A common question though rarely asked here but often asked on the facebook group as we crawl into the winter months. The numbers on the wall tail off almost as much as the days we manage too have one or part of one wall open and the weather takes its toll on the general state of the wall. The pesky algae has often reached a stage where it is unsafe too open large chunks of the wall and combatting it takes longer too remove it than the speed it returns.
October & November have been unusually mild even if the blows and storms haven’t let up in frequency and we are slowly losing the battle too keep bays safe and algae at a manageable level. The irony of a poor year on fish numbers and the fact that we have still had access to the WEST wall, granted very limited for occasional night fishing is extremely unusual.

So, how does todays title relate too days open other than the obvious of erm its not Summer dude so naturally less will want too fish in the cold of winter ? Well a regular angler(Chris H) this year on the wall put over the comment and observation of the lack of catch reports on the marina groups facebook regarding the lack of catch reports and if you look at it he does have a very valid point.
While we may be into the winter months people do still have access too fish at least one wall & v occasionally atm access too both. Yes people are fishing it so you would think that with over 5k members on the FB group there would be at least a few more posts and catch reports, even the blanks are as such catch reports and when things are quiet, much like the supermarket adverts… every little helps.

Now, I tend too agree with him and as admin I also often see why there is a lack of posts. Some ppl are shy and just want too stay anonymous so they read, pick bits of info where they can and get on with their usual routines then go fishing and come too the blog reports & fbook groups too see how others got on. They then neglect or overlook that even their perhaps small report of a blank add too the communal posts and in their own way perhaps encourage others too post.
YUP i get that ppl are wary of posting, lets face it there are enough knobbers on FB that are happy too flame a post or have a dig about sizes etc and yes it has been an issue in the past that put people off. Lets face it, its bad enough trying too catch fish these days yet alone stick ya neck out for the arse wipes too line up and have a go. but, (coz there is always a BUT) the group had changed a bit this last 18 months. One or 2 diks have been removed and admin members are a bit more vigilant on posts and their replies.

There is protection for posters and flame type posts will get removed with offenders being warned and/or removed from the group. I have little too no tolerance of people flaming posts and maintain that if someone has an issue with a post they speak too the posted in private message & dont flame a post. All abusive posters will get removed. The marina fb group is about fishing reports and not there for idiots too hassle posters so please folks,…. if you use the FB group and have been out fishing, share it with us all. Even a blank can be dressed up too create a report of sorts. We have a multi cultural and multi racial group of anglers and the only word of real meaning there is “ANGLERS” so please, next time you visit the group to see how others got on and you was down there visiting or even fishing, drop a line or two in the group and say hi to everyone.

Sermon done, did I visit yesterday ?, yup I did even if my head was screaming too me , oi , moron, do ya know how freakin cold it is ? duh brain I know Im here aint I ?
And so, todays dose of waffle truly begins.
I reached the cafe mid afternoon too be greeted as usual by the 2 stupid dogs (they not really) & as usual Pepsi determined too sit on my lap and get 1st go at the biscuits I carry in my pocket. A quick chat with the guy running the cafe( I really should get his name fixed in my head) & a biscuit or two each for the mutts and onto the wall.
Three regulars were on the first couple of bays and I gather they had a couple of congers although I neglected too get a size estimate while I gossiped ! Bay 5 another regular had got himself a 3-4lb Bass for tea but general feeling was “things seem quiet.” The water colour was decent after 3 days of blows I had expected far more colour and a brisk northerly wind was not only chilling the air but was also putting a bit of chop too the water surface.

The down side of winter catch reports is often the lack of anglers and regularly a general lack of catch info so it was encouraging too see 12-16 anglers on the wall and a few more arriving by time I was leaving. Like yesterday today Mark has opened the wall until 10pm tonight for as Mark puts it “Squidding”
The answer too the next obvious question is YES there were squid caught last night, I dont have any numbers but yes there are still squid too be caught and my head is still struggling with the idea of not only s the east still open on a regular basis this deep into the year but that there is something else out there still too be caught other than the standard “winter mackerel” of whiting and soon too be followed by Craigs old fav of Rockling(hmmm that gives me an idea)

After chats with a few familiar faces it seemed as if yesterday was highlighted as a “whiting sort of day” of which some were decent looking fish and also a healthy size for eating. Close behind the whiting came a few conger catches and also a few dropped, a splash of schoolie bass and just too compliment the whiting some pout that seems too have become the winter bait stealer supreme. Down the sides there are still micro species of blennies and scorpion fish and as recently as 4 days there have been the occasional herring and mackerel.

All in all quite varied for only a few anglers and for those that can manage the colder conditions (unlike the old fart I am becoming) there is still a fair bit of activity in the water.
The EAST after today will be closed upto and including Saturday (unless forecast changes) and the EAST should be back open Sunday morning after a quick once over by the duty warden.

