What Fish Can You Catch in Poole Bay? Complete Species Guide

Poole Bay is one of the most productive fishing grounds on the south coast. I've pulled more species out of these waters than I can count on both hands. Here's what you can expect when you hop aboard Danny Boy 2.

Bass

The king of UK sport fishing, and for good reason. Bass are hard-fighting, clever, and absolutely delicious if you decide to keep one. We get them from April through to November with peak season being June to September. Drifting live bait over rough ground is my go-to method — nothing beats the thump of a decent bass taking the bait.

Best months: May to October **Size:** School bass 1-3lb, specimen fish 6-12lb+

Cod

Winter's prize fish. When the temperature drops, cod move inshore and the fishing can be spectacular. We target them on the wrecks and deep-water marks outside Poole Bay. A big winter cod is something special.

Best months: October to February **Size:** 3-15lb, with occasional 20lb+ fish

Mackerel

The people's fish. Fast, plentiful, and great fun on light gear. Summer mackerel fishing is perfect for beginners and kids — you can catch a dozen in a session without breaking a sweat. They're also brilliant fresh off the boat for the barbecue.

Best months: June to September **Size:** 0.5-2lb

Black Bream

Poole is famous for its bream fishing. The reefs and rough ground around the harbour mouth hold good numbers, especially in spring and early summer. Bream are canny biters — they'll nick your bait before you know it — but when you connect, they put up a surprisingly good scrap.

Best months: April to July **Size:** 1-4lb

Rays

We get several species in Poole Bay — thornback, small-eyed, undulate, and occasionally blonde rays. These are flat, powerful fish that hug the bottom and test your gear. Great fun and one of the most photogenic catches you'll make.

Best months: May to October **Size:** 3-15lb

Conger Eel

If you want to feel your arms burn, target a conger. These snake-like bruisers live in wrecks and rough ground. A decent conger will pull harder than just about anything else in UK waters. Not everyone's cup of tea, but if you like a fight, they deliver.

Best months: June to November **Size:** 10-40lb, with bigger fish always possible

Tope

A small coastal shark that's become increasingly common off Poole. Tope are streamlined predators that fight hard and fast. We catch them on the drift with big baits. Absolutely thrilling fish.

Best months: June to September **Size:** 20-50lb

Smooth-hound

Another small shark species, these arrive in spring and stay through summer. Smooth-hounds are related to tope but smaller. Brilliant sport on light tackle and becoming more common every year.

Best months: May to August **Size:** 5-15lb

Plaice & Other Flatfish**

We pick up plaice, dab, flounder, and the occasional turbot or brill. Plaice are the most sought-after — beautiful orange-spotted fish that taste fantastic. Best targeted on clean ground with worm baits.

Best months: April to October for plaice, winter for dab and flounder

Triggerfish**

These tropical-looking characters have become regular summer visitors over the last few years. Hard mouths, weird teeth, striking colours. A proper novelty catch and a sign the Channel's warming up.

Best months: July to September **Size:** 1-4lb

Other Species**

On any given day you might also encounter pollock, whiting, pouting, dogfish, wrasse, scad, gurnard, or even a John Dory. That's the beauty of fishing Poole Bay — you never quite know what's coming up next.

Whether you're after a specific species or just want to see what's biting, Danny Boy 2 will put you over the fish. Give me a call or drop me a message and let's get a trip sorted.