 Kent Coast Sea Fishing Compendium |
Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) |
Surf beaches, such as Deal and Sandwich, hold plaice, but they choose clean sand, particularly the coarse type that squeaks under foot when walked on, but finer sand, as found in Pegwell Bay estuary, also suits.
Plaice choose to sit on the inclines of sandbanks, usually right at the base of the bank where food is washed down to them. They also choose this station due to sand eels being present, and plaice are active hunters of sand eel. Other features to find are areas of seed mussel, shingle banks joining clean sand and any deeper gullies that carry the tide parallel with the beach.
Piers and similar man-made structures with leg type supports will have a scoured out gutter running along its length. The supports carry mussels, plus any food borne along by the tide will be deposited in the gutter. Plaice sit on the gutter edge facing into the tide and intercept food as it washes past. Estuary plaice will be resident close to, and over, seed mussel beds which are often a feature at the mouths of small estuaries.
Plaice also like deep scoured-out holes in the main channel where the tide is bottle necked and digs out the sand. This brings food to them and they choose to sit on the incline nearest the tide run with food rolled down to them. Plaice show from the shore typically around early March in the south but they can be a month later if the winter is a late one. They stay inshore in most areas until September then begin a slow outward migration.
The bigger spring tides and, as is so often the case with most fish, the tides three days before the biggest spring tide of that cycle, will usually produce the better fishing from the beaches. In estuaries, due to the fast flow of the tide, the smaller rising tides may be the better bet, though again invariably the bigger the tide the better the plaice fishing will be.
Plaice usually feed best on the flood tide with dead low water and the first hour of the flood often the best time. The middle hours of the flood also produce fish, but marks where plaice feed over high water are generally few and far between. Ebb tides are rarely good from the shore unless the water depth is in excess of 20 feet.
It is unusual for plaice to feed at night and experienced plaice anglers always pick a tide in daylight. Plaice actually feed best in quite bright conditions in water over 10 feet deep, but in shallower water an overcast sky is preferred.
Plaice on beaches tend to be at long range and so the preferred tackle is a 4-6oz beach caster with a fast running multiplier or a 070/80 sized fixed spool loaded with 12 to 15lb mono (or 20lb braid for improved bite detection) and a 60lb shock leader.
In estuaries the plaice may be right at your feet when fishing a deep water main channel. In this scenario you can get better sport using a 2-4oz bass rod, 12lb line with a 30lb shock leader and leads up to 4ozs.
You need the bait fished hard on the seabed. The best rig for beach fishing is a one up/one down rig armed with size 2 hook, "clipped in" for long range fishing. Two-hook wishbone rigs also work well.
For estuary fishing at close range into deep water, and when fishing the pier, choose a simple one-hook flowing trace rig fixed between crimps and positioned just above the lead link. The snood needs to be up to 30-inches long and made from 15lb Fluoro carbon.
Early in the season black lug, ideally fresh but also good quality frozen black, tends to be the better bait. You can tip with squid and razorfish which can sometimes pull in extra fish. Ragworm tends to be a localised bait working well in one area and not in another.
By mid to late April peeler crab becomes the main bait for plaice with worm baits slightly less effective. Crab stays the number one bait through the summer although sand eel can also pick out some bigger plaice. Late summer fish tend to go back to preferring worm, with mussel also picking up some good fish.
Plaice respond best to baits that have a little movement. When tipping with squid, a slice of sand eel fillet or razorfish, leave a little below the hook to wriggle in the tide. When fishing beaches if you know exactly where the bank inclines are and the seed mussel beds, then static ledgering with grip leads will find the fish.
Improved catches will result if you deliberately choose plain leads and let them wash around with the tidal current over the top of the banks and then let the lead roll down the incline to the fish. This presents the bait exactly where and how the fish expect to find it and is the classic plaice tactic. It works just as well when fishing deep scoured out holes in the main estuary channels too.
During periods of slow tidal flow increasing the length of hook snoods on one up/one down rigs to at least 20 inches can induce a better catch rate as the bait is allowed more movement and attracts the plaice better.
If fishing from the pier always fish on the side the tide is hitting. Allow the lead weight to wash under the structure and into the gutter created by the tide. Unless you know there is good fish holding feature well away from the pier, then casting out to distance puts you away from the fish and catches will be minimal.
Plaice do not rattle the rod tip like flounder and dabs. A plaice bite is more typically a single good pull, pause for a few seconds then another good pull. Let them pull two or three times before gently lifting the rod, taking in the slack line and lifting the lead weight free to set the hook.
When fishing shallower beaches and areas with little tide run, choose a flat sinker like the Breakaway Flattie leads and occasionally "twitch" the lead back a few inches every minute or so. This tactic dusts up small clouds of sand, plus moves the bait, and will help attract plaice that may not smell the scent from the baits.
Coloured beads work well slid onto the hook trace above the hook. Good combinations are black and green, red and black and yellow and black. Experiment on the day to find the best combination.
In faster tide currents and when allowing the bait to trot round with a plain lead, add a small to medium sized plastic spinning spoon between the top two beads. Good colours are silver or red. The spoon will flutter in the tide and again attracts plaice from further out that may otherwise miss the scent of the bait.
"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.
"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 page 109
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.
"Sea Fishing (The Badminton Library)" (1895) John Bickerdyke at pages 398, 399, 405 & 406
Chapter XII: Flat-Sided and Flat-backed Fishes
Certain of the flat fish take a high place among the freaks which Nature loves to produce. Regard a fishmonger's slab and note the expression on the face of sole, dab, or flounder the kind of paralytic twist in the mouths of these fish which gives them an unamiable and perpetual sneer. So far as the plaice is concerned, the supercilious appearance together with the red spots are well accounted for by a very old legend which is, or was, current in the Isle of Man. There had been disputes among the fish of the sea, happily ending with a general consensus of opinion that the election of a king to settle their quarrels was desirable. So a great meeting was held. The plaice, however, stayed at home overlong, covering himself with red spots so as to appear beautiful and worthy of being elected ruler over the inhabitants of the ocean. When he arrived at the meeting-place he found another had been chosen. Giving his mouth that disdainful twist which it now exhibits, he remarked, "Fancy a simple fish like a herring being King of the Sea!" And fate so ordered it that he should wear those red spots and that proud sneer for ever.
Soles, dabs, and flounders neither lie nor swim on their bellies, but on one side which is light in colour, the other being dark. If we would discover how this came about, we may either consult works on natural history or the legends of Upper Egypt. Let us take the legend first. Moses, so it was said, was once frying a flat fish, but just as one side was done the oil in the pan dried up and no more was available. A practical man would have eaten the cooked side and left the raw portion for further consideration; but Moses, greatly irritated, cast the half-fried fish into the sea. The creature came to life, and ever since that day has been brown on one side and white on the other …
Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) may always be identified by their red spots. They are fairly plentiful all round our coasts, and in places afford really good sport to the sea angler. Like most other flat fish, they haunt sandbanks and muddy bottoms, and may often be found in quantities on sandy patches surrounded by rocks. I have caught them in three fathoms of water, or less.
A very perfect mare's nest was once discovered in connection with these fish. The theory was started that they were descended from shrimps, and a naturalist, to test the statement in a praiseworthy practical manner, obtained a few live shrimps and kept them in a tank. At the end of a few days he found in the tank some young plaice, and further investigations tended to show that the eggs of the plaice were sticking to the shrimps when placed in the little aquarium. In the following year he half filled two vessels with salt water, making one the home of a few plaice, devoting the other to plaice and shrimps. In both vessels the plaice spawned, but only in the vessel containing the shrimps did the ova hatch. So the experimenter came to the conclusion that in some way the shrimp was essential to the hatching of a plaice egg. Since that day, however, plaice eggs have been hatched in the laboratory of the Marine Biological Association at Plymouth and other places, and this without the assistance of shrimps.
