How to Catch Smooth Hounds from UK Shores: A Guide to Hooking Britain's Bulldog

Smooth hounds – they’re sleek, stubborn, and fight like a middleweight boxer with a grudge. Pound for pound, they’re one of the hardest-fighting fish you’ll find cruising British shorelines, and if you’ve never tangled with one, you’re seriously missing out.

They don’t come with Hollywood jaws or razor teeth, but don’t be fooled – these shark family members bring serious attitude to the beach. If you're ready for howling drags, bent rods, and bragging rights down your local tackle shop, this is the guide you need.

The smooth hound is revered by many as the best UK sport fish to target.

The Smooth Hound Fight Club

Let’s get this straight: smooth hounds are sport fish royalty. They don’t leap like bass, and they won’t wrap you around a snag like conger, but when it comes to long, bulldog-style runs and refusal to give in, nothing quite compares.

Fish in the 6–12lb range are standard, with monsters topping 20lb caught every year – especially along southern and western coasts. They're clean fighters too, perfect for light tackle battles you’ll remember long after the tide turns.

When and Where to Catch Them

Timing matters. May to September is peak smooth hound season in the UK, with southern and western shores leading the charge – think Bristol Channel, North Wales, Kent, Essex, and the Lincolnshire coast, in the north west, Morecambe Bay has some great hound marks.

Look for sandy-to-mixed ground marks, estuary mouths, or surf beaches where crabs are abundant. Hounds love to forage over clean ground with plenty of scent in the water.

Rig It Like a Pro: Pulley Rigs and Pulley Pennels

Want a setup that keeps your bait in top shape and handles a powerhouse run with grace? Enter the Bait Butcher Pulley Rig and the mighty Bait Butcher Pulley Pennel Rig.

Why these rigs work:

• They keep the bait streamlined and castable.

• They allow for natural presentation over clean or slightly rough ground.

• The pulley action protects your hook length on the retrieve.

• The pennel variation is ideal for mounting big crab or squid baits, giving you extra hook exposure for better hook-ups.

If you're serious about smooth hounds, ditch the gimmicks. These rigs do the business – time and again.

Bait Buffet: What’s on the Smooth Hound Menu?

Forget your frozen mackerel strips. Smooth hounds are crustacean connoisseurs, and they’re fussy in the best possible way.

Top bait options:

• Peeler Crab – the undisputed champ. Wrap it tight with bait elastic and let the scent do the talking.

• Hardback Crab (hooked live or halved) – another go-to in crab-rich areas.

• Squid (whole or strip) – excellent as a cocktail with crab.

• Crab & Squid Cocktail – the surf-and-turf no hound can resist.

• Hermit Crab – underrated but deadly.

Tip: Wrap your bait tight, thread it on carefully, and use a bait clip on your rig to ensure everything flies out straight and lands intact.

Tactics and Tips

• Fish the flooding tide – especially 2 hours up to high and the first hour down.

• Cast beyond the breakers – but don’t always aim for the horizon; some hounds cruise surprisingly close in.

• Keep the rod tip high – smooth hounds love to run. A high tip gives better bite detection and more control during the fight.

• Use scent trails – if the crabs aren’t moulting yet, pre-soaked baits or crab oil can help trigger interest.

• Be patient and hold on – they don’t always belt off like a turbo-charged mackerel. Sometimes it’s a thud… then a tug-of-war.
  

Gear Up for Glory

You don’t need to remortgage your house, but smooth hounding does reward proper kit.

• Rod: A decent beachcaster (4–6oz rating) or continental rod with backbone.

• Reel: A tough fixed spool or multiplier loaded with 20–25lb mono or 30–50lb braid.

• Hook size: 3/0–5/0, preferably forged and strong. Circle hooks work well for clean hook-ups.
  

Handling & Conservation

Smooth hounds are tough but deserve respect. Always wet your hands before handling and support the body – they’re not designed for hanging vertically.

Quick photo, smooth release, and let them fight another day.

Final Thoughts: Join the Smooth Hound Club

If you haven’t chased smooth hounds yet, what are you waiting for? Big fights, accessible marks, and tackle-stripping runs – what’s not to love?

Just make sure you’re rigged right with a Bait Butcher Pulley Rig or a Pulley Pennel Rig, and come armed with quality peeler crab or squid. You might lose some bait to crabs, but when that rod arches over and line starts melting… you’ll know it’s worth it.