Well it’s been some week & mostly for the footy fans as the World cup moves into its quarter finals stages. Regular readers here will no doubt assume the fishing is cack due too lack of posts and seeing this one probably think right now that either there has been some fish or im gonna waffle the shit out of this page.
At this point of my waffle or Sunday sermon if you prefer that phrase I will point out that what I see and hear on the marina is not the be all nor any definitive idea of what is going on down the marina.
I get there in the late afternoon(mostly). I’m not there all day as some wardens are. I dont see many of the wall visitors as the bulk are there in the mornings and tbh in this heat Id be shocked if someone would be on the marina from 6 or 7am and still be there say.. 5pm on any visit. 12 plus hours out in the sun is currently way too much for sane or normal people and that includes the wardens.
Yes I chat with other wardens and also chat too as many as I can when on the wall but often someone catching a couple of fish slip through or people dont post a catch as they figured 2 blennies or a pout is not worth the post if that was the case of late Id have little too post and even less too say here.
Yes its hard going, some anglers can be here all day and swear blind no one caught a thing and the truth is they never saw someone catch , often as they were more likely doing other things when a catch happened nearby, that or feck all was truly the case.
July is often a tough month under normal conditions, full heat of day, bright sunshine, often very clear waters and the fish choose not too play until the sun goes down. Now add too that the talk of over fishing, vanishing stocks, super trawlers, doom n gloom talk and we get a situation that this year seems worse than many that have been prior. The fishing along he south coast in particular the shoreline this year has been very tough and in an age of electronics , social media reporting and very tight finances for many has lead too a situation where those that travel too the coast are being more selective of where they go and more too the point are following any catch reports in the hope of boosting catches.
The fishing is seriously tough atm from Kent down too Devon. Boat trips and the skippers are working harder this year it seems and putting customers on fish is not such an easy thing.
Looking at bait suppliers mackerel are thin in numbers and English caught mackerel come and go in short supply and often suppliers sell out of said English very quickly. Costs are going up as boats ventre further out in search of decent fish.
My fishing has been limited this year, part by health part by the heat of day and simply either not having the energy too fish or a lack of will too stand out in the sun for very long.
Catch recording is very below wheat most feel is normal and thus it is hardly a surprise that anglers are not venturing far if even out while catch reports indicate tough sessions made tougher by lack of fish or major heat concerns in the full heat of the day.
With angler numbers very much down during the day it seems that the night anglers are also feeling the economic pinch as much as the fish report pinch with numbers on the west wall way way down other than the few hours after 7pm as some come down too catch the light dropping and cooling of the day in the hope that fish may wake up or show up. Once things get dark very few are staying on the wall and as a result the feedback from the night dudes is erm, no one here so erm no fish.
Again a yes in that night fishing numbers are down as are the numbers of fish caught. We have seen bursts of horse mack and the usual bass catches but overall things are definitely quieter all over at night and during the days of a very hot summer.
Will it get better ? I flippin hope so, Its bad enough seeing a knackered mackerel stock but hope August brings the mackies and gar back in along with the improving bream catches. Bass as ever are a fixture for the marina and are doing very well here especially with the spider crabs in full moult. I guess some parts of the fishing don’t change and I realise how lucky we are in the marina having resident breeding shoals of Bass and Mullet.
The last few days have been tough for everyone. bass have ticked over where expected. There have been a few bream and wrasse likewise occasional plaice, a gurnard here n there does happen “Honnest guv” and mackerel are atm very occasional visitors but hit n miss. They show up, hang about for 5-15 mins n are gone again for a few days with the only exception 2-3 weeks aga where they showed up on a wed on the east followed by the west on the Thursday but again only hung about for a short period of time. Those arriving on the Friday with feathers in hand never got a sniff of a fish! go figure.
So, what too do ? tbh nothing but sit tight I guess. I do hope it improves and the stories of extinction levels of species going on fizzle away as fish return next month. As too fishing, well for me I have a dabble here n there when I can or feel up too it. Part of why I fish is not about catching fish, its the process, the down time, the chill out value and thus catching is for me a bonus. Blanking on a trip for mis is not any biggie too stress about although I know a few people that would stress on getting blanks. For me its its more about going through the motions and chillin out with a rod in front of me š
Summing up the above, its been frikin hot, too hot at times and the fishing is somewhat pants but, do u chase fish reports or do u fish for the peace it can bring ?
is catching the main reason too go ? or like myself do you class catches as a bonus.