Other than a quick re reminder too share a report or 2 on the FB group I will sign off as usual , and thus, until the next one I will bid you all ADIEU
F

so, a quick write up before I pootle off to watch the Brighton home game.
hit the wall yesterday on the new wheels , yes the beast aka Christine has gone, and expecting the lower wall too be packed was suprised too only see a few regulars on the lower bays squidding. Turns out the comp was moved up a few bays too begin at bay 14.
Unfortunately for the comp the fishing mid November in near crystal clear waters chose not too play for them although there was a fairly varied species list and did clock one member of the event measuring off a goby! yep every MM counted yesterday.

catch wise its a shame the comp wouldn’t allow squid as they may have racked up quite a few but alass lures were not allowed. While talking too a few o the guys It was revealed that the potential and most likely winner didnt win due too I gather the lack of a drop net.
so what was it that got dropped or threw the hook b4 the net could erm , cough, be dropped ? twas a lump of a garfish described by a fe as huge and forgive me gents if I get the estimate of well over 2.5 lb my memory plays silly games on me. Sadly the gar was missed and fishing for them was challenging or as another put it… “fkn shyte m8”

Plenty of squid prior too the high tide and they largely ticked over for most of the day and were doing well on the lower bays. lots of ink visible on the wll yesterday afternoon and Im guesing the evidence will be washed away by this weekends blows.
WALL MAY open on TUES subject too the conditions and usual checks.

Regulars John H, and Matt B fished 74 and both had pics of what looked like the same plaice so unsure if there were 2 lumps of plaice or one but I will ask a few questions & confirm with a pic on the gallery during the next few days. Also up there was caught a guilt head bream which this year have been regular catches since march this year and good too see them recovering old nesting areas.

And thus a round up of the days fish run too , plenty off squid in daylight (as well as after dark) bass(high and low bays) pout, blennies, gobies and scorpion fish, a handful of scattered plaice some dogs and a hound pup, a fat but dropped gar fish, Im told some herring but not sure of the window they were caught in but there defo was a few landed.
all in all a tough day fishing and no doubt here that as John H said too me , “the water needed a bit of colour in it” I suspect the clear water has even confused the fish, so unusual for it not too be brown water this time of year, I guess after the next week of ups and downs the water will revert too the brown we all know so well.

Ovefffffffff

Over on thethe west an unusual oppertunity saw the wall open and although I ws only over there for a short while there were squid from the off in good numbers and a couple of early strap congers and regular Lee posted a pic of what is his personal best in a decent lump of giant sea slug aka conger. It was quickly returned after a quick pic so wasnt weighed.

Thats it from me for this weekend, off too the game shortly so until the next one I will bid you all ADIEU
F

Not only is it comp day its CRUNCHIE day.. yaaayyyyyyyyyy, thank Friday its crunchie !

On a more serious note, there is an event(Barclays bank comp) on the east using bays 5-25 so please stay clear and use other bays open.
the west will be open tonight as a one off from 6pm tonight and close as the weather craps in the morning AND THEN BOTH WALLS WILL BE CLOSED THIS WEEKEND.

Fishing wise this week has been a case of ok, decent, good, poor and today don’t know but will find out in a while I guess.
Yesterday there was very little happening other than a couple of dudes (regulars) doing well on the squid in what remains freakishly clear water for mid November, yep you can see all the sand patches as the tide drops and not the usual (for Nov) brown Windsor soup that is normal.

Temps out there are baltic so add extra layers of clothing folks or the dudes are gonna lose them brass monkey parts, the ladies I fear may lose a nipple or two it is that cold out there. WED saw a very good day on the squid during the day and lower bays yesterday were also doing ok for them while there was enough water too cast a lure.
Other species yesterday were sort of one of each almost, being Plaice, pout, a scad and a couple of minors down the side. There are still bass & congers aout and may be interesting too see how this event manages today in that will be challenging conditions.
Mondays late opening was scrapped due too lack of numbers & no point paying a warden too hang about when only 1 person on the wall at 4pm.

Reports of herring over in Seaford this week, I cant say I am surprised as they do often herald the first cold snap of the year, never quite sure which will show first so best pack a pack of sabikis for a slow jig down the side. usually they show just prior too the high tides and often it is a small window of chance too get them as they can be in and gone with in 10-15mins. A case of right time & place but I found bays 17 to 22 tend too do well for them.

