The Famous Tacklebox Brighton

Well, not quite all but yesterday was a bit odd for some especially if you look at the who picture or happen too be one dude on the wall and yes he reads here , yes he knows who he is, and erm yes I cant recal his name but he is a bit camera shy, I know this as I have proof ! scroll down if you cant be arsed too read todays waffle.

So, too Saturday on the walls. Now you may recal my saying it would be a bum burner (using different words but..) well it was. you may also recal I mentioned the lack of breeze here and was very promptly told it wasnt the case in London nor erm that once sleepy town of Haywards Heath .

Well to be fair , this is Brighton or more precisely Brighton Marina which does have a way of doing weather somewhat differently too the rest off Sussex ! Indeed Ive seen a pea Souper of a fog sat over the Marina while the rest of the nation has glorious sunshine. So much so that you could walk through fog on the west wall and out onto the extension just like a cartoon step through an imaginary door out of the fog into brilliant sunshine quite weird and creepy especially when in the fog there isn’t a sound , through that door a world of summer noise, trust me you have too see it too fully appreciate the weirdness of it.

Too be fair though after the blog went up it was a while before I loaded up the quad and headed down manor hill too collect some bits from the west wall. Conditions ,? yea a faint breeze but lacking any tree movement. the water though was much like Thursday and fairly obvious that may rot had entrenched itself on both sides of the marina.. oh joy the fishing is gonna be tough in the full heat of day.

Well, in spite of conditions most anglers seemed in fairly decent spirits, for many there was a lack of fish or an occasional one being pulled up by someone else with much of the days catches being returned as generally undersized.
I will add here that for those that know me they will be aware I am a bit of a stickler for maintaining fish sizes and do often try too impress this on others using the marina, lets face it., while its great too catch Id rather see someone take a pic and return undersized fish and in many ways its good management and ya never know the returns may one day get too be a decent catch for someone.
Now, while out if fishing myself my personal keep sizes do tend too be a bit more than what is considered legal & acceptable sizes so probably more of my caught fish go back than what many would keep but that is my choice and personal standard & I will admit if its legal sometimes I offer fish caught too others who are ok with that smaller specimen.
At this point I will admit too making an error yesterday with was actually resolved after a quick size check on the website here. YES there is a page of fish sizes so please guys take a look from time too time. On the west yesterday I watched a small (my view) starry hound come up and the dude that caught it was just about to knock it on the head when I called a stop and questioned why he was killing a fish that can grow too 7-8foot I believe. As said I referred too the size page here and realised I was wrong and it was genuinely in size corrected myself and apologised for calling a halt too his afternoon. personally keeping sharks isnt my sort of thing and if was I defo would want them bigger than the one that was caught (bass size) but again, thats my mind set and the angler did say he would be eating it.. each too their own I guess.

So, how was the rest of the west doing for fish ? somewhat like a foxtrot tbh. meaning, slow, slow, not quick quick but slow. Yes there were fish, but the bulk of catches on the west did seem earlier in the day (bar the occasional find like the hound) and not in the full heat of the day.
Any hoo, loaded the trailer on the quad and headed over to the east with the intent on a proper look at the west later.

yes, the cafe was open, yes I remembered the dog biscuits in my pocket and yes the 2 cafe hounds spotted me quickly and promptly ignored those petting them and bee lined towards me and more precisely the pocket with the food! these 2 aint daft thats for sure. Thus a short stop by the cafe, a chat and owners permission too give both a biccy .. or two. I think he has given up asking me not too feed them as they do attach too whats in my pocket and too be fair I do ask him if ok and now do limit how many the dogs get each.
Please please please, if you or a child is near a dog, check with the owner that an approach is ok and safe heat like this weekend can make people grumpy, dogs are much the same and can stress easily in the head. Likewise too anglers and walkers alike on the marina, dogs are welcome on the wall and should be on a lead but most importantly , on the east there isnt any shade and dogs will suffer probably more than us pink skinned white people, trust me on this some of the pink skin yesterday was looking very red so have a though if you have a dog. the flooring will be hot on their paws and the poor buggers have fur coats on… please carry extra fluid for the pets and if fishing a brolly or some form of shade protection. The west is a little more protected in the afternoon as the sun travels east there is some shade from the front of the wall for pets and small children. The toilet block s a sink and cold tap. If anyone is using this for watering pets please let it run for a couple of mins. The water is fed by a pipe the full length of the wall so can get warmed in the summer.

I realise the above is a bit of a long yarn and may sound like im preaching pet care, that isnt the intent but occasionally a reminder nudge is useful too remind people of simple health care out in the sunshine.

