shrimps, and ragworms. In fresh or brackish water they take earthworms. They are in best condition during the winter and early spring.

Plaice. Small specimens of this well-known flat fish are often taken by the dab or flounder fisher, but the larger fish are found at some distance from the coast. They like a sandy or muddy bottom, and the usual baits are ragworms, lugworms, or shrimps raw or boiled. I have caught several large ones when baiting with mussels. Plaice of 3lb give fine sport on light tackle. When plentiful, they are well worth fishing for. The same tackle should be used as for dabs and flounders, but rather stronger where large plaice may be expected."

Sole. This admirable flat fish is not often taken by the angler. It comes to hand occasionally when night fishing with the sea leger on those muddy, oozy bottoms, in which most flat fish delight. Lugworms are the best bait. Any reader of this book possessing influence, either with sea fishermen or our rulers, will do a national service if he uses that influence to prevent the taking of immature soles - a practice which is rapidly destroying our sole fisheries.

Turbot. A very limited number of my readers are likely to catch turbot. These fish are found on banks well known to the fishermen, and, when the spring trawling is over, are sought after in rather deeper water with hooks and lines. Smelts, sand-eels, herrings, and other fish baits are used, but the turbot shows a decided preference for live baits, and on this account the Dutch fishermen, who do an immense amount of turbot fishing, bait their lines with lamperns, which are very tenacious of life. The hooks for turbot should be large and strong. Turbot are not always fished for close to the bottom, though that is their general feeding-place.

"Hints and Wrinkles on Sea Fishing" (1894) "Ichthyosaurus" (A. Baines & Frederick George Aflalo) at pages 26, 27, 35, 39 & 40

Natural History and Sport

Dabs are a distinct species of flat fish, and not, as many folks seem to imagine, small plaice. I have caught them up to two pounds. They are very rough along the back, the scales being sharp and coarse. Thus they are distinguished from other flat fish. They are found on deep sand-banks, and the baits they chiefly seem to affect are lugworms and peeled boiled shrimps; but they do not occur in brackish water, and I never caught them at Southend, though other anglers appear to have done so.

Plaice are amongst the most common of our sea fish, and too well known to need description. Though they are essentially dwellers in the sand, I have taken large ones on the rocks off Old Hastings and also abreast of Alum Chine, Bournemouth. They run largest towards the end of September, lugworm being without question the best bait. During an east wind, or extra cold weather, all flat fish have, especially in water of half-a-dozen fathoms and less, a habit of burrowing right under the sand, and are not to be hooked at such times. But they can be speared.

Soles, which are growing alarmingly scarce and dear, may well be an object of the sea fisherman's pursuit; but they must be sought at night time, as they are only taken accidentally in the daytime. Not long since I had an opportunity of watching half-a-dozen which were kept in confinement for experimental purposes, and their activity was all nocturnal. They shift their quarters from the hard sand to the soft ooze according to certain changes in weather and temperature.

Of course they feed only on the bottom. Care must be taken to keep out of the course of long-shore trawlers … There are practically no soles left on our east coast, but they are still fairly abundant west of the Wight.

Turbot are not taken inshore of any size, but they are not uncommon, especially off Bournemouth and Weymouth Piers, up to three pounds, and give good sport, besides an excellent meal later on.

They feed on the sand, chiefly at night, and are very partial to a silvery snack of fresh herring. They prefer, however, above everything, a live sand eel.

"Practical Letters to Young Sea Fishers" (1898) John Bickerdyke at pages 262 to 268

XXVIII. Flat Fish

The sand dab, from a sportman's point of view, heads the list of flat fish. It is found on most sandy bottoms, in water for from a fathom to ten fathoms, or even more in depth. It may be distinguished from the flounder by having a roughish back. Draw the hand from tail to head of the fish, and if there is a sand-paperish kind of feeling, depend upon it the fish is a sand dab and not a flounder, if the choice lies between those two. If covered with large red spots the size of a threepenny piece, it would be a plaice, though occasionally sand dabs show these spots.

The two best tackles for sand dabs are the ordinary paternoster shown (below left) with the lowest hook link so low and so long that the hook rests on the bottom, or the paternoster with an elongated, wire boom and hook link, bearing two hooks, shown (below right).

After many experiments I have come to the conclusion that the ledger has no advantage over this form of tackle - at least, not for flat fish. The hook should be small … If the fish run large a slightly larger hook may be used; if very small, then one a size or two smaller.

Among the best baits are lug and rag worms, mussels, tails of hermit crabs, cockles, and earth worms. When fishing for sand dabs, and having run short of the baits mentioned, I have sometimes tried a piece of mackerel, with the usual result that I have caught flounders and not sand dabs.

There is no sea fish for which the rod and line is better adapted than sand dabs, plaice, and flounders. The smaller flat fish have a nasty habit of swallowing the hook, which is one of my objections to the ledger. With a paternoster the bite can be felt almost immediately, and the fish struck and hooked fairly in the mouth. I once caught six dozen sand dabs in about a couple of hours, fishing with a single gut, two-hook paternoster. Many of the fish were caught on the upper hook, which shows that when feeding they rise some distance off the bottom.

Flounders (Pleuronectes flesus) have several local names, such as Butts, black backs, flecks, and lanterns. They are more estuary and river fish than the sand dabs, and seem to favour a muddy bottom quite as much as one of sand. They ascend into fresh water, and in years gone by were frequently caught in the lower Thames. One of my earliest recollections of fishing was for flounders in a mill pool on the Stour. So early, indeed, was it, that my nurse accompanied me.

The scales of flounders are embedded in mucus, and their eel-like smoothness is … one means towards their identification. They are more plentiful in the northern portions of the country than the south. They grow a good deal larger than sand dabs, but the general weight is from ¼ lb to 1lb. The baits for them are lugs, mussels, rag worms, pieces of mackerel, sprat, herring, or pilchard, and tail of hermit crab. One of the best is soft crab … the live shrimp simply caught by the tail is the most killing bait of any.

… for sport there is really nothing better than the paternoster … If, however, the fish are very scarce, and sport is indifferent, then a kind of paternoster-trot may be made by omitting the upper hook link and lengthening the lower one to 5ft or 6ft, and placing on it a hook at every 8in or 10in.

The same instructions already given as regards hooks for sand dabs apply to flounders. For both these fish a common pin may be used instead of a hook. The pin is fastened by the middle to a piece of fine, soft snooding or silk line. To bait it, the point of the pin is inserted in the butt end of a small quill feather, and the head forced down the centre of a piece of lob worm. When the whole of the pin is embedded in the worm the quill is removed, leaving the pin in position. When the unfortunate flounder or dab takes the bait, the pin is pulled across its throat and fixed there. But on the angler pulling hard on the snood the pin bends double and comes away. A somewhat similar gear, called a sprig-tail line, was used years ago by professional flounder fishermen. In the estuary of the Thames thorns are used instead of pins or hooks - probably a very ancient custom.

It is important when fishing for dabs and flounders to use as light a lead as will hold the bottom. With the tackle I have recommended I have seen these fish being hauled up one after another as fast as it was possible to catch them, while men using professional sea fishermen's gear with heavy leads were having hardly any sport whatever.

The plaice may be known by its red spots. It is found on both sandy and muddy bottoms, and is frequently plentiful in long sandy drifts between reefs of rocks. The tackle and baits recommended for the dab and flounder are the best for plaice, but where these fish are plentiful rather stronger tackle should be used, as though ½lb and ¾lb is the common size, they sometimes run up to 7lb or even more.

The turbot … is particularly partial to live baits, the two best of which are sand eels and lamperns. The big sand banks of the German Ocean are, perhaps, our best turbot grounds, and the season lasts from about March to August. In winter turbot are believed to disappear into very deep water … The tackle already recommended for fishing on the bottom will serve to catch these fish, but I doubt if any of my readers are likely to angle specially for them, and this, too, may be said of the brill … In habits it resembles a turbot, and is caught in much the same manner.

The sole which, owing to its increasing rarity, will soon cease to be called Solea vulgaris, is not often caught by the amateur fisherman. It should be fished for at night with the same tackle as that recommended for the smaller flat fish, and the best baits are lugs, tails of hermit crabs, mussels, and rag worms. When the water is thickened after a storm there is always the chance of catching a sole in the daytime.

The lemon sole or smear dab … is far more commonly caught with hook and line than Solea vulgaris. It is usually found in the neighbourhood of rocks, and is a very inferior fish to the sole proper. The lug worm is probably the best bait, but those recommended for other flat fish may also be tried when lug worms are wanting. I have frequently caught them on mussels when fishing for codling.

Skates and rays, by the way, are an entirely different family to the flat fish previously mentioned, the under portion of them being not sides, but good honest bellies. As it is so highly improbable that any of my readers will fish for these creatures specially, I need not refer to baits and tackle. As a matter of fact, to hook a large skate or ray is generally considered a misfortune rather than an occurrence for congratulation.

"Practical Sea-Fishing" (1905) P. L. Haslope at pages 78, 79, 84, 86, 96, 100, 101 & 163

Sea-Fish: Their Habits and Capture

Brill. … this fish does not greatly interest the amateur. It closely resembles the turbot, for which it is often mistaken. Its form, however, is not so rounded, and it lacks the roughness of back characteristic of the latter fish. The flesh is soft and much inferior, for which reason it is sometimes called a "work-house turbot". It is occasionally caught on spillers [1] or trots set upon sandy ground.

Dab. In muddy or sandy harbours and bays this flat-fish is often numerous, but it does not attain a large size. It is light-brown on the back and transparent white underneath. The usual method of fishing is to anchor, using light hand-lines or paternoster gear baited with mussels or rag-worms. They are also taken by throw-out lines from the shore. Mussels are the best bait, but dabs will also take pieces of fresh fish such as mackerel or herring. This fish is in best condition during the spring months, but may be taken all through the summer. Use Nos 3 or 4 hooks, attached to fine snoods or single gut, and allow the bait to rest upon the bottom. The best time to fish is during the flood-tide.

Flounder. This fish much resembles the dab, but is slenderer in form, especially towards the tail … The same tackle can be used as for dab-fishing, and the best baits are soft crab, lugs, or mud-worms. The flounder has a particular liking for fresh water, and is found plentifully in estuaries or in brackish pools connecting with the sea. In the latter place, while fishing for grey mullet, I have taken a good number of them, my tackle consisting of a single gut cast, light float, and a No 8 "Pennell" hook baited with rag-worms. Allow the bait to remain close to or rest upon the bottom … When fried, flounders are excellent eating.

Plaice. A flat-fish that is easily recognised by its handsome orange spots. It is extremely common on some coasts where sand alternates with rocky ground. It is captured in large numbers upon spillers [1], baited with lug-worms, sand-eels, or pieces of fresh mackerel or other fish. A useful size of hook is No 2 round-bend. Plaice can be taken by throwing out a leger line from a pier-head, having two or three hooks on gut attached above the lead, placing them about 18in apart. Bait with lugs or large rag-worms and fish on the bottom.

Sole. No fish is more prized as an article of food than the sole … There are several varieties of this fish, but most of them are inferior to the real sole, which also realises a high price. Occasionally they are taken on a small spiller [1] baited with rag-worms, or by the angler from a pier-head fishing on the bottom. Another kind, known as the lemon or French sole, is consumed in large quantities, but the flesh is somewhat soft and inferior in flavour. The variegated sole, or thick-back, as it is locally called, is a diminutive species from 6in to 8in long, the upper side being of a mottled-brown colour. They are excellent as food and generally much cheaper than the larger soles.

Turbot. As a marketable commodity this fish ranks very highly, being almost equal to the sole, and is in much demand for grand dinner parties … The turbot is of a speckled brown colour on the upper side and white underneath, the back being quite rough to the touch. It occasionally attains a size of 30lb or 40lb, but a 15lb turbot is a good fish. The best baits are sand-eels, smelts, or any small silvery fish, but it also takes mackerel or pilchard cut up into slices. It is important that the bait should not be in the least tainted. It is only rarely that this fish is captured upon a sand-spiller set from the shore at low water and baited with launce.

Long-Lines, Spillers and Bulters

Spillers and Spillering

[1] This is really only another name for a long-line, and being constructed on a lighter scale (than a 'boulter') they are more easily managed by the amateur.

"Sea Fishing" (1911) Charles Owen Minchin at pages 122 to 137

Chapter IX

Plaice, Dabs and Flounders

These three fishes are very closely allied. The first is the largest and by far the most important commercially; the second is the smallest, the most numerous and the best flavoured; and the third is the one that gives the best sport to the amateur fisherman …

The common plaice is a food-fish much appreciated by all classes of society, and, being the staple of the fried-fish shops, one that specially appeals to those who sup sur le pouce, [3] as the French say, rather than at the tables of the Ritz and the Savoy.

… Flounders, however, are not are very safe eating at any time unless they have been cleaned and bled immediately after capture; and they are also liable to a nasty-looking skin disease which does not tend to make them look appetising. Water-suchet, [4] a sort of cold sandwich between slices of bread and butter, is the proper way to serve flounder at table, and the plat derives most of its interest from the cold punch with which it is de rigueur to wash it down.

The flounder is mature at the length of 8 in to 9 in and it has been known to reach 18 in in length, but fish of 2 lbs weight are unusual. The three species have slightly different tastes as to diet; while very young they all three feed, as do most young fish, on little crustaceans, and as they grow older the plaice exhibit a decided preference for bivalve shellfish, the dabs for worms, and the flounders, at least while young and inshore, for shrimps (though they also feed largely on molluscs), and consequently they are to be found on different kinds of sea-bottom; plaice and dabs on smooth sands and mud, and flounders in the shallow rays and swashes among the banks in the estuaries or just outside.

Upon one occasion when fishing just to the eastward of Dungeness Point, my boatman and myself picked up thirteen score of dabs between breakfast and luncheon-time, besides a lot of little ones that we put back to grow bigger … As both species (plaice and dabs) feed at the bottom, the best trace to use is a "trail" - that is, about 4ft of stout single gut attached to a wire boom just above the sinker and mounted with three or four hooks, one looped to the end and the others as droppers at equal intervals. The line should be as thin as is consistent with the necessary strength (and no great strength is required), so as to fish with a very light sinker; and the rod should be pliable and limber. A convenient form of ground tackle is the "Tony Boom" consisting of a long, light bar with several rings through which the line passes; this acts as a ledger, and the bites of the flat fish can be distinctly felt, as the line runs very freely and the fish can draw on it without moving the lead, so the "direct pull" of the merest nibble is communicated to the rod top. The best baits for plaice are mussels, cockles, or small pieces of razor-fish (Solen) of which last bivalve these fish are inordinantly fond. For dabs the lugworm (either small ones or pieces of large ones) is the best, and they are rather fond of small hermit-crabs; but either species will take the bait which is most appropriate for the other.

… There is a peculiarity about plaice and dabs, especially plaice, that in shallow water they move with the tide and feed in the direction in which they are moving; in this respect they differ from the cod, also bottom-feeders, which take bait against the stream … The plaice will generally be found where there is some rough, weedy gravel (not rocks); but they are also very likely to be feeding on sandbanks if there are are razor-fish burrows or many of the small bivalves on which they habitually feed … Plaice have a knack of pulling the razor-fish out of its hole and biting off the foot, which is their favourite morsel, and incredible numbers of these feet have been found in the stomachs of quite small plaice. Dabs, on the other hand, generally swim in long processions over the slight furrows in sandy or muddy bays where lugworms, small brittle-stars, and the other diets which they affect are to be found. In fishing for either kind one has only to lower the baited line and draw taut until the sinker just lies on the bottom with no slack line, and if the fish are there they will soon be felt.

Ground-baiting (a simple device not half enough practised by sea-anglers) is extremely useful to assemble the fish near the boat and keep them from dispersing again. One may either fill a bag or basket with broken worms, mashed crabs and shrimps, or any similar stuff well mixed with earth or sand, and tie it to the stock of the anchor before lowering; or, what is neater, lower a Tcherkassov ground-baiting tin over the bows of the boat and empty it on the bottom from time to time.

Both plaice and dabs when they get greedy will follow the baits or a hooked companion up to the top of the water, so the line should not be reeled in too fast, and one may often get a bite on the tail-hook of the trace when quite near the surface.

Traces and hook-links should be always of single gut, as this is quite strong enough for fish of this kind, which rarely run large, and the hooks should be small and square in the bend, but very long in the shank, so as to be easy to disgorge. A very killing sort of hook - which is not a hook - is imitated from the handiwork of the Ancient Britons, who used thorns, and is made by taking a common needle, breaking the head away at the eye, and then bending the needle (previously heated in a flame) round upon itself, so as to make a little ring in the middle. The tie the gut to this ring and insert the whole needle into the body of a worm. The flat-fish swallows all down, and the two-pointed engine gets crossways in the gullet and cannot be spat out again, so this is more deadly than an ordinary hook, from which both plaice and dabs often manage to chew or tear the bait without encountering the barb. Of course, it should not be used if there are many undersized fish about. The needless destruction of small immature fish does much harm to our fisheries, and though the number which all the anglers in the country could destroy if they tried their hardest is quite negligible in comparison with the mischief wrought by one shrimp-trawl in a week, still there is much in the force of example even in dealing with such a stubborn and often wrong-headed breed as our longshoremen.

… Flounders abound in almost every muddy estuary, but are largest and most plentiful in the Solway and the Thames, and as these last waters are familiar it will be convenient to give some hints as to the proper way to fish for flounders in the Thames Estuary; and here I must admit my indebtedness to Dr. C. S. Patterson, a skilful, all-round fisherman, who was, I think, the first person to practise and describe the correct method of flounder-fishing at Leigh-on-Thames.

Leigh, as everybody knows, is situated on the left bank of the Thames just below Canvey Island. The forshore at low water consists of extensive and somewhat odoriferous mudbanks with a few channels among them where the smacks used for shrimp-trawling lie between tides. The flounders which come out of the backwaters behind Canvey and from the muddy Essex streams wander over the flats at high water and betake themselves to the rays and swashes when the water falls. The best time for fishing is from two or three hours before to two or three hours after high water; and the best place is either from a small boat moored in "the Ray" or from the deck of one of the smacks. One may use either a Tony Boom, as described above, or a combination of paternoster and trace (all of single gut), with two hooks above and two below the lead. As only a very slight sinker is needed, on account of the shallowness of the water, a thin line can be used … The hooks should be small and long-shanked, and the lead no heavier than just sufficient to hold bottom.

A yet more sporting method, and one which is equally killing, is to use float-tackle. The float should be a "slider" sufficiently large to carry a small bullet, and the stop on the line should be so placed as to keep this lead a very little clear of the ground in order that the hooks and trace may travel freely with the tide. One hook above the lead and two trailing below it will make the trace complete, and a light Thames roach-rod will do very nicely.