Extremely unusual too have any of the wall open yet alone both for this time of year and although I do here whispers and moans about how the walls are run and the usual “oh fings aint wot they used too be.. blah blah bloody blah Mark is doing a decent job of running the walls in very challenging conditions. Worst fishing for years, loss of the busiest wall most of the year, lack of jet washing chances for the west and that is without some of the shit that goes on in the background.
He has gone out of his way too run bonus later openings on the east and also managed too get the west open when rightly under normal or past conditions anglers would have been told

“quite simply its shut” or, not open too discussion, the wall is shut, so please if you are reading this and looking too have a whine about how “things are now” give ya head a wobble, when was the last time anyone fished the wall mid November ? yea , almost never. Give the dude a break and get on with your fishing.

I will be on the wall later with some bait & bits n bobs once the shop has shut and if the trade is there the cafe will stay open a bit longer today for folks needing a warm cuppa.
On that note, while I dont have the café number (keep forgetting to ask)I am told if things are not too busy he will take orders for the wall and if you leave a mobile he will either call you when food is ready or if you bods are very lucky he may even bring up onto the wall so be nice too the café staff. its feggin cold in that cabin and they are trying too help, this time in past years the cafe has been shut for the season so if ya remember , tellem how nice it is too have the cafe open this time of year. a little TY goes a long way folks.

thats it for today, Im down on the east in a bit and then may roll over too the west about 6ish if I can cope with the cold and so, until the next one I will unusually late in the year bid you all ADIEU
F

p.s. both walls closed Sat, Sun, Mon

Update from Mark,
we have a private comp on the EAST WALL Friday daytime from bay 5 to 25 until 4pm. It is hoped if dry too have upper section of wall also open too day anglers.
Also Friday mark will Assess the WEST WALL for a potential night fishing opening but it wont be posted as a confirm until Friday morning

While it has been calm and the number of “willing” anglers there Mark has been opening or a least keeping the east open sometimes longer than posted times. often these openings are last minute and usually based on stated interest mostly for squidding
where/when possible I will post too the homepage and FB group if I have enough warning.

I didnt venture down onto the wall yesterday as I was getting “Christine” ready too be returned too wherever demon mobility scooters end up (shoved in a compacter i hope) and hopefully today I get a visit from Monarch about a new one that works normally.
Sunday there was only a handfull fishing but as I was leaving a few were ariving and looked like they would be having go for squid as from what I can see quite a few squid wer caught once the light dropped.

As said, yesterday I was getting the demon scooter ready for return and as I type just gone mid day I am awaiting a knock at the door from Monarch who are bringing a different scooter for my use. If not too late I will try and make a late afternoon run but it is beginning too look like a case of “not today”
Time will tell.
Im told that yesterday was quite good for squid and cuttle during the day but lack of numbers yesterday meant it wasnt viable too keep the wall open into darkness.
This week does look like the last of the decent weather and daytime temps are dropping quite rapidly. After this weekend we have what looks like another series of blows and I suspect that will put paid too any squidding hopes…. but , who knows as we drift somewhat into uncharted waters so to speak.

Thats it folks , and so until the next one I will as per bid you all good day and ADIEU
F

….. another dollar. yea ok I cba too think up a clever title that has some bearing on the post , but hey, shit happens , its only the depths that vary 😉
So whats been happening ?, for those in the know I can happily say the flipping QUAD behaved itself yesterday… thankfully. For those wondering what happened, well the quad should be renamed and called “Christine” because after Saturdays 2 incidents I swear it may be possessed.

I didn’t mention it yesterday as I was waffling on about the great British obsession of weather talk, but I swear the scooter is haunted or summat, thank fk its being given back hopefully as soon as tomorrow! On Saturday as I approached the east side gate I was greeted by the cafe’s two dogs with “Pepsi”(the black one” jumping up onto my lap hunting the dog biscuits I carry and so, a gentle roll too the gate & the mutt jumps off I take my hand off the accelerator/reverse lever and the scooter starts too slowly roll backwards!
The cafe owner’s quick thinking saw him stick his hands on the back of the seat to stop it as im thinking WTF perhaps the “free wheel” plunger on the scooter had worked loose hence the roll back. A swift check to realise it was fine but for some reason it haddnt applied brakes as it should when the motor is as such in neutral.

And thus having rolled back a bit I pushed the lever on scooter to go again forwards a little so I can get off and unlock the side gate… all well and good & smug me figured turn the thing off so it wont roll and then open the gate.
now at this point you just know something’s gonna happen dont ya.. unlike muggins here! Me, I go too turn the scooter off and succeed but did it turn off ? well yes followed by the biggest BUT/WTF in my life because the scooter gained a flipping life of its own and while turned off shot backwards, yes in revers but at the speed it goes forwards at full pelt… fooooookkkkkkkkkkkk get out the bloody way ppl this things gone mad. never ever has the scooter gone reverse at 8mph and trust me in fractions of seconds the freakin thing was firmly aiming at the cafe tables spooking the 2 people sat there, myself, the cafe owner and the lady in the cafe and anyone close by as I shouted warnings (or at least I think I did, hope I did) As this 5 seconds of absolute mayhem was happening and people scattering ive got my feet on the floor drying to stop the beast or at least slow the thing down while grabbing the brake lever.(yes its got a brake lever similar too a bike)