Plaice are fished for on the bottom with such tackle as that shown on p. 243, [3] and many more will be caught if a rod is used than on a hand line. I prefer a hook about half the size of those used by the fishermen, baited with lugworm, mussel, ragworm, peeled uncooked shrimp, cockle, or any soft bait. I have caught not a few of these fish on pieces of sprat, mackerel, and squid. Now and again a plaice as large as seven pounds is captured, and fish of fifteen pounds weight are on record. From three-quarters of a pound to two and a half pounds is the more common size.
[3] Editor's note: paternoster (1 up, 1 down) or paternoster-trot.
"Practical Sea-Fishing" (1905) P. L. Haslope at pages 96 & 163
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.
[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.
"Modern Sea Angling" (1921) Francis Dyke Holcombe at pages 219, 221 & 222
Speaking generally, the late summer and autumn months are the best for plaice fishing … Probably most sea anglers will recollect a remarkable epidemic of plaice fishing which broke out some years before the war near Dumpton Gap, between Ramsgate and Broadstairs, where large quantities of plaice made their appearance, attracted, it was said, by beds of young mussels … this was in or about the year 1909. Some remarkably good takes of plaice were made, and it was said at the time that as many as 150 or 200 boats, all pretty close together, and all engaged in plaice fishing, might sometimes have been seen while the fun lasted - which was not for very long.
… The plaice of course is essentially a bottom feeding fish, and therefore must be angled for at the ground.
… As in many other kinds of sea fishing, ground baiting is very beneficial, and where the fish are rather scattered over a fairly large expanse of ground, as they often are in some of our shallow, sandy bays, it is so advantageous that it may fairly be said to be necessary to success… a bag or basket filled with the ground bait should be tied to the stock of the anchor before lowering, or that a Tcherkassov ground baiting tin should be lowered over the bows of the boat and emptied on the bottom from time to time. (If this latter device be used, by the way, it will have to be weighted with extra lead, or the angler will find that he will not be able to get it to the bottom).
As to the hook bait, probably that most commonly used in plaice fishing in this country is lugworm, although mussels (of which these fish are particularly fond) will often be found quite as successful. Both these baits of course are fairly easily come by; but there is another good one for plaice which is not so easy to get hold of, and that is the razor fish …
In a strong tideway it is often a difficult matter to distinguish the bite of both plaice and dabs, particularly when the fish run small …
"Sea Fishing with the Experts" (1956) Jack Thorndike at pages 88 & 89
Chapter 11: Flatfish (Hugh Stoker)
Although the plaice favours those localities where the sea bed is of firm sand or gravel, it is occasionally taken on mud. However, those caught on clean ground are to be preferred as they are not only the larger fish but also make the best eating.
The upper side of the plaice may vary slightly in colour according to the nature of the mark but, as a rule, brown or grey-green predominates, with orange or red spots which remain visible after the fish is dead. The blind side is always white. The eyes are on the right and, behind these on the head, are distinctive bony lumps. The lower jaw is longer than the upper; the front teeth being broad and flat whilst those farther back in the throat are rounded.
Like all flatfish, plaice are bottom feeders and their diet consists mainly of worms, shellfish and small crabs. Except in certain localities they are not often caught by the beach angler; but fish ranging in size from very small to fairly large are taken regularly from piers, usually on tackle intended for dab or flounder.
Normally, however, fishing for plaice is carried on from a boat. The best fish will be found some distance offshore in ten fathoms or more of water and the angler who is acting as his own navigator would do well to refer to a large scale chart before setting out in search of them. The best marks are usually to be found on the inner fringes of submarine 'valleys' and hollows where the fish are able to enjoy a certain amount of water movement, while at the same time being sheltered from the main force of the tides. Patches of shell-gravel are also good places to try, as these usually denote an abundance of shellfish - the main food of the plaice. The chart may also help the angler to locate a fishing mark that is protected, either by rocks or a sunken wreck, from the damaging activities of shallow water motor trawlers. In the English Channel many such wrecks date from the last war, so south coast fishermen would be well-advised to use an up-to-date chart.
Comparatively few sea anglers appreciate the fact that the plaice is a sporting fish and that a fair-sized specimen will put up a very respectable fight on a light rod carrying a reel, line and trace to match. As regards the size of hooks to be used, this must remain a matter for individual experiment on the fishing ground as the growth rate and average size of the plaice varies considerably from district to district - and even, in some places, from mark to mark.
… Baits also seem to vary in 'appeal value' from one stretch of coast to another, and the secret of success probably lies in using something which is natural to the locality being fished. Among the large variety of baits worth trying, the best takers are probably ragworm, lugworm, razor clam, mussel, soft crab and shrimp.
The Daily Express, Friday 18 April 1958 at page 15
Only the wily angler will lure the plaice
By Tom Float
Finding plaice in the wide expanse of a sandy bay calls for keen observation and hard searching. Some marks are well known but they may be deserted or even fished out where too much inshore trawling is done.
Our red-spotted beauties like shallow depressions in the seabed. Bear that in mind when prospecting.
Careful plummeting finds them. Freshwater anglers know all the tricks of this department.
Angle cunningly when a likely spot is discovered. Tackle should be fine. A 6 lb. Single-strand nylon line is stout enough provided your rod is made from a light steel aerial and has ample spring in it. Tie a No. 6 hook on slightly finer stuff, say 5 lb. nylon about 4ft. Long.
Above that comes the lead, which must be as light as possible. Often half an ounce is enough. Pear-shaped leads are excellent. Thread your reel line through the wire loop and let the lead run freely down to the small brass swivel at the junction of line and trace.
Ability to change weights and suit the depth and strength of tide is important. Those round leads with a short wire loop arranged for spinners to change them easily on their traces are very good for this job.
King ragworms are my choice baits for plaice. Even bad dead "kings" kill. Big plaice like a 2 in. cutlet.
"Sea Angling" (1965) Derek Fletcher at pages 103 to 106
Chapter 12: Flat-Fish Family
The plaice … is keenly sought by anglers on all coasts that have sandy bays. Occasionally they are taken over muddy ground, but not in any number. The heaviest specimens are taken from boats, but the shore angler often has good bags of smaller fish during autumn.
… Many baits will lure plaice. Lugworm and ragworm are considered best but good results will be had using mussels, shrimps, small cuttings of herring, and sprats and squid on bottom tackle. A light nylon trace attached to a one-boomed paternoster is often used, but lighter tackle can be used where the tidal flow is not heavy. There is little to be gained from using a paternoster with three hooks, as rarely are fish taken on any other than the bottom hook. A roving float can be used as for flounders [2] in certain circumstances, particularly an hour before dusk in a calm sea after a warm day. It is not often necessary to strike plaice; they suck the bait for a while, and a hooked fish is indicated by a series of short, sharp tugs.
Spinning-lures take plaice at times … Small spoons and Devon minnows have been reported as taking fish. The method is to cast, allowing the lure to rest on the sea-bed, and slowly reel in. As it passes near the bottom it disturbs the sand, and the fish, attracted by this, seize the spinner or Devon.
