The best of the fishing might still be a month or so away but that does not mean sport is poor right now because it is anything but. Out on the briny blue, you can almost choose what fish to target, each with some certainty of success. From bass and cod to black bream, ray, plaice, smoothhound, conger, pollack and ling, it is all out there waiting for you.

The bass line
Bass would probably be the number one fish for most of us, for two very good reasons. Firstly, it is at the top of the gourmet’s list and secondly, its power gives you a good tussle, especially in shallow water on a spinning rod. Every time it seems ready for the net, with a flick of its tail, it can be off on another powerful run. These shallow marks are mostly over reefs and sand banks so live eels are the better bait. But if that is not possible, try small mackerel or launce caught on small feathers. Lures don’t work as easily over sand bars as over reefs but the current favourites are the Sidewinders. Green seem to be better for the bass, but keep a few others in the box, including blue ones.

Black bream
Black bream is another highly targeted fish and this one is also a bit feisty. It snatches at baits and will fight all the way to the surface, partly because, even in very deep water, it will not blow its bladder (get the bends). You will find bream along the south coast, in some areas towards the north and in the southwest. Mackerel and squid strip are the ideal bait but ragworm, peeler crab and tiny squids are also top options. A longish flowing trace is a popular rig.

Up the ante
If you want real excitement then it’s conger you need to target. Over reefs, fish of 20 to 30 pounds tend to be the average but, with luck, you may even tackle a 40-pounder. Better still, over a wreck, a fish of 70 pounds or more could easily be your reward. Squid, cuttlefish and mackerel are the top baits but pout are also used.

Gentler pursuits
For a gentle day of fishing, drifting over some sand banks, like the Skerries off Dartmouth, the Shambles off Portland or the Varne Banks in Kent, can be very relaxing. Light tackle will give you a lively few minutes as you wind a plaice up through the water. Long traces are the order of the day, with a small round grip weight. Bait can be rag or lugworm, tipped with squid, or simply a small strip of mackerel or launce. Reasonable results can also be had with uncooked prawns, split lengthways and tipped with squid. Just don’t forget the beads above the hook.

ANGLING KIT WITH DAVID GREENWOOD

There’s nothing worse than coming home empty-handed. The personal frustration is bad enough, but then the caustic sarcasm of the family makes the situation unbearable. So, short of visiting the local fish market, what can you do about it?
Well here is a piece of kit I use when desperation kicks in and all else fails. It may be a bit unsporting but it catches fish and soothes frayed tempers. It is also very useful in harbour when the almost uncatchable grey mullet are around.

Quite simply, it’s a metal hoop with a loose net attached. In the centre of the net there is a small lead weight and a bit of wire for attaching some bait. There are four equal length lines attached to the hoop which come up to join a single line leading back to your hand.

The idea is that you gently lower the net into the water so that it rests on the sea bed with the bait in the middle of the circle. If you can see the bottom, you wait until your prey swims over the net and starts nibbling the bait. Once he’s there, you haul in the net smoothly but quickly so your victim doesn’t have time or speed to swim upwards and out of the bag. The same technique is really good for crabs. If you can’t see the bottom, you simply have to leave the net dipped until you think the fish in the vicinity have had time to spot the bait and go for it - though obviously there’s more luck involved in these cases.

If your fishing shop doesn’t stock these nets, they’re very easy to make, using the rim of an old bike wheel, a bit of lead shot and a scrap of old netting. Alternatively, you can buy them in most chandleries and sea fishing shops in France. Unsporting? Maybe, but it doesn’t bother our cousins on the other side of the Channel.