The Famous Tacklebox Brighton

Well it doesnt happen that often but it has been a few days since a post and tbh , as the title suggests I’m somewhat lost for words as well as catch info.
Much of last week was lost on the west wall with the wall shut due to high winds so took the opportunity to spend a few evenings at home and confuse the hound who seems too have got used too me being out most evenings over the last month or so pottering about on the west.

Add the above too the lack of posts in the F/book group and it leaves a situation where I am typing too say .. hmmmm , na , got nowt. Thus having read this , well, no one is any the wiser really.

Water clarity on the west yesterday evening was much better and we are back too a decent looking green out there.
According too the weather people we have a week of decent calm weather with daytime temps sometimes creeping into the 20’s and I fully expect with the calmer water too see the squid catches rapidly increase so dust of them jigs and give it a go folks.

And that as they say is it for today, granted its a little of nothing but then the title did hint at it and so, until the next one I will bugger off and bid you all ADIEU
F

As I started this post my initial thought was along the lines of “Not a massive amount too say” but it seems that changed as I typed so, here we go.

With early afternoon high tides by time I have been getting on the marina many have already been & gone so not always reliable info around on the day, some of it even filters through 2-3 days later so this is more a round up than yesterdays catches which tbh somewhat mirrors Mondays info.
Plenty of Garfish over the last few days with the best of them over on the east wall. Mackerel numbers seem too have slowed if that is even possible with the low numbers being caught.

Sometimes I chuckle when I see people wander onto the wall with 4-5 buckets, half fill them ready for fish and then spend an afternoon feathering with little too no luck. its almost like karma or nature paying back dues too people that are clearly planning on fishing too an almost commercial scale.
Dont get me wrong, Im aware some with come onto the wall and stock their bait freezers for the winter in one large hit and then head for home. They usually do stand out as regular anglers and have a trolley & half full of kit and use little of it on the day.. Na, the type I refer too are the casual anglers that come down with a cool box and 3-6 large 25-50 litre mayo buckets all ready too harvest fish.
Absolutely no way are they for personal use or for their “big families” but anyone buying these fish must be naïve, very stupid or simply dont realise that these people arrive on the walls nice and early, spend 8-10 hours “fishing” for mackerel and piling them into deep buckets where the bottom fish in each container slowly crush.6-8 hours later these people pack up, head too their cars with said buckets of almost always un gutted fish stacked too the brim without being chilled to make a 2-4 hour drive home quite likely in the dark of night too arrive home knackered too the level that the fish can wait and be sorted in the morning mmmh mmmmh can ya just smell the insides of those cars with their near day old sweaty fish ? I can 🤢🤢🤮

Anyhoo, have discussed this with other wardens who have also voiced concerns about some of the pure greed often on display especially in the few months we see mackerel shoals (and now horse mac) and it seems I’m not the only one that feels one cool box or bucket per person is more than enough fish being easy 40-60 fish and lets face it taking more could be seen by some as verging on commercial practices so please don’t be surprised if you see anyone arriving on the wall being told there is a limit of one sensible container per angler. I get some only visit 2-3 times a year, I get some plan too fill their bait freezer but how many have the space too quickly freeze 60 fish ? sensibly that would take 3 chest freezers and I doubt many homes have 3 or more although I actually do have 4 freezers at home.
With mackerel being listed as “at serious risk” by ICES(effectively one step short of endangered) perhaps it is time too start looking towards sensible fishing on the walls rather than the carnage of past years, besides with France, Portugal & Spain already putting in measures I can’t see it being long before the UK consider something similar.

Ok so I will step down from my sermon pulpit and return too the EAST WALL and the garfish of which are ticking over very nicely thankYOOO 😉 Bream either seem too have slowed up or reports are no filtering through as not many people are targeting them, Im not sure if its lack of reports or lack of Bream at the moment though.
Hound pups seem just about everywhere especially on the EAST WALL, and Bass activity seems too be again increasing after a lull as the spiders cleared of (thank F***) There are mackies about but numbers are sluggish and I suspect the early morning highs will see the best numbers caught. Horse mac like the mackies are about and some nights can have a steady tick over while almost every other night they seem too take the night off and erm vanish.

Sole, what can I say, mid wall on the east has seen a regular tick over of slippers and average sizes while higher up… well there have over the last week or two been some real quality fish being caught, if you want a few pointers I suggest seek out John Humphries who this year has pulled some real crackers out over there.
Like the Bass activity there has been an increase in decent conger catches with John H ( yup that dude again) and Mike P pulling up some great specimens with John yesterday pulling out his PB(personal best) conger at just over 23LB bait was 3 whole squid, half a mackerel on an 8/0 hook, a bit of a beast indeed.

