Sort of. Ok, after a day+ of being shut the west reopened this morning and will defo be open for night fishing Tonight and Thursday but FRIDAY a bit of a different beast as winds seem too be picking up and will be closely monitored too see how the coming blow impacts the marina.
No issues too having the EAST WALL open as the system is mostly westerly and the impact will be minor that side.
Saturday we are hoping the projected forecast is over playing it but it does mean there may be issues for night fishing and we will update people as we get the info in so Fri/Sat will remain as TBA re night fishing.
Sunday east defo open but there may be a delayed start too Sunday on the WEST WALL so please keep an eye out for updates. Beyond this weekend things look better and calmer so hopefully we will see an increase in squid catches.
Not a great deal too say re how fishing has been over Mon & Tues on the east and my head space has been occupied elsewhere for a day or two.
Both walls are open as is the west tonight and tomorrow for night fishing. Sunday night had seen a steady plod of horse mac caught from about 9pm and I managed too be clear of the wall by 11pm ish
Thats it for today, a nice short one especially for Mr CH 😉 yea he knows im pulling his chain a little but not intended too hurt just my odd idea of humour.
Thats it for today so im gonna beggar orf and so, until the next one I will bid you all ADIEU
F
Author: drenai
An odd title for today, mostly because I have been ear wormed by an old tune that popped into my head mostly because of one or two, well a few comments while on the West wall the last two evening/nights, so advance warning Chris😉I know ya read this and I’m gonna waffle for a bit b4 I get to the fishing report that in a way is also part of the reason for todays odd title. but if ya want too short cut my waffle I will do the day report bit with a “skip too here “ marker for those that want too quick scroll
Lets begin 😂, so, as many must be aware by now I have been giving my time up most evenings the west wall has been open at night. mostly too deal with a few issues that got over highlighted a week or 3 back. Little things such as lighting that had got out of hand on the wall, fish management and car batteries mostly but also in general helping the night warden(s) with the extra surge of anglers wanting on the wall in the evening now that we only have the one wall open at night.
Im pleased too say that nearly all have been happy too make some minor adjustments so that the wall can comply with requests too bring the light levels down on the wall in darkness. When time I have over the last 10 days or so handed out blue transparency paper that then dulls the glare of the many 2000 to 10,000 lumen headlamps in use and in some cases over large lights in use on the wall.
Its not perfect but changes are being made and it is noticeable so to all those anglers ty for making the process almost trouble free. Likewise the message about leaving car batteries at home is also getting there.
Regarding numbers on the wall at night we do need too carefully monitor numbers, lets face it, no one wants too be in a bay with 7 rods and 6 other people at night and for this reason at times we do have too shut the main white gate enabling us then too keep control of the numbers, carry out ticket checks (yea some would say to get more money but…) that allow us too pin in our heads who is due too be leaving/staying and where free bays may be or are free. This also means that we can get leaving anglers moving allowing anyone waiting at the gate too get onto the wall and fishing.
This weekend the numbers were particularly heavy resulting in the gate on Saturday being closed as early as 5pm! I got down there about 6.30pm and the gate was controlled almost one in /one out until 11.30pm! Yes , people queued over a 5 hour period with some waiting almost 3 hours!
WHY so long ?
We run the wall as most know via issued tickets that wardens add (usually) the time on them, it helps us track how long people are in place fishing especially if one warden shift ends and a new dude starts. Once dark it is harder too track people so tickets are fairly often checked when busy but that also takes time. Many already know that a minimum session time would be 8 hours and for those that get tickets at the 6 o’clock session start they will get 12 hrs. so 1 person will have a valid ticket 8 to 12 hours never less.
We usually allow some grace time for ppl too pack up which is why as new people are brought onto the wall wardens will often ask the new ppl to wait on upper level while those packing can do so without being crowded allowing a problem free bay change over.
Now all of the checks in the dark do need doing when we are busy and especially when we have a queue at the gate. (Saturday we had at times upto 30 wanting too be on the wall fishing,)
IM PLEASED TO SAY that sat & Sun night that near everyone waiting were well behaved even when they had been waiting some time too get onto the walls. Some even went as far as saying once settled that they “got it” once they saw how busy the lower levels were 🙂 It does make the wardens job much easier when people are patient, reduces explain time thus allows us too get on with bay checking.
As part of the number controlling it has been decided that at night the general public will be declined admission this making the wall at night “Anglers only” it is tough enough already for the night wardens monitoring numbers and if we have general walkers on the upper level and perhaps deciding too have a wander along the lower levels they put themselves at risk and often cant be seen until too late so just for basic safety reasons it makes sense too limit the night wall to those fishing and those who have paid too be with anglers on the lower levels.
Ok, I have already waffled loads and not really said about the one or two comments that sorta triggered the title.