[2] From page 103: "Another method of catching flounders is with a roving float. This is almost a copy of the 'wander' technique except that a light nylon trace is used and a spiral weight with small float. The size of the latter two must depend on the state of the tide and conditions of the sea. The baited hook is allowed to roam unchecked with the current, with the bait just trailing the bottom. The early morning, with calm seas, a cold nip in the air, is a useful time to use this tackle."
"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.
"Pelham Manual for Sea Anglers" (1969) Derek Fletcher at pages 80 & 81
Plaice
There are a number of venues from which they can be caught, the heaviest usually from boat marks … They are also caught from piers, groynes, breakwaters, in harbours and, in some areas, long casters get sizeable fish from the shore.
It is a fish that seeks warm water, the reason why anglers fish in the area of the warm outfall of power stations, although immature fish are hooked in such spots and should be returned as carefully as possible to ensure growth.
In all plaice fishing best results are likely in calm conditions. They will stop feeding when the surface is ruffled by winds, the reason for sudden deterioration of sport. Generally, they are bottom feeders but will quickly rise on occasions if the bait is attractive enough.
They have changeable diet habits, and the wise angler takes along a selection of baits. This taste change may occur during a sporting spell. One minute they are feeding well on ragworm, then they may resist anything but shellfish. Razorfish, slipper limpet, mussels, ragworm, lugworm, sandeels and sometimes slips of herring are all effective baits.
Most experts agree that groundbaiting helps to keep them feeding and the difference is often very marked. One boat may be fishing without result, while nearby anglers who have mastered the groundbaiting technique have brisk sport. Minced sardines, or finely chopped herring and mackerel are useful used in paper bags weighted with sand. The bags soon burst spreading the attractive mixture about.
Plaice fishing techniques vary, but this flatfish will give a good account of itself if the tackle is kept as light as possible. Too many are hauled in on heavy gear losing all chance of sport. A single 6ft long trace with a No 2 long-shanked hook is ideal, attaching the trace to the main line by a small swivelled lead. An 8lb b.s. line can be used with a solid free-running centre-pin reel. Some anglers prefer the small fixed spool reel but these are not really suitable to cope with big plaice. It is important to use a long-handled net to aid the landing. Many large fish are lost when it decides to make a final determined plunge on seeing the boat.
For piers, groynes and harbours the roving float method is effective, the bait arranged to trip over the bottom, roving with the tide. Paternoster tackle is not desirable although frequently used by shore anglers. It is better to use a single hook trace fishing it leger fashion.
In beach work it helps to scan the shore at low water for gullies and sandbars. Around sandbars plaice know food will be washed from them into surrounding holes. A late evening tide often produces the best shore-caught plaice, with the best conditions being a slight surf which moves in gently.
On occasions when sport is dull, plaice can be stirred into action by threading a small button on the trace above the hook. Cast this out and slowly reel in with the button stirring up the sand as it passes along the seabed. Inquisitive plaice believe it might be food on the move. Only slow turns of the reel are necessary so the plaice has a chance to examine and take the bait.
"Popular Sea Fishing" (1968) Peter Wheat (editor) at pages 179 to 190
Plaice Fishing (Sid Cloke)
… Plaice grow slowly for the first three years, then in the fourth add a growth increase equal to that of all the earlier years. The greatest average increase occurs in the fifth and sixth years. At three to four years the average length is 10½ inches, at four to five years 13 inches. The life span is something like 30 years when a fish could be 36 inches and, if a female in top condition, weigh perhaps 14 lb …
The spawning period covers about four months, and varies with each area … in the Channel from December to April, though early spawners will come inshore to summer quarters during March. Thus, in the south coastal waters at least, there are eight months when plaice can be caught, although in the first four they are not really in good condition. Most anglers know where plaice can be caught in their local areas, and I might be accused of teaching grandmother to suck eggs if I gave advice on finding the fish. Yet, in recent years, plaice have been found concentrated in unexpected areas - by following certain basic guides.
During the summer months they favour a depth of water between 10 and 15 feet, a bottom of sand or marl, and having rocks or rough terrain nearby, apart from profuse weed growth. There is good reason for such location - the fundamental diet of plaice is formed of shellfish and fish of all kinds, providing it is small, so where better to find such life but in association with the conditions mentioned? Once an area of sea-bed of this type is located it is almost a certainty that plaice will be there.
It is, more or less, a waste of time to fish for plaice on a shingle bottom or in large rock areas. There they would be unable to undertake their favourite trick - burying themselves in such a way that only their eyes are visible. Taking a rest in fact, but still maintaining a constant watch for potential food.
With apologies to shore anglers, beach fishing for plaice, as far as I'm concerned, can be dealt with in brief fashion. Providing plaice grounds are within casting distance from the shore, they can be caught, if suitable baits and tackle are used - it's not hard. Almost certainly it will be found that a trace tackle arrangement will be more suitable than a paternoster, although a certain type of modified paternoster is quite good. Use a 3 foot trace with a number I hook and a 4 oz weight - or whatever weight local circumstances or weather dictate - on a sliding boom, and you have a much better rig than one with the hook above the weight.
Recommended baits for shore fishing are, lugworm, ragworm, slipper limpet (if these can be found in your area) sand-eels, or a strip of fish skin such as mackerel. A typical plaice bite is often heavy and very sharp. Unless you are holding the rod at the time don't strike as soon as you have picked it up; wait, let the fish have another go - it usually will. If it doesn't, little is lost; you would probably have missed the fish in any case. A plaice, you see, has a smaller mouth than a flounder and so needs more time. If nothing happens after the first indication move the tackle slightly and wait again. These remarks apply to pier fishing too. From pier or beach it is unlikely that the really big plaice will be located. A 2 lb plaice from the beach is an outstanding catch, and one of 4 lb very much specimen size.
Fishing from a boat offers the best chance of tangling with a really big fellow. The same geographical considerations relating to the sea-bed apply, and where the location is in a harbour or estuary chances are quite excellent. In harbours, big plaice are sometimes located in water of less depth than they prefer in the open sea. They do have a preference for channels along the bottom, but seldom venture into the real shallows of the flounder zone. You can see that channels and their edges offer the best spots, especially if there are shellfish abundant, and weed and crustacea abound. Where the beds of pipe worm - the long, slender worm which builds a tubular home of cemented sand - can be found, it is almost certain that plaice will be in, feeding on the worms, which themselves make excellent bait, though rather fragile on the hook. Cockle beds, mussel beds, and clay patches are also worth invesitgating. The whole aim is to find suitable areas by preliminary investigation, plus local knowledge and reference to any angling map which might exist.
Skin divers have reported that, generally speaking, plaice appear to feed most of all on the flood tide, reaching a peak at the end of the tide when the flow is slight; from that point activity decreases until at full ebb most of the fish are dormant. This, needless to say, may not be the case in all areas, but I have found in my own fishing that the best approach is to start out and be in position towards the top of the tide, packing up when the ebb sets in. However, it is never safe to make categorical statements about angling as very often you will be proved wrong !
… Experience tends to indicate that the most successful method is to angle from a drifting boat - where conditions allow. Obviously it cannot be undertaken in areas dotted with rock (unless you happen to be a tackle dealer), but where an extensive area of sand or slightly rough bottom exists there are excellent possibilities. Light drift fishing cannot be carried out in a fast tide or in water much over 30 feet. Here the more orthodox heavy boat fishing may be necessary - good plaice are caught this way … but they are not so many, and do not give any great pleasure.
