Just a short post as getting ready for the BTN vs palace game. Friday produced a few species high on the east with Bream, Bass gar mackerel and a decent Wrasse of 3lb plus for Glenn and from time too time it seemed too be a day for cuttle more than squid during the daylight. over on the west wall a decent Mullet of 47cm was had close too the steps @ bay 5-6 for wall regular Sue. Prior too a fantastic sunset and the light fully faded the cuttle were first too be noticeable being caught and just b4 dark the squid arrived too play also. Mark indicated that the morning had produced a few table Bass in the 2-4lb range and the earlier tide had chucked up some decent sized squid.
defo a case now of get some in prior too the blow looming large on the horizon and its looking like both walls may have too close early Tuesday afternoon and likely too be a few days shut.
thats it for today, tight lines all and with that I will bid you all ADIEU
F
Am not sure how busy the wall was last night as I didnt stay long on the walls yesterday, no point tbh as there were only (at 5pm) 3 people on the east wall and about 5 on the west above bay 15 but am aware that the squid have made a return too the wall.
There is a pattern of northerly winds atm making things feel colder so id wrap up warm and get at it fairly quickly if you want squid and cuttle as next weeks looming storm may very well put an early end too the squidding, only time will tell but my suspicion is the next few days will see the end of calmer clear spells and switch the summer season firmly off
Short & sweet today and so with that until the next one I will bid you all ADIEU
F
… of days and then a couple of nights closed the walls are back up and running with night fishing all weekend and the likely as not night fishing on Mon & Tues also prior too the weather going tits up , well, tits up as far as the walls are concerned.
Im guessing the Bass anglers will be looking at Wednesdays coming forecast and almost wetting themselves with joy at the southerly wind coming in off the Atlantic. Wednesday the wind arrives at a mere 30-40mph but continues too build with indications of by Friday south winds of well over 50 mph If your a bass angler and that is your kind of fun well, stay safe folks it looks like fishing’s version of a monster roller coaster and clearly the marina will be shut while the storm hammers in and along the coast.
Now I realise it has been a week or so without a blog, some of the days open over the last week have been somewhat hard too get any catch info simply because of so few about when I have been getting down there. Add in fully closed days and some early evening shuts as well all go towards vague catch reports and possible guess work so its easier too simply say things have been somewhat quiet on the catch front.
too choppy for squid although I expect today it is calmer out there and the potential for squid/cuttle will be high. There are still bass catches although less people too see and comment on them. likewise there are plaice and still a few bream too be had close into the wall. Im told there are also still garfish lurking about and there does seem too be a bit of an increase on the Eel front with a few common Green & silver eels being found amongst the larger congers that John H is finding high on the east. I recon he will soon break through the 30lb mark the way he is going 😁
Hopefully over the next day or two I can catch up with a couple of the duty wardens and find out what they have seen or know is coming up and perhaps get a clearer picture of catches prior too that crappy weather coming in next week.
Its rapidly looking like a storm season is on its way which will obviously force wall shut downs more often as we creep towards the winter months.
That’s it for today or should I say for this week! and like last night Sunday see’s BHAFC playing at home so probably wont be on the wall Sunday evening as there is no way am I going too miss Brighton Vs Palace even if offered all the tea in China.
And so I will as per usual & until the next one bid you all ADIEU
F
Not a massive amount too post here as have been otherwise occupied/distracted with some medical appointments elsewhere.
There is a bit of bumpy weather ahead, not so much today & tomorrow daytime where the wind direction firmly hits from the north but come Thursday evening things become a case of swings and roundabouts as we get a period of changing direction’s.
As forecast stands the
West wall will be shut THURSDAY night about 7.30pm and stay closed on FRIDAY.
On SATURDAY the WEST will be assessed but there is a good chance it may stay shut.
WEST WALL Sunday/Monday will be open as normal with night fishing.
EAST WALL is expected too be open as normal .
The only real catch info I have atm is that there are plenty of squid and cuttle too be had, most at night but some also are daily being caught in decent numbers. Garfish are still about as well as the occasional mackerel, bream, plaice and Bass.
As said today is just a quick one as I catch up with other things, and so, until the next one I will sign off and bid you all ADIEU
F
Yes folks the squid comp was yesterday ! It has been on the home page for over 2 weeks. Will there be another ? perhaps, will chat too Mark and see what he thinks.
