Strangely sluggish, that is about the best description I can give on the last few days hence no glowing reports of a fish deluge on the marina. Needless too say there are factors that add too the why other than the often heard comments of “no fish boss, no fish” 🙂
Since the easterly winds that were freezing the bits of brass moneys died 10 days ago we seeming overnight got swamped by may rot. It was almost as if some giant wandered passed the marina and dumped this weird clump of snot all around both walls and there it has stayed firmly glued too the walls. The result is a somewhat strange glowing green that occasionally lets you see the bottom and fools you into thinking the water is nice and clear, dont be fooled, the fish have no love of it.
The algae bloom clogs the fishes gills and de-oxygenates the water so the fish either avoid it, or swim under it as some have found out by fishing hard on the bottom over on the east wall where the sandy bottom is more forgiving than the rocky west wall.

Now add the heat of the day too the state of the algae bloom and you may realise that fishing the shore is going too be somewhat harder than the people fortunate too have access too a boat of some form and able too find clearer marks to go fishing, not that the boat crews have had it all easy as things offshore have not all been honey and roses for them either. The mini heatwave as some forecasters put it does seem too create its own torpor and much hike how many people and pets wilt in the heat it seems the fish seem to react in a similar manner and its almost as if they are also avoiding spending too much time in the sun… or at least head too some deeper water and are far less active during the days heat.. May rot, crazy hot and bright sun and I really do feel that the fishing in general on the walls has declined slowly over the years all seem too create a period in may of very often poor fishing making things very tough for everyone.
Combine all of that with current financial issues and fuel prices plus the social media effect where people decide where to go based on fishing reports or where not too go and suddenly no one is going fishing “COZ it aint worf it” and the world waits for news of ” any mackerel, are they in yet ” and suddenly venues are quieter and the reports get less and less.

And then we all wait… n wait… n wait… n wait…. until someone thinks to themselves , fook ! I aint gone fishin 4 ages ! sod it lets go. The weird thing is that they have then forgotten why they hadn’t gone fishing for a few weeks and its almost like some sudden moment of inspiration and can’t get out of the door with a rod fast enough. Funny thing is , you can also spot them arriving on the wall as the have come loaded for BEAR with a trolley, parasol, 20 gallon container of water, 12 rods 4 tackleboxes a gas burner too cook the fish and 1 sandwich just in case ! So, who reading the last 2 lines just noticed themselves 😂😂😂😂

Now
The above may sound a bit grim but it isn’t all doom n gloom, It aint wonderful and I could big the reports well up, granted not as well as Scottish Eddie in the shop could (boy is he missed, the grumpy old sod could spin a yarn but knew his fishing shit) but believe it or not there are some fish being caught.

While we have been hammered by the sun, it seems the “long hazy days of summer” jumped in a bit early the fishing has changed a bit with the conditions (sorta makes sense eh) the early mornings, yea that god awful time of six am ish is doing ok. Granted reports can also be tidal (work that one out) but there have been frequent catches of bass on both walls both too lures and baits mostly running in the range of 3-6lb ish likewise bream have ticked over in what I would say were the most common spots they are found on the walls. I will add at this point it may be worth reading the 2 wall guides on this site as it should give you an idea of what I mean by the most common spots for bream 🙂

Some of the Bream catches have been quite decent and over the last week some anglers have sown myself or MARK their catches as they were leaving. There are still plaice out there, often hard on the bottom and I’d venture too say mostly on or over sand so for the best chance of a plaice… go east.
It seems that this year like last year in May we have seen a slow increase (catches and sizes) of smooth hounds. The bulk have been pups but one or two have been better than the norm for the marina in recent years. likewise some of the local beaches are also having a decent amount caught, granted the bulk have been too night anglers.

The marina walls do have a group of regular anglers that target mullet, (mullet Dave & Roy the obvious thought) and the bulk of them fish in the mornings, as a result I havnt had much chance too catch up on any catch info and am as I type making a mental not too find out and het an idea how that side of things are atm.

For the average angler looking for “anything” or a species count the east arm is usually the best bet at any time of year and when conditions are like they are now it would likely as not pay off too think ahead about what you want too catch & what you are likely too catch, a sort of plan ahead and prepare if im being truthful. It isnt easy out there atm so put a little thought into species targets, where they may be, tide conditions, rig types and hook sizes. lets face it if you want a plaice a 2/0 pennel isn’t the way to go. Likewise a 2 hook flapper is more likely too get you a bream/Wrasse somewhere off the bottom where rigs for flatties are usually set on the bottom. Fish mouths vs hook sizes should be thought about also. I am not trying too teach anyone how too fish, Ive more skill in pulling a blank than catching a fish but for beginners there are ways too improve your chances that a little thought and planning can help with. Of course a fish has to be there too be caught and that little bit of info I cant really help anyone with, but a little planning can often be the difference between a blank session and something on the hook other than bait.

So, any other fish ? some, but much in the way of bits n bobs. There have been occasional catches of a mackerel or two, one was landed in front of me the other day (scroll the blogs back a few days) there also have been a few flounder, not heard of any gurnards this week nor gar fish but some anglers are mentioning strange bites that are not crabs messing with lines and generally thought too be pouting or some other tiddlers such as scorpion fish/blennys n such.

Night fishing reports have been very thin on the ground as once the light has gone the bulk of people on the wall have packed for home with very few staying as late as midnight when the walls have been opened for night fishing. I had a very short dabble yesterday evening , 40 mins or so on the west, granted I was mostly chatting but as the sun went down a bit there were a few nibbles and the dude fishing in the corner by the toilet block seemed too be getting a steady tick over of what looked like small bream and pouting coming in to feed as the sun neared setting.

Things seem a little cooler today and a little overcast making the air feel a bit muggy and Saturday forecast looks too be mixed sun and overcast with temps about 24/25c late afternoon. The weekend into Tues early look decent and v warm and then we have a change as we start too get a blow arrive bringing showers. Wed Thurs as the home page indicates it looks like a probable close on the west and possibly on the east also so please keep an eye of updates. Friday seems too show a day of settling down and the big ask in my head is will it disrupt the may rot… oh please be the case !

on that final note of hope I will sign off and so, until the next shaggy dog story comes around I will bid you all ADIEU
F