For some on the marina I have left the best til last news wise and that is summed up in one word SQUID. Now while we have had a fair bit of choppy water due too westerly winds in the calmer spots there has been a slow climb in squid catches and I know of one dude who landed a dozen or so last night on the west close too the high tide and over the last week or two there have been occasional mentions of catches here n there, some of them during the day mid wall on the east but the bulk have been once dark. Obviously the night catches would be on the west side as the EAST isnt open for night fishing but they are showing up on both walls. Not massive numbers yet like the previous 2 years and perhaps the numbers are slower this year simply due too windy conditions being more dominant this autumn but id venture too say , dust of them jigs and give it a go now and then
Pic below is John’s 23lb PB conger, other than that all that is left to say is, until the next one I will bid you all ADIEU
F

Morning world, no doubt afternoon by time I post this one live & no its not intended as a long ramble, but hey, it does happen on occasion 😉
So, wassssuuuuppppppp ohhh not done that in a while!. Well Saturday evening as prior posted the WEST was closed due too poor conditions and didn’t open unti fairly late on Sunday so I completely lack any catch info for the west… shocker eh, but hopefully Ali can let me know later.

And that then leaves just the EAST WALL over the weekend of which seemed too chose the slowish tick over of species rather than prolific catching. I gather there were a couple of squid caught or missed, a bit vague I realise but then so was the source info so can’t elaborate any further without a dollop of bullshine!
Adding too the weekends tally & list were again some more shad of which atm seem too be arriving in unusually higher than normal numbers, Please keep an eye out folks so that we can encourage anglers too return these fish as safely as possible.
Bass catches also seem on the rise over the last few days with many in the 3-4lb region and I guess they were making decent meals for two.

It seems that mother nature is telling us quite clearly that Autumn is upon us as also on the increase of catches are plenty of juvenile(pups) hounds, mostly caught on the EAST but when open there have been some mentioned caught on the WEST also.
Higher bays on the EAST have been producing some good quality sized Sole and further down the wall in the mid 30s there have also been a fair number off smaller Sole for the species collectors.

Garfish are still arriving with fairly mixed sizes as are Mackerel, Bass seekers will be pleased too notice that there are now quite a lot of small Joey’s mixed in with the catches although the mackerel numbers do seemed too have slowed up but that may be down too the wind factors that are stirring the waters up into quite a coloured state especially on the west side of the marina.

Rounding up other reported species mostly from the EAST WALL we have seen Wrasse, pouting, Black & Guilthead Bream, one or two rays with another reported today over on that side. Spider crabs have just about all cleared off now and When open at night the WEST wall is still seeing decent numbers of horse mackerel.

Fairly varied for the bait anglers but it does seem that the vast bulk on the walls have a rod set up with feathers chasing the mackerel still.
Both walls open for the next 2-3 days with a potential blip on the radar for Thursday but that is slowly looking too be a northerly which would have the West wall open Thursday but a westerly swing may cause issues on Friday night then all good for the weekend.
I will update the weather as and when needed.
Thats it for today, as said, the intent was a shortish post for today . With that done I will sign off and bid you all ADIEU
F

Ok folks, a late decision as the winds increase from the west means that there wont be any night fishing tonight (saturday). West wall will close somewhen late afternoon before the light goes and will re open Sunday and yes it will be open tomorrow night.
So, no blog yesterday mainly as I hadnt caught up on any catch info and tbh I still don’t have much so a quick round up of WED night on the west that saw a fairly steady tick over once dark of horse mackerel. but the expected last light run of mackies only happened on the east wall prior too it being closed for the night. Like the Tues night on the wall there were a few small squid caught. Nothing in decent numbers like the past 2 years but the season for them is still early and if we get some decent calm patches rather than Autumn blows it should be worth a go having a chuck for the squid.

There were mackerel on the morning tide Thursday with again the best of numbers being over on the EAST WALL although a few were caught on the WEST but with conditions through the day deteriorating an eventual decision too close it down in the early evening was made by the duty warden.
. A rising tide being pushed against the wall and an expected 6.2m tide simply meant that water spouts were firing off nearly all the time and doing that in the the dark would have been problematic at the least and flippin dumbarse at worst. Also thursday on the east like the day prior there were quite a few garfish being caught. strangely non really on the west.