Perhaps I shouldnt say it but, id fish an empty pond just for the social side and chill factor fishing brings , perhaps im a bit weird but id rather travel, fish & blank than be stuck indoors but hey, thats just my view.
Anyoooo, I think Ive waffled enough for today, I wont be on the walls tomorrow but will be on Tuesday. And so, yep, im gonna say it again….. Until the next one I bid you all ADIEU
F
.. put up the title as “Twot” but erm decided that it may sorta look a bit rude especially as its simply ment too be a pun on “too hot” simply said quickly but hey I didnt have much else in my head for a title.
So where are we.. ( no not rock bottom) and erm tbh id say fairly much where we were on Tuesday although as logged by wall regular Tommy Tuesday did see some cuttle activity amongst the occasional pout and small pollack happening on the low bays of the east but in general wandering the walls proved a challenge in the heat and also a challenge actually finding someone to chat to that had some catch news of any sort.
Im sure everyone will be pleased too know that the spider invasion continues and the smarter ones amongst the arrivals have started bringing cutlery with them and are very adept at cutting hooks from lines. I had a dabble for an hour or two on bay 9 Tuesday and managed too keep my rig but had 4 hooks cleanly cut off about 2 inches above the hook & knot for the gain of 2-3 decent bites 2 hard backs landed and one blenny that may or may not just be a frequent flyer on the marina, no im not mad but I will add some context too erm, said flying blenny.
As said on the fish front I managed one blenny on bay nine over Tuesdays high and obviously returned it. On Wednesday Stuart G posted a catch report that included the bass he had mentioned too me when I saw him on the wall and also for good measure posted a pic of a blenny the had caught. Now yea I now they are as common as muck but angle of pic etc gave the appearance of being the same fish I had caught the day prior and jokingly mentioned perhaps they were the same fish.
thus on the marina fb group began the silliness as shown below
F,……A nice fish for the table. That blenny prob the same one i put back yesterday
T, …yea pretty sure I had that one too
S, ..Same one I dropped earlier too
T,..he should become a named fish really
J,…..Barry?Ā 
And thus at the end of a quiet day Barry the Blenny became a frequent flyer ! yup, utter madness but it does break up those dead days on the wall in its own weird way.
Wednesday saw better numbers on the wall for a change, no doubt chasing the mackerel reports but just like that we were back too another stinking hot day out on the walls with loads of feather action for very little result.
It does seem very much like if it wasnt for the spider invasion there would be very little happening during the heat of the day out on the walls. yes people are catching but its occasional or in sudden bursts. There may be a few mackerel wizz through but if you are not in the right spot at the right moment you miss seeing much of anything. There have been pout, plaice even gurnards here n there but July is proving very much that July on the marina can be very hard work during the day.
I missed having a proper chat with the night dude yesterday but it was hinted that once the light has gone there are very few left on the west wall at night.
For those wanting a stab at the decent numbers of bass being caught Id strongly suggest getting down onto the east side beaches as the tide drops away too collect some of the spider crabs that are here peeling and often stacking up along the base of the east wall. A second option is get yourself a bucket or container of some form and an aerator/air pump too oxygenate the water and collect some prawns too fish as livebait along the inshore marks. Bait the fish with what they are feeding on rather than plugging away with lures in the heat of the day. Im currently typing as I wait on a bait delivery and will drop down onto the marina a bit later this afternoon.
Now I do realise Ive spent the last half hour waffling and for a catch report it only really contains one flying blenny but sometimes that is the nature of the beast and Ive sod all too say but have time too put the thoughts down in words, lets face it they (who ever they are ) do say that something is better than nothing but then I guess some may thing oh ffs shut up and so, I will for today do just that and with a wave sign of and bid you all….. until the next one ADIEU
F
Well, are they in ? or was it a mir-a-geee ?
Yesterday when I popped down for a nosey and went onto the west who did I see? well booger me tiz was Dave, the dude with the bike who usually lives on the high bays of the east. He, of the bike had been down a couple of days before and was packing up when I had arrived and mentioned that he had managed a couple of bream and also a few mackerel, the same as posted by Mark a few days ago.
Well shock horror, Dave was back on the west fishing, & trust me this is a rarity in itself and it seems that lightening does strike twice coz here he was and again catching mackerel and bream, wtf is going on.