Ok lets start with the comp and results followed by a bit of a blog catch up so be warned this may be a long read if I go into waffle mode.
Right, so, after a bit of delay the sign in got underway about 10 past 5pm for adults it was £5 rod fee and £5 into a prize pot for 2 cash prizes for the Juniors who are not eligible(by law) too compete for cash prizes Mark paid for 2 spin rod & reels and I added a few Jigs
21 Adults signed in and 4 juniors giving £85 too be split into two separate cash winner prizes. Past events have seen one person do a clean sweep of prizes so format was changed a while back in that only 1 prize per person too be won.
My initial concerns for setting the date was that all past events had been on and over a high tide but with a lack of suitable tides matching possible dates the comp was moved onto the higher east wall bays with a tide dropping off the high water mark.
My other concern was the squid, with recent blows and choppy waters over the last 4-6 days the squid had gone into deep more calmer water. Wed & Thurs had seen breezes over forecast keeping the water a bit choppy and fairly coloured, Friday though settled and was much calmer giving conditions more suited and importantly a day or so of time for the squid & cuttle too come back inshore.
Saturday daytime I checked in with warden John too hear that there had indeed been squid and cuttle caught on the morning tide and I will admit to a sigh of relief, conditions looked blob on over on the east wall(thank F***!)
Yes yes yes get on with it the mrs said … At the draw entrants erm obviously drew a bit of paper with a chalked peg number with peg one being on bay 60 in reverse numbering down too the steps at bay 29 or 30 on the chalking.
6pm things were underway and with a lesser number entered it was agreed that come 8pm anyone wishing too move around onto alternate pegs could do so as they wished.
The first catch of the evening went to Joe Virgo within minutes of the start and I suspect 3-4 had been caught within the first 10 mins, not bad going especially as I hadn’t seen or heard of any squid catches for 5 days prior!…
Catches continued through the night and I suspect most would agree that the lower level of lighting again this year worked well and as a bonus for me in a way it was also good too see from the east wall a much lower level of light coming from the west wall. I firmly believe the lower lighting is for the better and no doubt creates better conditions for night fishing on the wall when it doesn’t resemble Blackpool seafront and its illuminations.
On the Squidding front there were plenty coming up and one or two were being plagued by pebble sized cuttle that were being rapidly put back. I swear that Mike was catching the same suicidal baby cuttle for half of the night.
There were plenty of squid being caught and towards the end of the night lots of speculation on who may have the largest squid and the most although there wasnt a prize for the highest number caught but there was one for the longest combined length of cuttle & squid which was creating some interesting speculation.
Come 10pm I called a halt too the night and moved too the Café tables too sort who had caught and won what.
A quick word re juniors in the comp, we had 4 enter and three stayed too the end with one heading off a little after 9pm.
Id like too say well done too all 4 of them, spending a big chunk of the night in near dark jigging for squid I recon can get a bit boring after 2-3 hours especially on a Saturday night and an England footy game on TV so too spend 4 hours that late at night IMO is pretty good going so parents, if you are reading this please say well done too them.
So prize money was split into 2 pots for 2 individual winners although The squid chose too have a say in the end result.
Overall winner with 18 Squid and Cuttle that added up too a combined length of
253.6cm or in old measures 99.8 inches or 8 foot 3 of squid body so a huge Well done too
CHRISTIAN HEBA who ironically also had the longest single squid of the night at 30cm.
Now as said, it was one prize per person and so the next largest squid went too
JOE VIRGO with a squid of 29cm.
Both received £42.50 and Christian also won a set of squid jigs from myself.
With regards too the Juniors 3 stayed until the end of the event with one a clear winner with 2 squid caught. I wont name the lads here as firstly I forgot too ask permission of their parent and being juniors I think we we should be mindful of youngsters privacy.
the lad with 2 squid automatically won one of the 2 rod & reel sets of the other 2 who stayed until finish a draw was done for the 2nd rod & reel going too one and a set of squid jigs too the other.
Thankyou all who attended, lesser numbers than past events but it all seemed too go without any problems so a big thank you for those who attended.
Back on the blog bit and catch report some may have guessed things over the last week or so had been fairly quiet with shut downs and choppy waters but there have been a few fish out there too be had.
