Tactics to *avoid* Dogfish?

[FintanMorrisson]

Are there any tactics that can be employed to avoid catching dogs all the time? or is it simply a case of if they're in, they're in in packs & there's no gettin away from it really?

Yes i know its better then catching nothing, but gets kind of annoying after a while when you're hoping to catch a few different species

[nialler]

iv never known anything that deters them, have caught them float fishing an all... but when nothin else is biting i dont mind a few doggies...they can be a menace tho alright... iv often wondered why they are so abundant compared to most other species?? maybe its because they are the complete scavenger, the pigeons of the sea world :lol:

[Liamo]

if doggies are on your particluar mark and nothing else the most successful tactic I've found is go home and fish in the sink :-)

[pete]

Really small lugworm baits can buy you a few extra minutes unmolested on the seabed....enough time hopefully for something else to eat them. Still when the dogs are in full swing they'll find em eventually :?

[FintanMorrisson]

hmm... guess tryin a few new marks mightn't be a bad idea... the sink sounds good!

[thescotsman]

I'd agree with Pete about the lug, but maybe even more so. I have fished the same spots with sandeel and lug (at different times) and much much less likely to catch a dog on the lug. I've fished alongside a buddy who had sandeels up and I had lug - he got 3 doggies, I got 3 bass - not scientific I know but hey....
I wonder does the mack and sandeel draw them in if they are further off and the lug doesn't so much? I guess if they are already there you'll catch them on anything, but I suspect some baits will attract them to your spot more than others?

[aaron]

if u wanna avoid dogs just bring me out lads whenever i go out fishin it would be very rare for me 2 catch a dogfish!! :lol: im like sum non dogfish magnet!!!! i wouldnt mind getting dogs when im fishin it would be a change from pollack nd codlin,flounder, wrasee etc

[MC]

the only bait that i have never got a doggie on is lug worm, if the doggies are about i fish one rod with one hook and a fish bait, the other i use worm, that way they go for the fish bait and i have a chance of catching other species on the other rod, sometimes after a while the dogs move on, they seem to hunt in packs and move up and down the beach

[Marco]

Got 24 of them last monday mainly on lug didn't even dare to fish with fish baits. Fm what I have heard is that mussels will buy you some extra time.

[Manxfisher]

They are like taxes, you can't avoid them completely - but you still try your best ;)

I find popping up baits using a floaty bead gives other species a chance (although you still get the odd one or two prepared to swim up for the bait) and salted lugworm seems very low down on their choice of food.