Anyhoo, after a quick chat with Dave and a few others I drifted over too the east too find Tommy and Robin of BIF1 lure flinging on the low bays. A quick chat sorta said that not much was going on there even though the water conditions looked quite decent and a fair old tide which was quite a lot calmer than the west side that was a little choppy due too the westerly breeze. It seems the cack looking yellow shade in the water had finally given way too some decent looking summer water(until southern water do another dump) Anyhow, the bass today (or yesterday should i say) had decided Monday was a rest day even though the spider crabs did seem too be out in force.
There was quite a few fishing the bend and numbers were better than of late. For some reason the walls have been unusually quiet of late, I guess social media has its part too play in that many follow fish reports too better target where too go and dented incomes of late being squeezed too break points add too the lower numbers but with so much happening with the bass down here Id expect some level of increase in numbers that doesnt seem too be occurring.
Anyhoo I digress, back too more fishing the bend on a Monday. Now.. being honest re number vs fish caught a this point Id say the lower part of the east was under performing but as I passed bay 12 steps there was some activity with a few bream being caught and as I moved onto the bend properly it was showing signs that summat else may be going on and decided , take the wheels too the end and work my way back Doing this does give an inkling too quiet days and more hopeful days simply by numbers ratio of those stood bait changing, those stood feathering and those sat bored waiting for some activity and it was clear that something was going on all along the straight part of the east.
And thus, about bay 55 I swung the quad around part due to the uppers section being empty and part as someone had caught me up asking for some feathers and weights a bit lower along the wall at 45ish. Three lads fishing there it seemed had found a few fish and while mostly looking for mackerel which they had found had also caught a Bream or two over the sands of the straight section!
Yes its easy too think Bream ? so what but, on bay 45 is 99.9% sand and sand left & right for more than 10 bays each way. Now I realise some do catch bream out on the sand but by choice Bream tend too be near the rockier type of ground so are less common up on 45 that most realise.
As I worked my way back along the east it turned out that there were quite a few people catching a mix of bream and mackerel. No huge numbers of either and no signs of mackerel shoaling but they were there and I gather stayed for quite a while yesterday meaning that most above bay 22 caught a few of their chosen targets.
Thus Saturday and Monday ended up producing some mackerel. Now its easy too mock and ask, why a longish post about mackerel, comments like ahhh ya just posting too bump numbers but truthfully its more about the fact that we had some twice in 3 day than any method too boost angler numbers. It is becoming very clear that reports of a poor stock year and ICES reports that deal with fish stock numbers did this year for the first time list mackerel as “AT SEIOUS RISK”. Numbers of them are very obviously low not just on the marina but all along the south coast numbers have dropped alarmingly and as a result seeing 2 out of 3 days with mackerel has become unusual. i DON’T HAVE ANY ANSWERS, nor do i know how the situation can be rectified but as it seems right now something has too change before we loose yet another species either as a thing of the past or as recreation anglers we lose the right too fish for them. Spain and Portugal have as I understand it banned shore rec anglers taking mackerel and France this year set a limit of 5 fish per day !! wtf , imagine that rec anglers stopped from fishing or mackerel because some greedy countries in the north Atlantic want too reserve the last stocks for themselves ! FFS no thanks.
anyway, of the soap box and onto the what else bit. There have been a few skinny plaice of late but no specimen catches and prob none worth taking for the table. There are wrasse about and it seems they are a bit partial too live prawns if you can collect some on the low tides. As mentioned the crab invasion continues and the local bass I swear are near drunk on them. Gurnards have again started too show up and Id be surprised if we dont see a few red mullet showing up on the west extension very soon. The bream on the east are a mix of black and guilthead on the east and mostly black on the west wall. I gather there are a few mullet being caught but it seems only a very small number are curently targeting them a fair amount of micro species are lurking down the sided and in the Vs and while I have very little night info there are Bass and horse mac being caught. Final comment on species goes too the cephalopod of which we are seeing the occasional squid but the better numbers atm are for small pebble cuttlefish.
Thats it for today, I will have a poke about later on the walls and see whats going on, night fishing looks good for the whole week and for a change the weatherman seems too be smiling on us all. All done, & that just leaves me too say, until the next one, I bid you all ADIEU
F
A small update for today, firstly too confirm that the mackerel caught on the west wall on Friday were indeed real. Granted only a handful of people were there too see it but I did manage too have a chat with wall regular Dave who is often seen cycling about the marina. Dave was packing up as I got down there just b4 5pm and mentioned that he had a few mackerel and some bream but it had died almost as fast as it had started and he want inclined too throw feathers about for another 2 hours just in the hope of another fish or two !.