Flounders will often take lugworm-bait very freely; another day they will turn up their noses at it and want cockles or small mussels; at other times, but not often, a bit of whitebait tempts their appetities; but one bait they rarely refuse, and that is a live shrimp. The shrimp should be impaled very gently ("using him as though you loved him", as that cruel old coxcomb [5] Izaak Walton said of his frog) below the second joint from the tail. He can then swim freely and make dashes through the water, which is a great temptation to the fish. If live shrimps cannot be obtained, then boiled brown shrimps may be used, they are not so good as the live ones, but flounders take them fairly well. Raw dead shrimps are of no use whatever except as ground-bait. The dead shrimp should be hooked, in and out, through the hump on the back.

[3] Editor's note: "sur le pouce" means "on the go".

[4] Editor's note: in the days of whitebait feasts in Greenwich and along the Thames, a soup called water-souchet, made with the larger fish such as flounder caught in the whitebait nets, formed part of the meal. Made with cheap species like flounder and whiting, water-souchet is a white-fish British version of a soupe de poisson. Isabella Beeton's version:

"Water Souchy. 352. Perch, tench, soles, eels, and flounders are considered the best fish for this dish. For the souchy, put some water into a stewpan with a bunch of chopped parsley, some roots, and sufficient salt to make it brackish. Let these simmer for 1 hour, and then stew the fish in this water. When they are done, take them out to drain, have ready some finely-chopped parsley, and a few roots cut into slices of about one inch thick and an inch in length. Put the fish in a tureen or deep dish, strain the liquor over them, and add the minced parsley and roots. Serve with brown bread and butter."

[5] Editor's note: a "coxcomb" is a vain and conceited man; a dandy.

"Angling in Rivers, Lakes & Sea" (1920) Walter Matthew Gallichan ("Geoffrey Mortimer") at pages 109 & 110

Part III

Sea Fishing

Chapter III

Other Sea Fish

Soles and Plaice

Flat-fish are found in abundance close to the shore, and most of the species are hungry feeders. Soles come first among fish of this order, but they are unfortunately becoming scarcer every year. The lemon-sole is, however, plentiful at many of the coast towns, and they take lugworms freely. They are often found close to rocks. Plaice give a capital sport on the rod and line. Choose a muddy or sandy bottom for plaice-fishing, and use a piece of lugworm or mussel on a rather small hook. When fishing for plaice from a boat on an incoming tide, move nearer towards the shore about every twenty minutes. The bait should be upon the bottom.

Other Flat Fish

Flounders will take almost any sort of bait. Use a paternoster for flounder-fishing, with small hooks and medium gut, and fish near the bottom.

… Turbot frequent sandy grounds in warm weather. They will take mussel, limpet and lugworm bait …

The sand-dab is very common in sandy bays and estuaries. Fish for them on the bottom with an ordinary roach-hook, on leger or float-tackle, and use rather fine gut. I have taken sand-dabs on a small fly-rod and a shotted fly-cast by allowing the hook to sink to the bottom. Dabs will take lobworms, brandlings, mussel, winkles and almost any soft bait.

"The Sea Fishes of the British Isles both Fresh Water and Salt" (1936, second edition, 1961 reprint) J. Travis Jenkins at page 3

Introduction

In fish which live at the bottom of the sea the body may be flattened. This flattening may be either vertical, from above downwards, as in the Rays and Skates; or lateral, from side to side, as in the Plaice and Sole.

In the latter case both eyes are on the same side of the head, either on the right side, as in the Halibut, Long Rough Dab, Plaice, Lemon Sole, Witch, Flounder, Dab and the various species of Sole; or on the left side, as in the Turbot, Brill, Scald-fish and Megrim. In these fish the side of the body on which the eyes are found is coloured; the other side, on which the fish rests when on the bottom, is colourless. Occasionally specimens are met with in which the under-surface is wholly or partially coloured. It is most exceptional to find a variation in the side on which the eyes are present, i.e. a sole or plaice with the eyes on the left side is a great rarity; certainly not one in a hundred thousand is so "reversed". Patterson records a sole from Yarmouth with the eyes on the left side (1904). In the Flounder, reversed specimens are not uncommon; but it is only in the primitive members of the flat-fish family, such as the Indian Flat-fish (Psettodes), in which one meets with right or left-handed specimens indiscriminately.

"Modern Sea Fishing" (1937) Eric Cooper at pages 234 & 235

Less-Sought-After Fish

The turbot is found in greatest numbers off the east coast but will also be met with in other districts where there are extensive stretches of sand. It is a hard-fighting fish and, growing to a good weight, gives excellent sport on the rod … Although it is more generally found where there is a good depth of water, it will come into sandy bays during the summer and autumn.

Whatever bait is used it must be fresh. It will take all the common fish baits as well as worms and shell-fish. If live bait can be got they are the best of all: sandeels for preference.

"Sea-Fishing from the Shore" (1940) A. R. Harris Cass M.B.E. at pages 23, 59 & 63

Chapter II

Fish to be Caught

The most probable fish to reward the efforts of the shore angler are "flats". These comprise plaice, flounders, dabs, soles and brill. I give these in the "order of running", in other words according to the prospect of catching them. I have included the sole and the brill in the list, but they cannot be regarded as in-shore fish. Flounders and dabs are to be met where the beach is sandy, especially in the vicinity of estuaries and harbours. Plaice seem to be fairly generally distributed round the coast where the bottom is composed of sand. Although the "flats" referred to do not attain a large size, and do not provide much of a fight, they are very welcome for their edible qualities, and a fish of from a pound and a half to two pounds in weight will supply four delicious fillets.

Chapter V

How to Fish

Another trick for which you want to be prepared is that played sometimes by a large flat-fish. You are certain that you struck something hefty, but your line comes in slack: the reason is that the captive is swimming hard towards you and meanwhile is trying to disgorge the bait. Walk rapidly up or down by the water's edge, at the same time reeling in fast with the object of tightening your line and thereby curtailing the chances of your defeat.

Chapter VI

Where to Fish

If your project be to entice flat-fish, then you must rely on sandy bottoms.

"The Complete Sea Angler" (1957) Richard Arnold at pages 156, 157, 160, 161 & 162

The Dab

DESCRIPTION. Also called the sand dab. A small fish, found on most sandy bottoms and therefore sandy in colour on the upper side, generally flecked with orange and brown. Most specimens are fairly transparent. The skin is rough on the back. The average size of most rod-caught flounders would seem to be in the region of three-quarters of a pound.

DISTRIBUTION. Common wherever there is a sandy shore.

ANGLING METHODS. Bottom tackle. Paternoster or paternoster trot the best, with leger a good second. Baits - lugworm, ragworm, mussel, uncooked and peeled shrimp. Dabs are small fish and require small hooks; size 6, 7 or 8 is recommended. Tackle should be light. The strike should be light as these fish are apt to mouth the bait and therefore a double strike is best, but don't delay otherwise the fish is apt to gorge the bait. A freshly caught sand dab is as good as any other fish if properly cooked.

The Plaice

DESCRIPTION. A much larger fish than either dab or flounder, running from 1 to 4lb on average for the rodman, while commercial net fishermen take them up to 10lb in weight. The overall colour is brown on the top with well-defined red or orange spots.

DISTRIBUTION. Ranges all round our coasts, particularly close to sandy bottoms and fairly well inshore.

ANGLING METHODS. As for flounder and dab, but necessitating slightly stronger lines and larger hooks. The same baits are effective, though the angler should be more generous with the size of the bait. For large plaice even half a herring is not too much. Incidentally, on both the dab and the plaice there is a sharp spine on the ventral fin which the angler should avoid when unhooking the fish.

The Sole

DESCRIPTION. A well-known flat-fish, especially on the fishmongers' slabs, but not often caught by the average sea angler as it is a deep water fish and feeds at night.

The Turbot

DESCRIPTION. The largest flat-fish on the British List after the halibut. The top is brownish coloured and spotted with dark marks and the fish has a number of hard pimples on the top side. In shape it is completely unlike the plaice or flounder, being roughly diamond shaped. Commercial anglers net these fish at up to 40lb in weight and the rod-caught record has remained at 27lb 14oz since 1907.

DISTRIBUTION. Fairly general but in fairly deep waters.

ANGLING TECHNIQUES. Though turbot have figured in national awards for specimen fish of the week, organized by national newspapers, they are not specially fished for but are generally taken when ground fishing for other species. The turbot is a big fish, and stout tackle is required. Large hooks of size 4/0 or bigger are necessary and a good bait is a fresh atherine or a whole sand-eel.

The Brill

DESCRIPTION. Rather like the turbot, though slightly more rounded. The upper side varies from brown to grey and is covered with blotchy patterns. It is not a small fish, attaining a weight of up to about 15lb, while the rod-caught record stands at almost 14lb.

DISTRIBUTION. Fairly plentiful in English waters, especially in the south. Rather a deep water fish, except in warm summers when it may come inshore in sandy bays.

ANGLING TECHNIQUES. Similar to those used for the turbot and similar baits. But this fish is not often taken by the amateur, even though it has occasionally qualified for specimen fish awards given by national newspapers.

"Flatfish: How to Catch Them" (1957) "Seangler" (John Garrad) at pages 16 to 22, 34, 35, 44, 45, 47 to 52 & 63 to 66

Chapter I: Distribution and Behaviour of Flatfish

Spawning

Although flatfish are generally bottom feeders, their eggs float and hatch on or near the surface. The young of most species spend their early life near the surface and, apparently, it is not until they have turned on their sides that they take to the bottom. During this period several of the species have air-bladders which they lose as they develop. This is particularly noticeable with the turbot which have been taken from the surface up to an inch in length.

Their spawning habits (with the exception of the flounder) make little difference to the angler. Most of the deep water species, which the angler will seldom meet, spawn during spring and summer ranging from March to August with different species. Of the three common species, the plaice spawns between January and March. It has regular spawning grounds which, although in moderately shallow water, are some distance off-shore. As few anglers will be fishing during these months, the spawning period has little effect on their catches. The spawning period of the dab ranges from March to June. For this purpose it moves off-shore to between the 10 and 20 fathom lines. In consequence, anglers may find specimen fish scarce during these months unless they are able to fish these deeper waters. On the other hand, during the early months of the year, January to March, when other fish are scarce, dabs feeding up for spawning provide the angler with heavy catches.

The flounder is the fish whose spawning period most affects the angler, and it will pay him to study the variations in his own particular district. It is normally a winter spawner, much as is the plaice; but from my own observations the period may vary by as much as six months. This extended range (in southern estuaries at least) appears to be controlled by water temperature. Although the flounder spends most of its life in estuaries, working at times well up some of our rivers, it goes out to sea to spawn around the 30 fathom line. It does not leave the estuaries to spawn until the waters reach a certain degree of coldness.

In normal years flounders leave southern estuaries in late December or early January. They are away from eight to ten weeks so that we can expect them back in the estuaries in middle or late March.

Following a cool summer and a cold autumn, however, when estuary waters cool quickly, I have known them leave in early November when they return correspondingly earlier in the following year. During exceptional years, when a warm autumn and winter has followed a warm summer, estuary waters retain their heat and this seems to cause them to delay spawning. During one such season we took flounders with full roes all through the winter until April. In consequence they did not return from spawning until late June and early July, making our season that year very late in starting.

It is, therefore, worth the angler's while to study the local flounders to discover the usual date they leave for spawning and the usual period they are away. If the angler can discover this period with some accuracy he will know that he has from two to three months in which to overhaul his tackle and his boat, if he owns one. It will also save him wasting money on hiring boats for what may prove to be blank outings because the fish are out at sea.

Habits

… From the angler's point of view, the point likely to have the more general effect is that flatfish have no air-bladder. They therefore cannot "poise" in the water, as do trout and bass. This, therefore, makes them essentially bottom fish. Some of them, notably the flounder and turbot, have developed into powerful swimmers and in spite of having no air-bladder can maintain themselves for considerable periods off the bottom so long as they keep swimming. This explains why flounders, for instance, take the baited spoon regularly, when it is being trolled anything up to twenty feet above the bottom.

Another habit, which considerably affects the success of the baited spoon, is that these fish both swim and feed with the current, unlike the trout, for instance, which faces the current waiting for food to be swept down to it. The baited spoon must, therefore, be worked with the current to be effective.

Another habit, and one which so far as we know seems to apply to most of the flatfish, is that they like company. This is confirmed by the often noted fact of flatfish following a hooked companion to the surface. This means that they are generally to be found in small shoals …

Another habit, which applies particularly to flounders is that, when moving up and down our estuaries with the tides, they keep to regular tracks. These generally follow the main run of the current. Any angler specializing in these fish will do well to plot onto a rough map of his water where each fish is taken. He will then get an idea of these tracks. My own experience shows that to fish even a short distance away from these tracks results in a rapid reduction in the number of bites.

That other flatfish have similar habits is confirmed by Minchin [2] who states that he found that dabs swim in small "processions" along the hollows in sandbanks.

[2] Editor's Note: "Sea Fishing" (1911) Charles Owen Minchin

Food

… Young plaice feed on small shrimp-like animals and worms, but as they grow older they turn to a kind of small cockle, although they still take quantities of worm, facts which point to cockle and worm being useful baits. The larger plaice, and some other flatfish, are often found gorged with the so-called "feet" of razor fish. Another good bait for plaice wherever available.

The dab feeds largely on crustacea; crabs, hermits and sand-hoppers, followed by starfish and some shell fish but only about 16 per cent contain worm. From this it is obvious that hermit crab will be a better bait than worm.

Cunningham provides a clue as to why so few of our larger flatfish (turbot, brill and halibut) are taken by anglers. The halibut is essentially a fish feeder, although a few crustaceans have been found in some. The turbot feeds almost entirely on fish, sprats and sand eels forming its diet in western districts, whilst in southern and south-western areas such fish as whiting, young bream and pout have been recorded in them; but nothing except fish. Brill from western districts feed mainly upon sand eels, while on the south cost their principal food consists of small members of the cod family, mainly pout (Gadus luscus) and poor cod (G. minutus). Motto: fish baits for halibut, turbot and brill.

Probably more is known of the habits and food of the flounder than any other flatfish … Although its food range is greater then any other flatfish, a point of importance to anglers is that its principal food varies with different districts. I should put the food of the southern flounder as 80 per cent hard-shelled shore crabs. Almost every flounder taken contains some crabs; but other foods found in them are shrimp and sand-hopper; small fish of several kinds (I have identified both sprat and tiny grey mullet), and shellfish - broken cockle shell, winkles complete with shells, and Bulla nyclatis.

I do not think they feed on cockle, the cockle shell being taken in with mud, silkweed, etc. These substances, I think, must be taken for the sake of minute life found on them. One fish contained no less than 14 winkles, apart from three empty shells extruded when being unhooked. Bulla nyclatis, a shell fish without a common name, appears only to enter our waters at long intervals. Around 1936 I often took flounders gorged with them, after which they were not seen again until the first fish of 1956 was again full of them.

… An important fact from an angler's viewpoint is that, when combined with the spoon, flounders rarely refuse anything on the hook. I have taken them with lugworm; small, silver, "hard" and king ragworm; herring, mackerel, bloater and even pieces of sea squirt.

Chapter II: Baits, Tackle, Boats

Tackle

Hooks

The most important point relating to flatfish in my experience is that, probably because of their crooked mouths, they need a crooked hook. Time and again, when taking out visiting anglers to try the baited spoon, they have had bites but never connected, until I found they were using Limerick, or as I call them "straight" hooks in which the point is in line with the shank. On changing to "sneck" or crooked hooks (hooks with the point turned away from the line of the shank), they have taken fish. In fact I now almost invariably put a kink in the shank in order to bring the point farther out of line. As for size, this largely depends on the bait being used. Flatfish have small mouths and with small ragworm a hook with a bend the size of the little nail is sufficient. Where you know that flatfish run large, and when using large rag, lugworm or fish, hooks one, or even two sizes larger are better. In spite of all that has been written, I have found little difference in the holding quality of either short or long-shanked hooks, so long as they are of the "bent" type. Size, too, is not very important. I have hooked and held large flatfish on the finger nail size; whilst I have had fish of 4 to 5 oz on hooks as large as the thumb nail, intended for bass.

Other Tackle

Most anglers carry too much … the outfit can be reduced to a spoon, float, a boom and a small tobacco tin to hold split rings, swivels, hooks, lead wire, with a small coil of nylon for hook links. A couple of weights for bottom fishing, plus fish bag, wiping rag and priest completes the outfit. I make the hook link, or the last section of the spoon trace, in heavy nylon, 30lb breaking strain if I have it. When a fish is played to the boat, this enables any flatfish to be lifted in. The float should be one with a slit down one side and a plug through the centre into which the line can be laid, and plugged firmly. It can be taken off again without the trouble of dismounting the end tackle.

The Method

… this tackle is used by towing it behind a boat, rowed very slowly. There are two rules to remember to obtain the best catches, and a number of minor points that add to its effectiveness.

1. Troll as slowly as possible. The speed of rowing should be no more than enough to keep the spoon from touching bottom. This means that the rowing is not hard work. All that is needed is a slow, firm pull (not a jerk) once every few seconds when the rod tip shows that the movement of the spoon is slowing down.

2. Troll with the tide or current. Flatfish feed and swim with the current, and a baited hook coming to them against the current is therefore unnatural, and they seldom take it. For one fish taken against the current, a score will be taken trolling with it. Where I have had bites, apparently against the current, I have later found that there is an eddy under water.

Minor points are that flounders, dabs and probably other flatfish, have developed the habit of keeping to regular tracks, especially in estuaries. They also swim together in small shoals …

Flounder Tracks

In estuaries flounders have regular tracks. These usually follow the main run of the current. If there are bends, the current will run into and round the outside of each bend. If the next bend is on the opposite side, the current (and the tracks) will edge diagonally across the channel from the end of one bend to the beginning of the next. It will pay an angler to make a rough map of his estuary and plot on it where each fish is caught. In time the markings will connect up and show the general line of these tracks. In my own water, 75 yards to one side or the other of the tracks, bites practically cease.

On open coasts, tracing tracks is more difficult, but two general rules act as a guide. Flatfish will be swimming with the current. They will also be working toward the shore as the tide rises and away as it ebbs. Troll with the tide, working from the shore outwards until you find how far off shore the fish are keeping. On the ebb, work farther off shore. An Admiralty Chart will be found useful, as it will show hollows or gullies scoured out by the ebb (which runs the faster). Fish make use of these gullies, coming up them, working from them towards the shore on the flood, and back to and along them as they go seaward on the ebb. It should also be remembered that it is recorded of dabs, that they swim in processions along the hollows or gullies in sandbanks. Where the chart shows these, it will be worth trolling through them, even though it means fishing across the tide. One cannot be dogmatic about fish tracks in the open sea, but these few hints will give the angler a chance of finding them.