Well, onto the east and ya may wonder if there were any fish.. I met regular John H and Mike coming off the wall basically saying it was erm naff up on the high bays and another regular (Roy) said much the same was his day. As said too john I suspect the factors of heat, tide state and heavy may rot probably the biggest factors and perhaps there would be some improvement as the heat dropped after 6ish.
Lots of head shakes on the east when I went up but there was some chatter of a few fish, mostly plaice and a dab or two indicating some activity on the bottom although when I went up late afternoon many were feathering in the hope I guess of mackerel.

Thus I arrived at bay 40 something and a chat with a familiar face whose name I cant remember but always seems too be cheerful and chatty. So during a general chat about life n fishing etc he ws saying how he had seen a few small plaice come up but all returned. I think he had caught a couple himself but at the time I passed he was feathering.
Now, with may rot the fish tend too either avoid it (it clogs up the fishes gills and de oxygenates the water so I suggested he lets his weight go deep and try a very slow retrieve and twitch the line occasionally. well , guess what, that 1st cast was enough too hook into something and the dude seemed gobsmacked. It seem so often I come up the wall chatting too people that fish somehow do the miracle thing (or stoopid thing) & Ive often joked that the fish follow me up the wall. Anyhoo he is convinced its me and yup he was grinning as he reeled a mackerel in off the bottom. Proof,? of the fish or that he is camera shy.. well scroll down coz this piccy was his request of , please dont id me 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
On moving on I did let a few other know that they should try nearer the bottom and yes some had already realised there was an occasional fish down there. Species on the east yesterday included, bass, plaice, dab, mackerel and small hounds scattered through the day but generally slow going but again I suspect many didnt mind that as the weather was plying ball and most enjoyed being out in the sun.

Back on the west there had been a fish caught here n there. I suspect the best of the day had been before the high too bait users on the extension and quite a few decent bream had been caught although one regular unusually had struggled too catch (jerry) and had been bait fishing rather than his recent squid n cuttle targeting. One bass was had that went 58cm among a few others, most caught and kept were bream as said the best of it on the end. Hound pups do seem on the increase and at time of typing a decent one was caught on the east this morning (early) there were mackerel caught but all were singles on feathers without any clusters made for tough going with feathers in the heat.
The other thing of note was the spider crabs, both walls are seeing them now and in increasing numbers. I swear the buggers are on the bottom with knives and scissors cutting lines and grabbing baits.

Again its gonna be hot and very dry out there so please come prepared too bake in the sunshine. heavy sunburns though are no fun so please prepare.

Thats it from me for today.. Brighton’s amex i am bound for the last day of the season so probably wont be down later on today.
Thats it, im done for the day bar the mackerel and the man with no name 😉 Until the next one then I will bid you all ADIEU
F


the fish with no name 😉

So, no run on the wall yesterday as the title suggests I skived off this time too do the music in East Brighton park. Now I say music very loosely but too be fair they were complimentary tickets for locals so a freeby, the music was mostly provided by some mob called Damage and another called JLS. Have too admit im too old too have heard of most nineties bands yet alone these as my taste in toons is another 20-30 years older than the nineties (yea u can work it out , go on try)
Still it was a cracking late afternoon/evening in the park with mrs P and a few cans taken in stashed in the bag on the back of the quad 😂😂😂😂 The venue cans were a tenner each so erm I guess I saved £150 at least 😂😂

So, just too make it worth reading today I guess I should add the same info here as posted too the book of face which goes just like this & not, just like that….. so hands up if your brain thought , Tommy Cooper😂😂

thus, from thy great book of face it goes like this…

morning all, weather looking stonking out there and next too no movement in the trees outside my window so those walls will act like a sun trap.
Please take plenty of sensible fluids with you and sun cream for those that need it (most if truthful)
temps are looking in the high 20’s !
TIDES TODAY
Low 11.20am High 17.27 (5.57m)
late tide low 123.55(1.87m)
SUNDAY tids
High 5.54 (5.2m)
Low 12.27 (1.78m)
Later high 18.41(5.42m)

so far weather dudes say gonna be hot and nice all week
Tight lines folks & enjoy the weekend
and with that I will sign off for the day and perhaps ask mark what was caught yesterday 😂😂. Thats it, honest,

No, there isn’t any more

honest, none

still here ?


why, its done


honest, thats it so yes I will bid you all ,

until the next time, from me, and from him… opps wring prog

na , seriously folks
until the next one, I bid you all
ADIEU
F

still here ? 😂😂😂😂

Afternoon world (at time of posting) Well, finally, the weatherman has decided it aint gonna pee down all weekend as is normal for a bank holiday so expect too bake out on the walls.. or in sensible talk pack sun cream for those that need it and make sure you have access too plenty of sensible fluids, you are defo gonna need it.
the weather is indicating a bit of a bum burner so please come prepared.