Friday early evening failed too produce on the west until it had properly got dark and the day warden on Saturday (John) mentioned things seem slow and that a couple of small hounds the usual night bass were just about it other than a few bream. Most of the night guys had gone home early so the night too day shift swap was somewhat quiet.
yesterday day time for a little while did seem a bit touch and go as to “will the wall be open over night” due too the fairly strong breezes pushing against the wall & due west! As it turned out XCweather had got it remarkably accurate and the wind did indeed drop for about 9pm ish.
I have yet too find out how the night fishing went last night but do know that the daytime on the west for many started ok at 6am but by 10 ish it was clear that again the westerly breezes were strengthening and making it pointless too open the extension (angler numbers were good) as things were forecast too get a bit lumpier, as indeed they did.
Slowly but surely the wave and water spouts did their thing and numbers started too thin on the west and while there I didnt see a single fish. By 3pm there were 6 left on the wall where it had been nearly full when I got there about 10.30ish.
Bits & bobs were caught on the EAST although I dint have a very clear picture but am aware of plaice and bream caught similar too Friday over there with again some bass caught on the lower section of the east wall.
As mentioned the spider crabs are well and truly “IN” especially on the eastern side of the marina, as are prawns. Both as always are proving very very good bait. Anyone visiting the EAST should keep an eye on the tides and if you can allow yourself a little time too get onto the low tide beaches on the east side. Collect a few crabs and a pint of prawns if you can as they are quite simply the best bait locally right now and with a little effort are free!
Things seemingly a little cooler today despite the news all over tv talking of another heat wave on the way ( “oh the fckn joy of it”) forecast again says a bit breezy on the westerly and judging by the tree movement outside of my windows I would say likely as not the west wall will be somewhat lumpy as the tide comes in with
high water today at 15.17 and 5.89m expected, wind driven Id guess it will be on the west about 6.5m in reality.
Low water this evening is 21.36 with a low of 1.37m and a 03.28high of 5.71m
the “strong breeze” is expected too drop this evening somewhen abouts 10pm so no issues with night fishing and the west will stay open, east closes at 9pm so please start packing in plenty of time so that the wardens can have the gate locked by 9pm. Pack up time is suggested by 8.30pm not 9 when the gate should be locked for the night.
that’s it for today, back whenever the next post is and so, until then I will bid you all ADIEU
F
Some of the updates this week have been a bit thin on the ground, part closed, part little info feedback due too lack of anglers and also having an appointment or two elsewhere.
it seems that we are again being pestered by westerly breezes strong enough too cause issues on the west wall making it somewhat of a challenge on the scale of the old tv show “its a knockout” as the anglers daft enough too try it get to dodge the water spouts.
Best of the fishing has been on the lower parts of both walls especially on the EAST where bass catches and the occasional conger have kept things ticking over.
The spider crab invasion is still on going meaning the Bass are almost seemingly getting drunk on crab juice and the crabs are also attracting a fair few hounds in feeding on them also.
When open the west at night has produced bream conger and bass with some decent wrasse scattered on both walls . Plaice are somewhat reluctant too play at the moment and after a couple of days 2 weeks ago mackerel seem too be merely a dream for the hopeful Perhaps if they show, or when they show this year they will bring gar fish with them as I havent seen or heard of one in months.
Now I’m sure a few will agree here on something that was pointed out too me this last couple of months, in that I was chatting with wall regular and resident John that my blog posts seem too be empty gaps and then a long post/long read. I can see how it would seem that has become the norm but in all honesty it is more a case of some days I quite simply have nothing too post up, either a wall close, lack of anglers too get any reports or my own reasons for not being down there a day or two have this year seemingly created an odd pattern of posts in bursts… Somewhat like the fishing at the moment.
For those wanting a bash at the bass atm id say get down on a decent low tide and go for a forage in the rock pools on the east side of marina and look for soft crabs and if you have a spare bucket & aerator collect a few prawns as both are working well for the bass. Bream, wrasse and conger will also go for the prawns while alive. Knowing what the fish may be feeding on can be a big help in improving you catch chances.