Bites and Strikes

With many flatfish (especially flounders on a spoon) the angler has to teach himself a difficult lesson - that is not to strike. A flounder follows the baited spoon, often for several yards, nibbling or sucking at the baited hook. The movement on the rod top caused by this will be recognized after it has occurred a few times. To strike now will only pull the bait away from its mouth, except on odd occasions when the hook happens to be luckily positioned. The flounder will finally take the bait into its mouth, usually diving downwards with it, invariably hooking itself. After the nibbles, the rod will show a decided bend as the fish dives, with increasing movement as the fish swims downwards. There is still no need to strike. Pick up the rod and wind in any slack line. This will be sufficient, against its dive, to send the hook home, if not already there.

At times, the rod top will give one or two twitches from a nibble and then revert to the normal spoon tick. This means that the spoon is travelling too fast, and the fish has bitten at the bait as it passed, but has not followed up. Cease rowing and snatch a yard of line off the reel, so as to quickly slow the spoon and let it sink a little, when the fish that bit will often take with a rush. Don't be slow or "mean" over this. Snatch a good "four-foot" yard off the reel. The speed of the boat will probably take up anything less, without allowing the spoon to sink back.

Playing Fish

If trying the method for the first time, take care when winding in any flatfish, especially if your tackle is on the light side. Your boat is moving with the current and therefore the fish will be wound in with the current. This is the way the fish normally feeds and swims, and it does not notice anything wrong, and therefore is easily brought up to the boat. Don't be deceived. When it sights the boat or the surface it will wake up, arch its back and dive, and with its fin spread it can dive. If you continue trying to wind in against this dive you can easily be broken. More tackle has been lost by beginners trying to stop this first dive than in catching in the bottom.

Most flatfish can be played in on a tight line. The rod top bends and takes the first jerk of the dive, and as the pull comes down the rod to the wrists, resisting all the while, the wrists should slowly bend letting the rod top follow the fish down. Remember, the fish will invariably dive diagonally in the direction of the current, so swing the rod top in this direction when the wrists can lead the fish out of the dive, first onto the level and then upwards. The moment it has been turned it can be brought easily up to the boat. As it recovers from the upward pull, usually as you are thinking of holding the rod in one hand, to lift it in with the other, it dives again. I have known a 1½ lb flounder make nine dives in succession, before allowing itself to be brought in and boated. So keep the wrists ready to give to each dive until the fish is played out.

Differing Tactics

Of late years a different type of flounder has appeared in our southern waters. I say type, and not species, as we are still uncertain about variations in this fish; but, they take the bait and also fight differently from the usual flounder. Some have taken the bait with a rising rush, continuing to rise after they have taken it, so much so that when they take at the end of a long line the angler's first warning is not on the rod top but on the line, which can be seen to start rising out of water from where it enters astern of the boat. On several occasions this rising take has ended in the fish actually jumping out of water, high enough for the spoon to be seen dangling from its mouth. More often, as the line rises until the swivels on the trace are showing, comes a boil on the surface as the fish changes direction. With many of these fish, following the jump or the boil, line has had to be yielded as they rush away, often across the tide, or on occasion against the current in the direction opposite to which the boat is moving. Many of the fish that take in this manner fight wholly on the surface without attempting to dive. If they do dive, it is at the last moment, as they are brought near the boat when they go down violently, more often right in under the boat than up-current.

Baited-spoon anglers should, therefore, be prepared for both kinds of tactics. Plaice fight much as do the normal flounders, by diving on being brought near the boat. Dabs, usually being so small, do not put up any noticeable fight. Apart, however, from the different tactics adopted by these two types of flounders, other species of flatfish, not yet recorded on the spoons, may, when met with, adopt either of these tactics. Anglers should therefore be ready to meet both kinds.

Chapter V

Bottom and Float Fishing

Places

It is almost useless to try for flatfish (other than halibut) over a rocky bottom. They are also unlikely to be found over large shingle. Generally, a sandy bottom is best, although good plaice may often be found over well-weeded small shingle. On rocky coasts there are sandy patches amongst the rocks or sand-bottomed gullies which are the haunts of large plaice. I have found that muddy bottoms must have a fair proportion of fine shingle, enough to make it firm, before flatfish are found. Flounders in the estuaries are about the only flatfish that regularly live on soft mudbanks; although they are also found on the sand and shingle of the open coasts as they travel to and from the estuaries and their spawning grounds. It is recorded that dabs swim in procession over the hollows of sandbanks. Soles, although found on most of these bottoms, are only active after dark or, occasionally, in thick water after a storm. Their mouths, too, are so small as to require a smaller hook than those generally used.

If you are unable to find these different types of bottom from local enquiry, it is worth while obtaining an Admiralty chart of the district … They are not expensive considering the enormous amount of information they give - sea bottom, depths of water, direction and speed of currents, buoys, lights, wrecks as well as indicating dangerous waters … It is worth remembering that the smaller the district covered the greater the detail. Charts covering what are called "Approaches", that is the entrances or approaches to our sea ports, will have more detail than the district chart which perhaps includes some miles of the coasts on either side.

Seasons

These have considerable bearing on catches of flatfish. I have explained in Chapter 1 how the spawning season of the flounder may bring blank days in the estuary. Plaice move offshore to spawn, and incidentally cease to feed from January to March when you are not likely to take them unless you can get out to known spawning grounds. Dabs, on the other hand, move offshore to spawn during the summer. The larger fish may therefore be scarce inshore during these months. Best catches are likely to be made, when plaice and flounders are scarce, when the dab is inshore busily feeding up for its spawning. From December, sometimes until as late as May, catches can be made in districts where they abound. On occasion they can be taken in places where they are not found in normal times. From December they seem to spread out on to grounds usually occupied by other fish. In the Solent, for instance, areas that provide little but pout and whiting during the summer have provided heavy bags of dabs from December onwards.

Baits

Generally, I have found that plaice and dabs do not mind stale baits, but flounders prefer fresh. Many times I have had worms left from an outing and taken them another day with some fresh, baiting with both. Plaice and dabs were invariably found to have taken the hooks with the stale worm on them. On the other hand it is seldom of use to bait the hook on a spoon with worm several days old, although they may still appear lively enough. In the colder days of the early year large catches of dabs are made on hermit crab tails, salted down in jam jars during the previous summer. Quite a "ripe" bait. With flounders I find it also pays to ring the changes with baits (if you have them) when bottom fishing. Some days I have had them on the ragworms; on others they show a preference for sprat or herring.

It will pay anglers to study the food of flatfish, on which some information has already been given in Chapter II. There is no doubt that more turbot and brill would be recorded if fish baits were more often used. Tiny pout, which often annoy the angler by taking his hook, could prove very useful as many turbot on our south coasts are full of members of the pout family.

"Sea Angling with the Baited Spoon" (1960) "Seangler" (John Garrad) at pages 139 to 148

Appendix I

The Flounder (Platichthys flesus)

Some notes on the principal victim of these experiments

Identification. … I have taken scores of flounders with spots, as orange or as red, as those on any plaice. These spots are, therefore, of no use for identification purpose. Check identification with the fingers. Rub the tips over the back of the fish. If the back is smooth all over it is a plaice. If rough, like sandpaper, it is a dab. If prickles of any kind can be felt, it is a flounder.

Edibility. One problem is that of the eating qualities of the flounder. Most of the old works on fishing describe the flounder, if not entirely inedible, as being "as tasty as boiled flannel!" Against this is the fact that, to my knowledge, flounders caught in this district for many years have not only been eaten, but have been always found to be quite tasty fish. There has been a considerable amount of correspondence in fishing periodicals this last few years. From this has emerged the information the information that flounders from our south coasts are both edible and tasty. Fish from our northern shores being reported as not only tasteless, but in some cases quite inedible. Lack of reports from our east and west coasts has prevented it being established whereabouts is the dividing line between the two sorts. It may be that there are two races, if not two species of flounders that may account for this difference in edibility. In this connection, anglers could help by checking the prickles and other characteristics of the fish they catch.

"Angles on Sea Angling" (1963) Captain S. Norton-Bracy at pages 23 to 26

Fishing from Pier and Beach

Turbot

One of the most sought after fish in our waters is the turbot. Indeed, it is the only really big flatfish caught in any numbers round our shores. They are normally found around sand banks, and are at their best from spring to autumn. Two renowned turbot grounds are the Varne banks, off Dover, and the Shambles, off the Dorset coast. The Varne is heavily trawled by both British and French vessels but, despite this, anglers still manage to catch great numbers of these fish.

Sand eels make fine bait for turbot. But if you can't get sand eels, it is possible to catch turbot with strips of mackerel, cut to resemble an eel. In a running tide, this bait is just as tempting as an eel if fished correctly. During slack water, however, when fish of all descriptions are nosing around, you may not get turbot. It is more than likely that your bait will be taken by plaice, tope, dog-fish or whiting.

With a flatfish as big as turbot - it grows up to 30lb or more - it is difficult, in a strong tide, to bring it alongside the boat for gaffing. The strength of the flow may bring it to the surface some distance astern of the boat. Then, because of water pressure on the wide expanse of its body, you will find it difficult to bring it nearer. In a calm sea it is not too hard to work the turbot along the surface. But when there is any kind of a lop on the sea, you must take care in retrieving your line.

"Tackle Sea Angling this Way" (1964) John Michaelson at pages 86 & 88

10. Flatfish and Others

The dab record is 2 lb. 9 oz. but the average is likely to be nearer one-quarter this weight. Found in shallow water in sheltered sandy bays and estuaries, dabs can be taken on rag or lug, mussels and cockles. Use a light ledger, with two or three hooks if you wish, as they are not at all shy. The bite is confident and hooking presents no difficulty.

The record for the turbot is 28 lb. 10½ oz. but seven pounds is a good fish. Recently turbot have been keenly angled for by specialists living near favoured spots - a sandy bottom under thirty or more feet of water, near the mouths of estuaries on our east and south coasts. The depth is often difficult for the shore angler to reach and nearly all turbot are taken by boat anglers. The most effective method is drifting with the hook baited with sand eel trailing the bottom two or three feet below the lead. This is the bait. Lug or rag are little use, but a large strip of mackerel has taken good fish.

"The Sea Angler Afloat and Ashore" (1965) Desmond Brennan at pages 45, 46 & 238 to 241

The Fishes of the Sea

The Flounder (Platichthys flesus)

Similar in shape to the plaice; eyes on right side, lateral line slightly curved near head, biggish mouth, strong conical teeth, mouth extends farther back on blind side; patch of rough tubercles on head behind the eyes and also rough tubercles extending along the base of both the anal and dorsal fins; strong sharp spine in front of anal fin. Colour varies from the very dark brown to greenish grey, sometimes with plaice-like spots; underside a distinctive opaque marble white … It frequents muddy and sandy bottoms, has a liking for brackish water and is found in creeks, estuaries, harbours, and will even ascend considerable distances into freshwater (mostly young fish). It feeds on crustaceans (crabs, shrimps), worms (lugworm, white ragworm) and fish (sandeels, herring fry, sprats).

A smaller fish than the plaice, it averages ½ to 2 lb in weight. An inshore species, it spawns in the open sea from February to May. It begins to return inshore towards the end of April, remaining inshore until winter, when it begins to gradually migrate into deeper water for spawning. It will take peeler or soft crab, lugworm, ragworm, or fish bait fished leger or paternoster fashion and will also take a baited spoon.

The Flatfishes

The Flounder

… Flounder fishing is usually best near high and low water and the middle reaches of the tide are not very productive. At low water flounders will be found in very shallow water on beaches and in estuaries and channels. When walking through the shallows at times in no more than 2 or 3 inches of water you will often disturb them and send them scuttling away in a puff of sand or mud. This is the best time to fish for them in channels for at low water they are concentrated there, while later on the tide they can spread out over the sand and mudflats and will be thinner over the ground. They feed freely through the day and can be taken on either paternoster or leger tackle, and it is best to use long shank hooks no bigger than size 1. It is surprising just how big a hook a flounder can get its small mouth around for I have taken them while bass fishing using a large peeler crab on a size 4/0 hook.

Indeed where they are plentiful they can be a perfect nuisance to anglers fishing for bass, attacking and stripping the baits off the hooks before the bass can see them. The familiar "tug-tug" as the flounder plucks at the bait and backs away with it can be very frustrating to the bass angler, as hooking a flounder on a large hook is difficult and usually results in loss of bait and frayed tempers. The only thing to do at times is to change to smaller hooks and fish for flounders. Most anglers recommend leger tackle, but I find an ordinary paternoster quite satisfactory provided that the fish is given a little slack line when the first "tug-tug" is felt and the strike is made when the line straightens out again.

At low water it is a mistake to make long casts, for the flounders are right in the shallows. On surf beaches, however, it will be necessary to get out beyond the breakers as they prefer quiet water. On some beaches where the surf starts breaking a long way out and a "table of water" (flounder surf) is created, the flounders will be found quite close in, as on this type of beach the depth remains constant over a large area and the undertow is not too strong. Flounders swim with the tide, moving in over the newly covered ground to feed. They do not, however, move in as quickly as bass and mullet, preferring a greater depth of water once the tide has started to flood, and it is half tide before the fishing improves again. Longer casts are necessary than at low water and fishing is usually good from half tide to an hour after high water but they take best on the top of the tide.

I prefer to do my flounder fishing in estuaries, because I can use much lighter tackle than on a beach. Flounders cannot put up even a token resistance against surfcasting tackle and if they are to be enjoyed at all very light tackle must be used. In estuaries and channels I find a spinning rod, freshwater type fixed-spool reel and a 1 oz Arsley (Arlesey) Bomb quite adequate and the same tackle does me for boat fishing. Actually boat fishing for flounders can be excellent fun for, with a reasonable depth of water over them, they can put up a fair fight against light tackle. When taken from the shore their very shape is a handicap and allows them to be pulled through the water with little resistance.

Boat fishing for flounders is mainly estuary and channel fishing at low water, whilst the sand and mudflats can be fished when the tide is in. I prefer to fish them on a slow drift with the tackle described above. The flounder shows an amazing amount of curiosity and will follow a moving object on the bottom or anything bright or fluttering. It is for this reason that a baited spoon is so effective for flounder fishing. The spoon (it can be either a wobbling or a spinning spoon) is baited with lugworm or ragworm and it should be retrieved either just fast enough to make the spoon work or else in a series of jerks or twitches which causes the spoon to rise from the bottom and then flutter back down again. It must, of course, be fished close to the bottom.

The action of the spoon arouses the curiosity of the flounder which will swim over to investigate and will then see the bait and turn its attention to it. When the fish tugs at the bait, keep on retrieving until the weight of the fish is felt and then strike smartly. Flounders will in fact take an unbaited spoon and I have caught them on large bass spoons which I was fishing slowly near the bottom. They seem to prefer a wobbling to a revolving type spoon, though the bar type baited spoon is very effective. The same principle of arousing the flounder's curiosity is behind another type of rig used by anglers. It consists of a three hook trace, two hooks fished above the lead and a third on a flowing trace attached just above the lead. The upper hooks are rigged paternoster fashion on two white plastic booms and the flowing trace hook link is about 12 to 16 inches long. The lead is dragged slowly across the bottom sending up a little cloud of sand or mud attracting the fish over to investigate and the purpose of the white booms is also to attract. It is not unusual where flounders are very plentiful to get two and occasionally three fish at a time on this type of tackle.

… I have always found clear water and calm conditions best for flounder fishing. They do not like rough seas or dirty water and after a blow do not take well until the sea is settled again.

"The Sea Angler Afloat and Ashore" (1965) Desmond Brennan at pages 44, 45, 241 & 242

The Fishes of the Sea

The Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa)

Eyes and colour on the right side, scales small and embedded in the skin, mouth at end of snout, the teeth are more developed and the mouth extends farther back on the under or "blind" side, lateral line almost straight except for slight undulation at pectoral fin, bony knobs on the head extending backwards from between the eyes, spine in front of anal fin. Colour typically brown on upper or eyed side with red or orange spots on the body and fins. Underside an opaque white with a tendency to translucence.

Plaice … are found all around our coast on shelly, sandy or gravelly bottoms feeding mainly on bivalves and shellfish. They also feed on crustaceans (shrimps, small crabs), marine worms and occasionally on fish, but the latter is not an important part of their food. Can be caught from the shore in places (mostly small fish) but are found mostly in depths of 10 to 40 fathoms. Spawning takes place from January to March in deep water, they move inshore again in late spring and summer. Have been taken up to 15 lb in weight but average weight is approximately 2 to 4 lb. Will take razorfish, cockle, mussel, lugworm and ragworm fished on a leger or paternoster trot.

The Flatfishes

The Plaice

The plaice is a larger species than the flounder and one that frequents deeper water. It is taken generally by anglers on sandy and gravelly or shelly bottoms, over mussel beds in depths of 10 to 15 fathoms, and while good fish may be caught in depths of 6 to 7 fathoms, those caught from the shore are usually small fish that have not yet worked out into deeper water. It feeds mainly on shellfish, razorfish, marine worms and small crustaceans but, unlike the flounder, does not feed on fish to any great extent.

In winter, plaice migrate offshore into deeper water (20 - 30 fathoms) for spawning and this takes place over the period January to March. Their return to shallower water varies with the locality, it may be as early as April in some places but generally speaking the months from May to October see the best of the fishing. As the plaice is a bottom feeder, a leger or paternoster trot is the most suitable terminal tackle, though an ordinary paternoster will answer when fishing from the shore. Not infrequently they have taken an uptrace hook in preference to one lying on the bottom but not frequently enough to alter my belief that the bait should always be on the bottom.

The plaice is a commercially desirable fish and, unfortunately, it lives on clean ground that is easily trawled. The angler is likely to catch greater numbers if he can find suitable ground among the rough, i.e. clean patches of sand or gravel alternating with rough or rocky ground. This mixed type of bottom is often too rough for fishing boats to trawl and offers better fishing to the angler. Small hooks, light nylon monofilament traces and soft baits are best in fishing for plaice. Lugworm, razorfish, mussel, cockle and ragworm are the most useful baits. Plaice tend to drift with the tide with the tide and take best when the tide is slack, i.e. near high and low water. Like the flounder, it takes best in calm conditions when the sea is placid and the water clear.

The plaice is a surprisingly strong and active fish when hooked and specimens of over 7 lb have been taken on rod and line. Reasonably sized plaice, when taken on suitable tackle, especially when caught from a boat, put up a strong exciting fight and the species could be classed as a sporting one.

"The Sea Angler Afloat and Ashore" (1965) Desmond Brennan at pages 46 to 48, 243 & 244

The Fishes of the Sea

The Sole (Solea solea (Linn))

One of the true soles and the only one commonly taken by anglers. The soles differ from other flatfish in that they have longer, more flexible bodies, with a rounded snout projecting beyond the downward-curved mouth. The body is a narrow oval not unlike a footprint in shape. They possess tufts of filaments or "beards" on the front of the head on the blind side and teeth only in the jaws on the blind side.