From behind the keyboard I never really have a true idea who does or doesnt read the blogs. From time too time someone will be chatting too me when suddenly i will hear the comment or something similar too ” ahhhh your Frank! its you that does the blog” That sort of thing and then sometimes a few words are said about a report or just general comments on likes/dislikes even some asks about the occasional reminders I mix in with a days blog such as words about crab sizes or a protected fish etc ya get the idea.
I do actually enjoy the feed back, it tells me there are more than the 10 avid readers I sorta joke about reaching etc but not only telling me about who is reading but it also gives me feedback, good or bad please let me know if you see me on the wall.
On the fishing facebook group I regularly talk about how good it is too talk, I genuinely am a “dont give a sh one tea” regarding colour, creed, language, race or hair colour, even the bald ones. The group is there for those wanting fishing info, as is this website and blog. As far as im concerned everyone has fishing in common no matter where you come from, live or what choice of language. Hence Im a strong believer in
Talk too the ppl in the next bay, say hello, break the ice or ask for help, what ever it is get chatting, anglers usually are a friendly bunch so please dont be put off by someone louder than you perhaps in a different language, fishing is universal.
Now I know one dude is reading this at some point who will recognise the above bit about talking because we had the same talk last night up near the toilet block after he had with 4 mates waited 3+ hours too get on the wall fishing 😊 And yes when the wall is packed finding space for 5 too fish in safety can be problematic at the least & tough a F*** on a busy packed wall. Im pleased too say the dude got it and was well behaved while they waited and had made a point of coming back n chatting with also praise for all the marina wardens.
YES it is GOOD to TALK, so please, try it.😊
So, why the title ? well its good too talk is very true, the last 2 nights I have had people stop and chat now that they realise it is me that does this ramble in text and most actually enjoy how it generally gets aid out from spawning in my head. Multiple people, multiple nationalities and languages all there too fish. Once the negative bits are removed most anglers show how they can get along with each other, no borders and even the obvious language barriers sometimes there people find a way too be understood.
Quite a good world we live in if ya ask me, and when you stop and think on that you start too realise that the world holds so many differences with people and yet, we find something in common and all the barriers fall away, quite a world eh😉 so yea ,
WHAT A WORLD
So I will print here 2 lines of the chorus from the old Benny Hill tune…
What a world, (what a world) what a place, (what a place)
Ain’t you glad you’re a member of the human race?
yup I am 😊
OK, for the short cut ppl
“skip too here “
So, Sunday, It seems that the night before was fairly naff, i only saw 5 or so fish b4 1.30pm though probably I missed a few and the only other news was that some squid were caught about 3-4am but mackerel wise it was very quiet for a nightime over the last 10 or so days.
Over on the EAST WALL Sunday morning the bend saw a reasonable number of mackerel caught no full buckets but fair numbers, Higher up wall regular John was having it away on Sole and Congers while adding in red mullet guilthead Bream(one of his best catches im told) on a mix of frozen mackerel and bait he had dug himself so a fairly productive morning.
I lack info for the EAST mid afternoon but when I got over that side about 6.30-7pm there were a few mackerel coming up and as the light faded there were horse mackerel also starting too be caught.
Water quality on the EAST WALL was far better than the WEST. A decent green shine too the water contrasted heavily with the cloudy and quite dark colour of the WEST WALL. Perhaps that is why the mackerel were playing more that side than the early evening on the west.
Like Saturday the west was very busy, and full when I got there about 4.30pm too see if I could help out with the numbers etc. As mentioned above the gate had been closed quite early both evenings especially Sunday as the wall was full before 5pm! It was clear too me even then that we would have too queue people at the gate especially as there had been many arrivals between 3pm and 4pm, yup add a minimum 8 hours too their start time and you realise 4pm tickets if they say will be there until midnight ! erk!
Lots of juggling and playing a grown ups version of switch-a-roo began earlier than it had the night before.
FISH tell em about the fish mr P !
yes thankfully there were , but it was a slow start and at times an almost stop sorta thing. The west had been tough going all day, lots of string weed in the water and the light breeze was pushing more colour against the wall instead of cleaning the tides water quality meaning very few fish. All weekend the EAST WALL out fished the west by a country mile. If you want mackies your best bet ironically is on the EAST WALL, trust me on this, go too the east it is fishing better atm.
So did the fish show early evening >? hardly at all and yet I knew there were decent numbers showing on the east and loads of free space. 5+ hours of people queueing too get on the WEST and for some a 3 hour window of fish missed ! sods law I guess.
