Gjerrild Nordstrand

The coastal sandbar is characterized by shifting water depths, where the bars are often made of sand that gathers between the deeper parts. These types of coasts can be exciting to explore, especially when great variations in the tide occur. The deep parts between the bars are called rip channels, and depending on the water level, the predatory fish will migrate over the bars and both in and along the rip channels. In spring, when the water temperature is rising, you can experience some fascinating sea trout fishing between these bars.

Along with the eelgrass, bladder wrack is the most prevalent aquatic plant along the Danish shores. This seaweed attaches itself to smooth surfaces such as rocks, gravel, and other variations on the bottom. The bladder wrack is a good hiding place for food options and fish. Bottom conditions with bladder wrack are good indicators of fish being nearby.

Even though walking around on rocks along the coast may feel annoying, it’s often a good indicator of the presence of optimal bottom conditions for the sea trout and its food options. Everything from pebble to huge chunks of granite provides cover for sand hoppers, shrimp, and small fish. If there are waves, these food options are easily whirled up into the water column. A rocky bottom can be good all year round, but especially so during the cold months with few food options in the deeper water. A rocky bottom at a good depth also attracts other predatory fish such as cod and garfish.

In many fishing spots, large areas of the bottom are covered in sand, and often the coastal angler will skip these areas since they don’t seem like much. However, it’s worth considering that many small fish like sand eel and sprat often migrate across the sand bottom, and they have sea trout and other predatory fish chasing them. On days with waves, unclear water, or dimmed lighting, you’ll likely find predatory fish in these areas. The sandy areas along the deeper water or close to dark areas can be true sea trout magnets.

When the coastline makes a dramatic turn and/or forms a kind of reef or isthmus, we call it a point. Similarly to a reef, points will often experience a more significant current, since the waters are here being pressed by. This yields great water circulation and is thus a good indicator of a sea trout spot. The water surrounding a point can be very deep, which means fishing for more species becomes an option, particularly during the warm months when the water temperature is high.