The species of the sole family are very similar in appearance, but the Common or Black Sole (Solea solea) can be distinguished from the others by its larger pectoral fins and that the nostril on the underside is small and not dilated. … After death the colour on the eyed side is usually dark brown or grey, but in living fish it is variegated with lighter and darker markings depending on the type of bottom on which it is taken. There is a dark tip to the pectoral fin on the eyed side and the dorsal, caudal and anal fins have a narrow white border.

The sole is most plentiful in depths of 5 to 40 fathoms and is common in … the Channel and the North Sea, preferring bottoms of sand, muddy sand, mud and gravel in areas of mixed ground, i.e. interspersed with rocks, reefs and ledges. It feeds mainly on various burrowing marine worms, sand stars, brittle stars, sand shrimps, small razorfish and other bivalves. It has been recorded up to a weight of 9 lb but the average size is 12 to 18 inches. Spawning takes place from February to August and, as the sole is nocturnal in habit, it is usually caught by anglers when fishing after dark. It will take razorfish, ragworm or lugworm, fished on the bottom using leger or paternoster-trot tackle.

Lemon Dab (Microstomus kitt)

More often called the Lemon Sole, this species has a very distinctive oval shape, which is in itself sufficient identification. The head and mouth are small, the tail column short and thick; eyes on the right side; mouth extends farther back on the blind side; scales small and smooth on both sides; lateral line only slightly curved over pectoral fin; no "knobs" or tubercles on head region. The colour of the blind side is similar to the dab and it is rich brownish yellow on the eyed side with darker marbling effects but no spots. Extends from the Bay of Biscay to the Arctic, it is found all around our coasts on bottoms of sand, muddy sand and gravel in depths of 10 fathoms upwards, feeding on crustaceans and shellfish. A small species, seldom exceeding 18 inches, it spawns over a protracted period from January to September (the actual spawning time depending on geographical location) in deep water. Baits and methods are similar to those used for plaice.

The Flatfishes

The Sole

The sole is not likely to be taken very often by anglers fishing during the day as it is essentially nocturnal in habit. It lives on soft bottoms of sand or mud, feeding on worms, small molluscs and crustaceans, but it will occasionally take small fishes. During the day it is believed that it buries itself deeply in the mud or sand and does not become active again until darkness falls.

The sole frequents shallower water during the summer than in winter and is found in bays and estuaries. It has a preference for soft bottoms on mixed ground or in the vicinity of rocks or ledges. While its range extends out to about the 60 fathom line, it is most plentiful in depths ranging from 5 to 15 fathoms.

Spawning time is over the period February to August and the species is more plentiful in the southern than in the northern half of the British Isles and tends to be rather localised in distribution.

Like the plaice and dab, it may be taken in places by anglers fishing from steeply shelving beaches or from piers or harbour walls. The best baits are ragworm, razorfish and lugworm. Tackle for boat and shore fishing as described for plaice and dabs.

"The Sea Angler Afloat and Ashore" (1965) Desmond Brennan at pages 46, 242 & 243

The Fishes of the Sea

The Dab (Limanda limanda)

A smaller fish than the flounder or plaice, body thinner, more rounded; ridge behind the eye smooth; lateral line strongly curved around pectoral fin; skin rough when rubbed against the grain and covered with small tooth edged scales; eyes on the right side; mouth small and extended further on the blind side; spine in front of anal fin. The blind side is a light sandy brown, sometimes covered with orange and black spots.

The dab ranges from the Bay of Biscay to the Arctic and is distributed all around our coasts. It favours bottoms of sand or muddy sand, often in the vicinity of a strong run of tide, and is found from the shore out to depths of 50 fathoms. A small species, it seldom exceeds 16 inches in length. It feeds on a wider variety of food than the plaice - crustaceans (hermit crabs, swimming crabs, amphipods), echinoderms (sand stars, brittle stars), bivalves (cockles, razorfish), various marine worms and small fry (the young of sandeels and herrings). Spawning time is mainly March to May in depths of 10 to 20 fathoms, the fish moving inshore from May onwards, but gradually migrating to deeper water as winter sets in. Light tackle fishing (leger, paternoster, paternoster-trot) using mussel, cockle, razorfish, ragworm, lugworm or shrimp as bait.

The Flatfishes

The Dab

The dab is a smaller species than either the flounder or the plaice and a good fish would weigh in the region of 1 lb. It more closely resembles the plaice but possesses a thinner and more rounded body and can be distinguished by the fact that it possesses no tubercles, bony knobs or patches of rough scales on the head. The scales on the upper side are rough when rubbed against the grain and the lateral line is very distinctively curved almost in a half circle over the pectoral fin.

Its food is similar to that of plaice except that in addition to molluscs, crustaceans and marine worms it will also eat small fish such as sandeels and herring fry. The dab is found on the same type of ground and in the company of plaice, but has a preference for soft bottoms of sand and mud where there is a good run of tide. It can be taken from the shore or in depths as great as 50 fathoms but the main run of good dabs is in depths under 20 fathoms and mainly in 5 to 10 fathoms of water.

It is often plentiful on sandy bottoms just at the edge of the main run of tide in the mouths of large estuaries, in sandy bays, sand banks or on clean ground just off tideways. Its habits are similar to the plaice, migrating into deeper water in winter but it spawns later, usually between February and July. The first fish arrive back on the grounds about May and the dab continues to provide fishing until October. Tackle, methods and baits are the same as those described for plaice but hooks should be smaller.

"The Sea Angler Afloat and Ashore" (1965) Desmond Brennan at pages 48, 49 & 244 to 248

The Fishes of the Sea

The Bothidae

The sinistral or left-sided flatfishes include the megrim, scaldfish and the top-knots, but only two, both of which are similar in appearance, e.g. the turbot and the brill, are of interest to the angler. Both are excellent food fishes.

The Turbot (Scopthalmus maximus (Linn))

A thick, broad, diamond-shaped fish, covered with blunt bony tubercles or spines on the eyed side. The mouth is large, equal on both sides with numerous sharp teeth. The lateral line is strongly curved over the pectoral and the body has no scales. The dorsal fin extends on to the head. The colour on the eyed side is usually brownish (can be greyish) speckled with lighter and darker markings, blind side opaque white.

Of more southerly distribution than the plaice, it is found from the Mediterranean to the southern North Sea, but is most plentiful off our south and west coasts. The turbot is an inshore species (can be taken from the shore) and the best fishing is found in depths of 10 to 20 fathoms. It prefers bottoms of sand or gravel preferably sandbanks or tideways where small fish are plentiful. The turbot is almost entirely a fish eater and will eat almost any small fish but is particularly partial to sandeels and sprats. Spawning takes place offshore from April to July. Turbot weighing upwards of 30 lb have been recorded, but the average size of fish taken is from 10 to 15 lb except in the case of small fish taken from or near the shore. The best baits are live sandeels, mackerel lashes, sprats or small fish, using leger or paternoster-trot terminal tackle anchor fishing or drifting.

The Brill (Scopthalmus rhombus (Linn))

The brill differs from the turbot in that it is more oval in shape, i.e. narrower in proportion to its length, the eyed surface is smooth, bearing no tubercles as does the turbot; both sides of the body are covered with smooth cycloid scales. Colouration is similar to the turbot but may tend to be more greenish and with more marbled or mottled effects. Its distribution, haunts and feeding habits are the same as the turbots, indeed they are often taken on the same grounds. Spawning takes place offshore from March to August. A smaller species than the turbot, it grows to half its size. Fishing methods and baits as for turbot.

The Flatfishes

Turbot and Brill

From the angling point of view, turbot and brill may be considered more or less as the same species, for their habits, haunts, foods and fishing methods are almost identical and the two species are taken on the same type of ground … They can be easily told apart by the fact that the coloured side of the turbot is liberally covered with blunt, bony tubercles while the brill presents a smooth surface to the touch.

While they have been taken in 50 - 60 fathoms of water they are essentially shallow water fishes and are most plentiful in depths ranging from 10 to 15 fathoms. They are found on bottoms of sand, gravel or mud particularly at the mouths of rivers or on shallow sand or gravel banks in deep water. Most of the noted turbot marks such as the Varne Bank in the English Channel … have one thing in common and that is strong tides. It is on this type of ground that their favourite food, the sandeel, is most plentiful and the turbot lie in ambush on the bottom or just off the shelf of the bank ready to pounce on any small fish which is swept along by the fast tides.

Both species possess large mouths and sharp teeth and are almost entirely fish eaters. Their chief food is sandeels and sprats, but any small fish such as herring, pilchard, whiting, pouting and flatfish that come within their reach is fair game to them. They may travel about a bit for I have taken them over muddy bottoms, usually where there is a good run of tide as in the channel of an estuary and they seem to go in small groups. Where you take one turbot you are nearly always sure to meet one or two more.

As in the case of plaice, dabs and soles, small specimens (young fish) may be taken from the shore in places, but in order to catch decent size turbot one must fish from a boat. The strong tideways which seem to go hand in hand with good turbot fishing create certain difficulties. Due to the strong run of water it is difficult at times to hold the bottom even with heavy sinkers and at times only a portion of the tide may be fished and in places where the tides are very strong it may be impossible to fish the marks at all except on the weakest of the neap tides. Turbot take best when there is movement on the tide and at slack water, i.e. high and low water when they seem to rest. When the tide turns, they commence to feed actively, and the first of the flood or first of the ebb usually provide excellent fishing. If anything, the early ebb seems better than the early flood tide, and the fishing in late afternoon superior to that earlier in the day. Like most other flatfish, they take better in settled weather and clear water.

Turbot, despite their size, are not very vigorous fighters and, were it not for the strong tides, very light tackle could be used. However, when hooked in heavy water they bring their broad bodies into play like the skates, using the great pressure exerted by the rush of tide against the angler. For this reason, and also because it may be necessary to use heavy sinkers, at times reasonably strong tackle is called for. A medium boat rod, a centre-pin or multiplier type reel and 30 to 40 lb breaking strain line will answer nicely. Turbot have very sharp teeth that will cut through light monofilament and although a short wire trace will obviate this danger, wire is not very flexible and does not "work" as nicely as monofilament in the water. For this reason it is preferable to use heavy monofilament in the 60 - 70 lb breaking strain for the trace, but be sure to examine it frequently and change it when it becomes frayed.

The terminal tackle may be either a leger with a long flowing trace (6 to 10 feet long) or a paternoster. Those who use a running leger on a long flowing trace and hold that there must be plenty of movement in the bait, may wonder at the paternoster, but turbot rise from the bottom to snatch small fish being swept along in the tide and baits mounted on a paternoster present no problem to them. Even though the bait should be fished on or very near the bottom i do feel that a certain amount of movement is necessary and this probably explains why fishing is better when there is a nice wave or "hump" on the sea than in a flat calm, for the roll of the boat imparts some movement to the bait.

Hook sizes need not be big … Turbot are taken by anglers using very big hooks and baits when fishing for heavy skate and this allied to the fact that the turbot has a big mouth may have given rise to the idea that only big hooks should be used. Turbot suck and mouth a bait gently and a small hook is more readily taken, easier to drive home and quite strong enough to land the fish. Hook sizes 4/0 to 6/0 are usually quite adequate but it must be remembered - and this applies to fishing generally - that it is the size of the bait that usually dictates the size of the hook. Thus one would use a larger hook when baiting up with a big lask of mackerel than would be necessary when the bait is a small sandeel. The deciding factor, however, will be the size of the bait used and a larger hook will be necessary for a big bait than for a small one.

When it comes to bait there is no doubt that the Greater Sandeel or Sand Launce has no equal as a turbot bait … Freshly caught mackerel is also an excellent bait.

The whole secret in turbot fishing is to give the fish plenty of time to get the bait into its mouth. The turbot seldom "knocks" but takes the very gently as it sucks and mouths the bait. The first indication the angler gets is a "lean" on the line and if struck at this stage the fish will not be hooked. If the fish is missed do not be disheartened but leave the bait, for turbot frequently come back to take the bait again. When the fish is first felt it should be given a little slack and let it take the bait. Give the fish plenty of time until it hooks itself.

Those who have not fished turbot may raise their eyebrows at this remark but a common mistake among experienced anglers is striking turbot too soon. An inexperienced angler will not usually feel or recognise a turbot bite as such and the fish will have hooked itself before the angler realises that it is there at all. The experienced angler (but not one experienced in turbot fishing) is more sensitive and alert to anything playing with his bait and will strike as soon as he feels the fish and inevitably loses it.

When fishing on turbot ground, to be successful one must be single-minded and fish for turbot and turbot only. There is no point in messing around using baits for other species as well, for you may find yourself unhooking a small whiting at the very time a companion gets stuck in a turbot that could have been yours if your bait was on the bottom where it should be. Remember, too, to give the fish plenty of time to take the bait and do not strike until you are sure that the turbot has it.

"Sea Angling" (1965) Derek Fletcher at pages 106 to 108

Chapter 12: Flat-Fish Family

Almost any bait will satisfy the dab. Mussel, ragworm, lugworm, cockle, shrimps, pieces of fish and salted limpet have all taken their toll. Garden worms have accounted for them at times. The strangest successful lure appears to have been a small piece of white rag, soaked in pilchard oil, and simply hung from the point of a hook. This, slowly dragged across the bottom, secured a bag of twelve fish at Brighton a few years ago. Dab fishing calls for little skill. It is a fierce biter and is not deterred by heavy paternoster tackle. In fact this is one fish where the use of light tackle does not boost up the catch.

"Feathering for Sea Fish" (1966) Fredrick William Holiday (aka "Ted Holiday") at pages 1 & 121 to 124

Introduction

The Romans thought highly of fish as food. In fact, Juvenal records how the Emperor Domitian convened the entire Senate so they could best decide how to cook a large turbot !

Chapter 12: Wider Applications of Feathering

Not all sea-fish are predators but most species do in fact prey on living creatures. Since this is true - and bearing in mind what was said earlier about the fluctuations of fish-vision - any artificial lure which more or less resembles the preyed-upon species will be taken by a feeding fish. This is a fairly important point since it extends the scope of feathering to far more species than have been named in these pages.

Feathers Suggested for Flatfish

Feathering might be extended, for example, to include flatfish. Plaice, brill and turbot are not static browsers on the sea-floor. They chase and consume living fish, often quite large fish. In theory there is no reason why big flats should not be caught on feathers just as they can be caught on baited spoons. The main problem is to discover a suitable design of lure and offer it in an attractive manner.

A double hook lure dressed with white or silver buckstail seems the most likely approach. A very small spoon could be fitted a few inches above the lure as a general attractor. The lure would be on the end of a 6 foot trace, the lead being mounted at the top of this. The lure would thus be free to stream naturally in the tide.

Big flatfish lie on the bottom very cleverly camouflaged. On observing their prey they swoop upwards and seize it. For short distances flatfish can move so fast the eye can hardly follow them.

The best way of fishing the lure described would be to lower the lead to the sea-bottom then raise it about 3 to 4 feet. Given a reasonable flow of tide the lure should then play about in the water like a swimming fish.

Experiments in this direction have caught a variety of species but so far none of the big flats. On our part of the coast, however, the turbot and brill marks are still in process of discovery although we know they do exist. I feel sure the lure described will produce results once it is actually fishing over big flatfish. If any reader has success with the method I should be most interested to hear about it.

Anglers may wonder why feathers are suggested for catching big flats when fresh sand-eel is a well-proven bait. If plenty of fresh sand-eels are available then of course one would be foolish not to use them. But there are occasions when eels are scarce or the tide is unsuitable for raking them. In these circumstances an artificial lure which offers sport is most useful to have by one.

Feathers for very large Flatfish

American anglers have long been in the habit of catching bonito, wahoo, albacore and other large sea-fish on feathered jigs. In effect, these jigs are simply large versions of the squid lure described earlier. The jigs are fished by trolling them fairly slowly behind a boat. There is no technical or other reason why tope, sharks and large ling should not be caught on feathered jigs in British waters.

Although feathered jigs incorporate lead in their construction, it is important to have an additional lead at the top of the trace-wire. Fig. 39 shows why this is so. A shows a lure being fished on an unleaded trace. This results in its being pulled through the water at an oblique angle. In B, with a trace carrying lead, the lure fishes on an even keel.

These large jigs can be made by casting lead directly on to the shank of a shark hook and then dressing the hook with a fairly large bunch of feathers. Yellow buckstail to form a bulky body and a spoon at the nose of the jig would be extra attractions.

One of the problems about this method of fishing is to get the boat cruising at just the right speed. This means of course that the boat must be running to suit the angler. With the usual shark charter-boat, however, it is more economic to proceed to the ground at top speed and there allow half a dozen or more anglers to fish with bait. Anglers with their own boat, however, who are only catering for one or two rods, may care to give the method a trial.

There is no doubt that these feathered jigs do work in British waters. Talking recently with a free-lance trawler-skipper he told me that he regularly uses feathered jigs off the South Wales coast and catches plenty of big bass. Two rods are used, each held in an outrigger on opposite sides of the boat and catches of several dozen fish on the way to the trawling-ground are not unusual.

Feathers advertised by means of a small spoon tied to the snood a few inches above the lure are also worth studying. Their use as a possible lure for flatfish has already been mentioned. In addition, I find that a small spoon is very attractive to whiting and codling especially in dark water and will draw the fish in from quite a long distance.

Indeed perhaps the biggest problem when using feathers in the sea is to attract fish to the lures when the light-conditions are favourable for them to take. On an overcast day it can be moderately gloomy at a depth of 15 fathoms. There is no doubt that the flash of a small spoon is often of value. Fish are curious and always investigate the unusual. And once they come close enough to see the feathers they usually go the whole hog.

Silver paper or foil wrapped and moulded around the line serves the same purpose. It doesn't last long but it is easily replaced.

I have no record of congers being caught on feathers. This is probably because feathers are usually fished on nylon snoods. If wire was used I think congers would be caught. There is no doubt that these big predatory eels do pursue slow-swimming fish because I have seen them doing so. More than once, when fishing by the weeded hulls of ships, I have lost feathers to what were almost certainly conger eels.

"Popular Sea Fishing" (1968) Peter Wheat (editor) at pages 84 to 87

Fishing for Flounder, Sole, Dab and Pouting (Derek Fletcher)

Dab

These obliging small flatfish are caught in large numbers from the sandy bays all around our coast. They do not run very large, about ¾ lb is the average size fish caught, but they are most accommodating in taking nearly all sea baits one cares to offer. The largest ever recorded weighed 2 lb 9 oz 8 dr. and was caught at Port Talbot by M. L. Watts in 1936.

Known also as the sand dab, it is a rough scaled fish, coloured light brown with slight black or orange markings on the topside, and a bluish-white underside. The eyes are on the right side; it has a small mouth, and there is a spine which protrudes before the anal fin. It has a more rounded appearance than the flounder, and there is a smooth ridge just between the eyes. Often the orange markings tend to fade after the fish has been out of the water for any length of time.