Im fairly sure it was the first time ever that I had grabbed the brake in earnest and as the scooter came too a halt I swear you could not only hear my heart thumping but could also see it hanging out of my gob..wtf, jebus creepus I think the scooter managed too shit about 10 people up in 2.5 seconds. After a rapid turning of the key on/off a few times I carefully let the brake go and the flipping thing thankfully stayed still. How did it happen ? fek knows but even the cafe owner said it was clearly off as he saw the power lights go off so even this morning I have no idea what happened. After that bit of fun I went onto the wall as normal and on way back looked at the ramp out & thought … well here goes and as normal went halfway up the ramp n let the lever go as normal aannnnnnd yep it slowly started rolling backwards & the bloody motor again kicked in at full throttle in revers… ooohhhhhh feeeeekkkk nooooo 2-3 seconds of panic as again I had too grab for the brake and stop “Christine” before it hit the wires on the “V” ! bloody hell why me ! Some dude on the upper level saw it happen and asked if I was ok etc and a bit shaken up parked the scooter on the ramp sideways on taking no chances as I got off & opened the gate too get off the wall. Do I trust the scooter ? no, do I keep using it , well yea little choice as I cant walk far without blowing my lungs but thank fek its finally going. What happened and how I have no idea and I swear the damn thing is cursed !

Why am I telling you all of this ? well tbh the fishing report is not exactly much worth reading.

Lovely clear water, quite miraculous for mid November . only a handful of people on the wall and the entire catch report is summed up in 2 words and no its not “fek all”, its ONE SQUID. I have no idea if anything else was caught but no doubt once it got dark the squid and possibly conger & sole got active as Mark again last minute(posted Sat evening) sorta thing set a 10pm close which is why at weekends in particular it is worth checking for last minute updates either here or facebook.
And with that I will sign off in the usual manner and thus, until the next one… I bid you all ADIEU
F

My old friend
ive come too talk too you again😂😂😂
No, no, seriously I have ;), especially as I did skip a midweek report when I was down last 9maybe thurs)

So whats the fk is going on out there. bad weather ? not for anglers (overall) it isnt ! I don’t think I have ever seen such clear water of the east arm EVER. yesterday I was on the pper level at bay 74 , ya know, the end bit that no one has erm seen for a while and I couldn’t believe how clear the water was. i could see the bottom! granted it was a lowish tide and I was looking down from a fair height but never mid November have I seen such clear water. usually this time of year the wall has been closed as the algae has reached the unstoppable and it is pointless jet washing. fek as fast as you could jet wash the algae would be back on the next frost or spot of rain.

yes the weather is unusually mild, yes I realise we are about too get a cold snap but in the UK who can recal things so mild mid Nov ? defo not myself. Shining clear water, visible sea bed and sunshine that is actually warming you up, a rarity, for me its a welcome pleasure too be out in, do I worry about global warming ? in all honesty NO,
Im in the camp that records over 2-5 thousand years would be better checked and compared thn what changes have been in a mere 20 years. I believe that we get huge cycles far longer than most specialists care too admit and current changes are part of the normal bigger process. I have even seen some reports suggesting that the polar ice caps are starting too regenerate and are starting too reverse much of the recent “melts”. Now if that is by mankind’s/personkind/humanities deliberate design or not I don’t know but if specialists are out there saying its changing for the good again.

And thus I get too whats being caught before I add a new theory on why the fishing this year has been so crap and RE:-the lack of pilchards in supermarkets .
So yesterdays report is fairly consistent with the past few open days and a word or two on what part of the wall is open… or not.

lets start with what is open , when and why so readers will understand the conditions we have.
The EAST is as most know still open too fish when the weather allows us too have it open.
The west is closed until itt can be jet washed in the spring
This time of year it is pointless jet washing as the levels of algae combined with winter conditions mean that the algae returns faster than we can jet wash and thus the investment in time and effort is pointless.
The east is now restricted at bay 29 and the gates beyond are locked. Anglers are asked too stay off the upper sections of the wall unless specifically directed by a duty warden.
It is extremely unusual that we have part o the wall still open but hopefully we can keep it open for as long as practical and safe.