It wasn’t until dark on the west that some fish started too show and the numbers slowly started too pick up about 9pm. I managed too get off the wall about 11pm last night as numbers wanting on the wall slowed too a dribble and there were plenty of horse mackerel coming out and into BOXES yay the message is getting out, catch em look after em and BOX em up as you go, we do need a bit more work on the kill your fish if you are keeping them but hey, change takes time and I realise that. Have not seen any wall reports as I type (other things too do) so perhaps I can get an update later from whoever is working.
WEST WALL closed now for tonight and Tuesday, will be back open Wed morning and then open all night for fishing on Wednesday night.
Thankyou all for those who had the patience too wait at the gate this weekend, it makes the wardens job much easier and it sorta makes you realise this world does indeed hold a few surprises from people, so yea
🎵🎵What a world🎵🎵
Thats it, all done for today, ya can all go rest your eyes for a while 🙂 well until the next one I post eh 😂😂, and soooo, until the next one I will bid you all ADIEU
F
For a round up/ update or what ever ya want too call it 🙂
so, bar yesterday most of the past week has been dominated by a westerly weather system and at times was pushing tons of water over the west wall hence we had too have a few shut downs here n there. fairly typical of a British Autumn.
Yes I hate too say it but we are into the Autumn which means we either get the weather that resembles the old saying of a late Indian Summer or we get Squalls or full blown storms sweeping in of the Atlantic, I hope I’m wrong but the long range weather dudes are already talking doom n gloom with talk of “el Nino” and the gulf stream wanting too play at its worst causing disruption by way of 4-6 day blows !, as I said….
I hope not but summat feels like its crawling up my neck and it aint the wifes fingers!
So on that cheery note you may be wondering if anyone has actually caught any fish this last week.
Well, despite the WEST wall doing it’s open & shut tricks the east has atually fished quite well when open.
Observant visitors may have noticed that we have now adjusted the close time of the
EAST WALL too 8pm too comply with the agreement on when the east wall is open/closed and being as the light is now rapidly going by 8pm that is the current close time of the east meaning anyone fishing that side need too be packing in time for the duty warden too have things clear and closed in good time.
Catches on the EAST have during the week included Bream, Plaice, some very decent Sole, Bass, Congers and European/silver eels Gurnard, red mullet with plenty of smaller species just down the side of the wall such as Gobies & Blennies as well as a lot of , well, I shall call it whitebait but basically a mixing pot of fry from Bass, Mulley and Pollack if you was too look closer. very varied but not all at the same time. Some days there have been hard work and others have been very productive so summing that up Id say somewhat hit or miss days.
I have deliberately not mentioned the obvious species that most ask about and Id hazard a guess that with the naff weather blowing along the south coast last week that the sensible ones that think about conditions, and sorta know what too expect would no doubt think, don’t bother with feathers, water coloured and very weedy from the wind and pointless expecting Mackerel.
Well….
Just too prove a point and make the fish predictions a farce they came out too play on the east most days it was open. By my standards of seeing things on the marina over the years Id say there wern’t load but there were catches almost every day on the east when open. Granted they came in smaller clusters/shoals and mostly over the day time high tides but, just too prove that the normal conditions for catching mackies can be thrown out the window.. well the buggers threw the normal out and sorta rewarded those that got their winter gear on too avoid potential waves and water spouts in the wind meaning that there were mackerel caught near every day last week on the east wall when open.
SOOOOO….. how about yesterday.
Well Lets start with the bollocks bit that prob wont interest many here bar perhaps one of the marina residents who regularly fished the walls until age related health sorta took its toll on him. Id say a bit of an old school type and always makes time too stop and chat and ofetn some days I find im somewhat busy and regret that I dont have time too say hello a bit longer.
Why am I padding this out you may wonder ? well Like myself Resident John has an interest in BHAFC and used too regularly cycle out to Falmer pub on match day…
So the bollocks bit, the game was flipping awful from a Brighton view point, the team were out run, out fought and so disjointed it looked like a game from the next division down, BHA were piss poor for well into 75 mins before the team even got it together, we defo stole a point yesterday and Leeds fans must be very miffed they never finished things off with 2-3 more goals but we snatched an undeserved draw.
So why link in the footy rather than fishing ? well thats how my day went or started and a crap 1st half then got worse. The wife dived out (not literally) too grab us both a beer, Queued up as ya do and as she got too the serving tills a space opened up too her left , a quick look and no one seemed too be there waiting as nearest dude was talking too someone behind em, thus she stepped across & ordered. As she got the beer this dude who was behind got right in her face shouting about queue jumping and somewhat threateningly leaned closer n said in her face near nose too nose ” I now got your face” leaving her well shook up n stressed. Turns out the dude was a Leeds fan in the BTN home section who Ironically was sat 5 rows in front of us, yes he has been reported and the club have the seat number. Needless too say that incident soured the rest of the game and tbh was glad too get away from the ground & calm down a bit.