Friday saw both walls re-open and a return of mackerel mostly on the east wall in the better water conditions, the WEST side stayed quite coloured throughout the day and like the day prior wind conditions (or breezes) stayed above the projected forecast making things a little choppy early evening on the west.
The EAST WALL saw some morning patches of mackerel but no huge numbers were being caught, most macky strings were coming in with 1s and 2s or nothing at all. Now and then there were also little bursts of gar fish, some of which were quite large .
I took a wander , well more a case of took the wheels over onto the east somewhen after 5.30pm and things were very slow for most that had feathers out but I did learn there were a few bits & bobs coming out too those using bait and a lot of patience by way of Hound pups, Bream (black & guilthead) a few of them giant sea slugs formerly known as conger but Id say overall on the middle section things were slowish although just prior too the light fading there were a mix of mackerel and horse mackerel.

Best catches of the day Id say went too wall regular Michael H who had a decent and plump bass he estimated at 3-4lb but it possibly went 5ish and was in very good condition. Add too that he also had 2 cracking sized sole that again looked very well fed with plenty of flesh on it.
Im happy too say also that the Spider crabs have finally all but vanished with only the occasional one being pulled in on the lower west wall.

As I was leaving a full wall last night there was like Wednesday night a slow pick up of horse mackerel all along the wall with plenty of fry/whitebait down the sides of both walls.

A bonus for the wardens also this week was that many anglers have got the message about winding things down so that we can get the main gate on the wall closed for the night. Ironically on occasion with the west wall so busy occasionally the warden as been a bit later than planned getting over there and then finding that the vast majority have indeed listened and started packing down and clearing the wall thus allowing the warden too get the wall closed for the night fairly quickly. If you are one of these people , well, thank you , it helps greatly and allows the wardens too get back too the west wall asap.

And on that final note, I will sign off and bid you all ADIEU
F

Sort of. Ok, after a day+ of being shut the west reopened this morning and will defo be open for night fishing Tonight and Thursday but FRIDAY a bit of a different beast as winds seem too be picking up and will be closely monitored too see how the coming blow impacts the marina.
No issues too having the EAST WALL open as the system is mostly westerly and the impact will be minor that side.
Saturday we are hoping the projected forecast is over playing it but it does mean there may be issues for night fishing and we will update people as we get the info in so Fri/Sat will remain as TBA re night fishing.
Sunday east defo open but there may be a delayed start too Sunday on the WEST WALL so please keep an eye out for updates. Beyond this weekend things look better and calmer so hopefully we will see an increase in squid catches.

Not a great deal too say re how fishing has been over Mon & Tues on the east and my head space has been occupied elsewhere for a day or two.
Both walls are open as is the west tonight and tomorrow for night fishing. Sunday night had seen a steady plod of horse mac caught from about 9pm and I managed too be clear of the wall by 11pm ish

Thats it for today, a nice short one especially for Mr CH 😉 yea he knows im pulling his chain a little but not intended too hurt just my odd idea of humour.
Thats it for today so im gonna beggar orf and so, until the next one I will bid you all ADIEU
F

An odd title for today, mostly because I have been ear wormed by an old tune that popped into my head mostly because of one or two, well a few comments while on the West wall the last two evening/nights, so advance warning Chris😉I know ya read this and I’m gonna waffle for a bit b4 I get to the fishing report that in a way is also part of the reason for todays odd title. but if ya want too short cut my waffle I will do the day report bit with a “skip too here “ marker for those that want too quick scroll

Lets begin 😂, so, as many must be aware by now I have been giving my time up most evenings the west wall has been open at night. mostly too deal with a few issues that got over highlighted a week or 3 back. Little things such as lighting that had got out of hand on the wall, fish management and car batteries mostly but also in general helping the night warden(s) with the extra surge of anglers wanting on the wall in the evening now that we only have the one wall open at night.
Im pleased too say that nearly all have been happy too make some minor adjustments so that the wall can comply with requests too bring the light levels down on the wall in darkness. When time I have over the last 10 days or so handed out blue transparency paper that then dulls the glare of the many 2000 to 10,000 lumen headlamps in use and in some cases over large lights in use on the wall.
Its not perfect but changes are being made and it is noticeable so to all those anglers ty for making the process almost trouble free. Likewise the message about leaving car batteries at home is also getting there.
Regarding numbers on the wall at night we do need too carefully monitor numbers, lets face it, no one wants too be in a bay with 7 rods and 6 other people at night and for this reason at times we do have too shut the main white gate enabling us then too keep control of the numbers, carry out ticket checks (yea some would say to get more money but…) that allow us too pin in our heads who is due too be leaving/staying and where free bays may be or are free. This also means that we can get leaving anglers moving allowing anyone waiting at the gate too get onto the wall and fishing.

