Guide: How to catch more sea trout on the shore

Sea trout is the coastal fishermen's favorite diligence prize. You can catch the coveted fish everywhere along the Danish coasts, but to make the hunt for silverware easier for you, we have gathered the best tips and tricks on how to catch more sea trout on the coast.

Catching sea trout is not easy - let's fix it right away. Yes, in fact, coastal fishermen catch on average only 0.24 fish per year. hour, they fish, shows figures from DTU Aquas Fangstjournalen from 2016-2019 - ie one fish every four hours.

It takes patience and ambition to be a Danish coastal fisherman. There is no doubt about that. However, I believe that with a little basic knowledge about sea trout and their habitats, you can catch more fish and thus get more positive experiences along the Danish coasts.

Where can you find the sea trout?

You can find sea trout everywhere along the Danish coast. And with 8,750 km. coastline you have ample opportunity to find your own favorite spot. But to make your fishing along the Danish coast more concentrated and efficient, there are a number of special things you should be aware of that typically define a good fishing spot.

Large rocks, long seaweed belts and scattered bladder seaweed bushes are guf for the sea trout and therefore also guf for the sea trout fisherman. In addition, coastlines with deep water close to land and adorned with stone or seaweed reefs out front are also good offers for fishing magnets.

The recipe is varied bottom

Summarized in one sentence, a varied bottom is a great place to find sea trout. You can check if the bottom conditions are varied by looking at an aerial photo of the coast - for example via Google Maps.

Here you need to keep an eye on whether the bottom regularly changes between light sand and dark spots of seaweed and stones. This type of bottom condition is called "leopard bottom" in the angling world. And if you find a leopard bottom, you can count on fish - then it's just a matter of serving them something they want to bite on.

What gear do you need to catch sea trout?

Gear is important. Preserved. But it is not the quantity of the gear (or the price) that determines whether you catch a lot of fish - at least not if you just have the basic gear in order.

In my world, as a spinner, you need an 8-9 foot fishing rod, a reel, a good wicker line, and a few different baits you believe in. I'm not a fan of having many different baits - for me it's about having a few different ones I believe in. Therefore, it is also typically a Savage Gear Sandell or Seeker that sits at the end of the trap. If your bait imitates a sandeel, you'll probably catch the fish when you find them. Promise.

If you are a fly fisherman, a class 6 rod of 9 feet with a suitable WF line is typically a good choice - and then of course you have to have the flies in order. Here are STF prawns in neutral colors, Polar Magnus for winter fishing and Brenda three classics.

Go to the tackle shop with you and buy a few varieties of your favorite tag so you are ready for the high season.

When is it easiest to catch sea trout?

It's easiest to catch fish when you have the bait in the water… you may have heard someone say? But if you go a little statistically, there are actually some specific seasons where the probability of catching sea trout is greatest.

According to DTU Aquas Fangstjournalen , most sea trout are caught in March and April, sharply followed by September and October. But if we dive into the statistics, September is actually the most efficient month in terms of the number of hours you need to catch your fish.

On average, in 2016-2019, just under 0.4 fish were caught per year. hour in September. This is equivalent to spending a little more than two hours by the water to catch one sea trout - compared to April, which otherwise tops the list of catches, you need to spend an average of about four hours catching one fish.

September is the best month

September - and autumn in general - is statistically the best time for sea trout fishing on the coast. However, this does not mean that it is the best time to fish for sea trout for you - it could be that you have an absolutely terrific winter place in the backyard, or you prefer a warm summer evening?

Winter, summer and spring each have their own charm, and in general you can say that in winter you have to find hot water, whereas in summer you have to find cold water. Therefore, you should also get up early and go to bed late in the summer, where the fishing typically takes place in the morning and evening, when the water has not yet been warmed by the sun. In the winter you can sleep long and reach home for dinner, and in the spring you have a little more free rein and they can find the fish everywhere at any time.

Hit the fishing spot at its best

And then just a few questions you should ask yourself while sitting there with your calendar, the weather forecast, Google Maps and your urge to get to the coast.

1. Is the place I look at best at high tide or low tide?
2. Where does the wind come from?

Be sure to time your trip to the fishing spot so that you hit high or low tide depending on the conditions that are best for the spot. It takes experience or a little research work on Google to find out, but it may turn out to be well spent. And then you can hit the place where there is a little wind, so that the water is shaken around a bit (but without it getting cloudy) - the sea trout love to hunt around in.

How to fish?

Fishing for sea trout takes place in motion. At least until you find the fish along the coast. It is usually a bad strategy to stand still in one place unless you know the fish are right in front of you - for example because you see them splashing around the surface. If it turns out after a while that the fish are not in the hook, the right tactic is often to change the bait - that is, change the color, size or gait of the bait you present to the fish.

However, the fact that you do not see the fish in the water does not mean that they are not present. Far from. Here it's just a matter of locating them, and the easiest way to do this is to fish all over the place from end to end. In practice, this is most easily done by taking two to three steps forward between each throw. That way, you are constantly moving across new water.

If you do not find the fish on the first tour of the square, you can take a new trip across it or select some special hotspots with large rocks or seaweed bushes and give them an extra try.

Sea trout fishing is often about being in the right place at the right time. And that means you need to know your seats. Therefore choose 3-4 seats and get to know them. Some places fish best in low tide and others in high tide - and you usually only learn this when you have been to the place quite a few times.

Conclusion: So how do you catch more sea trout on the coast?

To optimize your coastal fishing for sea trout, there are a number of things you should consider. And to cut it all out of cardboard how to catch sea trout on the shore, I have gathered below the five most important elements you can take with you to increase your chance of catching more sea trout (at least in my book).

1. Select 3-4 fishing spots with good bottom conditions and get to know them
2. Do not let the bait selection in the tackle shop tempt you - buy only the few baits you truly believe in
3. Walk many miles and fish a lot of water
4. Spend many hours by the water
5. Time your trip with the weather

Bum. That was it.

I hope you have become wiser on how to catch more sea trout on the coast. Finally, leave a comment if you have any questions.