While on the subject of weather and bank hols mark has added tonight FRI, too the list of night sessions on the west so for this weekend the west is now open until 8 or 9pm on Monday. and the east will stay open until 9pm.

So, wtf is happening on the walls ? Now, at this point I would usually waffle about getting the quad out of its garage etc but instead will cut too the chase or cut too my arrival on the west wall for a quick look about and pick up a reel that I had left in the store and pointed the wheels at the EAST wall and rolled through the marina in the sunshine. So so nice that the weatherman is playing ball.

Anyhoo, the bell on the quad alerted the two hounds at the east cafe before I had even made the right turn in the east carpark with both heading towards me fully ignoring and surprising the people that had been petting them. These 2 dogs will do anything for a treat and probably the reason Mr cafe dude has put a sign on them saying please dont feed, don’t say I said this but he is a softie and if you ask him prior he will usually say yes too someone giving them a dog biscuit ;). ( Leticia, if you read this dont tell him ;))

So, having made a fuss of the dogs I rolled onto the EAST and immediately noticed the water colour ! oh dear !, a yellowish streak in the lime coloured water, granted the last few days haven’t been great and its been heavily stirred up but on the up side a bit further off shore the water is clearing quite nicely and looks very erm summery. Alas, there is a downer on the water starting too clear in that the may rot seemingly has arrived over night and was very visible in the water with the heaviest levels yesterday on the higher bays. I had expected more anglers on the wall yesterday but I guess there are still people that work mid week and are unable too just jog off and go fish!. . . and so, too what’s been caught.

Fairly tough going for those there unfortunately but hopefully most enjoyed the break fishing in the sunshine. Plaice, a dab here n there & no sign of Mr Usain Bolt! bass were caught but I didn’t get any details. Quite a few strap congers about still while the water is “off” colour and I gather some bream were had also but all in all hard work for many and fairly slim pickings. Quite a few familiar faces but tbh none that I could name with my shit memory and so turned the wheels about above bay 74 and headed off the wall back towards the west.

having reached the toilet block on the west it dawned on me that I hadn’t needed too pick up that reel I mentioned as I had always intended too do a run around the walls prior too having a dabble on the west Extension.
Tide was starting too drop by this time so set up the light rod on the 2nd full bay baited with squid and black, flicked the rod over the wall and plonked my butt on a chair, feet up on the wall and erm, propped the rod between my feet and chilled in the sun.
I’d love too say I caught a load of fish but, like many yesterday I can’t. I did catch but I don’t really think spider crabs count. YES the Fkn CRABS are in, I recon they brought the may rot with them. They seem too have again come in en mass on both walls. The bleeders seem everywhere much like the MAY ROT.

Ho hum, I cant say I saw much in the way of catches while I was there but was a pleasant few hours in the sun and made a change from wearing a jacket and hoody too keep warm!

I wont be on the wall today , likewise occupied on Sunday with the last home game of the season at the AMEX and so, until the next one of these , I will as usual bid you all ADIEU
F

Well yesterdays fishing was defo one of those days where the fishing was a game of two halves. By the time I had finished faffing about getting ready to leave the house while watching the 1st half of the Brighton vs Leeds game(dont ask) it was gone 4 when i rolled down the hill too see a fair few waves spouting up on the west and was getting somewhat lumpy quite quickly not just on the west but also over on the east the front end above 30 was getting dome fair sized smacks by the sea.

Overall numbers were thinning fast on both walls and tbh im surprised some were sticking it out on the extension.. until I closed that section down n moved the last three very wet souls back through too the main wall!.
needless too say as far as the west was concerned I was a bit TOO LATE to see any fish caught. after a quick look about on the west I headed over too the west where I saw birthday boy Tommy heading down the wall looking for a calmer spot on the wall as the wind, as said was also making the upper bays of the east wall somewhat unfishable and getting anglers very wet.

Now, at this point I’m gonna waffle a bit so some of you now know that usually they should skip further down the page.
I often say on the marina group and here that “It’s good too talk” If I didn’t the blog would be much thinner than it already is. Spending less time on the marina than I used too means I have too get catch info where I can and much of it comes from the obvious facebook posts but also by talking too anglers, regulars in particular often are happy too share up info and I also suspect they quite like too se me do a name drop here when I can remember someones name! yes I have a shocking memory for names & sometimes it can take an awful long tie too get a name too stick.