On the fishing front I got a message about 4.30 saying both walls v busy could I come down early !😂 ah the irony of being asked can I leave a game early when I mock the hoards that do leave games 10 mins b4 they finish! But no I didnt leave early in fact a broken down bus at Falmer station caused widespread chaos around the local roads delaying me even getting home too get the quad out of the shed.
Eventual arrival on the WEST WALL was close too 6.30pm and yes the main white gate was closed, the wall at a glance was rammed and Mark was doing his best too control a very busy wall and the queue of frustrated anglers wanting on the wall despite the lack of room. Needless too say the next 4 hrs were crazy busy shuffling people about, checking tickets and start times while constantly being asked for weights & feathers. Needless too say yesterday was one of those days that the scooter was heavily used but, and this is a big BUT, I didnt have time too load any for the gear onto the scooter so most had too wait until I could find time too get at the weights etc. and meanwhile by 9pm the queue had grown somewhat towards 20 or so people waiting too get onto the wall.
Anyone reading here that were waiting last night I will say ty for your patience, most realised it would take time too get people onto the wall and at times we had more leaving that were being let onto the wall simply because the extension had been fully booked with mark and the daytime anglers coming off while leaving spaces were simply clearing bays for the incoming bookings .
Over on the main part of the wall which is a case of 1st come first serve we had a large number of people of which only half or so were actually fishing as families, friends & partners has all been on the wall for a day out. Needless too say then that more were leaving than going onto the wall and as things got dark we had too carefully monitor numbers on the wall too avoid over crowding.
By 7.45 Mark had too get over too a fairly busy wall too get that one closed down as per agreement with the marina so the gate was shut leaving me too try and wiggle spaces and get new anglers on the wall and I will repeat those waiting were in general patient and did wait without pressing too get onto the wall as we (or I) tried too control the numbers.
By 11pm things at the gate had eased but despite decent numbers of mackerel during the daytime tide it was clear that things last night were much more tougher going. A shad or two were caught Id’d and returned but there were hardly any mackerel and little sigh of anything else if i’m being honest. By time darkness had fully descended I was checking out lighting on the wall and again little too no sign of fish, why I don’t know, but perhaps the west wall had still a load of colour in the water putting the fish off and being as the tide was small… dunno but it was clear it wasn’t happening on the fishy front meaning people were leaving earlier than intended freeing up much needed wall space.
Wile sorting lights there was a fairly steady tick of people arriving and for an hour or so more were leaving than coming in , ahhh that moment of calm!.
Come 11.30pm I was sorting bait n tackle for those in need and the wall again slowly filled too capacity and required a little bit of juggling about for the people on the lower 4-5 bays.
If you was one of those on the lower 4 bays around midnight to 1am, I thank you all for your understanding and willingness too allow a little bit of juggling too fish all into the space that we had free.
Once the groups there were settled I was able too finally knock the day on the head and turned the quad wheels north for home about 1.30 in the morning, yup, a bit later than expected but hey, shyte happens, its only the depth that changes 😂😂
And with that I’m gonna close todays essay/sermon and sign off and until the next one, … bid you all ADIEU
F
Ok, well things are calm enough too have the west open today but will have closed by 8pm as the wind again picks up. I will be glad when it buggers off as the fishing was quite decent yesterday on both walls.
The west once shut will stay that way until things calm somewhen on Friday and I expect the west wall too be open FRI night fishing all weekend.
On the fish front yesterday despite choppy condition the mackerel came out too play with decent numbers caught on both walls. Also in with the mackies were Gar fish and as I understand it the best of them were over on the east wall.
With somewhat sloppy conditions the water was somewhat colours and it wasn’t long before the Eels came out too play with Congers of mixed sizes and silver & green eels on the catch list yesterday. Also being caught in the coloured water were some Sole caught on both walls and a Surprise 3lb-ish Mullet hooked then lost at the net on the west wall. Smaller bits n bobs down the sides of the wall included pout and blennies and just for a change, or so it seems was an Undulate caught on the East wall of which they seem this year few and far between.
No night fishing tonight or Thurs Night,
East wall open every day from 6am til 8pm
Thats it for today and so, until the next one I will bid you all ADIEU
F
As the title says, 2026 and we have seemingly reached September in a flash ! where the heck did the Summer or even the year vanish too. It only seems like a few weeks ago we were in February looking too the next month and hoping the fishing will improve. The irony is that wee seem too have done that every month since ! One way or another this year has already the worst for fishing I can recal in the last 26 years.
So, latest info,
Did anyone notice the change on the home page other than the date ? Y/N? nothing major but the EAST WALL will now close at 8pm as the evenings draw in.
WEST WALL will be open tonight for night fishing and while it may be a bit lumpy ATM it is expected too settle this evening allowing the west too be opened up for a session, and then it looks like another couple of days closed re opening for Friday night fishing .