Most dabs fall to lugworm, ragworm and mussel baits, but they are also lured by razorfish, slipper limpet, rock limpet, shrimps, sand-eel cuttings, thin herring strips, and occasionally will take slow moving small spoons. They are caught from boats, piers, breakwaters, and by shore casting.

Dabs are often found in the stomachs of other fish, especially the angler fish and skate. Bass and conger will also take them, and when in the shallows they often fall victim to diving cormorants. They are tasty table fish, but because of an average smallness they cannot be regarded as a sporting species. No great skill is needed to catch them, and at times they will take as many baited hooks as you care to offer, but naturally the lighter one fishes the more chance there is of obtaining some sport.

Although dabs bite fiercely, sometimes their feeding habits are upset by winds, and this is the time when single hook tackle will prove superior to paternoster gear. Like other flatfish they are inquisitive, and if your tackle can be arranged to cause disturbances of the sand this will be a great aid to the fishing. This can be done with a 6 foot long trace to a No. 4 hook which has a button or milk-bottle top positioned on the trace above the hook. This is kept in position by split shot.

After casting, the tackle has to be given movement to cause the disturbance on the bottom. There is no need to continually reel in, but wind in a few yards, then pause for a minute or two. It is during the pause that the dab is likely to grab the bait. Apart from the shore this method can be used from piers and breakwaters as long as they are not too high. Otherwise the tackle will fail to lie easily on the bottom.

Like flounders, the dab also has a liking for fresh water. Beneath one pier I fished there was a fresh water outlet. One was assured of fish by casting near the entrance, yet just a matter of a few yards away the chances of making a catch were extremely rare. In one instance I creeled thirty-two dabs while a tyro nearby who had not quite mastered accurate casting had only two fish during the same period of time.

Often, large catches of dabs are made from inshore boats using the 'bounce' method. A single hook trace is cast shorewards and then retrieved in a series of small jerks. Dabs are not so slow moving as is sometimes believed, and when in the mood will chase a baited hook moved in this way, disturbing the sea-bed at the same time.

The dab is found inshore during many months of the year, although autumn usually produces the sweetest tasting fish. They frequently make up winning bags in shore and pier matches from September to December.

"Pelham Manual for Sea Anglers" (1969) Derek Fletcher at pages 122, 123 & 131

Turbot

There are undoubtedly many good marks yet undiscovered, and one important factor in seeking new spots is to find a deep ridge or bank well populated with sandeels. Turbot are great fish eaters, and the small sandeel is very high on its menu. It will dive up from below to trap several sandeels in one swoop by its large mouth and strong teeth.

The type of ridge or bank favoured by strong concentrations of sandeels run for as long as a mile or two and are formed of rocks, small stones and shells. There are usually several breaks or gullies in these walls along the line. Not only do turbot find plenty of food here, but they escape the nets of the professional fishermen. It is a hopeless venture for professionals to try and work their nets over such grounds.

It is obvious that a large sized live sandeel is the best offering for luring this species. Dead sandeel can be tried and fish can be taken, although there will certainly be a marked difference in the size of fish attracted and also numbers.

… Many fish are lost by a too hurried and harsh strike. Certainly firm striking is necessary but it must be made somewhat gently. Good sport will result from any sizeable turbot hooked.

White Rag Lure

This type of lure is not much in evidence these days, but used regularly a few years ago according to old angling books. It can be used mainly for luring flatfish when normal baits are scarce. A small piece of white rag material, soaked in pilchard oil and hung from the hook is moved slowly over the seabed. Best catches recorded in recent years include a 'bag' of 12 dabs at Brighton and 22 flounders at Exmouth.

"Competition Sea Angling" (1970) Bruce McMillen at pages 49, 59, 62, 64, 65, 67, 70, 72 & 73

4. Methods

Fishing a moving bait

The effectiveness of imparting some occasional movement to the bait cannot be too strongly emphasised. Rather than allowing your bait to lie in the same position throughout the whole of one cast, reel in a yard or so, pause, and then repeat the process. This occasional movement will often make an appreciable difference to your catches. I have watched the actions of flatfish in relation to both a stationary and a moving bait. While the fish will often regard a stationary bait with some indifference, the effect of moving it only for a few inches is to stir them into sudden action. Quite frequently, as a result of this movement, they make a sudden dive for the bait, perhaps under the impression that if they do not, they will lose the chance of catching it.

It will of course be appreciated that this periodical bait movement is only practicable on beaches free of weed, rocks, stones and other underwater obstacles.

5. Species

Brill

Tackle etc., as for turbot, but as they are a smaller species scale down hook and bait.

Dab

… For their relatively small size these flatfish can give a surprisingly sharp bite. Their mouths are small and the hook should, therefore, be correspondingly small, a size 1, 2 or 4. Some favour even smaller hooks but I do not think anything below size 4 is necessary. If dabs are biting well three hooks - the maximum permitted number, should be used, preferably on paternoster tackle. Under these circumstances you may well take dabs three at a time. Best baits are ragworm or lugworm but remember that, although dabs are very fond of peeler and soft crabs, they are also very adept at sucking them from the hook without becoming hooked in the process. Dabs, when in good condition, make fine eating and, size for size, they are every bit as delicious as plaice. Apart from the important proviso regarding small hooks, no specialised tackle is necessary in order to take your full measure of dabs, should they be biting freely.

Flounder

The flounder … will accept a wide variety of baits including shellfish, crabs, worms, prawns, sand-eels, shrimps and even small fish.

The bite given by a flounder may vary from a sharp tug to a movement on the line which is scarcely perceptible. These fish will often swallow the bait which is not very satisfactory for if they are immature fish the damage which is done when the hook is removed is inevitably fatal.

Flounders are undoubtedly attracted by movement even though the bait be dead. In this connection it is sometimes quite productive to cast and then slowly retrieve the bait in a series of stops and starts. Baited spoons and variations thereof often prove particularly effective and I have found that the overall best bait for these fish is either peeler or soft crab …

Flounders frequent river estuaries, shallow coastal waters, marine lakes etc., and they appear to follow defined 'lanes'. A gutter or gulley will usually hold more flounders than the surrounding sandbanks. These flatfish give reasonably good sport on appropriately light tackle and normally leger techniques are the best. Although fairly small hooks (size 1 or 1/0) should be used it is truly surprising to see just what large hooks, such as those intended for bass, are often taken into the flounder's comparatively small mouth.

There are many local variations in technique but possibly one of the most interesting is float fishing, an extremely popular method in parts of the south. It has much to commend it, particularly so when those small green crab horrors which infest harbour and estuary, settle on and begin tearing at the bait within seconds of it reaching the sea bed.

However, despite the effectiveness of float fishing great care must be taken to present the bait at exactly the right depth. If the bait drags along the bed then crabs will attack it and if it is too high the flounders will not rise as freely as you would like them to. Ideally the bait should be between two and four inches from the bottom.

Obviously there are many occasions when this technique is not possible, but in sheltered waters during a neap tide period it's a method that can produce exciting results. But remember, although there may not be a great rise and fall during a neap tide in your particular area, it is still essential that all tidal changes are reflected in the way you set your terminal tackle.

Silver spoons are also used in conjunction with float tackle and … some truly prodigious catches are made by anglers using this technique.

I am of the opinion that next to crab, ragworm is probably the best bait. It is certainly more deadly than lugworm. Incidentally, plaice-flounder hybrids are known to exist.

No specialise rod or reel is required for flounder fishing but, when float fishing, a longer rod can be a decided advantage.

Plaice

Much of what I have written concerning flounders applies equally to plaice, particularly in relation to tackle, baits and the baited spoon technique. It is my experience, however that, unlike flounders, plaice will bite more freely during the hours of daylight than at night. Plaice are very fond of small cockles, mussels and shellfish that are sometimes referred to by professional fishermen as 'seed mussels'. Plaice taken over beds of the latter are often found to be literally packed with these immature shellfish. If you know an area where they abound it is certainly worth concentrating, at least for a trial period, over these grounds when seeking plaice.

Over the years my experience has been that plaice seldom take fish baits and that they show a preference for ragworm and lugworm rather than for soft or peeler crabs …

A plaice bite is somewhat sharper than that given by a flounder and, size for size, they give rather a better fight. When boat fishing it is often a good plan to drift slowly. The bait is then moved over a wide area and a slowly moving bait is certainly more attractive to plaice. If, whilst drifting from point 'A' to point 'B', you cross an area which produces a sudden flurry of activity, wait for five minutes or so after the last fish is caught and then return to a spot some distance up-tide of where the fish were feeding and try a second drift. A move such as this can be most productive and can also provide the angler with some fine sport.

Sole

Unlike plaice, soles are more usually a rather finicky nocturnal feeder and, as a result of this, they do not figure prominently in sea angling contests. Baits are similar to those recommended for plaice and flounders, and terminal tackle may either be paternoster or running leger. However, when night fishing … try attaching a strip of 'Lumina', a highly luminous plastic, just above your bait, it could well attract a specimen fish.

Turbot

This flatfish grows to an appreciable size, is good to eat and will provide the angler with fair sport. Leger tackle, baited with sand-eels or, in the absence of sand-eels, with small fish or fish strips, particularly mackerel, is the accepted method. The deadliest bait is unquestionably the greater sand-eel.

Turbot possess sharp teeth and, although it would appear that wire snoods are essential, it is in fact preferable to use a heavy monofilament of 50 to 70 lb breaking strain. This is more flexible, a point which is quite an important consideration when fishing for turbot. Hooks, which should be attached to a long flowing trace, will inevitably vary according to the size of the bait employed, but for average turbot fishing sizes from 3/0 to 7/0 are usually adequate. The bait should be kept on the move and it is essential that turbot are given plenty of time to take the bait, for these fish will generally hook themselves. While some anglers prefer to drift, others favour anchoring with the bait on or just above the bottom allowing tidal currents to keep the bait on the move.

Witch

A flatfish rarely taken by the angler, method and tackle as for plaice and similar species.

The Daily Express, Friday 15 November 1974 at page 13

Fishing by Clive Gammon

Make a spot check to tell a plaice from a flounder

The rumour was that the estuary was paved with big plaice - "beautiful fat fellows," said my old friend Patsy. "Two and three pounds weight".

This was down in the South-West of Ireland earlier this week And with the surf fishing knocked on the head by severe gales, it was welcome news.

But I had my doubts. Patsy is a good salmon fisherman, but he is a little vague when it comes to marine species. And you don't often find big plaice in small estuaries such as this one in Co. Kerry.

Detail

There was only one way to find out. I headed off with a can of lugworm and caught a couple of good flatfish which, as Patsy had said, were over the 2 lb. Mark.

"Didn't I tell you ?" said my friend triumphantly when I displayed them on the way home. "Wrong on one little detail only," I told him. "These aren't plaice. They are quite definitely flounders."

Said Patsy: "But look at the orange spots on its back, man !"

Like a lot of people, he firmly believed that any flat fish with orange spots had to be a plaice. But not so. Flounders have them sometimes, though they are duller in colour, not the really bright orange of the spots on a plaice. The one sure test is to run a finger along the lateral line on the dark side of the fish, towards the head. You'll find that it is quite rough on a true flounder.

Winter flounders are running well now and it pays to use special tactics if you want to catch the better specimens.

One is to tie a hook-less spoon into the trace, attach four or five inches of nylon line below it ending in a No. 1 hook which you bait with lugworm. When you have cast move your lead every few minutes. The spoon will flash and attract flounders.

A spoon bait attractor is also useful when you are out after whiting, the target fish in the Daily Express-Guinness Sea Angling Competition for November.

"Estuary Fishing" (1974) Frank Holiday at pages 49 to 51 & 99 to 102

Chapter Three

Terminal Gear

Rigs for Flatfish

The estuary angler, if he likes catching flatfish, will sooner or later feel the need for a special rig to suit these fish. There is no doubt that flatfish are attracted by movement of the bait although why this should be so is pretty obscure. The technique of drawing one's baited hook slowly over the bottom undoubtedly catches more fish than when the bait is left to lie static. Various rigs over the years have been devised with this thought in mind. It is often asserted that gaudy beads threaded on the trace above the hook act as an attractor for flats. Experiment suggests that this is true; but it seems to be just as true with various other species. All one can say is that fish are curious and tend to investigate anything that looks unusual.

Simple rigs are better than more complicated ones; and they have the advantage that they can be made up at the water-side. A rolling two-hook leger is particularly effective with flats when the estuary has a bottom of sand or firm mud. A ¼-ounce or ½-ounce drilled bullet is threaded up the main line and retained by means of a swivel tied to the end of the line. The trace consists of a yard length of line ending in a suitable long-shanked hook. Eighteen inches above this hook a Blood Loop Bight is tied into the trace and a short snood is then attached to it carrying a second hook. The angler can experiment with beads and other attractors as he fancies.

This rig is fished by casting it square across the tide. The whole point is that the lead should be light enough to roll slowly in the current. Thus the angler fishes in a series of arcs. He should move position frequently and fish fresh water. This technique is certainly superior to static bait presentation and it works with both flounders and plaice. Obviously, you need a snag-free bottom to use the method and this means checking the area at low tide with an eye open for buried branches and other tackle-collectors. It is also, incidentally, a deadly way of catching salmon in low water using worm-bunch.

To use the technique effectively you really need to know the comparative speeds of the ebbing and flowing tides in the area you fish. On neap tides, especially in the early stages, very light leads may be used. On springs it may be correct to go as large as 2 ounces. The idea is to keep the bait moving in an arc as slowly as possible. When it pauses a tightening of the line against the current should get it on the move again, rolling and exploring its way over the bottom and taking the baits with it. Thus you are literally testing every foot of the bottom in a series of sweeps for fish which would be otherwise ignorant of the baits awaiting their attention.

Of recent years it has become fashionable to use flowing traces of quite inordinate length. In a recent article I found the writer advocating a flowing trace no less than 18 feet long, In my view this trend can easily become illogical and absurd. The virtue of the long flowing trace - especially when used from a boat - is that the bait is presented to the fish in a natural manner, being moved about freely by the tide. However it is also true that the angler becomes out of touch with his bait if the trace is excessively long. It is entirely possible for fish to gorge such a bait and move a few feet away before lying doggo. The surprised angler only learns about the event when he reels in to find why his tackle is producing no action. These tactics, in my opinion, are not very intelligent.

Very long flowing traces fished below static leger-weights are not for me. If I want to present a bait in a completely natural fashion I would sooner go the whole hog and rig up a drift-line. In that case, of course, the small lead is not in contact with the bottom. But at least there is no chance of a fish taking the bait and falling asleep.

Even drift-lining, however, does not eliminate all the problems because an angle tends to form between bait, lead and rod which again puts you out of direct contact with the fish. The effect however is a minor one and indeed there is a certain advantage in that fish do not instantly feel pressure from the rod when they touch the bait. Fish will, of course, sometimes hook themselves but whenever this lack of direct contact occurs in fishing the best remedy is for the angler to hold his rod at all times so that he can strike at the first suspicion of a take.

Chapter Seven

The Flatfishes

Dabs

Plaice and dabs are found on the same ground very often. However dabs are a much smaller flat than either plaice or flounders and a 2-lb dab is a specimen. They eat a lot of baby shellfish and tube-worms as well as the usual razorfish, lug, ragworm and so on. In general habits they much resemble plaice, being fond of flowing water rather than back waters. Also they have a fondness for fish-strip and often seem to prefer it to worm.

When fishing for dabs I generally use a scaled-down version of a plaice-rig. If dabs are present on a ground I simply swop the hooks for a smaller size and make the baits more compact to suit the dab's smaller mouth. The fishing technique is the same for the two species. In fact it is no uncommon thing to catch plaice and dabs alternately during the same outing.

Opinions differ about the best state of the tide for catching dabs. I am sure that this varies between estuaries and only experiment will decide which is the best in one's own particular region. Some fishermen think that low water is best. My own experience suggests that the first of the flood up to the middle of the ebb to be best time. Certainly in one small estuary I fished you could never get dabs, or only rarely, except when the tide had started to run out. It struck me, however, that the fish probably ran in and out of the estuary on two quite different lines of travel and if one fished in both locations in succession you would probably catch dabs both coming in and going out. Garrad has a good deal to say on this subject of migration paths and it may apply to dabs as well as to flounders.

Dabs, in my view, are the most toothsome of the flats. They are rather better than plaice, being not quite so watery. They are obliging little fish and many an outing has been saved from failure by the presence of dabs on the ground. As for the various related species - witches and so forth - these are unlikely to be taken by the estuary fisher except as rare fish straying out of deep water after storms.

Turbot

Turbot or 'those tasty dustbin lids' as someone called them present a real challenge to the angler. They have a very localised distribution. As a general rule they seem to favour water between about 3 and 12 fathoms over banks of packed sand, sandy mud or shell-grit. Such banks very often lie off the mouths of estuaries. On these banks turbot have the habit of lying on the slope opposite the approaching tide-stream. This means that the bank protects them from the full force of the current and, at the same time, allows them to look upwards at what is passing overhead. When the tide changes they do the same thing in reverse, shifting to the opposite side of the bank.

Turbot are the biggest of our native flatfish - leaving aside the rare halibut - and they are wholly fish-eaters. They eat sprats, small flats, herrings, small whiting and pouting, dabs and immature flounders. However their staple diet is launce (or sand-eels), and it is no coincidence that the marine sand-banks they inhabit are locations that teem with the slender little fish. Peering up from their sandy ambush the turbot spot the launce as they pass across the bank moving with the tide. The launce realises too late that the sudden gloom is caused by the sharp-toothed mouth of a big flatfish closing around it.

Almost certainly turbot of 40 lb exist around our coasts so the turbot of 7 to 17 lb - which is the general run - are really no more than average for the species. Turbot is highly regarded as a fish for the table - deservedly so, I would say, because its diet is as organically pure as anything in the sea. Most anglers like to whiten the flesh by making a small slit above the tail to release the blood.

Turbot start to show up at the seaward end of estuaries from mid-July onwards. Some of them will linger around the bar feeding on the sand-eels and some may cross the bar and come a little distance up the estuary to gorge on sand-eels in the lower reaches. This activity continues until late Sept-ember. No doubt turbot are also attracted by the dense shoals of 'Joeys' or harvest mackerel which swarm in the warm sea at this period during a good summer.

Most turbot-fishers think that spring tides are best for turbot and some say it is a waste of time to fish on the neaps.

As usual, there are two ways of fishing turbot from a boat - drifting and at anchor. Drifting is best if you are uncertain of the whereabouts of the big flats. However if you have cross-bearings on a likely sand-bank then it is best to anchor and shift position from time to time by streaming out more cable if the results seem slow. A few yards change in position can make a vast difference in results when turbot fishing.

