Beach Fishing Southbourne - Turbot and Small Eyed Rays

3 of us head over to Southbourne beach for another evening session targeting Small Eyed Rays. Low tide was at 16:00 and we expected an appearance from the Rays soon after the turn and on the initial flood but things didn't happen that way.
A surprise visit and lost fish looked to set the way but things soon turned around for an amazing session.
Equipment
Shakespear K2 Black Extreme twin tip rods 4.50 metres.
Penn Surfblaster II 8000 reels
Berkley Whiplash 8 braid, 32lb, 300 metres
18-70lb tapered shock leader
Baits
Double sand eel wrapped in squid
Mackerel strips
Rigs
Pulley Pennel
Dropdown pulley pennel
Rovex tapered shock leader 18-70lb - amzn.to/2USEXnb
Breakaway Cannon - amzn.to/2wm4uuN
Berkley Whiplash 8 braid - amzn.to/2SuyIEu
Penn Surfblaster II 8000 - amzn.to/2Sv1SmQ
Gemini Pulley beads - amzn.to/3bxhP3t
Gemini bait rig clips - amzn.to/38mGp4V
Gemini 100lb power swivels - amzn.to/2UXo4rF
Gemini rig clips - amzn.to/39vhg8m
Amnesia MONO 20, 30 & 40 lb amzn.to/2SIST0t
Break away leads - amzn.to/2UQyUj4
Follow me on Instagram: / mark_williams_sea_angling

[@scottharriswestwalesfishin639]

If it had lumps on it it was a turbot . Brill are closely related to turbot and often confused with this species. The main differences are that turbot have a circular body shape, whereas brill have a body which is more elongated. Turbot also have skin which is rougher while the brill is smooth.

[@seaangling]

Thank you Scott, I knew someone would have the knowledge. We don’t see many of them.

[@Trojwaterman]

Lovely little turbot great catch from shore

[@seaangling]

Trojs, it went back safe and sound to grow bigger for another day. 👍🏻

[@leefishersallwaysfishing]

Nice one Mark, enjoyed that, some great fish there.

[@seaangling]

All credit goes to Ben and Richard for both managing the target species and Rich in particular for that pretty little Turbot.

[@thesweetcornkid266]

Superb vid once again Mark. Have to start calling you the Whiting Whisperer. I was plagued by them myself last night, just one doggie in the mix to liven things up. Good luck on your next outing.

[@seaangling]

I'd like my luck to change before I get a Ting tattoo but if it saves the blank i'm not fussy. It was difficult watching people either side of me catching Rays and nothing for me. That's why it is called fishing and not catching.

[@seaangling]

The Sweetcorn Kid did the doggie come at slack water?

[@thesweetcornkid266]

I started as the tide was retreating, then after an hour it was low and slack. The doggie came just as it turned and began to creep back up again. Off flounder bashing tomorrow. Just been out in the dark and tried to dig some worms. I learnt two valuable lessons, firstly there aren't as many worms as there used to be, and secondly I'm nowhere near as fit as I was when I was 18!!

[@udothecarnivore2024]

Hi Mark, just wanted to add something about bait preparation. I am doing a venue on Tuesday the 31st of December and as you do, prepare my bait beforehand. When I use blueys for bait, I normally defrost them, cut them to portion and re-freeze them. This time however I only let the blueys defrost partially (about 15 mins) and cut them into portions and put them back in the freezer. The benefit here is that firstly there is no mess, the cutting is much slicker and no juices are flowing. On Tuesday I just take the box pilled up with blueys, they start defrosting very slowly in a cool bag.

[@seaangling]

Udo Van Den Brock , that is a good tip for anyone that uses bluey as a bait. If you watch another of my trips “Browndown Bass & Tings” I preprepared the bait in that one and caught a bass on a still frozen bluey.

[@kevinbuckler1085]

Nice trip,definitely a turbot. Must agree with you about the dogs off the leads,I was fishing Chesil a few years ago in the day and a woman had her spaniel off the lead,swallowed my mates rig and wanted us to try and get it out !! Dread to thing how much her vet bill was ! Look forward to your next decade of trips, Happy New Year.