Finallfy for those looking too night fish please keep an eye on updates and any announcements on the facebook group as we are getting some mixed readings on wind speeds and once things get dark it can be hard too evaluate conditions properly too meet expected safety levels too comply with insurers etc.. If the west is closed providing conditions suit the east 3-4 beaches closest too that wall can be somewhat sheltered and fishable and can provide an option for any who have travelled only too find the west closed.
Anyhooo
I will leave things as that for today and finish with the usual, until the next one …. I will bid you all ADIEU
F
It’s been a few days since the last so I guess I really should be typing something, possibly even a fishing report that would be of use too people. So, why the gap, has it been dead ? perhaps I’m dead n just forgot too come back, after all I do often say if I popped myclogs I would do my best too come back, even if it was just too haunt some poor sod I would at least try too continue making some poor sods life a misery !…. but nope it seems Im not deceased.. I was gonna say passed it but tbh it is a bit too late for that turn of phrase, but I digress. In all honesty I havnt posted simply because as is often the way with me I either got distracted or… was a case of CBA breaking out in the heat!.
Right, so whats been going on since the last post(anyone hear a lone trumpet? )well a quick look back tells me the last one was put up Thursday and so from then til now.
Thursday, having mentioned about an increase of Bream on the west I thought Id go down a bit earlier than I normally do and have a bit of a dabble on the west with one of the light rods. Bites were fast and regular but all I seemed too be finding were loads of small pout and blennies, bite after bite. Granted I didn’t see anyone else catching but was a bit frustrating. Conditions seemed ripe and for a spell I considered moving too a bay further along but in the end called it a day after a couple of hours.
Irony was that the night session did indeed again produce some decent bream, a nice conger after dark and the horse mackerel came out too play for those who stayed after dark.
Saturday despite weather peeps saying things will be a bit cooler, (I’m convinced they have a warped sense of humour)erm,I’d say it wasn’t so. yes it was overcast for much of the day but it was still muggy with a heavy feel too the air that did in time produce evening thunder along with the expected light show of lightening, Very little rain too break the heavy feeling but I guess the night sky being light up was worth the watch.
This weekend has it seems been heavily influenced by the return of marauding spider crab, yup just when you thought it was safe too go back in the water….. here they come again.. en mass!
I am beginning too think the local bass are somehow getting drunk on crab juice and some parts of the wall have seen a clear increase in bass takes. Enough so that for a while I was beginning too think Plummer Lee may have a tent stashed somewhere as he did become an almost resident on the wall hunting bass.
The carb increase has also seen a rise again in smooth hound catches and the crab legs do also seem too be making a decent bait for Bream… who’da thunk it eh!
While I was having a tinker on Thursday one wall angler on the west mentioned that they had seen a couple of small squid down the side of the wall so I kept an eye & ear out for talk of them through the weekend. I did notice while looking about that there were quite a lot of small jellyfish drifting about and initially thought perhaps the small squid were possibly just a miss identify situation but then I got word of dropped cuttles on the east on Fri and Saturday and tbh the end of June does see some cuttle activity but it is usually further out too sea.
As it turned out this weekend there were further squid sightings although they wern’t targeted and from description they seemed too be quite small with short carapaces, juvenile or another variety Im not clear on yet but will do a bit of asking about. As too the cuttle, further attempts and drops followed on Saturday with a couple finally being caught on Sunday on the east mid wall.
Sunday daytime things were a bit lumpy on the west and as a result conditions also on the east proved too be a little challenging resulting in a cluster of anglers low down on the wall. A stiff’ish breeze from the south west made a big difference on how things fished and many anglers gave up on the west wall and simply melted away with only a handful heading over too the east meaning a much quieter day on the wall.
through the weekend catches included Hounds, Bass and occasional mullet, pout, blennies and the micro species seemed determined too get all the baits going. Squid & jellyfish were spotted and cuttlefish were caught. Bass almost now standard being as were are being mobbed by crabs mixed in with fair numbers of bream . Plaice seem very thin on the ground atm (no pun intended) with mackerel becoming the proverbial rocking horse poo during the day. Boats are getting them but I get the impression locally they are somewhat scares. The have been some very nice and quite large wrasse being landed & not sure why we seem too have either non or whoppers but hey, the catchers dont seem too mind a decent sized wrasse that is for sure.