Anyhoo , after quite a long chat with Tommy & his mate I was aware of a few decent catches earlier on the upper sections of the east wall earlier in the day prior too the wind getting up and kyboshing the latter part of the afternoon for many. Tommy had had a fair number of plaice, a decent Wrasse(pictured) some pout and a first for him of a Flounder caught on a lure, yes flatties will take a lure :).
While chatting I also learnt that the morning had actually produced some fish for quite a few and not just on the higher bays, hmmm, ok thinks I, give mark a ring and keep an eye on the FB pages for catch news.

Well, It turns out that the fish had decided too play yesterday morning into the mid-day tide with bass and mackerel on the west wall. The mackerel were scattered all along at one point with some nice bass coming off the west top end also in the 4-5lb ish range. Im not aware of anyone squidding yesterday but I suspect that they would have been around on either wall.
Back on the west another wall regular (John H) was having it away with a decent session on the high bays managing too clock up a few bass, one tipping scales at 5.11 lb ! but his best of the day was a conger pushing the needle to 17.1lb ! not too shabby. John wasnt done there though landing a second species off eel (siver eel) ten plaice and some of those mackerel that were flitting about both walls before the wind changed the day for everyone.
Further down the wall mackerel bream and wrasse had been caught as well as plaice showing on much of the sandier sections and while I cant confirm by sight I was told there were some small rays caught on the bend of the wall mid afternoon before the wind sent so many heading for the hills and dryer places too stand .

While chatting with Tommy I watched 2 lads borrow a ned and bring in a conger of about 6lb ish that was returned after the hooks had been removed, From the east back too the west for a quick check and as hinted earlier the waves were now hitting the extension and upper ten bays of the main wall quite hard and while there were three guys still trying too fish the extension I decided safety was more important than watching 3 very wet dudes dodge the waves badly and called a halt too their fun( or misery) and called time on the extension and locked it off for the day.. By this time those left fishing had moved down too 16 or lower too avoid the worst of the conditions and the prospect looked like there wouldnt be a let up in the conditions before the wall was closed for the night.

Conditions looking at the current forecast and even out the window indicate a calmer day for all but Tues & wed are looking quite breezy with gusts pushing from the south & west that will again make the west lumpy and I suspect the lower 15 bays on the east would be the best bet for anyone traveling down..
Thursday and beyond though are looking much much better and even a decent possibility of things warming up.
Thats it from me other than posting up 3 pics from yesterday, and so, as ever, I will , until the next one bid you all ADIEU
F

Not a massive amount too put here this morning. Fri & sat very few fishing when I went down the marina. Granted was a low tide and yesterday the southerly “strong breezes” were making things very lumpy and by late afternoon there were only a couple on each wall although some of those had caught fish !
Saturday morning conditions it seems were somewhat better and erm , mackerel were had . def some on the west and rumours has it that also some on the east over the high. Bass high on the east a few plaice and later flounder wrasse and word of a ray or two. This week has been very quiet on the walls, unusual when so many cuttle and squid had been caught through last weekend but I guess people are less likely too travel if there is a lack of catch reports. That and the weather being somewhat chilly this week.
The coming week is looking better for temperatures rising although Tue/wed may be somewhat lumpy on the west.
Bank holiday weekend beckons with the last Monday of May so hopefully we will get some decent weather and sunshine for that weekend.

As said, this week seems too have been one of those weird weeks with so few on the walls resulting in very few decent fishy reports. Hopefully today plays a bit more friendly.

Well, I guess that is it for today, short, sharp and not so sweet eh… ho hum, that it then until the next one & with that , yup , I will bid you all ADIEU
F
oh, yea for a rare change a rare P.S.
For those that know Jordan Tettersell, a regular wall angler , he is currently In the Royal Sussex Hospital with some quite serious diabetic problems. So much so that toes on his left foot have been removed by the surgeons. He is recovering and actually hoping too be released next week but I suspect all of us know how crap being stuck in hospital can be. If you have is number or even have him on the book of face, please give him a ring or send a text and let him how he isn’t on his own nor forgotten 🙂
If you have the time & inclination he is on level 8 of the tower the vascular ward section 3 bed 5
thats it from me today
F

Or should that simply be , Hello again hello!
Now, some of you may have noticed an absence of blog posts and presume the fishing has been a bit shit.. well that’s part right but also much of the time this week when I have been down the marina it has been quiet of people and generally a low tide with very few on the wall too get any decent info.
In shortest version, crap compared too some past years but less crap depending on what you may be targeting.

