Quiet paths, lonely stonechats, and the unmistakable November gloom. Sneakily, late autumn has become my favourite time of year to be on the Dorset coast, chasing wrasse. Winter is coming, and the fish know it – bites are hard and fast. There are less of them to be found, for sure, but those fish that are still ‘home’ are of a better average size than during the calmer days of high-summer.

There’s no denying the verdant furore and colour of spring, but the gloom offers something different – something quieter, moodier. More reflective. Fishing on a dank autumn day brings a sense of calm that’s hard to find at other times of the year. The light is softer now, the colours more subdued, with dark vignettes creeping in the edges.

The days are shorter and there’s a sharper bite in the breeze; there won’t be many more of these gentle sessions. Soon, the coastline will be dominated by wind, churn, and relentless turbidity. The rocks will lose their fishing appeal, with places like Portland Bill becoming places to avoid rather than explore.

For now though, there’s still time to linger – in the eerily inviting quiet. Embrace the November gloom.