Shit fishing year theory
So, this year has for the 3rd year in a row had a no show of spring squid and also with that a no show on the run of spring mackerel that often happened for about 10 days in April.
Add too this the general lack of plaice inshore for 3-4 years and this year a no show inshore of spider crabs followed by a virtual collapse in mackerel stock. wtf is going on.
Morocco has had the worst 2 years that most can remember on the fishing front. Why mention North Africa, simple, I suspect by now many have noticed the sheer lack of tinned pilchards on shop shelves, well, Morocco is the biggest exporter too the UK and Europe for tinned pilchards and sardines. their fishing industry has been hit by the worst 2 years most can remember.

Now, it is easy too lay the blame on over fishing but that is only a part reason. In the UK it has been very clear that fishing in the channel has been getting worse for a few years but this year IMo has been the worst i have known on the marina. Yes guilthead bream seem too be re-establishing nests offshore but the fishing has been so poor that things cant be crap for just one reason. Climate, super trawlers, general over fishing, Tuna in the channel eating everything in sight. Increasing seal populations on fishing marks, yes they all have a part too say but, and here it comes, that BUT……

A recent theory I read makes far more sense too me than any other and it involves the entire food chain or chains in the sea !
Call it crazy, call it mad but it is based on science and official figure that probably warped by the counters but here goes.
Phyto plankton & plankton.
There it is, ok, ok, I will explain.
Most food chains in the oceans have a starting point of phyto Plankton or simply Plankton. we all know many whales feed on it but so too many many other species that then in turn get fed on in a bigger fish eats bigger fish process that is easy too understand.
now here is the kicker.
The bio mass of plankton and krill has in essence collapsed. The knock on is being seen in so many species. no food = no fish in the long run.
there is a lack of phyto plankton, plankton and various krill foods in the ocean. so bigger drop is crashing into other stocks and hammering hard.
The most plentiful food in the ocean is dying because of a lack of food and in turn so many other species are at low levels as they need and feed on these micro species.
The biggest feeders of plankton as many may guess is Whales and many Whale populations are now facing alarmingly low numbers. The food stuff for whales is vanishing as it is lacking food stuff and natures best food stuff just happens too be for the plankton… animal fertiliser, yup you are now guessing it… Whale shit.
No whales = no Whale shit = no Plankton, = a collapse in Whale numbers but just as important, all those species reliant on its main food source, plankton.
No I don’t have answers but if this collapse is true the oceans are going too change fast and it paints a grim picture !

So preaching done what the fek has been caught yesterday and/or this week.
Well first news , yes there are still squid, now we have northerlies the water has clamed and cleared and we are again blessed with some decent squid fishing . The bulk of which have been caught in the dark. temps are now dropping too proper winter levels so wrap up even if you have been in T- shirts all week.

Second news, we have been invaded by dogfish, they aint fussy and they are here and hungry. yesterday again saw a small gurnard but, it wasnt Bernard as this one was smaller and on a lower bay ;). next up Our favourite insult fish … ahhhhhhh sole of which a few are showing up in daylight but are very active still after dark. Whiting while not in plague numbers are here and still also plenty of pout down the side of the wall. rays and hounds are still being reported caught, granted most as small but every now and then a plus 5lb ray shows up on the wall too peak interest.
I havnt seen a mackerel alive in more than 4 weeks now but almost in summer numbers I suspect the 2nd most caught fish this year are congers. Silver eels have thinned out (please return as they are protected) and plaice numbers are alo down this month. A few dab have been caught on the wall but like plaice the flounder numbers are very near zero. There are still a few fish too be had down the edges of the wall if you are still hunting the likes of blennies and gobies and as yet I have not noticed any rockling being caught.

Unusually varied still out there and im sure in this type up I have missed a species or two (bream just popped into my head) such as guilt and black bream are still lingering.
it looks like we have again some crap weather looming next weekend so please keep an eye on home page for any changes in openings . I suspect mark as one or 2 late openings still tucked up his sleve being as there are still squid out there too be had.

Thats it for today, and so, until the next one I will bid you all ADIEU
F

..As far as squid are concerned as after today the weather looks like it is gonna truly crap up for at least a week so please keep an eye on the home page for any weather windows where we could possibly get the east open for a session.

Yesterday after bumping into Dave Grinham by the car park and having a catch up chat I rolled the troublesome quad onto the wall mid afternoon to find things a bit sluggish but news that things had been brighter earlier. now when I say sluggish it wasn’t dead as the wall was quite busy although sectioned off at 29. This was done mostly due too the big tides this week slopping water heavily up the “Vs” and soaking much of the wall and being as the algae is starting too take a grip on the wall the higher bays that get less footfall see a faster build up and it simply isnt worth the length of time and effort too jet wash at this time of year due too how many days we now lose through poor weather and blows.