The EAST WALL was opened yesterday after being shut over the weekend and while fairly busy it wasnt the best of days producing mostly Eels and Sole mixed in with a few more eels and plenty of red seaweed swamping lines. A stiff westerly didnt help too much either.
Things looking somewhat calmer out there at the moment and both walls are open today and the east wall expected now too stay open all week with, as said potential closes on the west for WED & Thurs.
Thats it for today, very short n sweet for me 😉, all that remains is for me too bid you all ADIEU
F
The title today ? well its the day before the blow coz we aint at the day after 😊
So, whats been going on? Well I got over on the west about 5ish and could see down the EAST that there were very few left on the wall. It had been steady over there but always plenty of space for all.
Im told again there were a fair few Garfish caught over there along with a slowish tick of mackerel a red mullet here n there as well as a few plaice. Mostly Id say it was a bits n bobs type of day. By time I took the quad over the cafe had closed and there were a dozen people on the lower level & maybe only 6 had been or were fishing
As things were quiet I rolled the wheels straight up the east and turned about bay 60 where 2 regulars were in the pack up process.
It seems that the mackies never made it that far up the wall but they seemed quite happy away from the usual numbers lower down.
I gather there have been some conger activity not only high on the wall but also the lower 8 bays over the last 3-4 days. For those wanting mackerel on the east wall the bend atm seems too be the most likely area too produce although they can be a bit hit and miss unlike the west wall where they are fairly regular but please dont assume they have a fixed arrive time like only the high as this year they are proving too be sometimes hit and miss like the east followed by a day or two fish fish everywhere but rare all day.
The best of the mackies does come on the WEST wall atm, it may change after this weekends blow but for now more are being caught on the west wall.
Now some may groan at that news knowing so many more on the busy west wall will now be wanting too only break out the feathers but, unfortunately for the bait anglers the cold truth is that there are simply more mackies and horse mac being caught on the west and its not just the number of rods making it seem that way.
So, you may wonder if anything else is being caught while the walls get peppered with mad mackerel and the frenzied rush they can cause.
There are bass chasing the shoals but Id say those are likely too be more juvenile bass. The larger ones likely know better and lurk and attack from hiding spots letting the younger fish chase about.
As mentioned, Gar seem too be arriving on the daytime high tide and plaice catches are slowly building. There have been some flounders caught, either low on the West wall but mostly on the East wall over shingle/sand mixed ground areas. Gurnard, red mullet, Bream Wrasse Shad (protected please return) are there too be caught despite the focused interest in mackerel on the west.
A quick thanks (unsure if any read but may hear via grapevine) too the beach anglers that while fishing at night have messaged me about over bright lights scattered along the wall. It does help me pinpoint areas that need sorting and Im pleased too say that things are getting better at night on the wall.
Also helping at night is reducing the non angler & walkers on the wall as the night settles. Less wandering about makes the wall a safer place and reduces accidents while removing any crowding issues.
Non anglers should remain on upper level although some still refuse too listen. The lower level should be anglers only or those with a permit too be on the lower level. Those not fishing on lower level should have a ticket too be there.
Well other than saying there are wall closures this weekend so please check the home page, Ive said my bit for today . So, with that I will as usual bid you all ADIEU
F
THIS WEEKEND FRI 29- MON 31st
WEATHER ALERT:- Fri WEST expected too closed about mid day,
WEST WALL
closed Fri by lunchtime no night fishing
closed SAT/SUN
Mon TBA
EAST WALL
expected closed SAT
Sun OPEN may be restricted bays lower section only
Mon OPEN
Shop hours will be reduced due too poor weather and will close earlier in the afternoon or by lunchtime. They will be open every morning this bank holiday though.
Its very much looking as if the weekend blow is staying put with no change in what is expected but any changes will be updated as best I can as we go.
OK, the only catch info I have for the EAST WALL yesterday was that there was a good number of Gar fish being caught. Mackerel numbers yesterday were dismal. TBH it was a little unexpected because the light levels were lower due too fairly heavy cloud cover although through the day it stayed dry. Both walls saw a few bream but not the numbers of the last 2 weeks.
There has been tons of fry running the wall over the last year and now no doubt like a few readers I have this weird image planted into my head of some crazy kids cartoon where fish are holding races actually on the wall and thousands of whitebait are bouncing along on their tails in a mad charge along the wall.
Yep admit it m not the only ccccraaaaazy one.
Now, I have an update on the squid side of things. Now, while the ones I mentioned caught by Joe may have been the first Id known of it seems they wern’t actually the first confirmed this year and a dozen or so were caught Mon & Tues from nearby beaches which sorta says too me that squids are in BUT, they are known too prefer calmer water and so I guess today and tommorrow morning may be the only window for them over the next week until things re settle. The calmer the water the better the squid fishing was last year and no doubt that pattern will repeat this year so break the squid gear out folks and have a go while you can.