We are still seeing plenty of GAR fish, yesterday saw bait balls of sardines on the east walls morning tide. Bass continue too tick over and a fairly decent turbot was also landed on the east, not the biggest Ive seen over there but very close too it and no doubt made a cracking meal for the catcher. Over the last 2-4 days there have been a few mackerel and some but not many horse mackerel, yep they are still out there even if that are making hard work of being caught. As said earlier squid and cuttle made a return too the east wall and no doubt a few on the west as we get into a calmer patch of weather. Adding too the species lists you can add plaice, bream and hound pups keeping things a bit varied if not very prolific in numbers.
Thats it for today folks, so im gonna sign off and until the next one , I will bid you all ADIEU
F
Ok, so not much re catch info today yes there were plenty of Garfish during the day and yes there were plenty of squid last night…. beyond that I don’t know and tbh my head was focused elsewhere.
details of comp next saturday are up, click the page link above.
Thats it for today, short sharp n sweet so too speak. And Thus until the next one I will bid you all ADIEU
F
yup, Squid are definitely in Mackerel it seems are out, Garfish a plenty, which on its own feels very strange too me. I can’t recal seeing so many garfish in such a short spell. Adding too the weird we used too get gars arrive in amongst mackerel shoals, this year the gar have seemingly formed their own shoals in the absence of the mackies … most odd and I have no idea why.
Odds & sods being reported over the last couple of days, one or two Large bream have been thrown up (so to speak) on the West but it feels like catching other species other than Horse mackerel, Squid/cuttle and some Bass at the moment are on a bit of hold. yes there have been Plaice, rays, conger, one or two Mullet and even a Wrasse or two but right now squid are head and shoulders above anything else.
Also in the mix have been the occasional hound pup and even talk of dogfish(already?) and the marina, especially the EAST WALL has a way of throwing curve balls and the occasional “unusual for the time of season” type of catch. e are still seeing Gurnards and red Mullet(goat fish) and there are still prawns too be had in the rock pools and down the “V’s” of the lower bays of which is good news for the Bass hunters.
Again night fishing is producing the larger number of catches as said dominated by squid and horse mackerel runs. Most nights this week as soon as the light has gone the squid have been very active, although last night things started slower than previous nights so I guess ya cant always rely on the buggers too perform in a regular pattern. The horse mac tend too avoid the aggressive shoals of squid so timings of when at night they will show is somewhat a lottery.
Please note that with only the one wall usually open at night it has over the last 2-3 months become very busy. Part because it has been producing and part really is down too the lack of decent and safe venues too fish at night that doesnt require membership.
Now I very much realise that some are driving/traveling too Brighton from some distance away, some have journeys of over three hours! but so have many others. If you arrive and the wall is already full telling us how many hours you have travelled too get here doesn’t mean you will get on the wall any sooner, simply put, if there isn’t space you won’t get on the wall until others leave. The west wall is limited in space thus also limited in numbers we can allow on at any given time especially at night when risks of injury increase from careless casts and accidents. If we over fill the wall we put our insurances at risk, if the insurance is lost there is no fishing, night or day, simply put no insurance= no wall to fish on and overcrowding is the fastest way of loosing the venue.
Plan your journey, get here in plenty of time, pay attention too high tide times. many get here 2-3hours before the high tide and also get here before it gets dark. If you get here and it is dark 100% chance that the wall is already full and most likely the main white gate will be shut too help wardens control the numbers entering.
What isn’t acceptable is if you manage too slip onto the wall un-noticed by the duty warden and then go and plonk yourself into a bay with already 3-4 people fishing there thus causing problems with those already there and then acting all bolshy because you have been asked or told too move.
We operate on a 1st come basis the bulk of the time and in the last 2 months most nights we have been open the gate has had too be used too control the sheer volume of people wanting too get on the wall. On at least 2 occasions at the weekend the west wall has been full and gate closed by 6.30 pm most nights the gate has been shut before fully dark meaning people have too queue and wait for others too leave the wall.
It has not been unusual for afternoon arrivals too stay on the wall until midnight all anglers get a minimum of 8 hours on their tickets up too a maximum of 12hrs based on when their ticket is issued. Yes some leave early due too not having gear too fish in the dark but it is not unusual for someone at 8pm arriving too be told a wait of at least 3-4 hours due too being full and then the only options remaining is too fish the beach or travel elsewhere.
