Dolphins in the Solent

[topspeed]

Where are the best places to go to to try and spot a dolphin in the Solent/isle of wight area please ?

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by topspeed

Where are the best places to go to to try and spot a dolphin in the Solent/isle of wight area please ?

Think its totally random . There is a pod that lives along the coast , but that's a range of a couple of hundred miles I think .

Actually in the Solent I think is rare - but when you get down towards St Albans head and further west its more common ( though still rare) to see them.

[matt h]

Outside Dartmouth i saw a load last year, maybe someone based down there can give more of a idea

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by matt h

Outside Dartmouth i saw a load last year, maybe someone based down there can give more of a idea

Prob same pod - though I'm sure I saw a water baby behind AJs boat on Sunday

[Ian M]

The most times that I have seen them is in the Ballard Down and just outside of Swanage Bay area. Although a year or two ago we did spot some in Christchurch Bay. Not really the area that you are interested in though

[C2 RIBS]

Originally Posted by topspeed

Where are the best places to go to to try and spot a dolphin in the Solent/isle of wight area please ?

For all the hours I spend on The Solent I have not seen dolphins, occasionally seals

[Ian M]

Originally Posted by C2 RIBS

For all the hours I spend on The Solent I have not seen dolphins, occasionally seals

No, never seen any in the Solent.

[thomas]

I'd never go searching for dolphins again!!!!

I do know they are put off by the noise loads of engines in the water and head out to quieter seas.

[RAZZER]

Came out of lulworth cove a few summers ago to be met by a pod of about 15. It was a magical 30 mins watching them feed and cruse away towards Swanage
Low Speed or engine off seems tone best

[ian parkes]

My mate saw some last week heading into the entrance of the tamar from Pymouth sound near cremyl . I have seen them there before a year or so back .
both times the tide was running in very fast on a big spring , i wonder if they feed in the fast moving tide its a good fishing spot .
often see them furthar west

[cptsideways]

Poole/Old Harry's & Swanage way seems a safer bet the last few weeks, we are off out in the morning & fingers crossed we'll spot some

[Steve_B]

Only ever seen dolphins once in Alum Bay otherwise nothing further East.

Operating daily out of Poole, we have not seen our pod now for the last 3 weeks and to be honest, July & August are the months we see them least. However, occasionally in the late evening they have been sighted just off Old Harry.

Really depends where the shoals of fish are ....

Enjoy being on the water, I have found you come across them more frequently when you are NOT looking for them

Steve

[Ribshop]

After running boats in the Solent for over 20 years I have only seen one dolphin. That same dolphin seemed to sniff out Ribs as I spotted it on several occasions throughout the same year. It then got to close to a tugs prop and that put an end to that. Have seen seals even as far up the Hamble as Universal marina. The most consistent place I have spotted dolphins is just off Cherbourg marina.

[lukewhiting]

I saw some off old Harry rocks this year in may. Ive been boating round there for 6 years & that's the first time I've seen them off the boat so it's totally random!