I got onto the wall yesterday about 5ish too find the wall still quite busy with day anglers. many hanging back from early arrival in the hope of at least some sort of mackerel burst in the water.
The news on that front sadly wasn’t too be except for one or two fish here and there the expected evening run didnt really happen, or at least not on the marina walls.
As the light dropped we again closed the gate as we rapidly reached capacity and naturally there was a grumble or two about fishing space or lack of it on the wall with one punter getting somewhat frustrated and angry that they were being crowded out by having someone either side of them. When the walls are full it may sometimes seem overcrowded but this is one of the reasons we swing the gate over too limit the numbers coming onto the walls. The numbers are carefully monitored so as too prevent such issues but, unfortunately some we cant please all the time despite trying too keep everyone happy.
As the light dropped away we did see some horse mackerel but the numbers before 11.30pm were very low and not seemingly shoaling. I didnt see any other catches while on the west but, stating the obvious here, one person can’t see everything all at once on a wall over 800M long :).
The EAST WALL was closed shortly after 9pm due too the warden arriving a bit late due too the busy nature of the WEST wall but I am pleased too say that most fishing that side had already packed up and were on their way off having kept an eye on the times.
If any of you are reading here today, My thanks too those packing on time without being prompted, it makes the wardens job much easier and we can get the wall shut for the night in good time and focus on the wall that is OPEN.
Well That is it for today, I guess fairly short and sweet for me;) and so, until the next one I post up I will as usual bid you all ADIEU
F
Well todays title was either going too happen today or Tomorrow which is a bit crap and forebodes doom n gloom but I think today would be better than last minute warnings when things are going too cack. On the up side there is also some good news even if it is dampened a bit by the weather info I am putting up here and is already on the home page.
Ya may have noticed if looking at any weather app that the weather dudes are F’ing with us again. Just as we get the ball rolling with Mackerel and the night bounties of horse mac and decent Bass fishing someone has decided that oh no that aint good enough! lets have a couple of days stir up and cheer the all weather bass loons up ! yep we got a blow coming in and its loaded with rain as well.
A proper British summer bank holiday that needs steel umberella’s!
So lets get at it
Today and tomorrow , carry on as normal and Night fishing on the west wall.
Friday all change,
WEST WALL
expected too shut by mid day and will be closed through Friday, saturday, Sunday and Monday looks iffy but if able we will try too get it open.
EAST WALL
Open as normal today and Thursday.
Friday it will open 6am but a good chance it closes in the afternoon as the blow pushes in hard.
Saturday if no change will be closed.
Sunday is showing South West and atm 50/50 so atm will not call it closed but it is possible
Monday looks westerly and if stays this way we will have the EAST OPEN.
The weekend weather all looks a bit poo unless as I hinted at you are either a member of the DUCK family or one of the loons that love fishing for Bass in choppy waters !.
Thus we get the doom n gloom out of the way and that bit of better news.
I was chatting a couple of days ago with wall regular Joe V regarding squid and the recent long range forecasts about the gulf stream and “El Nino” and wondering if it is an OTT report or it will indeed disrupt the Autumn and the normally very good Squid fishing and naturally the chat turned too when they may arrive as they can start ranging between late August into September with quite a lot depending on how calm the water is.
Well Joe being a keen squidder ended our chat pondering when he would get his jigs out and have a chuck, the normal thing, this week, next week etc.
Well it must have wormed away into his head as last night he did indeed give it a go, I suspect I know where but wont post it here due too likely having 25 squid rods working the same bit of water within hours of the news filtering out.
The hunch/gut feeling paid off and Joe bagged 4 early arriving squid. On any other day I would have lead with a title pointing at the Squid catch but felt getting the wall close news out more of a priority.
thus folks ya all got 2 days too have a dabble prior too the weather dudes pith take 🙂
Over on the walls the news is fairly much as most would expect but with a bit of a mackerel change in tide pattern sorta thing.
The last 2 days has seen the bulk of fish arriving early evening. Monday mackie shoals stayed out of reach until just before 7pm and then there seemed like a couple of 20 minute surges of fish with about 30 mins of down time prior too the light fading and the usual merge from mackerel shoals fading into horse mac.
last night very much similar happened with again a late arrival of the mackerel shoals one of which was flitting along the lower area of the west wall right upto the beach at times.
Other catch info yesterday was all but non existent as the focus of just about everyone was mackerel and little else which makes getting news of catches quite tricky.