This weekend the numbers were particularly heavy resulting in the gate on Saturday being closed as early as 5pm! I got down there about 6.30pm and the gate was controlled almost one in /one out until 11.30pm! Yes , people queued over a 5 hour period with some waiting almost 3 hours!
WHY so long ?
We run the wall as most know via issued tickets that wardens add (usually) the time on them, it helps us track how long people are in place fishing especially if one warden shift ends and a new dude starts. Once dark it is harder too track people so tickets are fairly often checked when busy but that also takes time. Many already know that a minimum session time would be 8 hours and for those that get tickets at the 6 o’clock session start they will get 12 hrs. so 1 person will have a valid ticket 8 to 12 hours never less.
We usually allow some grace time for ppl too pack up which is why as new people are brought onto the wall wardens will often ask the new ppl to wait on upper level while those packing can do so without being crowded allowing a problem free bay change over.

Now all of the checks in the dark do need doing when we are busy and especially when we have a queue at the gate. (Saturday we had at times upto 30 wanting too be on the wall fishing,)
IM PLEASED TO SAY that sat & Sun night that near everyone waiting were well behaved even when they had been waiting some time too get onto the walls. Some even went as far as saying once settled that they “got it” once they saw how busy the lower levels were 🙂 It does make the wardens job much easier when people are patient, reduces explain time thus allows us too get on with bay checking.

As part of the number controlling it has been decided that at night the general public will be declined admission this making the wall at night “Anglers only” it is tough enough already for the night wardens monitoring numbers and if we have general walkers on the upper level and perhaps deciding too have a wander along the lower levels they put themselves at risk and often cant be seen until too late so just for basic safety reasons it makes sense too limit the night wall to those fishing and those who have paid too be with anglers on the lower levels.

Ok, I have already waffled loads and not really said about the one or two comments that sorta triggered the title.
From behind the keyboard I never really have a true idea who does or doesnt read the blogs. From time too time someone will be chatting too me when suddenly i will hear the comment or something similar too ” ahhhh your Frank! its you that does the blog” That sort of thing and then sometimes a few words are said about a report or just general comments on likes/dislikes even some asks about the occasional reminders I mix in with a days blog such as words about crab sizes or a protected fish etc ya get the idea.

I do actually enjoy the feed back, it tells me there are more than the 10 avid readers I sorta joke about reaching etc but not only telling me about who is reading but it also gives me feedback, good or bad please let me know if you see me on the wall.
On the fishing facebook group I regularly talk about how good it is too talk, I genuinely am a “dont give a sh one tea” regarding colour, creed, language, race or hair colour, even the bald ones. The group is there for those wanting fishing info, as is this website and blog. As far as im concerned everyone has fishing in common no matter where you come from, live or what choice of language. Hence Im a strong believer in

Talk too the ppl in the next bay, say hello, break the ice or ask for help, what ever it is get chatting, anglers usually are a friendly bunch so please dont be put off by someone louder than you perhaps in a different language, fishing is universal.

Now I know one dude is reading this at some point who will recognise the above bit about talking because we had the same talk last night up near the toilet block after he had with 4 mates waited 3+ hours too get on the wall fishing 😊 And yes when the wall is packed finding space for 5 too fish in safety can be problematic at the least & tough a F*** on a busy packed wall. Im pleased too say the dude got it and was well behaved while they waited and had made a point of coming back n chatting with also praise for all the marina wardens.
YES it is GOOD to TALK, so please, try it.😊
So, why the title ? well its good too talk is very true, the last 2 nights I have had people stop and chat now that they realise it is me that does this ramble in text and most actually enjoy how it generally gets aid out from spawning in my head. Multiple people, multiple nationalities and languages all there too fish. Once the negative bits are removed most anglers show how they can get along with each other, no borders and even the obvious language barriers sometimes there people find a way too be understood.
Quite a good world we live in if ya ask me, and when you stop and think on that you start too realise that the world holds so many differences with people and yet, we find something in common and all the barriers fall away, quite a world eh😉 so yea ,
WHAT A WORLD

So I will print here 2 lines of the chorus from the old Benny Hill tune…
What a world, (what a world) what a place, (what a place)
Ain’t you glad you’re a member of the human race?

yup I am 😊
OK, for the short cut ppl

“skip too here “

So, Sunday, It seems that the night before was fairly naff, i only saw 5 or so fish b4 1.30pm though probably I missed a few and the only other news was that some squid were caught about 3-4am but mackerel wise it was very quiet for a nightime over the last 10 or so days.