Telling the warden you have travelled 3+ hours wont get you on any quicker if at all. It comes down purely too numbers already on a busy wall at night.
Abusing wardens will only see the wall shut. Being frustrated too arrive late and be met with a busy wall is no excuse for abuse and plain rudeness, so please don’t be shocked by, if you give the warden a load of verbal that the warden simply ends up eventually telling you too fek orf, no one deserves that sort of abuse.
On the up side, tonight Saturday the east will be open extended time until 10pm for the benefit of those squidding and next Saturday we will run a squid comp on the EAST wall, details too follow.
Thats it,almost, wall expected too be busy tonight so please travel in plenty of time, tonight’s High is at 5 to midnight and a big one at 6.55m. 18.02 low tide of 0.9m
And with that Im gonna sign off and bid you all (until the next one) ADIEU
F
…. Mackerel ?
Squid that is 😉
Over the last few years many anglers will have noticed the drop of of mackerel catches, quite clearly the North Atlantic Mackerel is very much in decline and with the sheer numbers of Squid caught yesterday evening/night It makes me wonder if all of a sudden those Mackies are being replaced as the autumn go too for catches.
Again last night the number of catches was high, how high I couldn’t say as I had left early for a change having listened too my body saying fek orf take me home, but, as I understand it numbers last night were possibly the best so far, yes the west is busy at night so please folks do yourself a favour and don’t arrive gone ten pm and complain how far you have come and want too jump any queue’s at the gate because it wont happen.
We have people travel down here from all over the country, for many it would be quicker too go east or west and fish the sea but they chose the marina and like the later arrivals also put in the time too travel. Often the wall has been recently full by 8pm.
Yes some are people with day tickets and no night gear thus spaces will eventually open up but bear in mind that someone with a ticket that started at 4pm will be on the wall until at least midnight, hence, we often get a queue at the gate and it is not unusual that some people end up waiting 3+ hours too get on the west wall. The old saying is very true in this case……the early bird gets the worm!
Anyhoo, yep, loads of squid last night and I will catch up with Ali a bit later too see what else was going on.
Other catch news is mostly gar fish still being about in larger numbers than I have seen in some years, WHY? absolutely no idea, perhaps they don’t taste as nice as mackerel too the larger predators 😉
Bass catches are still too be had and there are still decent numbers of prawns out there for those with collection buckets and an aerator too keep them in good nick. Beyond that I am a bit in the dark.
Saturday night the close time on the EAST WALL will be pushed back too 10pm for the 1 night only for those wanting a go at some squid… more space, less frenzy I guess and we are looking at running a squid comp again on the east wall next Saturday 3rd OCT. full details will be posted asap/
Thats it for today, conditions out there looking ideal, the sun is up and its looking very squiddy.
thats it,chin chin time too go so I bid you all ADIEU
F
Figured out that the blog is being posted earlier than normal thus I am most likely on my second coffee and up earlier than my body prefers! That or the title actually means summat else entirely 😉 and the real reason is out there in the water and as someone on the FBook group put it… stealing all his live baits.
And so lets get too the real title or as the mrs is known to say ” oh ffs, get on with it” more than that I’m not allowed too clarify 😉
So lets get at it…
by now I guess you have already figured out todays main post content is Cephalopod’s, or simply put Squid, Squid and more Squid with the occasional Squid and cuttle chucked into the mix for good measure.
The last few days have not been the best fishing wise despite the seemingly Ideal conditions. Yes there have been fish caught but defo not in the numbers I would have expected. decent numbers of Gar as already mentioned but an almost total lack of expected mackerel.
Tues night when I left the wall things had been slow and as the high tide pushed through there was again a lack of horse mackerel. Yes I have already mentioned that little nugget but, coz as you most know by now there is always a ‘BUT’ on chatting with the night dude is seems that they did finally show up in the small hours of the morning pre light so if that is the new “way if things” then I guess it would be ideal for the insomniacs and crazies that are about what ever they are upto at 2-3 o’clock in the morning, erm na , hard pass there from me thanks.