In the right area, the method is to set the boat so that the tide will take it gently across the area to be fished - allowing of course for the wind. Wind is the enemy of good drift fishing unless one is armed with a sound knowledge of local conditions and the effects of wind and tides. Suitable equipment is a medium 7 or 8 foot spinning rod, centre-pin reel (a fixed-spool reel will do the job after a fashion, but a lot of the pleasure and skill is lost), 15 lb B.S. line with a running ball weight of about 1 oz stopped by a small swivel, and a 4 or 5 foot trace of between 11 and 13 lb B.S. To go any lighter for the trace is to court disaster, not from fish but from snags.
Let the weight straight down to the bottom, then gradually adjust the amount of line until the weight is bouncing along the sea-bed behind the drifting boat. If there is a wind taking the boat across tide it will be necessary to let out slightly more line in order to retain the bouncing action. It is advisable to hold the rod when drifting, with the tip pointing down so that as flat an angle as possible is made between the line and the water surface. This gives better control. Also be sure to let out more line over deeper spots, an operation which is made much easier with a centre-pin reel.
The first indication of interest is likely to be a small vibration, sometimes followed by a sharp pluck. Don't strike at this stage - plaice are the fastest spitters in the business; that pluck often means little more than the fish taking a sample and blowing the rest out. A strike would just pull the bait from its mouth even faster. Wait for a decisive pull back before striking sharply but not over hard. If a pull back does not materialize straight away, it does not mean the fish has lost interest. Often it will still be following the potential meal; the trick is to let line out gradually so that the bait slows or even stops. If this raises no response, and most times it will, lift the rod top to take the bait momentarily off bottom. Plaice, by the way, do not as a general rule take a bait by flopping on it or by sucking it in. Instead they sit on their tails and strike with all the sinuosity and speed of a cobra …
On one occasion a plaice followed my bait for nearly 500 yards across the Durley sands out from Bournemouth. I tried every trick in the book to get it to take properly, yet failed. It just kept nibbling away. 'A small one,' I thought with disgust, and struck at the next tiny nibble. There was no contact, needless to say, but as I let the weight thump back on the bottom it was taken with such a strong snatch the rod nearly went out of my hand. Result was a 5 lb plaice, the moral being never to think a small bite must come from a small fish !
A piece of tackle usually associated with both plaice and flounders is the baited spoon. Many lures are more likely to catch anglers than fish, but believe me, the baited spoon is well proven as far as flatties are concerned. Fishing with two rods, one baited spoon the other an ordinary trace arrangement, I have consistently registered three fish on the spoon to one on the trace. On odd occasions, I must admit, the ratio has been reversed, though not often enough for me to consider the spoon is anything but superior.
Among anglers there has been a good deal of discussion and comment concerning the reasons why a wobbling or revolving piece of metal or plastic should attract flatfish. Some contend that it stirs up the bottom feed; others maintain the spoon resembles an immature flatty in trouble (most fish have a predatory instinct). Another school of thought considers the vibrations produced by the lure's movement are the reason for the attraction. Whatever it is it works ! Of the three types of spoons - those which revolve on a separate axis, those which revolve on their own axis, and the type which just wobble - I have a preference for the wobbler. It has a very efficient action and doesn't kink the line so much as the types with a full-blooded spin. There are light plastic wobbling spoons and heavy metal ones - both have their uses under different circumstances.
Most kinds of flatty spoons are sold with a single hook attached. I prefer to improve on this with a tandem arrangement, both hooks being baited, and an extra swivel added. The spoon is fished from a drifting boat in just the same way as the trace method. The light plastic spoon is the one to use in a fairly fast tide or deeper water, mainly because it can be fished with a lead. The lead - a running ball - is placed above the trace swivel, with the spoon either on a 3 foot trace, or attached directly below the weight. There is little to choose between the two methods, perhaps the latter is marginally better. If conditions are really good - slow, smooth tide, little wind and a depth not more than 15 feet - a heavy wobbler such as the ice lure type fished without a weight is a better proposition.
While the light spoon with weight attached works efficiently at little distance from the boat, the heavy spoon needs long distance to attain maximum efficiency, certainly not less than 30 yards. With an ice lure the right distance can be judged by letting out line until, when the slack is picked up, the rod tip nods rhythmically. It's a good idea to rest the rod against the transom so that a fair amount of top is projecting over the water. The reel is left on the ratchet so keep your hand near the butt at all times - just in case. As well as attracting fish the spoon seems to have greater hooking potential, particularly with the tandem hook mounting.
One very successful way of fishing the spoon when drifting is to raise and lower the rod tip continuously at intervals of about five seconds. The fish nearly always takes as the rod is lowered which means changing the direction of movement pretty smartly in order to strike. Practice is necessary.
Static light tackle fishing from a boat at anchor is advisable when (a) the bottom is too foul to use the spoon properly, (b) fishing a sandy patch in a rocky area, or (c) there is no tide. In the latter case one produces, in effect, one's own tide by casting the spoon as far as possible, pausing a moment while it settles, then retrieving slowly and smoothly but with short intervals when the spoon is allowed to remain still. A plastic spoon with lead attached will do this very well. When retrieving the spoon, fish it evenly right to the surface rather than speed up once you feel the weight leave the bottom. A plaice might well be following although there have been no prior indications, and in these circumstances it may not make its mind up to bite until the spoon is well off bottom, providing it is not suddenly whisked out of sight. I've had plaice take the spoon when it has been within a few feet of the surface - determined grabs as if the fish is afraid the meal is going to get away.
Using trace tackle from a boat the same tactics apply, also casting up-tide, then letting bait and weight swing round in an arc (keeping the line taut so the weight can be felt all the time) until it is down-tide from the boat. One can also trot the bait with the tide by letting the weight hit bottom, running out a little more line, raising the rod tip smartly, letting out more line, and so on until the angle of stability is reached, when it is no longer necessary to let out further line in order to hit bottom when lowering the rod tip. Such tactics, by the way, cannot be satisfactorily carried out with a fixed-spool reel. Trotting the weight down, which incidentally is a useful way of bass fishing from a stable point such as a boat, bridge, quay, etc., is a good method for the period when the tide is beginning to pick up. Both fishing the arc and trotting down can also be carried out with a spoon, although it sometimes gets hitched round the line, in which case it becomes next to useless.
Baits of interest to the light tackle boat fisher are numerous and include (not in order of preference) lugworm, mussel, sand-eel, ragworm, slipper limpet, fish skin and, surprisingly perhaps, ordinary garden worms. Also, if you can locate them, pipeworm and white ragworm. The most valuable general bait is without doubt the worm - tough, attractive to plaice and fairly plentiful in most areas. If there is a choice between the worms I would choose lug every time. Additional baits for boat fishing for plaice include mussels and cockles. Mussels are splendid flatfish baits, but a bit on the soft side for shore casting though. Even when boat fishing, some anglers tie them on the hook with a length of wool - colour matters little. This secure attachment is worth using when one considers the ease with which a plaice can snitch the mussel from the hook without being caught. Any bite on mussel should be struck promptly - the odds are that if you don't contact the fish, the mussel has been jerked off.
Cockles are also excellent plaice bait, more durable than mussels, yet softer than the worm and likely to be pulled off more easily. Plaice, living where cockles abound, are often found to contain considerable numbers of white immature shellfish, complete with shell. So far I have yet to find a suitable method of baiting a cockle with the shell intact. Crabs, often hard-backs at that, are also found in large plaice; one baiting method is to remove claws, legs and back shell, then hook the remainder through the mouth orifice.