Anyhoo, as I said the wall was quite busy mid afternoon with a few familiar faces along with the newer ones. For the 2nd week of November the weather yesterday was surprisingly warm and almost like an early spring day no doubt confusing the fek out of some peoples garden bulbs(im expecting too see early daffs and bluebells if it stays this mild! )

While I realise many of the new visitors take a while too find this site some do in dribs and drabs so for the family readers I would like too say how refreshing it is too see youngsters on the wall even this late in the year and indeed some of the younger visitors are the ones bringing their parents with them too try this new fishing malarkey out also! go figure 😂 Someone should tell them parents how contagious this “FISHING” thing can be.

Now I do realise at this point there are some waiting on the fishing report and if regulars they will be scanning the lines knowing I often type in key words that stand out and thus a quick identify and they skip all of my waffling and get too the bit they want too rad so no doubt the word fishing earlier in caps short cut em too that n then they groaned having realised im in a real blah blah flipping blah kind of mindset this morning as I type too the bands and trumpets of the cenotaph remembrance parade.
Yup Im an oldish fart and I watch the remembrance service as often as I can. There are many reasons too watch even if mankind often now goes through the motions of remembrance. A shame that many younger now think of it as an almost celebration of war dead rather than a reminder of the death that war will visit upon us.
It serves as a reminder that this sort of carnage should never happen again, sadly much of it is now thought of as old history best forgotten rather than something marking the sacrifices made during conflict not just the 2 world wars but the many many smaller conflicts that have taken lives no matter the side fought for or killed almost as a by-product of those conflicts, not just service personnel but the hidden numbers of civilians killed world wide in conflicts that should have been resolved long before military conflict began. I may be preaching here but I am also making a nod(though small) too all those lost people who served and died, some of whom were in now near forgotten conflicts.
Military bands can be stirring and uplifting but also mark the sadness, the loss and the sacrifice made by so so many. For those unaware, google the “Menin Gate” service aka the last post service or simply follow this link www.lastpost.be so yes I feel it is important that the world remembers the loss and price paid in blood for “peace”

My apology for the history lesson thrust upon you all I type too distractions around me and what my brain drifts over 🙂 Anyway, back too the EAST WALL yesterday. (yes eye scanners its coming🤣)

Rolling along the start of the wall the wet patches were visible again from the big tides and water quality was unusually still quite green, murky yes but definitely not the normal brown wash that is standard for November. Often this time of the year as many regulars know we have more closed days than open as the late Autumn onto wintery weather takes hold and the sea is churned into brown Windsor soup and so expectation of catches is much higher than usual for near mid November. By now most of the fishing is from beaches rather than the marina due too close downs and expected fare once the SQUID have beggared off is the dreaded ROCKLING pout and whiting with the occasional unicorn formerly known as COD or should I say for most …. CODLING or as one marina group regular puts it “fingerpuppets”

And yes I am now deliberately waffling just too miff the scanners looking for the catch report 😉And so yesterday a quick hello on bays one & two and clocking of the decent(for this time of year) I started too see what was about(or not) on an unusually mild November Saturday.

I shall start with bay 1 even though this bit was as I was leaving the wall, the dude had hooked into something that he felt was “large” and started too reel in with drag set (I could hear the fish taking some line). Closer & closer it came with Mark & I speculating some type of ray & I remarked it was in very shallow water bit in it came and I guess the drag or rod holder was just a little too much in its pull as the line pinged as the fish threw the hood much too a few groans from those that had gathered too watch. Absolutely gutting for the angler but I guess a lesson could be learnt on not playing the fish or perhaps needing stronger or larger hooks. I am convinced it was a ray simply because about 45mins later warden and regular John pulled in a small eyed ray further along the wall… coincidence ? I think not as a few rays of various type and size have been caught in the last couple of weeks.
look at that, lines n lines of waffle before I got to the first report that was actually a non catch ! didn’t I do well 😂🤣😂

bay 4 a quick chat and was told of 2 bass that the dude had earlier, one v small and the other he thought was about 35-40 cm but wasnt sure as he didnt have his measure with him😃bet ya cant guess what I sold him😃 I have acquired some nice clear roll up tape measures, waterproof and with velcro attached too keep them neat tidy, small and best of all… rolled up. Very handy for sticking in a pocket out of the way.

And so, up to bays 7 or 8ish and came across Chris H fishing much lower than usual due too the wall sectioned at 29.A quick chat revealed a tally of 7 species, though mostly small he did clock up , sole, pout, smoot hound, conger, wrasse bass and a blenny, not too shabby for November eh.