A rig for turbot, as with all rigs, should be fairly spartan. The weight is on a sliding boom running up and down the main line and is retained by a swivel. The trace below is attached to the swivel with a snap-link. This trace should be as strong as the main line. It is unwise to go much below 30 lb monofil because a big turbot levering against the pull of a spring tide needs a hefty strain to get it to the boat. A flowing two hook trace about 10 feet long is about right and it should have a swivel halfway along its length. Above the swivel many experienced turbot fishers like to place a big spoon to act as a general attractor. A spoon some 3 or 4 inches long is not too big and it can be either home-made from chromed brass or be an ordinary narrow Norwegian spoon with the treble and lower split-ring removed. The big flats don't, of course, strike at the spoon. It merely draws their attention to the baited hooks below. Hooks of from 3/0 to 6/0 are commonly used for turbot, the bait being either strips of fresh mackerel or a whole launce.

The shore fisher mustn't assume that turbot are a proposition only for the man who can plough a mile offshore in a boat. Locals at a point on the Cardiganshire coast assured me that small turbot of between 3-8 lb often came in to feed in the mouth of a small river in late August and September and were keenly sought by fishers in the know. At the mouths of some West Country estuaries anglers fishing for bass have on occasion trodden on turbot while wading along the bar at low water, again in late summer. So the opportunity is there once the fisherman has located a suitable venue and laid his plans. For such fishing I prefer to leger with either mackerel strip or sand-eel dead-bait. If turbot refuse these then they will take nothing.

Brill

Brill are in somewhat like case. Indeed, brill and turbot often share the same ground and in the shallow estuary pools it is common to see baby brill and baby turbot, so to speak, sharing the same nursery. Brill, however, are a more active fish than turbot and they come the nearest to what could be called a sporting flatfish. A hooked brill will dive and bore with far more energy than a turbot.

The feeding activities of brill seem, so far as one can judge, to be identical to turbot. In other words it feeds on small fish with a particular preference for sand-eels. Almost oval in shape and distinctively marked brill, however, are not as large as turbot and a 10-lb specimen is a good one.

Brill are seldom fished for specifically and the ones that are taken are usually caught in the course of turbot fishing. The same tackle and baits apply as for turbot. Good brill are sometimes caught in water no deeper than 6 fathoms when, on neap tides, they lie right on top of the sand-banks. Only rarely are they caught from the shore.

The deep narrow estuaries of the west are always worth investigating late in the summer when the possibility of big flats is raised. It is worth checking on the sand-eel population by running an eel-drag [6] through the loose sand at the edge of the low water-line. If plenty of eels are present they will provide bait for a fishing attempt later in the tide.

[6] An eel-drag or eel-rake is a curved metal implement for drawing sand-eels out of loose sand.

"The Long Book of Sea Fishing" (1975) Dick Murray at pages 66 & 67

An angler fishes and waits for the first tell-tale bite from a flattie. He has chosen a gently sloping beach, calm sea, and has cast his worm bait where it will lie on a sandy area. Flatfish, plaice, dabs, flounders and even turbot, love sand, for that is where their principal food is.

A good supply of worms and razorfish and the battle is half won. Flatties love all types of worm, but special favourites are red and white ragworm.

Keep the bait on the move - slowly. That's the advice from successful flattie hunters. Cast out a bunch of worms and wind in very slowly. A spinner blade a foot or two above a 4 or 2 long shanked hook will help. Use several worms and let the ends dangle … Evening time is a good period, especially as the tide begins to make.

Hold the rod all the time. The bites may be just a feeble plucking of the line. Every few minutes wind in a foot or two of line. This makes the worms move attractively across the seabed.

A flattie can give the faintest of line trembles. Sometimes the rod tip will just flip forward then back again. Miss that and you have missed your fish. Most anglers use two hooks, and when the fish are feeding frequently catch flatties two at a time.

A commercially available flounder spoon. A large spoon blade with a series of swivels ending with a long shanked hook, this is baited with worm. After the cast has been made, the angler starts to wind in. The blade digs up the sand and creates a little "dust storm". This in turn disturbs the dormant flattie and the wriggling worm is often too much for him. When fishing like this it is quite frequent to experience a series of half-hearted bites before the proper take.

"Wreck Fishing" (1975) (Osprey Anglers) Clive Gammon at pages 31 & 32

3. The Fish of the Wrecks

6. Turbot

… The natural habitat of the turbot is characteristically a complex of shallow banks that might rise from a twenty-fathom depth to possibly as little as five fathoms, banks of shingle or sand which are scoured by the tide and hold plenty of food fish (from the turbot's point of view, that is) like sand-eels. Such marks have become famous amongst anglers, the Shambles Bank at Weymouth, the Whiting Ground at Coverack, Hole Open at Kinsale, and the Skerries Bank at Dartmouth. Unhappily, such marks, often discovered in the first place by anglers, are soon exploited by commercial fishermen, and not one of the places I have mentioned is now more than a shadow of its former self. Turbot fishing in Britain, indeed, until the potential of wrecks was discovered, had become a very chancy business with nothing like the catches being brought in that had been the rule in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Fortunately the turbot that inhabit the secondary wreck environment are not likely to be exploited in this way. Trawlers avoid wrecks at all costs.

Apart from the halibut, which is a rare catch in British waters and is certainly not encountered on wreck-fishing marks that have been discovered so far in the South West, turbot is our biggest flat fish - and also the most prized for the table. Once you have seen one you cannot really mistake it for any other flat fish species except the brill, and Figure 3 should make the main differences clear. However, the absolutely sure test is to run your hand over the upper side of the fish, when, if it is a turbot, you will encounter numerous hard tubercles. These don't grow in the brill. As a rough rule of thumb, remember that while the turbot is almost round in its body shape like a soccer ball, a brill is rugby ball shaped.

The turbot is a fish of moderately shallow inshore waters, rarely being found deeper than fifty fathoms. If you are down in the South West on holiday and you look carefully in sandy-bottomed rock pools from August on, you are quite likely to find tiny turbot, fish spawned that year, lying almost perfectly camouflaged on the bottom, and along sandy beaches seine nets often pick up small turbot up to 2 or 3 lb quite close inshore. Soon, however, and certainly by their third year the fish move offshore some distance, and, apart from a period of a few weeks around midsummer when the fish are spawning, they come within the angler's orbit between May and October.

As I have indicated, when they are actively feeding, turbot lie up on or behind sandbanks waiting for small fish to be swept towards them. They don't appear to be very active fish but, in fact, they show a considerable amount of dexterity in snapping up a sandeel with their telescopic jaws - indeed I have had turbot following a retrieved bait right up to the surface. Turbot are entirely fish eaters - even the little fish of a pound or so that are found within casting range of the shore. You can fish a storm beach, for instance, for bass, using lugworm or ragworm baits, for seasons on end without ever encountering a turbot, but if you change to a small strip of mackerel or herring you can often catch delicious pan-sized turbot that you would never have suspected were there.

Unlike many predatory fish, though, turbot are highly unlikely to take an artificial lure - at least I have never heard of one being so caught. However, I would not be surprised to hear of one taking a baited pirk fished sufficiently close to the sea bed. Thus the species has to be fished for as a quite separate enterprise if you want to catch it close to wrecks. The skipper will need to anchor up so that the baits go down clear of the wreck and up-tide of it, for the wreck itself obviously acts as a kind of sandbank.

The tackle to use is a flowing trace of the kind that you would employ in orthodox turbot fishing; the lead on a sliding boom is stopped by a swivel, from the other end of which runs 4 or 5 feet of heavy nylon, 50 lb test being about right. This heavy-gauge nylon is not necessitated by the fighting prowess of the turbot, but because of its quite sharp teeth. Some anglers, indeed, use a final hook link of 6 inches of wire for this reason, though I don't agree with them that it is really necessary. A 6/0 hook is about right and it should be baited with a whole side fillet of mackerel. The lead should be judged so that when it first hits bottom it does not quite hold, so that the angler has to lift it a little, let out more line, and let it hit again, repeating the process perhaps several times until it settles. This means that he can then 'trot' his lead down-tide from time to time, thus covering more ground. The turbot is a fish which normally waits for its prey to come towards it and hence it is pretty important to make your bait act in this way. Turbot are slow takers, and the characteristic bite is a kind of slow pluck. Nobody ever gave a turbot too much time, so don't be in a hurry to strike. If your rod registers anything after a couple of knocks of the kind I have described, just take up the slack and feel if the fish is there. Turbot will often take a bait and lie doggo, so that you are just not aware he has hooked himself until you make the first move.

The turbot is not a great fighting fish, and you should not have any difficulty at all about hauling even a thirty-pounder. Turbot normally come up as a dead weight except for the occasional thump of the head or maybe the tail, and usually they are far more lively once you have boated them, clattering about on the boards and exerting a muscular strength they did not show in the water. However, if you hook your fish in a strong tide well away from the boat, it can put up quite a heavy resistance by arching its body so that you are having to pull it square on to the tide. Thus, very light tackle is really out of the question and you might just as well use the 50 lb line that suits other forms of wreck fishing. When you have boated your turbot, incidentally, and you have killed it, it is best to bleed your fish by making a knife-cut across the root of its tail and hanging the fish from a rail. This improves the flavour and also prevents the white underside becoming suffused with blood which makes it look much less appetizing.

"Sea Angling with the Specimen Hunters: Big-Fish Tactics of the Experts" (1977) edited by Hugh Stoker at pages 129 to 134

19 Turbot and Brill Hugh Stoker

… Leger tackle is the standard type of terminal rig for turbot, with the lead clipped to a free-running Clements boom, and the bait presented on a flowing trace which should be at least 5 or 6ft in length. The turbot has a large mouth and the hook usually varies between 2/0 and 5/0 depending on the type of bait used. On those turbot marks where plaice and large whiting are also likely to be encountered, it is common practice to fit one or two smaller hooks on short droppers higher up the main trace.

Some successful turbot anglers also fit a small shiny 'attractor' spoon a few inches above the bait, and this certainly seems to arouse the interest of the fish on those days when they are playing 'hard to get' - or are simply over-preoccupied with an abundance of natural food.

Should you decide to use an up-trace spoon, be sure to choose one that is light enough to flutter or revolve attractively in the flow of tide. It can be made either of chrome-plated metal or white plastic.

Just how strong you decide to make your terminal tackle will depend very much on the type of mark you are going to fish; the strength of the local tides, and whether you intend fishing on the drift or at anchor. In clear-water conditions, with little tidal movement to stir up the bottom, turbot are most likely to attack your bait if it is presented on a reasonably fine nylon trace of about 20 - 25 lb b.s. On a majority of turbot marks, however, you will be compelled by strong tides to fish a somewhat heavier trace - say about 25 - 33 lb b.s.

There is no single 'best' method of fishing for turbot, because it is necessary to vary one's tactics to suit local conditions. In areas where tides are moderate in strength, fishing from a drifting boat usually pays off best. This is because turbot, like most other flatfish, are attracted by a moving bait. Best baits are freshly-caught sandeels and strips of mackerel or garfish.

My method of baiting with mackerel is to cut a long tapering strip from the side of the fish, half blue and half silvery, so as to resemble a sandeel. Most anglers regard mackerel as superior to garfish, but I'm not so sure. Maybe I am influenced by the fact that my best-ever turbot, a 24½ pounder, was taken on a strip of garfish. However, I think the best bait of all is a fillet cut from the side of a 'cock launce', or greater sandeel …

When drifting for turbot it is essential to hold your rod all the time and my method is to keep the reel in free-spool with thumb pressure alone preventing line from being stripped off the spool.

The instant I feel the tell-tale tug of a fish grabbing at the bait I raise my thumb from the spool. This allows the lead and bait to lie motionless on the sea-bed while the boat continues in its drift. Of course, at this stage there is no telling whether the interested fish is a turbot, a brill or ray - or merely a bait-robbing dogfish. After a few seconds have elapsed, the reel is thrown into gear and, as the line tightens, the rod is raised firmly and positively to strike the hook home. Avoid making an over-vigorous strike, otherwise - if the fish is a turbot - you may loosen the hook in its mouth.

Turbot seem to have a special liking for strong tides … one commonly used method when fishing this type of mark is to anchor the boat over the bank, but fairly close to the down-tide edge. Provided you adjust the amount of lead to suit the strength of the current, it is then a simple matter to trip the baited trace along the bottom with the tide until it comes to rest below the steeply sloping edge of the bank. It is here the turbot tend to congregate as they feed on sandeels being washed out of the bank by the scouring action of the tide.

Of course, when fishing at anchor in such fast water it is often necessary to use a considerable amount of lead, and you should go well prepared with a good selection of big conical sinkers. Leads weighing 1½ to 2 lb are commonly used and there will be occasions on some turbot marks when double this amount of lead will be needed to keep the bait down among the feeding fish.

… Although turbot seldom fight hard in the strictest sense of the term, I cannot go along with those anglers who contend there's no thrill in hooking one of these fish. In a fierce run of tide that huge flat body puts a tremendous strain on rod and line. To make matters worse, the turbot's large mouth is membranous and quite delicate in places. So all the time you're pumping the fish in you will be wondering if the hook is going to tear out before your prize has been coaxed within reach of the gaff or landing net. For this reason you must pump the fish in gently, maintaining a steady pressure all the time. Above all, you must avoid any momentary slackening of the line; otherwise, if the hook has opened up a hole in the membranous mouth, it may fall out. Lots of turbot have been lost in this way.

Another tip - always try to gaff or net a turbot while it is still under the water. If it is brought right to the surface the chances are it will panic, and in the ensuing splashing and general turmoil it may throw the hook.

"Sea Angling with the Specimen Hunters: Big-Fish Tactics of the Experts" (1977) edited by Hugh Stoker at pages 147 to 149

22 Dabs Hugh Stoker

The common dab (Limanda limanda) is one of the smallest members of the flatfish tribe, and by no stretch of the imagination can it be regarded as a fighting fish. However, on the credit side it must be said that a creel-ful of dabs make exceptionally good eating - especially when cooked fresh from the sea, and served with a squeeze of lemon juice.

Another nice thing about dabs is their wide distribution. They are found all round the coasts of the British Isles wherever the sea-bed consists of sand or sandy-mud - quite frequently within casting distance of the shore. The biggest dabs, however, are usually taken over inshore boat marks in the vicinity of a strong tide-run.

On most parts of the coast dabs are in peak condition during the winter months, prior to their spring-time migration to the spawning grounds. Spawning takes place about March to May, for the most part in depths of to to 20 fathoms, although off steep-to coasts they sometimes venture as deep as 50 fathoms.

After spawning, the spent fish make their way back inshore, and for a while they are thin and out of condition. By July, however, most have recovered and settled down again on the inshore feeding grounds.

Dabs seem to have an excellent tolerance for cold water, and in many sandy bays around the shores of Scotland and the Scottish islands they are not only numerous, but also run to a very good average size. They are, in fact, found as far north as Iceland, the Murman coast and the White Sea, and it is perhaps worth mentioning that some of the biggest dabs I have seen caught on rod and line were taken while fishing out of Stavanger, on the west coast of Norway.

Quite a lot of anglers seem to have difficulty in distinguishing between large dabs and small plaice. For example, back in 1974, while boat fishing in Gruinard Bay, off the coast of Wester Ross, I saw an English holiday angler reel in a dab that weighed a startling 2 lb 7 oz - just 3¾ ounces below the British record of that time. Both he and the boatman were under the impression that it was a medium-sized plaice.

In fact it's easy enough to tell the difference between the two species provided you remember that the lateral line of the plaice is almost straight, with only a very slight curve above the pectoral fin; whereas that of the dab has a very distinctive 'arch' above the pectoral fin.

The upper side of the dab feels rough when rubbed from tail to head, and the colour is usually a light sandy brown with orange and black flecks. However, the coloration may vary slightly from one stretch of coast to another, because like most flatfish the dab is able to camouflage itself to match the surrounding sea-bed.

Although few are likely to fish specially for dabs, it is well worth bearing these tasty little flatties in mind when making up tackle for other species. It is also worth remembering that any form of movement, either to the bait or the terminal tackle, has a special fascination for dabs.

For example, during the winter months, when dinghy drifting in search of the inshore whiting shoals with a light two-hook paternoster rig, I often trail an extra size 4 hook below the lead on a flowing 3 ft trace of 9 lb b.s. nylon.

As an added incentive to the dabs I also attach a tiny silver or gold 'Droppen' spoon (with the treble hook removed) about 4 in. above the baited hook. The fluttering and flickering of this small spoon blade certainly seems to attract the dabs and stimulate them into attacking the bait.

Dabs feed on a mixed diet of small sea-bed creatures, including razorfish, brittle stars, sand stars, feather stars, hermit crabs, tiny swimming crabs and a variety of tube-building worms. Some of these creatures - notably the starfish and crabs - make their presence known to the angler by clinging to his bait when he reels up … and this in turn can be a useful indication that dabs are likely to be found in the area.

Your choice of hook bait is a fairly wide one when fishing for dabs, but the most productive offerings are usually hermit tails, medium-sized ragworm, white ragworm, razorfish, pieces of squid tentacle, and small strips of sandeel or fresh mackerel.

In winter, when the time available for bait-gathering is at a premium, I usually fall back upon using frozen squid tentacle. These usually produce satisfactory results, and the firm flesh stands up well to the rough and tumble of drift fishing.

The dab has a small mouth, so your bait also needs to be fairly small - although it often pays to leave about 1-1¼ in. trailing behind the bend of the hook. Don't leave more than this if you are drifting fast, otherwise the fish may be tempted to grab the trailing end without falling foul of the hook.

So far I have written about drift-fishing for dabs, but there are also plenty of inshore boat marks where excellent catches can be made at anchor, using light leger tackle. Here again a small flasher spoon, positioned just above the baited hook, will prove its worth.

While the lead and trace are lying on the sea-bed the spoon blade will be unable to spin freely. It's a good idea, therefore, to reel in for one or two turns until you feel the lead just beginning to lift clear of the bottom.

At this stage stop reeling in, and slowly raise and lower your rod-tip through an arc of about 12 - 18 in. Repeat this several times; then allow your terminal tackle to settle back on the sea-bed. Repeat the manoeuvre about every two minutes.

As the lead and trace are lifted clear of the bottom, the small up-trace spoon becomes free to revolve in the flow of tide, and sooner or later the flickering movement is likely to draw fish to the scene of operations.

"How to Improve Your Sea Fishing" (1978) Melvyn Bagnall at pages 54 to 56 and 72 to 76

Dabs

Some anglers claim that dabs were created as small fish so that they would fit into a frying pan, for eaten fresh they are among the tastiest fish in the sea. But because they lack weight - dabs over 1lb 8oz are rarely caught on rod and line - they do not attract as much attention from the angling fraternity as the bigger varieties of flat-fish. They are often caught for the pot rather than the sport.