The unconventional bait is sand-eel, a staple diet of the mature plaice. If mounted dead or alive by the gills as for bass fishing, plaice will chew them off bit by bit, leading to ever increasing frustration as strike after strike is made without hooking a fish. To counter this the hook should be passed through the gills of the eel, then nicked in the back near the tail. If the eel is dead it is better to pass the hook once through the middle before bringing it back near the tail. Always make sure the point is left showing. Quick striking is often necessary when using sand-eel, though the whole question of when and how to strike with various baits is a debated one. I feel that personal experience is the only way to draw satisfactory conclusions; you may not agree with other anglers but at least you will be happy and confident.
A word of warning to those who use baited spoons - and a sad tale. Always check the split ring on which the wobbling spoon is mounted. It hardly seems likely, but it can let you down …
Float fishing for plaice I have left until last because I feel sure the method has little to offer which cannot be accomplished better by other means. The object of a float in the sea is to search more water. On the stand of tide a great deal more water can be covered by the cast and retrieve approach, and in any tide a drifting boat will cover immense areas. In a fast tide too, a lot of valuable time is wasted retrieving and re-casting at frequent intervals. However, for those who enjoy the visual satisfaction of a float, plus the possibility of other species, please don't let me put you off.
Small plaice are eager feeders, caught with great ease - the really large ones need a single minded pursuit and much effort. Never conclude that there are no large plaice in a given area simply because one method did not root them out - try everything and keep on trying.
"Sea Fishing" (1969) Clive Gammon at pages 13, 14 & 15
Plaice are fish of sandy grounds - banks and inshore bays. They come inshore in April, and the fishing remains good until the winter, when they make their spawning migration to deeper waters.
… featureless sand has much less attraction for plaice than that which holds a good supply of their natural food - chiefly shellfish but with some marine worms … Thus, a bed of mussels, a large colony of cockles or razor-fish … or areas where lugworms are likely to be washed from the sand, are all points that will draw plaice in large numbers.
For specialist plaice fishing, a trout spinning rod, with a fixed spool or single-action reel loaded with six-pound line, is perfectly adequate. With gear of this sort, very light leads will be found sufficient - bomb weights up to one ounce or very little more. The flowing trace … will suit … The hook should be a long-shanked No 4 and there is no need of a boom to take the weight.
Many plaice anglers make the mistake of fishing the bait on the bottom, and leaving it there until a plaice happens to come along. Some fish will be taken in this way, but it is not a specially adventurous method of fishing, and the bag may be small.
There is a far more effective technique, and one that produces better sport. It is based on the idea of active fishing for plaice, instead of being content to drop your bait to the bottom and wait in the hope that some obliging fish will come along. Stream the trace out on the tide, and let the line run out until the tap of the bottom is felt. The bait is left there for a moment, then the rod point is slowly raised until the angler's arm is well above shoulder height. Then it is lowered again until the bottom is felt, and the process is repeated. Almost always the plaice will take as the bait comes up from the bottom. You will feel a rattling bite, and the secret is to keep reeling slowly until it is apparent that the fish is well hooked.
Best bait is lugworm or ragworm. Other baits include mussels and shrimps.
"Sea Fishing for Beginners" (1970) Maurice Wiggin at pages 86, 87 & 86
Chapter V
Boat Fishing
The plaice is a great friend and favourite of the inshore small boat angler, ever welcome, dead easy when you've found him. Plaice run about one to two pounds in weight on the average, but exceed this greatly on occasion - the record is nearer 8 lb. They can actually be caught almost all the year round and their distribution is very wide, but by and large they are reckoned as at their best in autumn and summer: in winter some of them, if not all, seem to go to deep water to spawn. Trawling did wholesale damage to many plaice grounds but there are still plenty left close inshore. They are much better fighting fish than you might imagine - on light tackle, a plaice will give you plenty to think about.
Plaice love shellfish and worms, and are bottom feeders. Working this out will give you a notion of where they may be sought. Answer - on sandy patches where worms are regularly coming and going in and out, and over shellfish beds which often break up such sandy tracts. The bait to use is what is available, of course, but lugworms, ragworms, razorfish, soft crabs, seem a better bet than strips of fish. But if strips it must be (because you can't get anything else) don't despair. Plaice are not altogether immune to the crime of cannibalism. Quite a few have been hooked on spoons.
But as a general thing, prospecting and exploring a known good sea bed with a moving bait will probably get you best results. I must say I don't see the point of fishing with a stout rod and 20 lb. line, when the quarry is plaice. A carp rod, though much too long in a crowded boat, in fact quite vicious and anti-social, is just about right in power and scope. A short spinning rod of the kind known laughingly as 'a trout rod' is just the job - and those very short crank-handled rods, that take the closed-face fixed-spool reel so well, are ideal, if your arm muscles are up to the job of pumping a fish up from the bottom with the minimum of leverage to help you. But the usual run of seven or eight foot glass rod will serve you well, or your pike rod at a pinch.
I have taken part in some very static anchored plaice hunts, and they were moderately productive and moderately sickening. (It's always more sickening when you're anchored.) I think you should anchor, when prospecting a plaice ground, but that doesn't mean you need be content to chuck your bait overboard and rest on your oars. Plaice nose around quite a lot, and the consensus of informed opinion seems to be that a bait has more chance of attracting a plaice if it is on the move - not dramatically: a plaice isn't one of your piratical predators which spends its time dashing around after prey; but gently on the move. This seems to be especially the case in respect of vertical movement - if you can get your bait rising and falling in the water, the plaice seems to want to investigate it.
One way of doing this is to feed your tackle over the stern and stream it away gently in the water, sinking all the time of course and being carried downstream from the boat by the tide. Eventually you stop paying line off the reel, eventually the old equation works itself out and the weight bumps the bottom. You feel this quite distinctly. If you don't, you haven't got enough weight on to get it down in the stream. Put more on. When the bait is on the bottom, reel in gently but firmly, very slowly but evenly, at the same time raising the rod tip. This is where the long rod comes in, of course. Keep on reeling in and periodically raise and lower the rod. Chances are that you will feel the quivering pluck of the plaice bite. Take no notice. Just go on reeling gently in. Either you'll suddenly feel the solid weight of the fish 'on', self-hooked, or you won't. But you probably will.
"Estuary Fishing" (1974) Frank Holiday at pages 96 to 98
Chapter Seven
The Flatfishes
Plaice
Many anglers are more interested in plaice than in flounders and this is so with the writer. They are a bigger, better-flavoured and more difficult fish. Although not unlike the flounder in appearance they have a smaller head and con-spicuous red spots; moreover they are a lot more active than flounders. You will not find plaice on mud-flats in shallow water - they like at least a couple of fathoms of water and a good current to boot. Unlike flounders, they are predators with a particular taste for crustaceans and sand-eels.
Plaice enter most deep estuaries but, unlike flounders, they stick to the channels and are never found far from the open sea. Kennedy feels that fish are 'relatively unimportant as food for plaice' but I feel sure that this is mistaken because an excellent bait for a good plaice is a strip of mackerel. A sand-eel strip is even better. Butterfish are also reputed to be deadly as a bait for the spotted flats.