Many show up on the walls with no real aim or plan so simply target what ever bites. Now that may seem great when there is an abundance of fish but less so when things are slow or fishing is somewhat poorer than expected.
Bass numbers are decent and squid numbers are still on the increase but the bigger stand out for me this year is the cuttlefish numbers and that isn’t a result of them being directly targeted, they have been more a bye product of those chasing squid over the last 10+ years. This year there seem too be much higher numbers and last night of which I will get too are a very good example.

I will admit that fishing is slow, non existent for a fair few sometimes as well. I could list a bunch of reasons such as the wind factors have been for weeks much from the east or north east hampering things. We had what I tend too call the spring run of mackerel this year that failed to show the previous 2 years. Much the same as the no show of squid the previous two springs and I can’t recal a spring with so many cuttle being caught on the walls like this year so far.
Flatties this year seem down in numbers and quality and then there will be small bursts of catches. Im aware mullet are being caught but again numbers seem down or perhaps it is still a bit early for the better fish.

This week in general as said I have been on the marina late afternoons as the tide is dropping or things had slowed right down or even a case of blustery cold winds have seen people home off the wall than most would usually stay. The result of less people on the walls mean less catch info too be had when im wandering around and on the BOOK of FACE catch reports are also lacking in much content.

I am grateful too all who post or send me their catch updates even those who send once every third Sunday or on the event of a blue moon. even blank reports help gauging info too the anglers give an indication of what is or isnt going on out & about.
Yes I am taking time too get too catching info simply because there can be many factors of why I dont always hear or get info and its not always a case of sod all out there. There are definitely fewer fishing this year for April/May than I seem too recal in past years and perhaps its the costs of traveling or people simply are reluctant too travel when reports are not great or are even at time crap! there |I said it.

And so, this week, not real posts as the last 7 days fish seen have been thin on the ground as has the numbers of people fishing. Night fishing often after 10 pm has seen 1or 2 people only making opening at night unviable.
the west is open until midnight today then reverts back to 6-8 with no night session this week, rain forecasts plus wind patterns and tides etc all add up too what is likely too be a no show for anglers beyond 9/10pm.

Have there been fish on either wall ? we yea but its hard too tell on days where anglers have been & gone without later posting a fishing report. Thankfully some of the regulars do post their days out as well as observations which all help me post waffle n drivel here for anyone that is curious.
Plaice have ticked over this week , granted mostly undersized for those targeting them but there have also been some for the pot. bream this week seem Scarce in many mentions likewise only a couple of mentions for Wrasse(generally east). There was a decent gar posted yesterday, the 1st in a while and there have been gurnard and some rays over the sands. The weekend Im told saw Mullet bass and pollack on the east but by far I suspect the bigger number of landings have been squid and cuttlefish when they have been targeted.
The bulk of catches Im aware of on the east have been higher than bay 35 but that may simply be a case of no one having a real go for them lower down.
Over on the west the best of the numbers seem on the higher reaches of the wall with 17-24 being popular as has the extension. As I understand it cuttle initially had better numbers caught on the east with the west showing more squid than the east. The last few days have been fairly balanced but slowly more are squidding on the west than east although it may just seem that way… or ppl struggle with the long walk!
I did pop down later than usual yesterday and rolling up the east only saw perhaps seven still fishing and 2 packing up on bay 74. I stopped and had a chat with wall regular Tommy who was close too the rocks high up had until the incoming tide was near full remarked on a quiet day and was preparing too chuck a packet of lug at the near high tide too see what may…. it did as he later confirmed he landed 10 plaice .. yup 10 which for current “quiet times” isn’t too shabby.
Back onto the west there were 2 on the low bays and perhaps8 or 9 on the bays above 16 and all but one seemed too be squidding or chucking soft lures out.
As I arrived the 1st thing I noticed was all the ink followed by closer inspection Cuttle of various sizes, perhaps 9 or 10 of them . Yes I nagged the guys too erm tidy up a bit so they were quickly bagged and I settled in initially watch for a while prior too the brain haveing a fek it moment and got the light rod out for half an hour with a jig, nope I failed too catch , yes helping James (another regular) I managed too ping the cuttle of the jig, yes it was a decent weighted cuttle but too be fair it wasnt the first or last cuttle too throw a jig while I was there. By time I left the wall Id say perhaps 30+ cuttle had been landed and foolishly didn’t get any decent pics although the brain was working enough too get a pic of the decent squid I saw caught.
Pieman arrived shortly before I left and hopefully will catch up with him too see how he fared. Wen I left there were perhaps 2-3 left on the wall including James having a last few casts b4 the light fully went.