Bay 10 similar too Chris the ppl there had had a couple of small eels a pout and a flattie they thought was plaice but no confirm ID as it went back. A quick chat with a dad on bay 12 by the steps who had (using his words) been brought out fishing by his lad🤣good for him I say 😉
On too bay 14 I sold some bait too a group of late arrivals and their neighbours on the wall told me of a “fishy” sort of morning “but had slowed a bit now” and promptly pulled out a dogfish in front of me🤣 it was then it flashed across my mind something from a few weeks ago where as I moved along the wall fish were being caught for the first time in hours as I passed the anglers and the joke sorta started that the fish sometimes follow me up the wall. bye time I got too bays 19/20 one familiar face was reeling in “another dogfish” when he leaned back turned his head, said hi, and then remarked that he likes it when I come up the wall. like a berk I ask why to get the comment “coz the fish follow u” and indeed many of the times Ive seen him on the wall he had been reeling in something as I passed him & his mate !

My second too last stop going up that wall was around 26ish where I chatted with a couple of guys who had 2 lads with them, one it seemed used too fish the wall as a kid himself and was making a rare visit too the wall with the boys who were first timers and getting too grips with a rod and casting somewhat randomly in various directions. A quick check with the day that was ok I gave the lads a few pointers such as foot positioning and simple stuff like checking its clear behind them etc and the were soon getting the hang of things and casting a bit safer. Dad if you are reading this you have 2 polite and keen learners there and I enjoyed spending a few minutes with them and can see many more fishing tris ahead of you with them 🙂

lastly going up the wall I had a chat with the dude say by the partition fence who was a tad disappointed ant not being able too get too bay 74 but understood why the restriction and we chewed the fat for a while in the late afternoon sun.
Over all yesterday ID say anglers had a “Not a bad sort of day” kind of day on the wall with bass and congers being the mainstay of the morning and then scattered catches of strap congers and small silver eels(please return these as they are protected), schoolie bass(again) wrasse, pout, sole, plaice, blennies, the afternoon produced a stream of dogfish of varying sizes a few rays including the one I mentioned for John and plenty of mixed sized pouting. A steady tick over for the bait users. As I was leaving there was a group of Asian people who were having a go for squid on the bend. I dont know how they got on but I do know that more than a dozen or more squid were caught as the sun vanished over the horizon into the dark. The wall did stay open until 10pm last night being as a few had asked MARK for a sort of last chance fling at the squid.

We have some crappy weather moving in quite fast after todays session so please keep an eye either on the homepage here or on the facebook group if you are a member for days that we do manage too get the east wall open. The west will now stay shut until the spring maintenance schedule.

And with that I will sign off for the day and prepare too scream at the TV as Brighton fc take on Palace. thus until the next one I will bid you all ADIEU
F

Its Friday, yea, wtf? I got up this morning convinced it was Wednesday! brain and body still think the calendar is fibbing too me, weird as fk feeling indeed.

Anyway, less of that wtf is going on down the road from me .. AKA the marina. and so….
East re-opened on Wednesday although I really couldnt be arsed too go down & take a look. . . some days I get up and the process of dressing and shifting my butt downstairs and shoving the kettle on can be frustratingly exhausting and the resulting knock on’s with a few sleep issues means I sometimes feel like I never catch up on rest.. once the body gets overtire then too does the brain!

Thus 2 days sorta vanished this week and i got the fkn misfiring quad out of its box, shoved on some jigs n rigs and trundled down to the east with some frozen bait.
Café was shut so no dogs too feed and defo no plans to feed the sea dogs any bait so rolled straight onto the wall. I should say here that prior too rolling up too the loch bridge I had passed one regular who told me things were somewhat weedy over the high but not over bad after the high but he had packed in early as all he was finding was them “giant sea slugs” 🤢🤮

Once on the wall it was clear that either the anglers had mostly gone home or not arrived anyway as I recon there were 4 in sight and perhaps 3-4 hidden around the bend. First thing too notice was how wet the lower level was with one dude fairly paddling with his shoes n socks off due too the large 7m+ tide still being pushed by a SEasterly breeze that resulted in rollers spilling in and up the “Vs” flooding the lower level often with 4 inches of water right down too bay one!.

Of the few there I did learn that most of them had done ok for a damp and watery Thursday in November. As a quick roll up there were , congers and silver eels coming all over the place as well as a few sizeable bass had over 4lb. On the bend of the wall there was dogs & even a plaice over the rougher ground with whiting, pout and at least one decent sole caught. All I know of caught on Wednesday was a couple of bass but that doesnt mean there were not other fish , the report simply hasnt reached me.

Fairly weedy as the tide comes up atm but soon clears as the tide turns.
Thats it from me today , so until the next one, as ever I will bid you all ADIEU
F

Well some would say the weekend starts here, I guess its a matter of choice !. The walls are now closed today and Saturday & while it is hoped oo have the EAST open on Sunday that really is down too how the weather plays! nice or nasty is the thing, currently things look as if its on :).

Catch report for yesterday ? well tbh there is very little too say. I had a chat with Roy and also Edward, he of the Ray, who Ironicly had the only fish I had heard caught yesterday and guess what…. yup another ray for him, defo must be his week too shine !.