To get the biggest and best plaice you need to go offshore to where sand-eels and prawns are prolific and the tidal currents run fast. Yet with great regularity really big plaice do turn up at inshore locations such as the bars at the mouths of estuaries where they feed on material washed out of the beach by the under-tow. On some estuaries rocks will be found on either side of the mouth often with sandy mud separating low headlands from each other. These areas are raided by the local plaice on tide after tide because the reefs stretching out tend to act as 'dustbins' in which a rich marine fauna collects. Like all the smaller flats, plaice seem to prefer calm seas and neap tides for offshore feeding but when fishing from the beach I definitely like a bit of surf.
I have heard anglers condemn flatfish as uninspiring fish to catch in the sporting sense. It is true that plaice don't run like bass or bore after the manner of mullet. On the other hand they do bite vigorously and are capable of rod-bending dives mixed with plenty of 'kiting' by presenting their broad sides to the current. Consistent catches of decent-sized plaice argue that the angler not only knows his marks but knows how to fish them.
The trouble with plaice these days it that every jack-of-all trades who owns a small trawl is out hunting them. The only thing the angler can do is to get out the charts and do some figuring. Plaice like reasonably deep (3-10 fathoms) water with a tidal flow over a bottom of shell and sand, gravel or small shingle. They avoid mud and clay. So what one looks for are locations of the above general type that are hemmed in by rocks or have a scatter of rocks over the floor. There is nothing like a nice snaggy rock to discourage trawlermen! Failing this you can take your chance in the main channel in the hope that fish are coming in on the tide and they will see your bait before a trawl gets them.
I like a two-hook flowing trace for plaice when boat fishing. The sliding lead is clipped on to a Clements Boom which runs free on the main line. The flowing trace - a sensible 4 feet in length - is tied to a swivel which is in turn tied to the main line below the Clements Boom. Remembering the habits of flounders we will also need to incorporate some attractors in the basic rig. One can, of course, use the traditional coloured beads. Personally, I prefer to use the blades from a couple of leaf-shaped spoons about 1-1½ inches long. These are modified by drilling a small hole at their lower end to supplement the existing hole at their upper end. These spoon-blades are incorporated into the trace by cutting the monofil about 6 inches above each hook. The line is then tied to the top of the blade and the hook-link to the bottom. The blade thus becomes an integral part of the trace - a flashing oval of bright metal which attracts plaice for some distance.
As I said earlier, plaice are carnivores. Small sand-eels, alive or dead, should be mounted on the plaice-rig by passing the hook through a gill and nicking the point into the belly as in bass fishing. Failing sand-eels it is usually possible to obtain a few blennies about 2 inches long under stones on the shore and these are equally acceptable. As regards worm bait - I like ragworm for plaice. But don't skimp the bait by threading a single tiny rag on a small hook and expect it to catch a large plaice. Use two or three worms and let one of them hang its tail attractively.
Baited spoon will also catch plaice. Garrad records many such catches when flounder fishing. He also reports that plaice can be caught by casting baited spoons and trolling them in the direction of the current by walking along the shore. The usual 3-3½-inch spoons seem to be best for this work.
Plaice of 2-3 lb are not uncommon on grounds protected by natural features from the depredations of the inshore trawlers. Fish of 4-6 lb are specimens in anyone's book and the best chance of hitting one of these in an estuary is to fish the bar at the mouth with sand-eel or prawn bait in high summer when specimens of this size do sometimes work their way inshore.
As regards shore fishing, I have done best with plaice in locations where the tidal current sweeps along the beach over a bottom of sand or shingle. Make a long, rather oblique cast and use a rolling leger. Plaice in deeper water will often move in to investigate when they spot the twinkle of the spinner-blade and will follow the bait as it rolls round and take it in quite shallow water.
The boat fishermen needs to work out a routine. Fishing on the drift seems to me the most attractive technique but a killick or sea anchor will be needed to slow the boat. A two-hook flowing trace and a bait of sand-eel or mackerel-strip is used as already described. It is sometimes an effective ploy to reel the lead well clear of the bottom and work the rod to activate the spoon-blade attractors. There is usually no need to strike because taking plaice are pretty determined fish and usually swallow the bait at the first attempt. They shouldn't be played too hard because their lively struggles coupled with the 'kiting' action brought about by their shape can easily tear the hook from a light hold.
I have much affection for plaice. They are probably the most attractive of our flatfish in appearance and from the culinary point of view are classed as a prime fish. They still remain moderately plentiful around our coasts but tax the know-how of anglers to find them in the face of commercial and semi-commercial opposition. They represent a fishing problem you can get your teeth into. There are certainly lots of local problems to solve before a box of the big spotted flats is your regular haul.
"Sea Angling with the Specimen Hunters: Big-Fish Tactics of the Experts" (1977) edited by Hugh Stoker at pages 135 to 139
20 Plaice Hugh Stoker
A decent-sized plaice puts up an excellent scrap on light tackle, but that is only one of several good reasons why this familiar flatfish is so popular with lots of sea anglers.
Although they are occasionally caught by 'chuck and chance it' methods, plaice nevertheless demand a fair degree of skill and local knowledge if they are to be taken with consistent success. Also, of course, they make excellent eating, and any angler who returns home with several of these plump, red-spotted beauties can be sure of an appreciative welcome!
Widely distributed all around our coasts from the Scillies to the Orkneys, plaice frequent areas where the sea-bed consists mainly of feed-rich sand, mud or shell-grit. They are likely to be particularly numerous over mussel beds, or on shelly banks that are thickly populated with razorfish and other bivalve shellfish.
Although the majority of big plaice are caught from boats, plenty are also taken by shore anglers fishing from steeply shelving beaches and rock positions bordered by sand.
It is also worth stressing that many specimen-sized plaice are caught by inshore dinghy anglers fishing in sheltered bays, or inside large sandy estuaries. Some Scottish sea lochs also contain good stocks of sizeable plaice.
Like most other members of the flatfish tribe, plaice are very vulnerable to over-fishing by trawlers. Therefore, if your ambition is to catch some really big plaice, you'll be wise to fish an area of shelly sand that is obstructed by wrecks or extensive upthrusts of snaggy rock. In such places the trawlers dare not risk their nets, and this gives the plaice a better chance of growing to a decent size.
The Channel Islands, which are surrounded by a veritable maze of reefs, wrecks and sand gullies, offer particularly good prospects for the angler in quest of specimen plaice, but there are plenty of other hotspots from which to choose. Poole Harbour, on my local Dorset coast, and those magnificent West Country estuaries at Teignmouth, Salcombe and Fowey all yield their quota of 'paving-stone plaice'.
The time of year when plaice are most likely to be caught on rod and line varies slightly from coast to coast, but generally speaking the fish are most numerous, and in best condition, from about mid-May until late autumn. Mind you, I have taken good plaice in Poole Harbour as late as December, with my dinghy drifting fast before a bitterly cold nor'easter - but that sort of thing is an exception to the rule, because plaice generally bite best in warm, calmish weather.
In fact, unlike many other species of sea fish, plaice will actively feed in a combination of gin clear water and heatwave conditions. Perhaps this is yet another reason why so many anglers enjoy fishing for plaice!
Being bottom feeders, plaice are usually fished for with light leger tackle, and when taken on a lively spinning rod and 10 lb breaking strain line they are a surprisingly sporting proposition - especially when a good run of tide allows the fish to use its broad, flat body to maximum effect.
Needless to say, the great advantage of using a fine line is that it enables you to hold bottom in reasonably shallow water with only an ounce or so of lead - and this in turn makes it possible to use a light and lively rod.
When fishing in deeper water - say upwards of ten fathoms - you will need to use proportionately more lead, and this in turn demands a more powerful rod and heavier line. That is one reason why, when specialist fishing for plaice, I prefer to concentrate on fairly shallow inshore marks.