In the days of social media and catch report reliance it does seem that this year we are seeing far fewer visitors this year. It may be the economy/finances, it may be just that people CBA unless they see hue numbers of fish being caught and it is very cear that with low to no numbers of mackerel about that people are either going elsewhere or simply not bothering too go and fish somewhere on chance or too simply go fish n see how it pans out.
Night fishing is slowly seeing increased numbers fishing the early sunsets but many are gone by midnight for some strange reason, again no idea why this pattern has formed but it seems visits are shorted for many of late and I cant quite figure why the changes. Horse mackerel catches are increasing although atm they are not yet every single night guarantee like some previous years. Often Bream caches do happen well into the night on the west as well as the standard bass catches and occasional large conger amongst the various tiddlers that are caught down the sides at night. Rays this week seem too have been taking a rest from being caught and I cant say I have heard of any flounder or dabs. There are a few sole too be had with a decent one caught a few beaches over from the west all a night or 2 ago.
Water quality around the marina is still a bit up n down with still quite a bit of yellowing in the water on the east side that id say in general was silt drift from the Newhaven area, the west is looking much more normal and if the wind would just sod off now we may even get a decent period where the water state can finally reach summer expectations. This years stand out so far is the higher number of hounds & not just off the walls. they do seem too be increasing along B&H’s beaches.
A bit long winded of a report with some sluggish fishing this week and hopefully things may now start too settle for July/August although I have a sinking feeling in my gut regarding the state of the mackerel population, I hope Im wrong but there does seem too be a very real lack of reports of them being caught in numbers.
Ho hum, not much else to add too for today so I will sign off in the usual manner and bid you all… until the next one ADIEU
F
Yea not a very original title today, Maybe I just felt like stating the obvious as my body does its best too melt into the concrete. Currently daytime on the walls are proving too be very uncomfortable for many and the best I can offer is to say stack up on water or sensible fluids. pack some extra suncream and I dont just mean for the kids.
While we do welcome dogs on the wall please realise there is little too no shade on either wall with perhaps the exception being on the west up by the toilet block. In the current heat during the day the walls really are not suited for pets and I cant help feeling other arrangements should be made if you are fishing before the sun starts too drop, trust me it is blistering out on the breakwaters.
Water conditions seem too me as a bit odd. We seem to have got rid of the may rot but around the walls the sea doesnt seem too want too clear like we are used too. There is a cloudy effect that sorta just looks off green n yellowish with heavy silt. of course it could just be some weird sun effect with the light levels and haze’s forming everywhere in the heat shimmer…. that or its my imagination and I need an eye test! go figure.
Yes the fishing is being effected by the sun and the best of it at the moment is early morning when cooler or after 7ish as the sun is going down and the air is cooling.
After spending most of the day on the west wall on Sunday much of this week has been a case of taking things easy and quite often 2 hours fishing (or dabbling) is often my physical limit and so 8 hrs watching the west on Sunday was always going too come at a price and my joints and bones very much delivered the message that I am old, nowhere fit enough or healthy enough too be trying too wander up n down the west wall in the full heat of the day.. well any day if im being honest with myself. Thus my time on the wall this week has been somewhat limited as I try too slow down.
So, what about the fishing ?, I wont dress it up, daytime fishing has been brutal, even the fish are reluctant too get active in the heat of the day but Mullet activity has been slowly increasing and there is also a rise in bass catches. no doubt the factor here is the sheer number of spider crabs arriving around the walls.
I will take a moment too advise those that read here that there are limits for catching worm baits as well as crabs and current rules on spider crabs being kept is that they must be 12 cm across the shell and you are allowed too retain 20 in a day. 21 can be sort of kept if you are live baiting in that you can collect 20 and use 1 as livebait at a time. Much like keeping fish for live bait, you can have 1 fish for live bait (officially) either kept in a bucket ready for use or already out on a line. Officially thats it, if you have say a mackerel out as live bait you cant keep another alive for the next livebait, sounds silly but livebaits should be 1 at a time.
So, crabs everywhere & being as I mentioned the “M” word how are they doing ? .. well the truth is they arn’t, if you see one being caught, get a picture as so far they are very few and far between. As posted there were a few in 10 min bursts wed/turs last week but any others have almost been single strays.
The crabs also seem too have seen the return of decent congers with a few showing on the west at night. Im also pleased too say that now the winds seem too have settled we are seeing the return of bream and quite a few were had yesterday evening as the sun was dropping, the 8pm tide I guess made an impact also.