Thats it for today folks, thus I will (so to speak) love ya n leave ya and basicly bid you all ADIEU
F
Here we go again, another morning (just) any yet another day I cant think of a title (other than the week day) straight off the bat so, I guess I will type along until summat sorta hits me.
Where to begin , hmmm, ok start with a familiar one, I got the quad out of the shed. there we begin (anyone suspect a waffle yet ?) Good coz I still aint got that wanted title.
here we go, loaded up and pointed the wheels down the hill a little later than usual as was going too also help Ali with the early part of the night shift and rolled onto the west about half five.
A few familiar faces too greet/chat too coz as most now realise I cant resist a gab even when I have naff all too say I will and can stop n chat about nothing, much like im doing now. typing a fair bit and erm getting nowhere fast 😂 A few people asked for some bits n bobs including a past visitor returning to grab a few easy mackerel too top his bait storage up.. Well with the state of fishing this year at times easy mackerel is a bit of a misnomer, often this year them fish have been anything but easy as it seems part of yesterday proved….hmmm I smell a title coming….
Anyhoo hello’s done and a quick catch up chat and it seems the info I was getting was that the morning was somewhat slow. Yes there were some mackerel but high tide being 10am ish I guess the fish were a bit sun shy. In with the morning mackies there were again a few gar too be had and again as the day before a red mullet or two. Some days it can be hard getting accurate catch info especially if its 2nd or 3rd hand pass along and even more so if I dont bump into the day warden too get a clearer picture. Yesterday was one of them so quite likely there are chunks missing from my morning info.
What I did gather though was that the lunchtime too early evening period was fairly quiet on the fish front and especially so on the mackie front unlike Sunday where there seemed too be a steady tick over of fish most of the day.
yesterdays first real run of mackies didn’t happen until 7pm ish and sorta happened in 2 main bursts b4 the light went with a gradual swap from mackies too horse mac.. By 9.30pm it was seemingly all over and the wall went from full too half empty in 20 mins. giving me an earlier finish than expected.
Im pleased too say that the lighting message is getting across. granted not every light had been glare filtered but many have taken on board the lighting reductions and it was good too see last night than when the fish were running the bulk of anglers on the wall were bagging as they went. the few that were asked/reminded sorted their fish quickly which is all we ask..
One benefit of the lower lighting levels on the wall is that the general chatter is quieter, less noise coming off the wall benefits the residents in the marina and that is good for all, residents and night anglers.
Well thats it for today, I will be on the wall again later on, and so, until the next post here I will bid you all ADIEU
F
Wanker with a drill ! yea I know its not fishing but ffs woken by my standards by someone next door with an electric drill that is being used badly. each trigger press is less than a full second and constant. I doubt its gaining any depth in their wall and its been going now every half second for nearly an hour. My guess is they have wood drill bits being blunted on the council built breeze block walls. Dude ffs STOOOOPPPP.
Now While im in a ticked off mood Im gonna post a message here for a particular knobhead although I doubt he reads the blog because it seems not only is he “an angler” he also seems too be a legal expert and knows everything about the rules on the wall and how much he should pay when he is fishing on the lower level and his wife and (guessing) his mother in law who was claiming both ladies were merely sat watching him fish.
Firstly while the marina was bought by Brighton council they do not run it. It is long leased by the council too the various property companies within the marina. There is indeed public access at the permission of the lease holders but it is regarded as private land which means the marina and staff have the right to stop access too any member of the public as they wish.
If an angler choses too disrupt or refuse too pay they can be asked too leave and a ban from the marina as a whole in some cases can also be applied. Car number plates can be tracked if needed.
I will add here by being aggressive and rude to two wardens and wasting our time on a very busy session does you no favours and problems then knock on along the wall to other anglers.
As pointed out too you there is signage along the walls on signs that have in some cases been there 15 or more years that state all users on the lower level must have a VALID PERMIT this means anglers and anyone with them on the lower level. This is not always enforced unless there are issues with space and numbers on the wall. Your refusals and aggressions on multiple points meant you were asked too leave. You refused while being aggressive. Im guessing you were hoping for some form of aggression in return from a warden but this is not the wardens way. You were left on the wall and after 10 minutes Marina security were notified of the issue. Marina cameras tracked you as you left for purpose of any future ID requirements.
On leaving the wall via white gate and security camera point you were politely informed not too return. We do not need your level of aggression on the walls and nor does the marina as a whole.
Should you return as you claimed you would the gate will merely be closed and then no further anglers will be admitted too the wall effectively stopping and closing the fishing down, I suspect those waiting to get onto the wall too fish may want to have a chat with you when you exit.
Wardens should not need too deal with aggressive anglers nor will they. All this sort of behaviour will do is see the wall closed until resolved.
Right that bit of unpleasantness done I will get back too todays ramble and first things first coz I know he looks out for the new posts….