In Poole Harbour, and the West Country estuaries I have already named, it is by no means unusual to boat plaice in the 3 to 4 lb range, and in a good season there are the odd fish which come a good deal bigger.
One rather intriguing thing about plaice is the fact that their taste for hook-baits seems to vary from one stretch of coast to another. This is particularly noticeable in the case of big plaice. For example, in Poole Harbour the most killing bait seems to be ragworm; whereas only a couple of miles away, outside the haven entrance, an offering of razorfish is likely to meet with most success.
Further east, along the Kent and Sussex coasts, you may find lug, mussel or slipper limpet the top attractions. Off the South Devon coast, on the other hand, a mass of evidence, based on specimen captures over the past 25 years, points pretty conclusively to the fact that big plaice in that area are mainly preoccupied with sandeels.
There are several ways of presenting these various baits to the fish, and as a general rule the method you use will be determined by local tide and wind conditions. In those parts of the West Country where tides are not generally too fierce, we often prefer to drift over the plaice grounds. Certainly there's no doubt that plaice find a moving bait more attractive than a still one - and, of course, by drifting we also cover more ground and help to keep the bait out of the clutches of robber crabs. This latter point can be quite an important one when fishing for estuary plaice.
In areas where tides run really fast, however, it is seldom practical to fish on the drift, and legering from an anchored boat is then the most popular method. To add some movement, and help to stimulate bites, a small plastic attractor spoon can be fitted on to the trace a few inches above the baited hook. The flow of the tide will make the spoon revolve or flutter, depending on its built-in action.
Yet another method of adding movement to the bait when fishing at anchor is to use a running leger with the lightest possible lead; and then, by gradually paying out more reel line, allowing the baited tackle to trundle along the bottom on the tidal current. You'll find that it helps matters along if you alternately raise the rod-tip momentarily to lift the lead off the bottom, and then release a yard or so of reel line.
Alternatively, when fishing at anchor over a shallow mark, such as an estuary-mouth shell bank, you can use a float in combination with a baited flatfish spoon. Set the float so that the bait is just tripping along the bottom, and allow it to drift away on the tide.
Under the right sort of conditions this can be a deadly method, and of course there is also that special fascination that most of us experience when watching a float.
Remember that flatfish need to be given a little time to take a bait, so when the float starts bobbing about don't be in too much of a hurry to strike - or you will almost certainly pull the hook out of the fish's mouth. Wait until the float disappears completely from sight; then drive the barb home with a positive but not over-vigorous strike.
Over those West Country plaice marks where the biggest fish feed actively on sandeels, the best bait of all is naturally a live sandeel. Because of its darting swimming movements, this particular bait is equally deadly when drifting or at anchor - although naturally a lot more ground is covered when drifting - and this in itself may result in more fish being caught.
However, even in the West Country there are times and places where strong tides make drifting for plaice impossible - notably in the vicinity of prominent headlands, in fast-flowing estuary channels, and over shallow, steeply-shelving shell banks. It is in these places that a live sandeel bait pays off handsomely.
Finally, there's one other method of fishing for plaice that deserves a special mention. Indeed, when you have perfected the technique, it is likely to prove the most deadly method of all when used in the right conditions, and over the right sort of mark.
For this method you need a fairly short single-handed spinning rod, preferably matched with a small baitcasting multiplier such as the ABU 5000. The reel should be loaded with 10 lb breaking strain line.
At the end of the reel line you attach a small shiny metal spoon. It should have a tantalising fluttering action when jigged up and down in the water. There is plenty of scope here for experimenting with home-made lures, but the one I use with greatest success is based on a design used by Esquimos when fishing through a hole in the ice!
The lure is fitted with a single size 1 long-shanked hook, suspended on a 4in. length of 9 lb b.s. nylon. The hook is baited with a lively medium-sized ragworm, and the lure jigged erratically from a drifting boat just above the bottom. Every now and then it can be allowed to bump on the bottom, or even drag along it for a yard or two, kicking up puffs of sand or mud.
When you feel a fish attack the bait, stop jigging at once and allow the lure to flutter gently down to the bottom. Then pay off line so that the baited lure is left lying motionless for two or three seconds behind the drifting boat. Strike when you think the fish has had sufficient time to mouth the baited hook.
If the plaice doesn't take the bait at the first attempt, don't give up trying. Jerk the baited lure off the bottom, and retrieve it slowly with a sink and draw action. Quite often the plaice will only take the bait properly after making one or two half-hearted trial attacks.
I have used this method with considerable success over a wide variety of plaice marks, varying from the wide and shallow expanses of Poole Harbour to mountain-flanked Scottish kyles and sea lochs.
Because they can be caught by so many different fishing methods, in such a wide variety of surroundings, plaice can be very interesting fish to try for with rod and line. Remember, though, to keep your tackle as light as possible. By doing so you will not only enjoy better sport, but will also catch more fish.
"How to Improve Your Sea Fishing" (1978) Melvyn Bagnall at pages 62 to 66
Plaice
Distribution
The boat record was caught in November 1974, but this plaice was very much an exception to the rule. For plaice are without doubt a summer species. A scorching hot day, a flat calm and clear water over a sandy bottom are ideal plaice fishing conditions. The hotter the summer the more plaice you are likely to catch. The milder the winter the sooner you will begin catching them. Plaice fishing generally gets off the ground in May and fades off towards the end of September, depending on the temperature. As a rule these handsome fish favour shallow water over sandy ground … the Varne Bank off Folkestone … are all top plaice-fishing marks off the south coast.
The bigger fish, however, while still showing a preference for sandy ground, often tend to hug closest to the rocks. Therefore, it is a good idea to fish sandy patches surrounded by rock. This type of ground has an added advantage in that trawlers dare not operate in the vicinity of rocks for fear of losing their nets. Such spots are not easily found and it is wise to study an Admiralty chart of the area before trying to locate one … Inshore rocky areas are well marked on the charts and it is a simple matter to 'feel' your way onto the sand. It is easy to tell what sort of ground you are fishing over by the way the weight bounces on the bottom …
Tackle and methods
… Mussels - the shellfish that form the staple diet of the plaice - attach themselves to inshore rocks and provide huge feeding grounds which can stretch for miles parallel to the shoreline. These grounds cannot be reached by even the best shorecaster so a boat is essential. Bigger mussel beds are found two to three miles offshore in up to 14 fathoms of water. These beds can often be fishing well and then suddenly one day sport will come to an end. This is not because the plaice move on, but because the mussels, like other sorts of shellfish, are mobile, and if conditions do not suit them in one area they will move to another. The plaice will duly follow.
Finding the fish again may mean experimenting but there are certain signs to look for which help reveal the whereabouts of plaice. If you are not sure whether the plaice have yet moved inshore, keep a watch out for mackerel moving on the surface. If the mackerel are in, then so are the plaice. Starfish are also a good sign. These delightful creatures also feed on mussels and if you start to reel them up you can bet that plaice are in the area. Also keep an eye open for small rocks with clusters of mussels clinging to them. These can also betray the presence of plaice.
The diet of the plaice is not made up entirely of mussels, however. They are also very partial to another type of shellfish which measures only about an eighth of an inch in length and resembles a miniature whelk. At least this is the case off the south coast where it is quite common to catch plaice stuffed full of them, particularly in areas where there is a muddy bottom.