[@ProViLeHD]

Great session again mark! Keep the vids coming, look forward to seeing your next adventure! tight lines 🎣🎣

[@seaangling]

All prepped for another night session tonight to make the most of the holiday period. Spring tide tonight and a high one at that, not sure how it will fish.

[@garymurray4878]

Excellent film Mark, nice session 🎣🎣👍

[@seaangling]

Thank you Gary, all the best. 🐟

[@richardbarton7]

good plan having more folks in your vid, more chance of action !

[@seaangling]

It's nice to have the social aspect as well especially on beaches late at night.

[@youngwerty]

Hi Mark, I tried to find you on facebook, but had no luck. You were going to show me the trace set-up. The other thing, I think it was you who had the beach gas burner. Do you have the make etc, I liked the look of them. Many thanks....

[@seaangling]

Hi Tony, the stove is from Alpkit and is called their "brukit". www.alpkit.com/products/brukit facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005906048735

[@youngwerty]

@@seaangling Thank you Mark.

[@FishHunterUK]

Cracking video Mark what time of year was this mate

[@seaangling]

It would have been late summer possibly Aug/Sept time.

[@nemesisslr]

Great vid as usual! I had a 8lb 4oz Turbot from Chesil while out after Ray. They really fight! I can not wait to get out soon as a easy local mark is producing Cod and Thornbacks.

[@seaangling]

An 8lb 4oz Turbot is an amazing catch from the beach and shows what surprises Chesil can throw up at any time. Good luck with the Cod and Thornies.

[@paulgoodenough8089]

Brilliant bud cracking turbot. I have taken your crown as the ting master. Hayling island today 12 of the blighters. But saved the blank 🎣🎣😠

[@seaangling]

Paul, that was my favourite fish of the session and I’m chuffed to bits that my brother had it on his first trip to Southbourne. We shouldn’t complain about the Tings really, it would be bad if there was nothing there.

[@ashcotton2349]

Nice job there 👍🐟. When did you go fishing there as thinking about going there tomorrow

[@seaangling]

ash, we were there on the 27th. Big tides over the next few days but we held position with 5oz leads.

[@ashcotton2349]

Mark Williams Sea Angling ok cheers I may just pop up there and see what it’s like. 👍

[@seaangling]

ash, check out google maps satellite view of the beach. You can clearly see the 2 gully’s, one in close and one further out. You can judge distance by orientating to where the groin ends.

[@TheLuckhurst]

happy new year and tight lines

[@seaangling]

luckyvapez thank you and a very Happy New Year to you. 🎣

[@marcwatkin559]

Mark the ting guru great session happy new year

[@seaangling]

Marc and a Happy New Year to you too. WRT the Tings, I just don’t seem to be able to get past them but that is no excuse for this session. I was all out for a ray but it just didn’t happen. It doesn’t help when they are being caught either side of you though. 😂

[@rug199]

Hi mark another great video, we tried hurst point point today have you been there before it was a good venue but hard to keep a lead still,I’m local and like the way your showing us and trying different spots every time as I’ve been quite lazy over the years and stick to what I know, so it’s nice to see

[@seaangling]

rug199, we did talk about Hurst and a few others but as it was big tides we thought Southbourne was an easier option. I will be fishing Hurst sometime soon, what are your favourite local venues?

[@rug199]

Mark Williams Sea Angling im just outside Portsmouth, so only really do Hayling or eastney or the occasional selsey trip, I’ve become quite lazy and only fish were I know I’ve had a bit of luck, but since watching your vids I’ve been trying different places but have only been to chesil and hurst point that side of Portsmouth so far, also plan this year trying to target a few fish as still never caught a flatfish or a ray over 2lb Mark, keep the vids coming there brilliant

[@seaangling]

@@rug199 There are so many venues along the South coast we really are spoilt but fish numbers have definitely declined. I'm prepped for fishing Selsey tonight but i'm not sure how it will fish with the big tide. I will be doing a video soon of how I pick the venue, check weather, tide, satellite view etc. That might be useful.