Out on the water there have been dolphins following the bow waves of the marina boats, and a thresher shark was spotted off hove beach very close in. Some may also have seen in the press a decent sized sunfish spotted by one of the charter boats this week. its almost totally tropical out there!.
back on the wall I think its fairly safe too say that the horse mackerel are in with a few nights now seeing quite a few caught. Not everyone’s taste in fish but I think most that frown at them are doing so due too the number of bones they have too pick out :). Daytime catches do require patience and a bit of targeting, there are plaice out infront of the east and IMO later than normal there were squid seen in the water off the west wall yesterday so rather than throwing feathers out it may be worth a go with lures(bass) and squid jigs for the squid and potentially cuttle. It has been a few weeks since someone targeted them.
It does look like other than the larger bass catches that the most productive catchers have been using light gear such as spin & lure rods. Amongst the plaice have been some small gurnards and anglers on the west may even find some red mullet. Down the Vs there are smaller species such as gobies and blennies but as implied further up the daytime fishing has been quite punishing and early mornings and sunset evenings do seem the time too be active out there.
And so, we come too that moment in my posts where I almost run out of stuff too waffle about, but, I will spare your weary eyes for today and sign of in the usual manner by saying …
Thats it folks and so until the next one , I will bid you all ADIEU
F
Well this weekend has been a strange one. Fri hot & sunny , Sat muggy as F*** and a bit overcast and Sun well that was as hot as hades with almost no shade on either wall for anyone. judging by the colouring of my skin there were a few burnt bodies after yesterdays scorcher on the walls.
So, where does the ying and yang title come from coz the last few days were definitely not in balance but it was a better title than Good n bad or some fish n no fish because while most people this weekend were having a glorious sun burning weekend on the wall they were not catching much of anything.
Yes Friday produced some fish but for many the order of the day was a blank. There were fish, honest, bream, pollack, gobies & Blennies, plaice Bass and conger, there were even a pile of 50 plus horse mackerel on the night shift over on the west wall but the fast bulk of anglers struggled too register a bite.
Saturday was very similar sort of day too Friday, bodies on the wall all hoping for a sniff of those mackerel that got reported ion wed & thurs but did they come too play ? no, we did get swarmed by spider crabs though and they have been very much what has made the difference for some.
Want proof of the difference ?
please go take a look at the updated galleries in particular the “marina catches and the bass page linked
here ->
https://thetackleboxbrighton.com/all-about-da-bass/
https://thetackleboxbrighton.com/marina-gallery/
I kid you not , there have been some superb catches this weekend from a swarm of hound catches to decent bass and some really cracking wrasse and is the reason for the Ying & yang or if you prefer, a case of the Good, the bad(blanking) and erm possibly the ugly but that one is for you to decide on, IMo there isnt an ugly when it comes too fish but hey, I cant always say the same of the hands holding them up.
Ive no updates on how last night went on the west but I can say this, yesterday was one of the toughest days on the west for everyone that I can remember. A real bum burner, hot, dry, no wind and seemingly no fish. That aside it was for me quite an enjoyable day although somewhat exhausting and my body is reminding me that I aint no spring chicken as I pay the price for it today.
Thats it, check out the galleries, no teaser here today.
And so I will sign off for the day and bid you all ADIEU
F
So, a fair bit going on yesterday although when I got down there things didnt look over busy. Quite odd too see, half empty walls and decent weather, well almost decent. it was a bit choppy on the west side but not enough too put people off using it too much although there were more over on the east where things were somewhat calmer.
So, what has been happening ?
It seems that its safer too say the hounds are in rather than asking if the mackerel are in although in a way both are …. a bit.
And so, my usual run down the hill, although a bit earlier than usual and a quick top up of gear on the west side saw me take the quad over too the west side for a dabble being as the west looked a bit lumpier than I preferred and tbh I couldn’t be arsed too play dodge the occasional water spout.