The high slow tide on the west was defo a bonus for catching last night and with a similar forecast tonight Id suggest get some jigs and get onto the wall about 5 ish and fish into the dark for an extra hour . Pack some warmer clothes for the evening as it’s still somewhat chilly as the sun drops, ya may also want some sort of light too see what you are doing once dark sets in.

The weather is showing some changes beyond Tues with stronger westerly wind on Wednesday that may make the west wall somewhat lumpy and its looking like Northerlies of some form for the next few days into the weekend with showers on & off. Almost like May has become the new April showers month! thus an extra layer for the late afternoons likely too be needed.
Yes there are plenty of squid and cuttle out there.. go get em folks.
and the squid from yesterday ? vvv its vvv down there vvv

And, with that final word, I am going too sign off, so until the next one folks I will again bid you all ADIEU
F

This one is one of those … not a lot too say type of posts. Last on the wall sat evening as scooter temp out of use but hopefully being sorted today. Things have been a mix of not very many fishing resulting in not many fish. Water quality has been good the last couple of days with wind factors not being an issue.
We seem too now be getting squid and cuttlefish on a daily basis although somewhat strangely there seems too be less this year targeting them atm. Mark recons that the cuttle numbers have the edge atm but again hard too tell if it is a case of more about or simply that only a few are fishing for both and the cuttle are dropping too the lures most. The rest of the species being caught seem in low numbers but as said these days people seem too go fishing when social media says the fishing is good and even then people are expecting hoards of photo evidence.

A wonderful cycle it is indeed. Only a few fishing—>> only a few scattered fish->> even less fishing reports —> readers see an area quiet —> readers dont go fishing too somewhere with only a few people catching–>> thus only read how quiet it is —>> results in a non visit—>> less people visit —> less catch reports —>>> anyone see a pattern here ?
Social media can be a great tool for informing people but it can also be its own worst enemy, its very much the reverse of what was an issue in the past… someone puts a few good post catches up and the next 2 days see the venue mobbed by people hunting the same fish that was caught a couple of days earlier.😂😂😂😂

Any hooo there have been Bream, Plaice, bass, Wrasse, Mullet, Gurnards, Topknots, Dab & Flounder, thornback rays locally, as well as already posted the squid & cuttle. Signs of May rot ? yes then no, its in and out at times so no doubt on the build but hey, no one is going too catch if they dont go fishing even if the water is awesome or cack.

Hopefully I will be on the wall later of the scooter gets sorted and this weekend there is night fishing through Saturday night on the WEST wall only.

Thats it, as said, not a great deal too post due too fairly quiet walls, thus, all that is left too do is bid you all ADIEU
F

Happy Sunday folks. It seems things have started ok today but I shall start with yesterday evenings massive catch report when I went down in the late afternoon.

Thus, in my usual style of pad this shit out as much as possible.. 😂😂😂 packed scooter, checked weatherman’s report for rain that had kept changing all week as in, will rain wont rain will, yada yada yada, get the picture ? Any hoo I use xcweather set too the marina. Like most forecast sites its not always bang on but Ive got used too it and can mentally adjust a forecast from what’s on screen too actually being outside and erm… smelling the air. No shit, no bullshit I do smell the air for rain and overall air feel and smell combined with a look as xc usually leads me too an accurate estimate of forecast.
Thus showers were expected at 6ish til 7ish then a lull some more flash showers and I should then make it home in the dry b4 the possible night downpour… so was I right ? read on 🙂

So got into the marina and headed over too the east wall as I could see the 1st half of the west was empty and I wanted too get round it and over too the west toilet block prior too the first round of rain…. Well that was the plan BUT, yes, there is always a flippin but…..

Through the east carpak, swung a right onto the path too the east cafe hit the ramp up onto the upper level an scooter spluttered & stopped ! WTF ! turn off turn on, weird it wasn’t overloaded so tried again on the 1st bit of said ramp but much slower… and got about a foot before again spluttered & stopped !..really ? third attempt reaaaaal slow and bump bump scraping sound of a tyre rim grinding the concrete and safety cut off triggered. Thats when the penny dropped. Scooter wasn’t over loaded nor playing up, the rear right tyre was flat causing the scooter too be unbalanced and cut off. After a few expletives I checked the tyre just in case it was one of them slow puncture types and I’d missed the slow deflate only too find that it was going down almost as fast as I was trying too pump the damned thing up…. hmmm… what too do?