Distribution

Nevertheless, the diminutive dab can provide a lot of fun if approached in the correct way and with light tackle. There is certainly no shortage of them around the British Isles for they have been caught just about everywhere at one time or another. They are probably mostly thickly distributed around the south-east corner of England and along the south coast …

Dabs favour sandy, muddy ground with the bigger specimens being found mainly on the sand banks favoured by turbot and brill. An angler catching dabs will take it as a sign that turbot are likely to be in the area and vice versa. After spawning offshore dabs will move onto the inshore grounds from about May onwards. Some will venture very close to the shore, feeding freely both in daylight and darkness. They begin to move out again into deeper water at the onset of winter, though sometimes their movements will follow the coastline and they will enter estuaries and harbours for short periods.

This means that dabs are not necessarily purely a summer species from the angler's point of view. Indeed, some excellent catches are made during December and January and many anglers regard this as the peak period. The time of year does, of course, depend on the area being fished and generally speaking the offshore sand banks which tend to produce the biggest dabs fish best during the warmer months. All fish are unpredictable, however, and the dab is no exception.

Find a sandy bottom and dabs will not be far away. That is the main rule to remember when searching out these tasty flatties. It also pays to remember that dabs will be close to mussel beds, for they love to feed on the tiny mussels which measure only about three-eighths of an inch across. The dab has a varied diet, details of which will be found overleaf.

Tackle and methods

Boats offer more scope when dab fishing, allowing you to explore more grounds and deeper water than could be reached from the beach. Dabs are influenced by the temperature of the water and when it is cold they will often move into the warmer, deeper water. Boat fishing means there is no danger of breaking your line when casting a weight, because the tackle is just lowered over the side. Therefore it is possible to scale down to a very light line, say 10lb, and a soft-action, hollow glass-fibre rod of about eight feet to get the very best from the dabs.

Simplicity is the key when it comes to deciding on the choice of terminal tackle. A three-foot running trace carrying three small hooks on short nylon snoods fits the bill prefectly.

Beach fishing is a slightly different proposition. In this case the three hooks should be presented above the weight. Dabs will very often take a bait just off the bottom rather than one fished hard on the sea bed. It is also an advantage to use the action of the tide to provide some sort of movement to the rig. The weight should be of the grip lead variety so that the angler can shorten the gripping wires, allowing the rig to move slowly along with the tide. As with most fish, movement and sound arouse the dab's curiosity.

The importance of the distance achieved in the cast from the beach depends on wind conditions. Dabs tend to move in closer when there is an onshore wind, and move further out when the wind is offshore. Unfortunately, tackle cannot be so light when fishing from the shore. A beachcaster of about 11 feet 6 inches in length must be used to achieve long-distance casting and the line must be at least 15lb breaking strain to withstand the continual casting of a hefty weight.

Baits

… the natural diet of dabs includes quite a variety of food organisms. Michael Kennedy in his book The Sea Angler's Fishes states that 'the diet of the dab varies according to the locality - depending on the kind of food organismsmost abundant.' Dabs taken from the Firth of Forth and St Andrew's Bay in Scotland and from the Irish Sea were found to contain razor fish, crabs, sand stars, other bivalves and flesh from sand-eels, young herrings, lugworms and other sand worms. So it appears that the dab is not fussy when it comes to meals. From the angling point of view, however, small strips of fish have emerged as the best baits, especially for the bigger fish. Herring and mackerel are the most widely used baits for rod and line caught dabs.

But as that mixed diet suggests, dabs can be taken on a number of other baits, including small pieces of lugworm, ragworm and even garden worms. The garden worm is capable of tempting other species such as plaice, flounders and cod as well as dabs. The best worms to use are those off-white, hard little worms measuring anything from about one and a half to three inches in length. Use them whole on the hook.

Turbot and brill

Turbot

Distribution

From the sea angler's point of view the best hunting grounds for turbot are the large undulating sandbanks off the south and south west coasts - banks like the Varne off Folkestone …

Like most species of flat-fish, the princely turbot has both eyes on one side of the body only. The colour of that side varies but is usually brown or grey - the varying density of the colours causing a mottled effect. The opposite or 'blind' side, is white. The telescopic jaws are armed with numerous sharp teeth.

One of the turbot's most attractive features is that it is never far away from our shorelines, whether it be browsing on the sandbanks or lurking further out in deeper water.

Many mistakenly believe the turbot to be purely a summer species. This is only because more people fish for them in the summer and because the weather allows anglers to get out on the right marks more consistently than in winter. Therefore it follows that more turbot are caught at this time of year. But turbot do not 'migrate' in the strictest sense of the word and sustained efforts would certainly produce fish in the winter. Turbot favour sandy ground such as (Varne Bank), but they do tend to move their positions on the banks according to the tide and the colour of the water and sometimes can only be found by experimenting over various sections on a bank.

Tackle and methods

As with most types of fishing, the best way of catching turbot is the simplest. A single 5/0 hook on a short three- to four-foot long flowing trace is all that is required under most conditions likely to be encountered. Alternatively, two baits can be presented on a variation of the old type spreader rig …

The turbot is almost entirely a fish-eater - hence that big mouth full of sharp teeth. Its staple diet comprises sand-eels and sprats, but pouting, whiting, herring, bream and small flat-fish are also eaten, along with other small species. It follows that mackerel strip, presented so that the thinly cut flesh will move invitingly in the tide, is probably the top turbot bait. Sand-eel is also an excellent bait, especially when split down the middle and presented in similar fashion to a fish strip. It is unusual for turbot to be caught on either lugworm or ragworm.

The turbot's jaws can unfold in telescopic fashion to engulf quite a sizeable bait and in doing so the fish registers quite a pronounced bite. But it is important to understand how a turbot takes a bait to achieve maximum success in the hooking of fish. The first sign of a bite will be a short, sharp tap, or perhaps two, on the rod top. But after this first revelation of its presence the turbot will be quite content to lie motionless on the bottom while gorging a bait. It is most unusual for this fish to run with the bait, as is the case with plaice, for instance.

It is wise to drop the rod tip and to wait a few seconds after those first tell-tale taps of the turbot before lifting the weight off the bottom, feeling the weight of the fish, and firmly, but not too sharply, pulling the hook into the fish's jaw. A turbot's mouth is tender inside and a sharp strike can easily tear the hook out completely.

Similarly, it pays to play a turbot firmly but with care. Many good fish have been lost by anglers trying to bully them to the surface. Coax the fish slowly upwards and it will usually swim uptide to the surface, making the angler's job a relatively easy one. If you put too much pressure on the fish it has a habit of lying broadside on against the tide, giving the angler a real problem as he struggles to persuade it back up the tide.

Beach fishing is not nearly as productive as boat fishing for catching turbot, due basically to the fact that the turbot's favourite haunts, such as the sand banks, are well out of reach of even the best beach caster. They can be caught from the shore, however, and Dungeness in Kent and Chesil in Dorset are two examples of areas which, each year, produce occasional specimens. In fact there is probably more chance of turbot being caught from beaches than most anglers realise. Few anglers fish for them from the beach, therefore few are caught … Turbot are likely to move inshore to feed on the incoming shoals of sprats in late winter and early spring and returns would be increased if more perseverance was shown at this time of the year. Most shore fishermen, however, are preoccupied with cod during this period.

Wrecks, too, can be productive turbot fishing marks. The fish do not live and feed in the wreck itself, as do conger, ling, coalfish and pollack, but thrive on nearby sand banks created by the action of the tide on the wreck. The tide, diverted by the bulk of the wreck, scours out the surrounding sand and deposits it in banks close by. These banks are quickly populated by turbot which in turn add another aspect to the wreck fisherman's sport.

… All turbot have one very special quality, whether caught from boat, beach or wreck - they are delicious! Along with brill and sole, turbot fetch the highest prices on the fish market.

Brill

The brill could almost be described as a smaller version of the turbot. It is very similar in general appearance, it is found on the same type of ground, and also shares the turbot's staple diet of sand-eels and sprats. But that is as far as the similarity goes. For the brill does not rate alongside other members of the flat-fish family as a target for anglers - basically because it is not as widespread as the others. Though brill would not be classified as a rarity they are by no means common, only about half a dozen being recorded by anglers each year.

… Brill, like turbot, are white on the blind side. The other side is generally mottled in different shades of brown, green or grey and is normally speckled with lighter spots. Brill are also rated highly for their food value.

The Daily Express, Friday 3 August 1979 at page 30

It's the Killer Bait for Turbot

Angling by Alan Bennett

Sixteen miles out from the old smugglers' town of Fowey, the Cornish fishing boat 'Moonglow' drifted in a gentle swell with 12 members of the Liskeard, Sea Angling Club all geared up.

Veteran angler David Cogger was using "Old Faithful", a chunky glass fibre rod he built himself for £2 - hardly the most up-to-date item of tackle aboard but it had never let him down in 15 years' fishing.

As the breeze pushed Moonglow over the fish-rich Brendons mark "Old Faithful," carrying 27 lb. breaking strain, 20 1b. trace and a No. 2 hook bailed with sandeel, arched into a fish.

David, 55, struck hard, and five minutes later after a stern fight, boated a lovely 18 1b. 7 oz. turbot, a new club record.

A hungry turbot just can't resist a sandeel. Years ago I used to fish my own version of "Old Faithful", a sawn-off billiard cue rod and a dreadful creaking old Scarborough reel from the boat of a pal of mine who fishes out of Castletown, Isle of Man.

As we headed out to the Langness Bank, his favourite sand-bottomed mark, we would pause briefly to catch our bait, usually mackerel. If we were lucky enough to hit a shoal of sandeel (locally called "gibbon") we could almost guarantee a good catch.

This shining silver wriggler is a real killer bait. Ghostly turbot haunting the sand and gravel shallows just adore to get in among a shoal of unsuspecting sandeel.

"The Bait Book" (1979) Ted Lamb at pages 179, 180, 182, 183, 184, 186 & 187

Sea Species

Brill This flatfish is found all around Britain during the summer, favouring banks of mud, sand or gravel, and occasionally dwelling at the fringes of wrecks and reefs. It migrates to deep water in the winter. It feeds on small fish, especially sandeels, and will take sprats, soft crab, fish strip (3-4in) and worms offered on medium-weight leger tackle. Use hook sizes 8-4.

Dab This small flatfish is found in most places during summer and autumn. Its favourite ground is a mud, shingle or sand bank. It will take small rag and lug offered on light tackle, and you will also catch fish with pieces of squid or mackerel cut into thin strips of 3in or so. Use hook sizes 12-8.

Flounder Common all around Britain, the flounder penetrates estuaries and creeks in large numbers to spawn, often running well up into fresh water. These spawning runs are in winter, and generally coincide with the coldest weather. Worms and peeler crab are excellent baits, and fish strips of 2-3in are also effective. Flounders react well to movement, and a particularly good method of fishing for them is to mount the bait behind a small revolving spoon which is retrieved slowly across the bed. Use hook sizes 10-6.

Lemon sole Common on muddy, shallow ground all around Britain for most of the year, this flatfish accepts worm, fish and squid strip, crab and prawn baits. Use hook sizes 8-4.

Plaice An inhabitant of shallow sand or gravel grounds, sometimes quite close to the shore, the plaice is a favourite target for many anglers. It feeds on crustaceans, shellfish, worms and small fish and reacts favourably to most of the methods used to catch flounders including the baited spoon technique.

Sole A well-known table fish, the sole grows to around 2lb and is common in muddy, shallow areas like the Wash. It feeds on small crustaceans, molluscs and worms, and can be tackled as dabs.

Turbot This flatfish grows to more than 25lb, and usually stations itself at the edges of sand, mud and shingle banks to lie in ambush for sandeels and crabs. In recent times, too, good fish have come from the vicinities of reefs and wrecks. Sandeels are about the best bait, fished on leger tackle with a long flowing trace, but fish and squid strip of up to 3½in, soft crab and prawns may also be used. Small turbot come quite close inshore and are found in some estuaries where they will be taken on flounder gear and baits. Where large fish are present, hooks from size 4-1 should be used.

200 Sea Fishing Tips (1982) Ivan & Ivor Garey Tips 151 & 154

26. Flatfish

151. Active fishing

Flatfish often lie impassively on the sea bottom, only taking a bait close to them. When out for flatfish the angler would therefore do well to move his bait frequently. After casting, the trace and lead should be wound in a couple of metres every minute. In this way a larger area of the sea bottom will be covered. If the bait is left in one place, only moving flatfish will be caught. Since you never know when the fish are moving about or are lying under the sand, the active method of fishing will always present better opportunities. Another way is to fish actively with one rod and inactively with the other. You will soon discover which method yields the best results on that particular day. A third method of active fishing consists of holding the rod in the hand and slowly retrieving the line. This is an attractive method but use a light sea rod, for a heavy rod will constantly become heavier.

154. Flatfish special

It is well-known that flounders and dab, but especially the former, can successfully be caught with artificial bait. The flatfish is curious about everything that moves within its field of vision and will react by swimming towards the object. Usually it does not bite immediately. The fish first investigates the object and will not bite unless it discovers something edible. It must therefore be lured with artificial bait and must then be presented with a recognisable food item. This is done by tying a short length of line to the spoon or pirk. A small piece of lugworm, ragworm or fish is mounted on the hook and makes the "flatfish special". The baited spoon is allowed to sink to the bottom and is then retrieved about 30cm (a foot) every ten seconds. This involves approximately one turn of the reel handle at a time.

In some places this is the most attractive method imaginable. Except, of course, for the fly rod …

"The Sea Angler's Sporting Fish" (1985) Mike Millman at pages 27 & 29

Turbot

One of the most sought after species of the flatfish family, growing to a large size, fish of 70 lb having been taken by commercial fishermen, mostly on long lines. The naturalist Rondeletius records one measuring seven feet in length and a foot thick. The size of the fish likely to be taken by anglers is around the 15 lb mark, although each year numerous specimens in excess of 20 lb are caught. The Turbot is rightly considered to be a delicacy and is mentioned down through the ages in manuscripts and books. The Romans in particular held the fish in very high esteem, ranking it with the sturgeon and salmon, the wealthy going to great lengths to ensure their presence on the feast tables.

Distribution of the turbot is wide; it is found in the Mediterranean, Atlantic, the Irish and North Seas, and around much of the British Isles. Colour varies slightly from fish to fish, the majority having a medium brown back. In small fish this can be a light sand colour. All have pure white underparts. The back of the fish has small tubercles distributed over the surface, making identification simple, for small turbot can look remarkably like other members of its tribe. The fish is essentially a bottom feeder, but will, on occasions, rise many feet with astonishing speed to grab a passing fish which it engulfs with a huge hinged mouth. It is normally found over ground that is a combination of sand and shale, but also finds its way into areas where there is a heavy concentration of rock, making its home in the sandy gullies between them … Until recently most of the big fish were taken by design on traditional grounds, long renowned for the species, such as the Skerries, a great area of sand banks off the South Devon coast, and the Shambles Bank off Dorset. Since the advent of wreck fishing, however, the greater numbers of outstanding fish have been taken more or less by accident on baits intended for other species, which have dropped down the side of the wreckage after the boat had been swung off position by the tide. Sand piles up against the side of the old wrecks, and this is often hollowed out by the flow of water giving perfect cover for the turbot. Since it was discovered that large fish were to be found against the side of wrecks, skippers of charter boats have devoted time to actually fishing for them, and now anchor up in a position which allows the baits to run down along the length of the hull. Such a situation resulted in the capture of the British Record fish of 31 lb 4 oz, caught by eleven year-old Paul Hutchings when he fished from the "Sunlit Water" over a wreck off the Devon coast in 1972.

Open ground fishing for turbot is best done from a drifting boat which allows a great deal of ground to be covered … Usual tackle for drift fishing is a trace between fifteen and twenty feet in length, with a second swivel placed about four feet from the hook, which should not be smaller than 5/0. It is useful to position a barrel lead of 2 to 3 ounces on the trace at this point, which keeps the baited hook close to the bottom as it bounces over the top of the high banks. Whilst the sand-eel is a great bait used alive, the turbot does not react so readily to it dead - if presented whole, as the movement of the mounted fish on the hook is stiff, and bears little resemblance to the swimming sand-eel. Therefore it is customary to present a fillet cut from the entire length of the eel, which can be as much as fourteen inches long. This should be removed, with a very sharp thin bladed knife. The result is a bait that swims and darts about in the tide in a most natural manner. Turbot can be strong opponents, for it uses the tide run to resist capture after being hooked by arching its round body, consequently presenting a large area of resistance which has to be overcome.

To do this, reasonably strong tackle must be employed, so the trace should not be less than twenty-five pounds breaking strain, with the reel line slightly heavier. Rods should be at least seven feet long with a nice supple action. A good multiplier or centre-pin reel is essential, the former being much the best as the slipping clutch takes care of the turbot's sudden and powerful rushes, which it will make right up to the boat as it is unaffected by water pressure.

Tackle for anchored-up wreck fishing is, of course, much simpler. All that is required is a good quality boat rod matched with a medium weight multiplier. The end tackle consists of a short trace, preferably of wire to combat the sharp rusting edges of metal, with a hook size of at least 8/0. Fresh strips of mackerel are ideal for the turbot on the wrecks, and should be mounted on the big hooks in such a way that whilst the shank is covered, the point is left free. A medium size pouting presented whole is also a useful bait. My personal best specimen of 19 lb 10 oz was caught on a pout weighing just under a pound. Occasionally turbot are taken from the shore in areas where there are good stretches of sand … Beach casting tackle must be used as the fish tend to stay in a reasonable depth of water. End tackle for shore fishing should consist of a short trace with a 4/0 hook fished as a leger. A variety of baits can be used including squid which casts well, mackerel and king ragworm.

"Sea Angling from the Shore" (1982) Ray Forsberg at page 168

For flatfish, the traditional three-boom paternoster rig with short snoods and small hooks (2 or 4 freshwater size) can bring good results as the three hooks can hold a trio of different baits: lugworm, ragworm and mussel; small peeler crab, razorfish and live shrimp; squid tentacle, mackerel strip and live sand eel.

Although lug and ragworm are the generally accepted flatfish baits, it pays to experiment and not become hidebound in your bait choice.

All the flatfish species are predatory and will chase after live baits.

Therefore a top hook paternostered live-bait offering, fished three or four feet off the sea bed, will often bring a steady succession of bites, whilst the other two hooks further down with different bait remain untouched.

"Go Sea Angling" (2010) Mario Massimino at pages 23 & 24

Rigs

Flounder Rig: This rig is ideal for harbours, estuaries and even beaches for flatfish fishing. Thread your line through the weight and beads and attach to a swivel. To the other end of the swivel attach a piece of line about 18 inches long and tie on a flounder spoon. A flounder spoon is a spoon-shaped lure either made of plastic or metal and has a hook attached to it. Bait the spoon's hook with a worm bait and cast against the flow of the tide, then retrieve the spoon slowly with the flow. I think flatfish are fooled into thinking the spoon is a smaller fish making off with a big bait and home in to steal its meal.