Since plaice are best caught from a boat, the angler is the faced with the question of whether to fish at anchor or on the drift. In some instances he has no choice. Anglers fishing off the Kent coast, for example, cannot afford to drift because they would lose tremendous amounts of terminal tackle in the rocks … A good way of covering different ground when fishing at anchor is to let out increasing lengths of anchor cable at about 20 feet at a time. This is also a good way to search out the sandy pockets between the rocks. Alternatively, you can change the position of the boat by tying the rudder over one way or the other so the tide pushes the boat in different directions.
Terminal tackle is varied to suit conditions, but the most popular rig is a conventional three-hook flowing trace (see figure 11). Some experts adopt the 'bouncing' tactic. They drop their weight down to the sea bed and then bounce it slowly on the bottom before lowering the rod tip sharply to provide a little slack line. This slack is important because, if a plaice feels resistance when taking the bait, he will very quickly blow it out of his mouth again. For this same reason it is a good idea to drop the rod tip at the first sign of a bite, giving the fish time to get the bait well into its mouth. Give a plaice enough rope to hang itself and it will do just that.
A slightly heavier weight than is necessary is advantageous when 'bouncing' for plaice. It not only helps in the actual process, but also prevents the bait being pushed downtide if there is a strong run. It is also probable that the plaice hear the bump of the weight on the bottom and move in for a closer look. When plaice are very finicky, a more subtle version of bouncing can be adopted to tempt them to take a bait. Keeping a tight line, slowly raise the rod a few inches. This slight movement is transmitted right down the line to the trace and causes a slight movement of the bait. It is just like teasing a kitten with a ball of wool. The fish will often gulp the bait down.
… the plaice is a greedy fish and there is no need to rush the strike. Lower the rod top, wait a few seconds, and then lift the rod steadily but firmly. A hard strike could easily tear the hook out of the delicate tissue inside the fish's mouth. Similarly, the hook can be pulled out if the fish is swung into the boat, so it is always best to net them.
Tackle-wise, anglers should not use very light rods and lines for plaice. It is only asking for the tackle to be lost on the rocks surrounding their sandy lairs. Use a line and a trace of about 25lb and snoods of 10lb to 15lb. The snoods then break off first when a hook becomes snagged.
Baits
Plaice can be taken on a wide variety of baits, some proving more successful in some areas than others. Sand-eel and strips of fish, for instance, are excellent baits on the Skerries Bank. But off the Kent coast, on marks such as the Varne, a tiny sliver of mackerel tipped with a small piece of lugworm is the top bait. An ideal sliver is two inches long and three-eighths of an inch across, preferably cut from across the full width of the mackerel.
Finally, remember that plaice will normally feed when the tide is moving, for fish generally take the opportunity of resting during slack water.
"The Sea Angler's Sporting Fish" (1985) Mike Millman at pages 30 & 32
Plaice
The plaice is one of the most popular of all fish and is eagerly fished for by both boat and shore anglers, mainly due to its superb eating qualities. Found all around Britain, Iceland, the North Sea and the Mediterranean, it grows to a large size, but rod and line fishing around Britain has only produced two weighing in excess of double figures …
… The plaice is a handsome fish, brown in colour above, sometimes a light sand colour, with big bright orange spots spread across the back, the underparts are pure white. The eyes are placed on top of the head.
For fighting qualities the plaice must rank very high in any list of sporting fish, for it never knows when to give up, and will continue to fight up to the point where it is lifted from the water. On many occasions, a last powerful undulating flick of the body has been strong enough to either break up the tackle or tear out the hook, just as the net is being passed under it.
In keeping with all the members of the flatfish family, it is an inquisitive fish and, for this reason, spoons are used extensively to attract them. Many types are successful, but I have found that a highly polished metal one, about three inches long, and one and a half wide is ideal.
The rig is best worked from a drifting boat and comprises a short trace about eight inches long, made up from medium weight monofilament, the spoon being placed about four inches from the hook. This is done by using two very small swivels, one either side of it. The spoon itself is also swivelled at one end with the aid of split rings, enabling it to flutter and spin quite easily. Hooks must be fairly long in the shank, and fine in the wire. Plaice have mouths which can open to a huge size, so the hook need not be smaller than 2/0.
Although a variety of baits can be used with the spoon, none are accepted so readily as worm, with medium sized king-rag being the best of all. These should be hooked through the head to ensure an attractive movement as the spoon is worked. Bites should be struck firmly, but not too quickly, as the fish often takes the first two inches off the tail end of the worms, before making an attack on the parts nearest the hook.
Fishing from anchored boats can be good at times, but it cannot compete with the drift method, unless one has live sand-eel. These are great favourites with the plaice and should be fished on a leger trace ten feet in length. The fish attack them with ferocity, often swallowing the whole eel right down, so every bite should be struck immediately.
Boat fishing does not call for anything other than medium weight tackle, the best sport being obtained on a light rod with a nice supple action. The reel can be a fixed spool, or better, a small multiplier loaded with ten pound breaking strain line. Good sized plaice are taken by shore anglers, the tidal rivers seeming to give up the biggest ones. The fish move upstream with the tide, and tend to keep in the main channel; end tackle, therefore, should be cast into it. Single hook leger gear with a trace two feet in length is the usual rig, a number of small brightly coloured beads threaded on to it behind the 2/0 hook, adding to the attractiveness of the bait.
With the leger rig, soft-back or peeler crabs are a wonderful bait for 'flatties'. When they are in short supply, which seems to be often, a fillet from a sand-eel or worms will prove to be useful substitutes.
Weight of tackle for shore work, depends to a large extent on the type of ground one is fishing over. In general it should consist of a rod capable of casting four ounces of lead, particularly in estuaries where tides can run swiftly. Line strength depends on the bottom; in the rivers this is basically mud, but quite often there is a twenty yard area of heavy rock and weed between an angler and the water. Bringing a hooked fish through this, when it is covered by the tide requires line with a breaking strain of not less than fifteen pounds …
"Salt-Water Fishing: A Step-by-Step Handbook" (2006) Martin Ford & Bruce Vaughan at page 14
Plaice
… Areas of the sea bed offering a sandy or shingle grit bottom are the ideal location for fishing … Plaice will frequent areas of the sea bed where small mussels have established themselves in good numbers as the mussel makes up a high percentage of their dietary requirement. Many bigger plaice are caught by boat anglers fishing over deep-water sand banks, but plaice will venture close into the shore, especially during the winter. Storm beaches with a steep shelf dropping away into the water are good places to try. Plaice respond well to all manner of baits and a ragworm and squid cocktail is a firm favourite.
"Fox Guide to Modern Sea Angling" (2011) Alan Yates at page 124
Chapter 4
Species - Smaller Species
Bottom Feeders - Flatfish
Plaice (Pleuronectus platessa)
The plaice is the largest of the shore-caught flatfish - only the turbot and halibut are bigger - but they are comparatively rare and taken most often from a boat. The plaice is a sought-after commercial species, and as such its numbers and average size have fallen in many regions over recent decades. It is a relatively slow-growing species. Commonly found in or near estuaries, over clean sand grit bottoms and on sand banks or patches between pea mussel beds inshore, it survives on a diet of marine worms and small crustaceans. It is an inquisitive flatfish and is commonly fished for with bright glitter spoons with sequins and beads. Sometimes floating beads are added to the hook snood and rig for extra appeal.
ID: Distinct bright red/vermillion spots rather than the red or orange flecks of the dab. Smooth skin, right eyed, knobbly top to the head.