First thing was too turn the wheels around and point back into the marina. 2nd , phone the Mrs a situation update sorta thing and contact Motability, they told me too use the rescue number for a pick up, check, sorted and then phoned the actual company that supply said scooter too inform them of the issue, yes I was safe, no it wasn’t raining,(tempted fate on the known forecast) no, i couldn’t leave it in a safe place nor leave it unattended. At this point in the chat I was told only one firm available to do the pick up as all either busy or taken the BH weekend off and the bad news was the pick up at earliest would be 90-100 mins away, oh the joy, a wait of an hour plus and that bang on queue was when the rain started!
TBH I must have looked a bit odd. Scooter with a flat, me sat on a cool box with a golf umbrella up like some oversized gnome sat on a toadstool !

At this moment Mark rolled by and after a quick chat he told me both walls were empty now it was low tide and the 2nd set of showers was underway having piddled down 2-3 hrs early packing most off home soaked. Yep I coulda stayed at home in the dry and without that feking puncture !!!!!!! BAH.
so, looooonnnnng story short, no fish too report off either wall at something after six pm.

Pickup driver I must say was a superstar. he phoned me too say he was on his way and had bumped my pick up too the top of his list as I was the only recovery not indoors thus considered venerable due too weather conditions. He was super helpful, got me home with the scooter in good time and unloaded the scooter from the flatbed despite a down pour that was torrential. This he did even though I said was happy too wait for said rain too ease off but nope he shrugged the idea off got out of cab in jeans and a t-shirt and simply got on with it & you might have thought he was sunning himself rather than unloading in the driving rain.
Heck yes I thanked him properly !

All of yesterdays fun did mean that the only catch reports I could put up were bits n bobs gleaned from any earlier FB posts of which I can now update on.

I guess the best start point would be a post from Chris H & his mate Michael on the east yesterday on the morning tide and said he had,  “8 plaice biggest 25cm,2 tompot blennies,1 dab,I grey gurnard and a tub gurnard. 5 species Now, some may say, is that it? granted the plaice are small but that does seem too be a common theme all along the coast atm with the occasional decent size mixed in. Squid and Cuttle landed on both walls and oddly still only a few targeting them during the day. Most “squidding” seem too be late afternoon into the early evening and early dark hours. Granted tides may be the key too this peculiarity atm but hey, reasonable numbers of squid and cuttle are now being landed on both walls. I suspect the after dark numbers will increase as the number targeting them does the same. If you are not sure on the how too squid I’d suggest get yourself some fluorescent jigs that are weighted of which are probably the easiest too use much in the way someone would use a 25g dexter type wedge. Come down prepared too have a go and look around at some on the wall already throwing jigs out for them. It is easily picked up and there are plenty of how too links all over facebook and the net in general. Another popular jig type are the float set up ones and used in a fairly similar way too the weighted versions.

Info on yesterday is somewhat vague so I wont dwell there but I have had a little bit of a round up from Mark and John who is the day warden today.
After dark the walls have again been empty bar a handful of die hard’s and tbh only squid & cuttle have been mentioned although I do gather that some large squid have been lost either at the netting or due too a lack of net…
The early morning dawn and sun up saw some schoolie bass and squid on the west and a plaice here n there from the early arrival crowd. Over on the east , also squid shortly after opening at 6am and Im told that plaice , bass, bream, pollack, and dab have been caught. I gather the palace peir club are fishing on the east this morning and there is some fish activity for them. If anyone fancies joining a small group(or want more info) who regularly fish the wall Id say best contact person would probably be Glenn Arnold who can be found on quite a few of the various fishing groups on the book of face.

I shan’t be on the walls now until the wheel gets sorted & being a b/hol who knows when that may be so anyone needing something out of shop hours should ask a warden if anything can be done with regards too getting bait & tackle items out of hours.
Well thats todays yarn out of the way, or should I say done and dusted ?…. And with that all that is left to do is, until the next one, bid you all ADIEU
F

POST about fish.
A late afternoon rumble down Manor hill onto the Marina walls at low tide.

A sort of alt title I guess.
It is still IMO a bit early in the season for the marina walls too be producing decent numbers of fish but there are signs of improvement, even if half the world are starting too realise that mankind is over fishing the oceans. Thus, I found myself rolling over too the east wall and a low tide underway. Very few anglers left on the wall at this time of day & state of tide of which is quite normal even during the busier summer days.
As a result it is always hard too get a clear picture of how the main part of the day had fished or how many had indeed been down there. I do get some info from wardens but that often is a little sketchy and not over detailed due too them watching both walls and lack the time like I have too stop and chinwag with anglers on the wall. mind you, too get said sketchy info I usually have too actually see the day warden and I think I got there just after day dude had gone and Ali arrived for the evening/night shift.