Somewhat strangely but the catch news for yesterday was hard too find other than a pic or two from mark highlighting more squid catches but warden John did put up a teaser up indicating quite a lot of small bream feeding quite hard on the morning tide and here n there some Gar but it seems like yesterday was one of those days that unless on the spot too see fish it was hard too gauge although Im aware there are quite a few hound pups feeding quite hard and locally on the beaches west of the marina has been chucking out a few rays with some varied markings. Local angler dev had 3 different types a couple of nights back and the Banjo area is still producing Gurnards, Eels, hound pups and even a few dogfish.
Last night as the light went it was a case of all about the squid, I watched 2 dudes for a while keep pulling out squid at a rate of almost 2 a minute for a shortish period and from the early off darkness those squid (small type) were being caught the full length of the wall for at least a solid 2 hours and no doubt beyond. While there on the lower bays Kadir and Phil(pieman) were prawn gathering and Kadir was rewarded with a decent table fish bass and things were looking like it would be a busy night on not only the squidding but also on the fish.
If the squid continue at this rate I suspect a squid comp will be organised fairly soon so stay tuned for news of that one and I will get my head together with Mark and see what can be sorted for the EAST wall running through until about 10pm ish one night fairly soon.
Thats it for today and so I will sign off and bid you all ADIEU
F
A bit of a tough few days as the water slowly clears from last weeks westerly blows. Fishing has been somewhat tough going. Most catches could likely as not be described as “a few” IE a few plaice, Bream, Wrasse, a mullet here n there while the much sought after mackerel and even horse mackerel seemingly have taken a bit of a break from the local area.
Most noticeable the last few days Id say were the number of garfish being caught on generally the EAST WALL although they have sometimes ventured onto the west side.
Up until a couple of days ago Night fishing had also taken a dip with a very big slowdown of catches on the horse mac front. Quite ironic then that people are still arriving with 25-30 gallon buckets expecting too pull hundreds of fish out of the water ! one dude this week even arrived with a plastic black dustbin ! Jeez,
I did explain that they had more chance of food poisoning if they filled the thing, IE stressed fish left too die in the bin, slowly then crushed for 6+ hours on the wall and a nice warm drive home too Manchester but it seems few people want too hear that and are unlikely too take notice of offered advice on fish care, but hey occasionally someone will listen… I hope 🤢🤢
Now if you have been paying attention too my text today you may have noticed a little hint of perhaps some sort of action going on ? did you spot it ? are you now scrolling back and wondering wtf Im on about ? hint, 3rd line of the above paragraph…. “UP UNTIL…”
So what could have changed or may have changed this week ? Well I have been mentioning too a few people especially last week up too the weekend that conditions were setting and creating calmer water. Air pressure becoming more stable also do go towards creating decent conditions for SQUID. They had started too arrive a couple of weeks back but those westerly blows sorta put a spanner in the works and pushed the 1st arrivals back into deeper calmer water.
Indicators were there and as said too a few I fully expected squid too start again as the weekend ended. Sunday and Monday there were occasional catches on the walls during the day, not many , mostly due too the lack of people trying for them though. Catches were also there Sunday night into Monday night but the info was quite slow filtering through. Tuesday daytime also saw some landed during the day but again very few trying for them.
Last night a few serious squidder’s decided too give it a go with decent results over night. It certainly looks like they are properly arriving on the walls. Some defo during the day so I’d say there were already good numbers out there as the Autumn run tends too be heavier at night so with daytime catches sprinkled about Id say get them jigs out and go for it especially near the high water marks. If you are on the east wall id say perhaps avoid the bend on the bigger tides as the water will run quite hard, low 15 bays and above 35 likely too produce the better results if the tide is near the 6m mark or bigger.
On the west wall just about anywhere will work for squid but again the takes often are less on the bend but dont rule it out, the water/tide doesnt run so hard on the west thus creates better conditions for most of that wall.
Hopefully now the squid arrival will be similar too the numbers we have seen over the last couple of years and allow for some sort of competition (or 2) too be arranged on the EAST wall with a later than usual finish on that side. I guess it is time too examine tide time tables and get my head together with Mark and see what can be sorted. Dates and details too come(obviously) and will have a chat with one or two of the squid obsessed too sort a format most likely on the lines of single largest squid/cuttle and overall length of bulk catches as has been done previously.
Connecting too a later comp and squid in general brings me too the boring bit today with a reminder of lighting policy on the wall at night. I realise some may feel there are too many silly rules regarding night fishing but that are there for genuine reasons and not just too give wardens the pleasure of having a moan at people over light use and general behaviour.
