Formations of rocks, gravel, or sand created by current, wind, and weather form a compressed and lifted seabed, which provides fish with optimal conditions. There is often a huge water flow on these reefs. The depth is often greater on the sides of a reef, which means that the current will often be stronger there. Shoals of smaller fish roam in proximity to reefs in order to hunt, since the small food options are whirled around in the current. In their wake, the sea trout and other predatory fish follow. Reefs are useful spots year round, and they are optimal stops for sea trout when they migrate. Spending more time than usual on such a spot can easily be worth it.
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.
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.
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.