Yes I confess I pad some reports, regular readers here will know by now how I waffle the padding in but I will say if the fishing has been poor, half decent, crap or good. The problem I do have is trying too drag different bits of info together & some fish reports arrive a week or so late when I next see the angler on the wall or 3 days later post too the book of face.
A good example of this was the rumour 10 days or so ago when I had heard of mullet caught.. or dropped high on the east and mentioned I would try and confirm that bit of info. i should have posted a couple of days ago but it had slipped my mind(easy done these days). Anyhoo said mullet(s) were confirmed when I came across Roy A earlier this week and did indeed confirm at least one decent mullet and another dropped at the wall a week earlier.
I am often reliant on FB posts from one or two of the various fishing groups there, some ppl will message me how they got on, wardens will update me and quite often when someone re visits they will mention prior visit & how they got on. this results , often in staggered info or late catch ups. If any readers here would like too share catches but are reluctant too do so on facebook anyone can do so by emailing here using the link on the bottom of the homepage. Emails too the website come directly too myself and this also is the reason that the shop doesn’t take online bait orders, the emails only reach the shop if a message needs relaying such as invoices etc.

Feel free too email me a catch info/report, if you don’t want me too put your name up here in a blog please say so when u message though as I lost my psychic abilities when I hit puberty 😂😂

So, back too yesterday, perhaps 6-7 on the east. I stopped an chatted with a new visitor dude fishing up on bay 58 ish who had been there some time and had still too see a fish. A decent chinwag but no fish !…
Along the straight section there were a couple of pairs fishing and looking quite glum regarding fish but did say they had a decent day on the wall.. for a change decent sunshine, the water had cleared much of the silk and visibility was improving all the time. Im betting that over the high last night visibility was very good but I ddidn’t wait that long too find out. Down towards the 20’s and news of some small(returned) plaice and a little gurnard that took feathers on the retrieve. All in all, slim pickings yesterday on the low tide.

from East too the West(that triggers a fats domino tune in my head !) and again not so many fishing. Some near ready too pack up for the day and others recent arrivals for the night session. Hugh was back with his dog which looked somewhat bored of the goings on and while there I did see him reel in a small plaice and there was a cuttle in a regulars bucket on the extension. A yap with Ian & Wife Sue told me there had been a few mackerel earlier as well as a decent bass on the low bays but things definitely seemed slow going as the tide turned.

Again a similar story on the west as was on the east. too few anglers too really catch how things were fishing but can confirm a few plaice & bream, plus as said a bass on the low bays and a cuttle on the high. Am not sure how the high fished but hopefully Ali may have some info when I see him later too day when I point the wheels down the wall.
Am contemplating fishing tomorrow morning too just after the high as JNR mentioned he fancied a dabble on the wall tomorrow, time will tell.

Thats it folks, not much of a catch report for yesterday unfortunately but hey, as said, I still think for the wall its a bit early and I can confirm the local boats are doing well on the bream and squid atm.
Aaaaannnnddddd so, until the next one, I bid you all ADIEU
F

morning world. No catch report today as walls were shut most of Wednesday and yesterday a windy easterly day meant almost no one on East when I went down and only about 10 on the West wall at the time and most were struggling as the tide hit the low.

Thankfully weatherman who erm never tells porkies say today the wind will/has dropped and is going too be sunny for most of the day and then a little bit of cloud cover late afternoon.
The west wall is open for night fishing today then also Saturday and Sunday nights.
East wall open at 6am daily and closes at 8pm so please help the dudes working and pack up in good time too get off the wall before 8pm so that the gate can be locked for the night(cheers)

Saturday, like today will have next too no wind (hoo flippin ray) but possible showers late afternoon for 2-3 hrs, now, if it piddles down don’t blame me I’m only repeating what said weather ppl are claiming, they also dry overnight.
Sunday sees again a rise of north too north east strongish breezes that settle as we get too the evening (again, allegedly) followed by what looks like a decent clear spell that may just finally see the water push clear of the yellow streak of a silt stream running along the front of the marina meaning the Mondays bank holiday , or as Mr Grinham was want too say ” Bonk Holliday” should in theory been sunny and a decent day on the wall for everyone wanting them red necked sunburns 😂😂😂😂.

Im told the shop will be open until 6pm today and also Saturday and Sunday as the weather looks decent and the west is open at night.

There have been squid and cuttlefish caught on both walls, not massive numbers like last autumn but a fair tick over each day that it hasn’t been blowing a hoolie out there so its well worth digging out those squid jigs or if you need too resupply I have checked with the tacklebox and they have plenty of squid jigs in stock.
Finally with regards too the shop they have some IMAX beach shelters that Phil (owner) Is happy too do a decent deal for so pop down or give them a ring too discuss price.

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