What is the best bait for Smoothhounds?

Smoothhounds get caught on a multitude of baits with squid, ragworms, lugworms, sandeels and mackerel among the most successful, but the one bait that tops them all is a peeler crab.

When can you catch Smoothhound?

Smoothhounds can be caught inshore in summer, particularly in May, June, July and August. After August the smoothhounds migrate to deeper offshore waters.

Can you eat Smoothhound?

You can eat the smoothhound, but many now consider the fish as one of the UK’s premier sporting species and it is rare to see one retained. Weigh the fish with care, take a picture and savour the fish making its way back to sea through the shallows and the memory will remain with you forever!

Can a Smoothhound bite?

Smoothhound bites can vary. Sometimes they just knock the rod tip and give a little slack line. Obviously, watch the rod tip and line, and if it does fall slack, pick up the rod and wind in fast until you feel the weight of the fish.

What size hooks for Smoothhounds?

3/0
The best rigs are single hooked and clipped down behind a bait clip or impact shield. Hook size should be 3/0 in a strong pattern as this will allow the smaller smooth-hound to be hooked, while being able to handle a larger specimen which could come along.

How can you tell a tope from a smooth-hound?

Tope and Smooth hound are very similar and get to a similar size. A Tope has teeth whereas a Smooth hound doesn’t. Also the top and bottom fins just before the tail are the same size on a Tope whereas on a Smooth Hound the top one is bigger.

How do you get the Smoothhound?

Peeler crab is a top bait for smooth-hounds, but anglers also have success with hardback crabs. Smooth-hound hit baits hard and run with the bait in their mouth – even a modestly sized specimen can pull a rod over, or potentially into the sea.

How big do smooth-hound sharks get?

While they can grow to 200 cm, their usual maximum size is 150 cm. They commonly grow to 100–120 cm with a birth length around 35 cm. The reproduction of commons smooth-hounds is viviparous.

Is a Smoothhound a shark?

A large, fairly slender shark with a short head and snout, broad internarial, large close-set eyes, and an upper labial that furrows slightly longer than their lowers. The shark has unfringed dorsal fins, and a semifalcate ventral caudal lobe.

What hooks for smooth-hound?

The best rigs are single hooked and clipped down behind a bait clip or impact shield. Hook size should be 3/0 in a strong pattern as this will allow the smaller smooth-hound to be hooked, while being able to handle a larger specimen which could come along.

Are tope protected?

Tope are protected by the tope prohibition of fishing order 2008. If tope are caught on rod and line they have to be returned to the sea alive and it is illegal to harm them.