Conditions were crapping up yesterday quite quickly and I was down about 2pm ish and the wind like the tide was firmly on the rise. I don’t know if the wall did stay open until 5 but it very much looked like the waves would eventually roll along the lower bays as the wind and tide surge spilt over the v’s and along the wall.

I have been informed that the EAST wall at Shoreham has been temp closed for reasons I have been asked not too give hear but it is at time of typing this unclear how long it will remain shut for. I understand that SHAKO members will post of any changes in situation there and thus if I do get the info will post up on when it can be expected too re open.

Thats almost it for today so if you are out and about in Brighton on Sunday and not fishing and fancy something too do, the seafront will again be welcoming the old cars taking part in the yearly verteran London to BTN car run. and finally, if you are fishing this weekend and at a loss for worm, I gave got my hands on some frozen black lug.
And with that I will sign off and until the next one I will bid you all, as ever ADIEU
F

No apologies today for a lack of blog pages but I’m sure most of us have days where things don’t mesh or feel right and the body and mind simply fail too not only co-operate but both fail too even get out of the starting blocks.
Well, RE:-those “days”, my body has a way of turning those off days into off weekends and occasionally Fully loaded OFF WEEKS ! thankfully it was more of a case of just a few days around the weekend!
Anyhoo, catch reports, erm (think brain think) when the F! was it, what day, damn gonna need too now scroll facebook backwards for a reminder… tick…tick tick..

And thus brain refreshed and, …. whats been going on since my last post ?.
well, Thurs & Fri last week were a close down, and then a re open on the EAST only for the weekend. poor too average conditions as expected after a blow with a water colour that looked as if someone had tipped milk into the sea by the lorry load. Bad ? not at all and as the day panned out there were plenty of Dover Sole being caught of which some were almost big enough too feed 2 people. Also on the agenda over the weekend and I include Sunday as we all know that Sat Sun s the weekend were the rays being caught.
Quite often on the wall we see mostly 2 types being thornbacks and Undulates but the weekend saw a mix of various rays although I wont stick my necck out too far what I can gather was there were not just the usual thornies and Undies. I suspect one or two I saw were small eyed rays and spotted but I will admit that my ID skills with rays is quite limited.

Saturday also saw the obligatory dogfish showing up in catches as well as small hounds , pouting and yes I swear Bernard the Gurnard even showed up on his now familiar bay !. Id tell ya all which bay but I few for the poor buggers health. Bernard ya see is quite small and sooner or later I suspect someone will catch him and bonk him on the noggin(head) and while Bernard loves the worm he is being fed he does prefer too be put back once people have taken a quick snap o his bright colours 🙂

As it turned out 2 or 3 of Bernard’s mates also got caught on Saturday while on the Sunday it sort of turned into a late burst of Guilt head Bream for some. As well as the Bream there were again some nice sole caught in similar conditions to the day before. Sunday saw NO squid although one had been caught the day prior and I sorta expected at least one on the Sunday also. Congers, rays and dogs fairly made up the rest of Sunday.
The west ended up staying closed due too poor and wet conditions and Mark has now with the clock roll back declared the new hours ready for the winter as
WEST WALL closed until spring
EAST 7am til 5pm when weather conditions allow.

Monday saw the walls closed again as the forecasts get a bit erratic due too various weather systems pushing the winds onto the walls although we did re open on Tuesday for a 3 day burst prior too the next batch of winds hit the coast.
Tuesday saw very coloured waters and I lack full reports from then other than being told it was a Conger day down there for those that enjoy hauling out giant sea slugs 😉🤢although as you may guess that hey are not my thing even if they do avoid a blank day on the wall.
Tues evening I had considered paying a visit on th wall for Wednesday but in all honesty it pished down most of the day and my brain rapidly decided on a FK that so I stayed home in the warm and dry of my home. That said one or two younger and brave sould did gear up for the wet conditions and Edward was rewarded with a couple of Rays one of which went 6.7lb and I suspect is a small eyed ray, what do folks here think it is, guesses on an email(link bottom of home page) no prizes just curious as too what others think.

Anyhoo, WD Edward on putting up with some truely wet conditions ang having a decent ray as pay off. Quality’👏👏👏
And with that I feel up too date although no extended fish reportsa its as good as it gets for now as I hadnt really been down for a few days for more detailed info.
The wall is open today (thurs) and then closed Friday and Saturday and it looks like we have a small window on Sunday in amongst the blows so hope too be open snday with another close expected Monday BUT THINGS CHANGE quickly so will do m best too keep the homepage upto date as much as possible.

And with that I am done typing for the day but hope too post an update tomorrow… and thus… as ever I will say one more, until the next one… I bid you all ADIEU
F
PS… that ray from Edward