Bristol Channel Morning Briefing
Watchet, May 2026: first smoothhound run lights the Channel
Watchet saw the season's first reliable smoothhound action, with Reynolds Fishing UK's outing marking a busy start to May. From the harbour mouth the Channel showed fishable colour and steady current—conditions anglers want for both hounds and bass.
What is biting today: smoothhounds on the groundbaits and early‑May sea bass taking inshore shoals from Watchet down the sandbanks to Burnham‑on‑Sea. Water levels are driven by the big Bristol Channel tides; look for the stronger flood into high water and the incoming at dawn when shoals push close to the beach.
Tactics & baits
Beach baits split two ways: ragworm for a lively profile that provokes bass and smaller hounds, lugworm for distance and staying power in the surf. Smoothhounds answered crab and heavier ragworm presentations on running ledger rigs; shore‑jig work capitalises on dawn shoals when casting lures along the troughs.
Ledger tactics: long, abrasion‑resistant traces and a running paternoster or simple long trace keep baits natural on tidal seams. For shore‑jigging pick narrow, fast metals and work them through the slicks; for ledgering fish the edge of the sandbanks where currents sweep food into gullies.
Seasonal note: expect smoothhound runs to strengthen through late spring and bass shoals to push into the Burnham banks at first light. At Blue Anchor a grey‑backed smoothhound rolled beneath a low silver dawn—hands wet, lines tight, birds wheeling over the tidal seam.
Recommended: coastal jig lures