Anti-Crab Rig: Thread the main line through a weight, bead and then attach a swivel. Tie a piece of line onto the other end of the swivel and thread on a bead, anti-crab float and another bead. An anti-crab float is a small piece of polystyrene designed to suspend your hook and bait just off the bottom and out of the reach of bait-robbing crabs. Now trap the crab float between the two beads with a couple of stop knots.

"Fox Guide to Modern Sea Angling" (2011) Alan Yates at page 124

Chapter 4

Species - Smaller Species

Bottom Feeders - Flatfish

Dab (Limand limanda)

A small flatfish which is common around the UK from sandy, shell grit shorelines. Very popular for eating, it's a prized catch of the freelance angler fishing for the pot. Dabs have a liking for stale lugworms because they hang around and feed on sand bars, where they take advantage of shellfish and worms killed or buried by a storm. Several days after a storm, when the wave action uncovers the dead marine worms, the dabs will be there!

ID: Generally under 1 lb, a brown rough-skinned flatfish with a convex tail and pronounced curve in the lateral line.

Turbot and Brill (Scophthalmus maximus) and (Scophthalmus rhombus)

These species are seldom caught from the shore, although small specimens are taker from Irish strands and North of England beaches on occasions. Both are fish eaters with a large mouth that can easily engulf a substantial fish bait.

ID: The brill, unlike the turbot, has a frilly edge to the front of the dorsal fin.

"Operation Sea Angler: The Second Wave" (2013) Mike Ladle & Steve Pitts at pages 92 to 103

Flatfish

Plaice and sole senses

… it seems that the sole were almost as happy without their touch receptors but plaice, with or without them, were not much good at finding dead prey in the dark … sole do use touch to find live (moving) prey but depend mainly on taste/smell to hunt effectively. Both species swing their heads from side to side when searching in the dark. Sole often overshoot dead prey before going into reverse to pick it up and probably tasting the food before eating it. Plaice, in contrast, usually take such food into the mouth (if they manage to find it) and, should it be found wanting, they spit it (and your hook) out again.

… Sole are just as successful when feeding at night-time or in dirty water as in daylight, although they are much more active in the dark. Plaice, on the other hand, feed mainly in the daytime and find their prey by sight. They do, however, use their sense of smell (but not their sense of touch) and will continue to feed, although to a much lesser extent, at night.

Where does this leave us when it comes to increasing our catches of flatfish ? Clearly, if we want to be selective, we must fish for sole in the dark (or in very dirty water) and there is probably no need to move the bait about - the fish will search it out. They must be allowed plenty of time to taste it and pick it up. Plaice will take better in daylight and we should use every possible strategy of shape, colour, size and movement to draw their attention to the bait …

How far should you cast ?

… The benefits of a good casting range are most likely to be apparent when trying to target your bait on a particular species, like plaice … a long cast is most likely to produce the biggest specimens because of the well-established connection between depth of water and size of plaice … These fish almost always swim over relatively sandy ground in search of their prey, which is mostly molluscs such as cockles and clams, so the shore angler will usually find himself propelling his chosen bait over areas of nice, clean seabed. There is no problem about using fine lines and appropriate shock leaders to gain extra distance because the haunts of these flatties tend to be more or less snag-free. Longer casts can be achieved with relatively fine lines and, luckily, although plaice are powerful muscular creatures, they are only about the size of a freshwater chub so hefty tackle is not necessary to subdue them.

Dr Gibson … has spent many hours plaice watching … As you might expect, the fish moved up the shore on the flood tide. This movement took place over quite a short period, when the water was about 3ft or 4ft deep, and began about two hours after low water. During this inshore movement most of the swimming was of the brief, food-searching type (so the fish were feeding).

On the ebb, roughly two hours before low water, the fish shifted back down the shore. This time the movements were much more purposeful and involved little feeding activity. No wonder then that catches of these flatfish are generally better on the incoming tide.

Feeding facts

… despite their apparent similarity in appearance, flatfish species are not randomly scattered on the seabed. Fish eaters such as the brill and turbot are normally to be found on areas of coarse sediment where tidal currents are stronger and the prey (usually other fish) are most vulnerable to their lurking attacks. Dabs will be found over sand where shrimps and beach fleas are common, plaice concentrate in areas rich in mussels or cockles, while flounders will often hunt for crabs, worms and molluscs in estuaries where mud is the main type of sediment. Although there is a certain amount of overlap in the diets of the different kinds of fish, each is an expert when it comes to catching its own preferred 'niche' food.

… turbot and brill feed largely by sight and are active only in daylight. Plaice, flounder and dab are also mainly daytime feeders and use their eyes to guide them to prey. However, all three have a well-developed sense of smell/taste and in the presence of prey-scent will search for it more actively than if there is no smell in the water. The sole is an out-and-out lover of darkness with extremely well-developed scent/taste systems and a very touch-sensitive underside - both useful for finding food in the dark or in coloured water.

Turn-ons for turbot

… smaller turbot eat a lot of shrimps … turbot prefer their prey to be long and skinny, about eight times (five to ten times) as long as deep, and to be moving … turbot showed interest when the sand was disturbed … Motionless shrimps … were of no interest at all to the fish. Moving dead shrimps and sand disturbed … had an appeal for the turbot, but moving, live shrimps were far and away the best.

In the other experiments it was found that the kicking legs of a living shrimp were an additional attraction. Long, thin prey animals were also of importance. Attempts to make an artificial shrimp were worthwhile, but, although slightly better than poorer copies, fiddling about to produce an exact imitation of a shrimp (with eyes, head, tail and a counter-shaded body) was really a waste of time.

Flounders: Jack of all trades

… Apart from the fact that the fish swim into almost unbelievably shallow water as the tide makes … they move in shoals, which are often composed of similar-sized fish. Several such waves of fish will pass by your fishing position on a single tide. The presence of a hooked fish (a flounder or … any other fish) on one of the three traces (of a three-hook flapper rig, for example) will, if left for a short time, usually attract a flounder to one of the other baits. Flounders often take fish baits as well as the usual king rag or crab.

… Despite the crude and heavy nature of the tackle we used in years gone by … the fact that the line was held, at all times, between finger and thumb, allowed accurate judgment of what was going on beneath the water surface … Even more important from the line-fisher's point of view was the way in which it was possible to judge the precise instant when the fish had taken the bait firmly into its mouth and could be struck and hooked with confidence.

A sharp lift of the wrist and forearm, at the correct moment, almost invariably resulted in a hooked fish. The proportion of missed bites was less than in almost any method we have encountered since and certainly far superior to that enjoyed by anglers accustomed to using rested rods …

The flounder is quite often found over the same ground as its relative the plaice, although the latter is chiefly a fish of the open sea … the flounder is much more of a fish eater than its red-spotted cousin. Sandeels, gobies, herring fry and, in fresh water, minnows and elvers are all mentioned as items of flounder diet …

… in John Garrad's extensive experiments with the baited spoon he tried many comparisons between baited and unbaited lures of all kinds. The results show that he never caught a flounder on the artificials unless they were adorned with bait, preferably ragworm.

… many anglers must have taken odd flounders on artificials and some have even taken flounders on fly gear, but why should a spinner followed by a rubber fish succeed repeatedly … flounders, although they have catholic tastes, may be very fussy about what they eat … the food of most fish (flounders included) varies from place to place because it depends on what is available. Within these limits the nature of the creatures eaten is governed by the time of year and the water conditions.

Big brown shrimps are a decent mouthful and onviously desirable prey for the flounders, which easily see them and swim quickly towards them. The shrimps, however, are not impressed and dart away with a typical tail first escape reaction. In clear water this tactic is only successful in avoiding capture on about half of the occasions, but in dirty water the shrimps get away every time. When the water is cold (8°C), the flounders do not even bother to chase the faster-moving types of prey. Slower-moving life forms are just as vulnerable as in warmer conditions. Ragworms … are more likely to be eaten in cold winter seas. Movement rather than colour is the most important feature in allowing the flounder to detect its prey. This probably goes a long way to explaining the effectiveness of spinners and the like for catching these fish.

The baited spoon

… Most notable is the 'going down' described by Garrad in his experiments with baited spoons. This involves a shift from active summer feeding habits (which made flounders susceptible to his mobile trolling technique) to bottom feeding in winter, when legered and relatively inert baits were much more successful.

One summer a few years ago we concentrated entirely on the use of (Mepps) baited spoons, spun from the estuary shore, for thin-lipped mullet. Although they had been developed in France many years earlier, these lures were, at that time, only used by anglers in the waters of Chichester Harbour. After trying them in many other spots along the south coast we found that they were almost unbelievably effective. Interestingly, while we were mullet fishing, we picked up quite a few flounders, too.

… There is no reason why spinning should not work for flounders of all sizes, and unhooking big fish (always nicked in the mouth) will be even easier than dealing with the small ones. This is most important in a conservation-conscious age. Spinning is an active method that allows you to search large areas of water and attract fish from a distance. No doubt it could be a useful match tactic if anyone can withstand the inevitable ridicule as they try it out.

"Sea Angling Pocket Rig Book" (2013) Fishing Made Easy Series M. P. Dawn Publications

Up & Over Flounder Rig

This is basically the same as the "Up and Over Rig" with two main differences:

the hook length has a number of brightly coloured beads on it which act as an attractant, and
the hook size, as flounder have relatively small mouths compared to most other species.

In this case the longer the rig\trace body, the better the hook length will move around in the tidal flow. It is good pratice to use either a rig making board or a nail fixed in the wall to hang the rig body whilst fitting the hook length: if the latter is used, attach a weight to the end of the body as it will make things a little easier.

Parts List

24" to 48" shockleader
48" to 96" hook length
1 x size 1 to 2/0 hook
1 x bait clip and tube
1 x bait shield and tube
1 x swivel
1 x three-way swivel
2 x lead clips\links
Stop knot above bait shield bead
Up to 12 beads of various colours
Note: a crimp may be used instead of a stop knot

Simple Running Ledger Rig

This light line rig is mainly used for flatfish in slow moving currents in tidal estuaries and beads can be added as attractors. This rig can also be used from the rocks and beach as a light spinning rig. The weight used is designed to run up and down the shockleader.

Parts List

1 x barrel lead (1.1 - 3 oz)
1 x bead
1 x small swivel
18" to 24" light hook length
1 x hook size 1 to 2/0

Flatfish Snood

This beaded snood can be used on many different rigs, just by clipping it in place on the main rig body, directly to a swivel. The main use is for plaice, dab, turbot and flounder.

Parts List

1 x snap link
1 x crimp
6 to 12 assorted beads
12" to 24" hook length
1 x hook size 1 to 2/0

Flounder Rig Single

This flounder rig is very similar to the paternoster single with just a few modifications; first the bait shield and then the multi-coloured beads on the hook length. The rig is perfect for winter flounder fishing in estuaries around the United Kingdom, but can be improved by simply attaching it to the lead-end of the flounder rig twin (see below) via the lead link producing a triple-hooked trace. However, this is only possible if you closely follow the construction of the flounder rig twin and use bait clips on the flounder rig twin. This rig will catch, with the right bait, flounder, plaice, whiting, cod, dab and mackerel.

Parts List

24" shockleader
12" to 18" hook length
1 x size 1 to 2/0 BLN or Aberdeen hooks
1 x three-way swivel
1 x standard swivel
1 x lead link\clip
1 x bait shield, tube and small bead
Up to 12 assorted colour beads
Stop knot
Note: a crimp may be used instead of a stop knot

Flounder Rig Twin

Again, this rig resembles the paternoster twin but it has a few modifications. If you intend to use this rig in conjunction with the flounder rig single you must use bait clips as a shield used on this rig will upset the casting balance and may cause the hook lengths to tangle. If, however, you intend to use this rig on its own, it is best to use a bait shield on the lower hook length. When making this rig, as with any other, you must use the appropriate shockleader to suit the lead being used. In the case of estuary fishing it is better to go up one level as you may find yourself using a heavier weight just to hold the rig to the bottom.

Parts List

36" shockleader
2 x 12" to 14" hook length
2 x size 1 to 2/0 BLN or Aberdeen hooks
2 x three-way swivels
1 x standard swivel
1 x lead link\clip
2 x bait clips and tube
Up to 24 assorted colour beads

As with most rigs, a lead link can be connected to the top of this rig to allow a quick change should it be needed.

The following four rigs are often used for catching flatfish but they also work in cloudy water for other species such as bass, cod, coalfish, pollack, whiting, mackerel etc. The use of beads, either plain coloured or "illumines", have been used for many years and have a tried and tested record and using these on other traces will almost certainly work with most species when the fishing is slow. Spoons are another part in the tackle box that tend to be used when fishing for flatfish and, again, these can be used for attracting other species and work very well when spun for mackerel, pollack and bass - try them, you may just be surrpised.

Flatfish Spoon and Rig

A variation of a normal flatfish rig, this setup can be retrieved slowly in slight currents to attract fish. Always use small hooks for flatfish.

Parts List

1 x snap link
1 x small swivel
1 x flatfish spoon
1 x three-way swivel
1 x weight clip
12" to 24" shockleader
10" to 18" light hook length
2 x split rings (if not supplied with spoon)

Attractor Rig

This rig can be purchased as parts, sometimes without the hook length, and is ideal for spinning worm baits across the bottom, particularly in estuaries. It is mainly used for flounder but will catch other flatfish species with slight adjustment of the hook length.

Parts List

1 x snap link
1 x crimp
3 to 9 beads
1 x attractor rig
18" light hook length
1 x hook size 1 to 2/0

Sonar Type Attractor

The spoon on this rig has slots cut into it which help it to vibrate when retrieved through the water attracting most flatfish.

Parts List

1 x snap link
3 x crimps
6 to 10 beads
1 x sonar attractor rig
18" light hook length
1 x hook size 1 to 2/0

Inline Flounder Spoon

Purchased in one piece, these flounder spoons will work with most flatfish if the right bait is used. It is often better to change the hook length and hook and, when doing so, add coloured beads to the rig as an extra attractor.

1 x flounder spoon
12" to 18" light hook length
1 x crimp
3 to 12 coloured beads
1 x hook size 1 to 2/0

This spoon is one of many designs that can be purchased from tackle dealers, and come in a variety of shapes, patterns and weights. Spoons are best used for spinning for flatfish, mackerel and bass and, when used correctly, can be deadly for a number of species. Remember to remove and replace the hook and hook length as described above. This method works very well from a boat if a 6" to 12" wire trace is substituted for the hook length. If making this yourself you will need small crimps to secure the spoon to the hook length.

	Dab (Limanda limanda) Rough Dab (Hippoglossoides platessoides) These are the most common of all inshore fishes and the two species are recognized by the smooth or rough texture of the underside. Both bear sharply curved lateral lines, although that on the common dab is more noticeable. Both are brownish or grey brown on the back with freckles and some have orange spots. White underneath. Eyes are on the right. Can be found over sandy, muddy and shelly sea beds where float tackles fished deep and bottom fishing methods will take them on worm, shellfish or crustacean baits. A 1lb dab is a good catch.
	*Flounder (Platichthys flesus)* The flounder is second only to the dab in being the most common of inshore species and are probably the most prolific flatties on the east coast. Flounders like muddy and sandy bottoms and frequent harbours, estuaries, river mouths (brackish water) and sandy beaches. Olive green, brown to blackish back, but only some have any orange spots. Some rough thorny tubercules along the base of marginal fins and along the lateral line which is curved at the shoulder and the whole is covered with mucous. The underside is an opaque pearly-white surface, smooth all over. The eyes are on the right. All bottom-fishing methods are successful and the baited-spoon technique is especially successful in taking the larger specimens. Worm and crab baits are the best. You can be proud of any flounder over 2lb.
	*Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa)* Plaice are prolific on the east coast, being easily recognised by the prominent orange or red spots on their dark skin. Further identification features are that the skin is smooth and there are no prickles on the lateral line on the top of the fish which is straight. It has one hard knobbly protuberance just behind the eyes. The eyes are on the right. A 3lb plaice is a good-size fish.
	Sole (Solea solea) Lemon Sole (Microstomus kitt) More than six varieties - common (or Dover), sand, lemon, variegated (or thick-backed) and solenette (or yellow) - all of an elongated oval shape with mouth at the end of the snout. The common sole is brown with black markings and black-tipped pectoral fins. The lemon sole is sandy-coloured on the back. Both are found over muddy, sandy and shelly bottoms and can be taken on light bottom-fishing methods using worm, shellfish and fish-strip baits. The other sole species are extremely rare. A 1½lb sole is a good fish.
	*Brill (Scophthalmus rhombus)* The brill is the only flatfish that could possibly be confused with the turbot, but its identification features are quite distinct. The body is well rounded, much more so than in the turbot. The top is brown to grey with blotchy spots here and there. Both sides have smooth scales but no tubercules. The main difference is that the brill has scales but the two species are often alike in colouring. Brill, like turbot, are found over hard sandy ground and feed on a similar diet, also liking to lie in a strong tide. Eyes are on the left.
	*Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)* These most-prized of all flatties to the angler, growing upwards of 20lb in weight and are fabulous to eat. They like a hard sandy sea bed and feed on fish, with sandeel as their favourite food. They are to be found wherever the tide is at its strongest. The body is very broad and roughly diamond-shaped. Its coloration is varied, mainly brown with white mottling, and it can adopt the colouring of its sea bed surroundings. It has no scales but small, hard tubercules all over its top sides. Eyes are on the left. Turbot are found off sandy, shelly or gravel coasts and are taken by pier, beach and inshore boat anglers. Paternoster and ledger tackles are successful and drift-lining often takes good specimens. Baits include sand eels, mackerel and fish strips, sprats, worm and live small fish are particularly effective.
	*Megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis)* Also known as whiff, megrim is a slim-bodied, oval-shaped, left-eye flatfish from the brill and turbot family having an upper side which is pale orange/yellow to light brown in colour with a translucent appearance. Megrim is a deep sea flatfish that rarely comes into water shallower than 25 fathoms, and is more commonly found in water of 100-150 fathoms, but can be found all of the way down to 500 fathoms, explaining why it is rarely caught by shore anglers. Megrim prefer muddy or sandy sea beds and avoid heavy or broken ground or areas with a lot of weed. Megrim is a voracious predator and adults feed on small fishes which live on or near the sea bed, and they will also take crustaceans and dislodged shellfish. Spawning takes place between January and April, with spawning peaks occurring in February and March. Megrim are thought to live for up to fifteen years. They can be cooked like sole or plaice and, in Spain, megrim is considered to be a delicacy and is imported from British shores in large quantities.

Kent Coast Sea Fishing Compendium

Flatties

Copyright © David Ramsdale 2010 - 2022
All rights reserved

Kent Coast Sea Fishing Compendium

Flatties

Copyright © David Ramsdale 2010 - 2022All rights reserved

Copyright © David Ramsdale 2010 - 2022
All rights reserved