[@tytzup5397]

Never had a dog manage to get the lid off my bait. Have had a couple piss all over my seat box though.

[@stephengosnell3107]

please could you the rigs your using close up

[@paulgoodenough8089]

Happy New Year matey

[@seaangling]

And an amazing New Year to you buddy. Tight lines and happy fishing. 🎣👍🏻

[@karlstokes874]

I used to live about 1/2 mile away from that mark,before moving to Weymouth. Im a dog owner too and if i let my dog off her lead near an angler,she'd eat the rod, tripod and ya bait! ;-)

[@seaangling]

Karl, I use to have 2 labradors that loved the beach and swimming. Which do you prefer Weymouth or Bournemouth?

[@karlstokes874]

In all honesty I prefer Weymouth. The pleasure and stone piers both fish well and what with Portland 10mins up the road,there's always a bite to be found if you try hard enough, or shelter from the sometimes savage winds! Its dead in town during the winter,just like my birthtown Poole. Funny how I always seem to move and therefore live close to the sea!!!! Divine intervention methinks. Born to fish....thats me! Tight lines mate ;-)

[@martinbeynon5897]

Hi Mark, did you live in Swansea in your youth?

[@seaangling]

Martin, afraid not but I have worked and visited Swansea a few times over the years. I was born and bred in Southampton.

[@martinbeynon5897]

Thanks for the quick reply, that's uncanny you resemble a friend of mine who moved away with the same name and characteristics. Enjoying the videos mate all the best for the channel,I've subscribed 👍

[@seaangling]

Martin, I appreciate the support. Plenty more to come.

[@Mel-he1hg]

I gather u put the turbot back being undersize ?

[@seaangling]

Mel 1 absolutely, everything gets a chance to revive in the bucket and goes back. We do, on occasion take fish but always check size limits and only take what we need. UK size limit for Turbot is 41cms.

[@michaelspencer6318]

its a turbot ,brill have slighly less sharpe edges to the shape

[@seaangling]

Thank you Michael.

[@IngloriousFishing]

That is 100 percent a turbot

[@seaangling]

Cheers Danny, you are the Turbot Master.

[@MrGregHiller]

Maybe a stupid question, but don't any of you like fish to eat ? I can't understand why you put all the fish, even decent sized ones, back into the water.

[@seaangling]

I/we do eat fish but they are few and far between from the shore. When you target a certain species and it takes multiple visits to achieve it you realise how few there are. I like catching and releasing but I do take fish when they are plentiful.

[@MrGregHiller]

@@seaangling Thanks for your reply, Mark.

[@bencarter6401]

I fish southbourne a lot, check out the vision angling KZbin channel we got a short video on there.. tides down there a lot, I prefer the high tides for small eyes, great video again

[@troywales983]

come on mark , and all other fishing people you know full well that dogs dont know hooks , so all fishermen and women should make sure that there is not a chance that a dog or any other animal can get at a bait with hooks in , we dont need to hang them in full view , its just as easy to get it out of a bucket or container with a lid on besides that i really cant see any sense in hanging a bait when gravity will pull all the juices that we rely on out of the bait when left hanging , it all comes down to common sense in the end and we dont have to spend time chasing dogs away , keep the vids coming they get better as you go on , ps ,hope you have a happy new year .

[@seaangling]

troy, you are absolutely right and I could have them in a bucket. Please excuse my rant and lack of preparation. I hope you have an amazing New Year, tight lines. 🎣

[@denismaughan6292]

This Troy is wrong, the dogs dont know about the hooks but surely the owners are aware, they have a responsibility in this also. Enjoy your vids mate.

[@troywales983]

@@denismaughan6292 most of joe public dont even know about hanging hooked baits in full view they only think its on the end of the line in the water so safe from their dog ,,just ask them and see what they say ,

[@flamintasty]

The onus is on the owner to have their dog under control at all times and not being a nuisance!!