BLUE LIGHTS , blue filters on head lamps and wall lights
We are required by the harbour policy too ask anglers too filter strong white lighting. As a harbour there is always the chance of boats/ships passing close too the wall especially around the lower walled extension. At night boat skippers work in the dark and utilise night vision/low light in their cabins. A simple glance from an angler with a 5000 lumen light can blind a returning skipper long enough too create an accident, IT HAS and does happen, thus we ask all too filter their white lighting or use blue lights.
The exception here is using under water lights.
LIGHTS fitted too outside wall above the surface
These lights also must be filtered or blue, we cant allow white light too pour over the wall so close to a harbour entrance, white is a navigation colour and must be filtered or not used.
UNDER WATER LIGHTS
we do allow underwater lights too be used, in the past we only allowed blue lights but on request we tested various light colours and found that green, blue and white light under the surface glowed green from the water colour thus this year we have changed the fixed blue too allow blue, green and white under water lights.
POWER BANKS for lights
USB power banks of any form are recommended, small battery blocks similar too the work station type also ok.
CAR/VEHICLE BATTERIES
the marina requested three years ago for these too be stopped. Old batteries were being used and dumped. Some in the water many in marina bins. Car batteries have too be disposed of under specific rules and the marina were getting grief from the council for illegally dumping them unknowingly from their bins
as a result NO CAR BATTERIES to be on the wall ty
ON WALL LIGHING
up until very recently there was an increase in high powered lighting on the wall “too see what anglers were doing” please dont, keep your personal wall lights personal. torches, small lights/lanterns for kit and rig/bait sorting. Huge bright lights on the wall are not required and light levels should be as low as possible/practical. Please leave the arc lights at home, ty
LIGHTING on the wall at night is improving, wardens have access too blue filter material for lights, please ask for some, we shouldn’t have too chase every light on the wall for compliance, I also have a stock of pop up lanterns for sale on the wall should anyone want them.
I realise some of the lighting rules may seem petty but they are there for a reason. Giving grief too the duty wardens as they remind people of this is pointless and unnecessary. If we fail too keep compliance with night lighting it will eventually see the wall closed to night fishing. It seems we have one or two who feel the rules dont apply too them and find it easier too deal shit too working staff.
If the abuse continues the wardens have been instructed too close the wall until said problem removes themselves from the wall .
I suspect if the wall is busy and a queue waiting too get on the wall gets told that the wall has been closed until offender removes themselves anglers may find a way too encourage the person creating the problems.
None of the wardens need too be abused simply because someone feels that they dont have too follow rules on the wall, the alternative to anglers self policing would be for police intervention and sooner than later all this would achieve is the wall being lost for night fishing.
End of the day, if people cant behave on the wall it will be lost resulting in a well marshalled wall that is safe for all and has access for all being lost permanently, think about it folks, because I for one don’t give up my time at night too monitor knobheads and nor do other wardens.
Ok thats the grim shit out of the way, as a sorta round up my observations over the last few days/week.
Slow going after a cycle of stormy weather. Water clearing quite nicely although rather oddly there have been signs of “MAY ROT” over the rocks on the east. That or Southern water are at it again!
Main catches last few days dominated by Garfish, I suspect smaller tides have slowed the Sole catches, still decent congers out there too be had during the daytime. the sands on the east are seeing a very slow increase of Plaice, Bream and Wrasse numbers seem very low atm for some reason. Bass, hmmm they are there but proving abit shy on the hooks. Mullet require a lot of work but again they are there. A few rays are being caught but no seeming patterns too catch rates.
Mackerel and horse mac have either taken a 2 week break or buggered off, I hope they are on a break! Spider crabs now seem a thing of the past.. do ya remember all them cut lines ? well now the issue seems too be with dodgy knot tying causing lost gear on the east wall ! No real standout catches this week so far and I guess the main bit of news is the return of squid.
East wall closing times will shorten now as the sun sets earlier. We usually have too close the wall around sunset too comply with marina residents wishes and current close is 7.30pm. Yes we are hoping too run a squid comp over there and it will run into later hours than usual close too probably 10pm ish.
Thats it for today, I wonder how many read all or just skipped bits 🙂 and so I will sign off for the day and as usual bid you all ADIEU
F