As I came out of the car park on the east and turned towards the wall the 2 cafe dogs spotted me straight off with “Pepsi” jumping up onto my lap too hunt the biscuits down !…
I did have a dabble for a while but tbh it looked at that time of day dead as a dodo and there was a silty yellow smear pushing against the wall where I was. the only highlight, or oddity was me when I flicked a 2 hook rig out with a 2oz pyramid weight on it while chatting with wall regular Ian when suddenly on going too bring in the slack on my line it seemed my rig was already 2 bays too the left and still moving, 3 bays left id got the vanishing rig under control and could feel something still towing the rig too the left, not heavy just moving .. wtf, then on the 4th bay what ever had taken it spat the rig. Didnt see the fish and can only assume the fish grabbed the small weight and took off only too spit it a few bays down. So one near miss and little else too shout about. dabbled for about an hour then realised I was likely as not flogging a dead horse.. or fish !
Fortunately others had done somewhat better further along the wall. It seems them spiders are back in numbers and have this time brought full sets of cutlery with them! and with the spiders have come the smooth hounds it seems. Ive posted a few pics too the various galleries on site with a few of the hounds going close too 10lb ! not too shabby for the marina. Elsewhere regular Chris managed 5 bream too go with a couple of plaice, Jerry had a bass low on the wall and regular Roy said that he had a decent 2lb plus golden grey mullet on the higher bays.
There were a few mackerel about but not in any grat numbers and it seems fri night the guys on the west did well for horse mackerel with over 50 caught through the night. Eels are still about, silver and conger and we seem too be seeing the return of the micro fish such as blennies and bulheads. There was a small gurnard also posted too the book of face and afaik the first landed on the east in a few weeks. its not brilliant out there , or this week hasnt been I should say but it does sorta look like maybe , just maybe summer is beginning too happen and the may rot seems (shhh say it quietly) too be vanished or at least on its last legs. yesterday the water was fairly yellowed from silt pushing agaings the east side with the west a berrter green but quite lumpy. Im pleased too say I cant see any movement on the local trees so it may finally have calmed for some decent days on the wall ahead.
a word of warning too all of tomorrows visitors.
there is a charity bike run from London to Brighton tomorrow and being fathers day the roads could be chaos, travel early and allow extra time in your vehicles it could be manic down here tomorrow.
Thats it from me for today other than putting up one of the hounds from yesterday below. And so, until the next one I will as usual bid you all ADIEU
F
Today, but… here a bit of update, not a biggie but hey I get too mention the “M” word at least once,n yes we all know what that word means …charrrrggggeeeee.
So the “Ms” happend yesterday and funny enough a few on Wednesday and quite possibly the most Mackerel Ive seen in some weeks.
now don’t be fooled, there wern’t loads of em but both walls got little bursts , on the east just b4 the high and on the west just after. yesterdays burst lasted all of 10+ mins with all six people on the wall(after the rain) had a few too take home. beyond the 10 or so mins there was then perhaps a mackerel caught every 20 mins or so, thus they were in but not too many.
There have been other catches and I guess the stand out this week is the number of hounds being caught from the local beaches and one or 2 here n there on the walls. Bass as per the norm are doing their thing and it seems we are starting too get another surge of spider crabs arive as the water clarity improves. It still (IMO) looks a little bit yellow from silt in the water but the signs of may rot seem too be gone , for now at least and with luck its done, time will tell on that front.
On the local boat front it seems that plaice catches are improving and the best of the bream fishing is still out there on a floating tub of some form :).
Conger are still about and there have been a few silver eels in the mix also. I will take this mom everyone that silver eels are protected so please return them if you can. Bass likewise have limits and are also protected , for those unaware, you may catch 3 per day with a minimum size of 42cm.
Please note also re 3 bass per person. Info via a couple of IFCA officers. You may catch and retain 3 bass, you may not pass 2 to a mate and take a further 3 for yourself. Each angler is limited too catching and keeping 3. It is defo not 6 bass between 2 people if caught by one person.!
Fishing this week gas been very patchy on the marina with ups n downs from the weather conditions playing a big part on discouraging visitors. yesterdays burst of 2 hrs of rain sent most packing for home so the bulk of people missed the mackerel. That said regular Tommy did ok high up the east with pollack, wrasse and hounds amongst his catch, yes he also missed the mackies but hey , cant have it all.
Tacklebox are having issues with their shop phone, it may get answered it may kick into answer phone.
If you need bait , Lee has made his mobile available for this weekend re ordering bait, so if you wish too reserve some bait ring the shop or Lee on 07491 376731 or send him a message.
shop this w/end is open daily from 6.30am until 5pm.
east open every day 6am til 9pm and the west is open for night fishing tonight and also Sat & Sun.
thats it for today, and thus as per I will bid you all ADIEU
F