Morning fred, how were the fish ?😊
So, yesterday. Things atm look like the evening run of mackerel that we have been seeing in the last hour or more of daylight has been producing more consistently than the early morning run. That doesnt mean there are no fish but id say the evening shoals are more active and perhaps larger.
The weekend as a whole has been dominated by Mackerel and Horse mac on both walls. Mostly close too the high but that is not a fixed rule, it seems the fish have a mind of their own and can show up when least expected so Id say if you have the time and only want these fish show up later in the day and aim at the west wall, but, be warned, since the fish started to play the west has been very busy and often quickly at capacity at prime times.
Other than “them” fish the East has seen a bit of a pick up in other species although the pick up is a bit sluggish and intermittent. Plaice are starting too stick their noses out of the sand and some even are taking baits with perhaps the best one this year Ive seen that was high on the east. Likewise there seems a pick up in sole unusually on both walls there have been some caught with a good one again high on the east this weekend too match up in similar size too the pair caught last weekend by regular John H. Could the sole be weekenders ? naaaa surely not ! 😂
Bream on the east seemed too tail off too with just a couple of small catches in the ten days prior too this weekend so it was good too see catches of bream with some decent sizes in the mix.
This weekend has also seen a few SHAD being caught on both walls and as a reminder these are protected fish and should be carefully returned. They generally look like a mix of Bass & Mullet with a sort of beak/fat lower lip with large soft scales that will fall off if handled poorly. Please take care when getting them back in the water as the SHAD is quite fragile.
Goat fish aka red mullet it seems not only like the rock ground of the west wall they are also being caught over sand on the east wall sometimes close too marks that are known too throw out Gurnard. Quite often caught on feathers being sunk down too the sand and slow slow retrieving. the trick here it seems is patience so if you have kids with you try it. Cast feathers out for them and let them sing pass the rod too JNR and tell them reel in V V slow, junior often have a lighter touch than us over eager adults and the slow drag over the sand can provide a few surprises.
The last few days have seen a welcome return of at least on undulate ray on the east and excluding some very small baby rays I cant say Ive seen any Rays of any form being caught for some time, where have they gone ?
Also making a return yesterday on the morning tide were a few Garfish, not in numbers like the other morning when what seemed like a shoal of them hit the west wall but the sizes were decent and a welcome sight for a few waiting on catching some.
Saturday on the west saw a lady catch a few mackerel, nothing remarkable some may say but it was her first returning viit too the marina and fishing in general for 30 years, 30 ! imagine that, erk it chills the spine just thinking of no fishing for 30! anyhoo, welcome back too fishing Jojo :).
Friday night on the west wall, hmmm it sorta feels like deja vous or perhaps there’s summat with the fish and Fridays but we sorta got a re-run of the prior Friday re how the fishing went and thankfully not a repeat of “that picture” because we had the seemingly standard run of Mackies fade into Horse mac as the light died followed by a long stay of fish through the night into the early light of Saturday and mixed in with the horse mac almost from the off were also fairly chunky Bass. more rounded bellies than the long slim fish often seen. Bream the fri night were somewhat slow but perhaps that could be put down too the sheer number of rods rigged with tinsel. Bait vs feathers is beginning too look like a “thing”.
Night fishing this weekend has sorta developed a pattern as the tide shifts doing its thing. With evening high tides now almost timed with the light of day ending where anglers are arriving in numbers from and after 5pm sorta time in a rolling pattern. A rush too get on the wall for the later mackerel/horse mac run and when the light has fully gone and the fish slow a bit the anglers pack and head for home. this sat & Sunday we had very busy starts and Sat by 11pm and Sunday about 10.30pm people were leaving creating much needed space for those wanting too bait fish through the night. The next “wave” of anglers is then in the “wee hours” of the morning as arrivals are geared too any morning run of mackies. Quite different tides next weekend that no doubt will form & feel like a totally different pattern sorta thing.
This weekend at times both walls have been busy, obviously this is the surge for mackerel with the west wall being often near high tides full quickly with in & outs based on numbers on the wall.
The east wall while busy has so far still had plenty of space and does indeed get its fair share of mackerel but often anglers are not keen too make the extra longer walk down too the east side of the marina.
As a result I will post here a reminder/solution.
Car users fishing with more than one occupant. Drive down through the marina and drop of passengers and the fishing gear. They can carry all the kit onto the wall including yours.
Driver return car too multi (no parking east carpark just drop off/collect. when packing for home driver leaves to get car and passengers pack the kit, pick up in east carpark.
Im aware some east wall users also pack a small bike into the car(if room) this allows the driver a quick return too the fishing…. clever he.
thats it for today, I will be on the west later today and then help out on the west for a few hours into the night. And so, until the next one I will bid you all ADIEU
F