Over on the EAST WALL Sunday morning the bend saw a reasonable number of mackerel caught no full buckets but fair numbers, Higher up wall regular John was having it away on Sole and Congers while adding in red mullet guilthead Bream(one of his best catches im told) on a mix of frozen mackerel and bait he had dug himself so a fairly productive morning.
I lack info for the EAST mid afternoon but when I got over that side about 6.30-7pm there were a few mackerel coming up and as the light faded there were horse mackerel also starting too be caught.

Water quality on the EAST WALL was far better than the WEST. A decent green shine too the water contrasted heavily with the cloudy and quite dark colour of the WEST WALL. Perhaps that is why the mackerel were playing more that side than the early evening on the west.

Like Saturday the west was very busy, and full when I got there about 4.30pm too see if I could help out with the numbers etc. As mentioned above the gate had been closed quite early both evenings especially Sunday as the wall was full before 5pm! It was clear too me even then that we would have too queue people at the gate especially as there had been many arrivals between 3pm and 4pm, yup add a minimum 8 hours too their start time and you realise 4pm tickets if they say will be there until midnight ! erk!
Lots of juggling and playing a grown ups version of switch-a-roo began earlier than it had the night before.
FISH tell em about the fish mr P !

yes thankfully there were , but it was a slow start and at times an almost stop sorta thing. The west had been tough going all day, lots of string weed in the water and the light breeze was pushing more colour against the wall instead of cleaning the tides water quality meaning very few fish. All weekend the EAST WALL out fished the west by a country mile. If you want mackies your best bet ironically is on the EAST WALL, trust me on this, go too the east it is fishing better atm.
So did the fish show early evening >? hardly at all and yet I knew there were decent numbers showing on the east and loads of free space. 5+ hours of people queueing too get on the WEST and for some a 3 hour window of fish missed ! sods law I guess.

It wasn’t until dark on the west that some fish started too show and the numbers slowly started too pick up about 9pm. I managed too get off the wall about 11pm last night as numbers wanting on the wall slowed too a dribble and there were plenty of horse mackerel coming out and into BOXES yay the message is getting out, catch em look after em and BOX em up as you go, we do need a bit more work on the kill your fish if you are keeping them but hey, change takes time and I realise that. Have not seen any wall reports as I type (other things too do) so perhaps I can get an update later from whoever is working.

WEST WALL closed now for tonight and Tuesday, will be back open Wed morning and then open all night for fishing on Wednesday night.

Thankyou all for those who had the patience too wait at the gate this weekend, it makes the wardens job much easier and it sorta makes you realise this world does indeed hold a few surprises from people, so yea
🎵🎵What a world🎵🎵

Thats it, all done for today, ya can all go rest your eyes for a while 🙂 well until the next one I post eh 😂😂, and soooo, until the next one I will bid you all ADIEU
F

For a round up/ update or what ever ya want too call it 🙂
so, bar yesterday most of the past week has been dominated by a westerly weather system and at times was pushing tons of water over the west wall hence we had too have a few shut downs here n there. fairly typical of a British Autumn.
Yes I hate too say it but we are into the Autumn which means we either get the weather that resembles the old saying of a late Indian Summer or we get Squalls or full blown storms sweeping in of the Atlantic, I hope I’m wrong but the long range weather dudes are already talking doom n gloom with talk of “el Nino” and the gulf stream wanting too play at its worst causing disruption by way of 4-6 day blows !, as I said….
I hope not but summat feels like its crawling up my neck and it aint the wifes fingers!
So on that cheery note you may be wondering if anyone has actually caught any fish this last week.

Well, despite the WEST wall doing it’s open & shut tricks the east has atually fished quite well when open.
Observant visitors may have noticed that we have now adjusted the close time of the
EAST WALL too 8pm too comply with the agreement on when the east wall is open/closed and being as the light is now rapidly going by 8pm that is the current close time of the east meaning anyone fishing that side need too be packing in time for the duty warden too have things clear and closed in good time.

Catches on the EAST have during the week included Bream, Plaice, some very decent Sole, Bass, Congers and European/silver eels Gurnard, red mullet with plenty of smaller species just down the side of the wall such as Gobies & Blennies as well as a lot of , well, I shall call it whitebait but basically a mixing pot of fry from Bass, Mulley and Pollack if you was too look closer. very varied but not all at the same time. Some days there have been hard work and others have been very productive so summing that up Id say somewhat hit or miss days.

I have deliberately not mentioned the obvious species that most ask about and Id hazard a guess that with the naff weather blowing along the south coast last week that the sensible ones that think about conditions, and sorta know what too expect would no doubt think, don’t bother with feathers, water coloured and very weedy from the wind and pointless expecting Mackerel.
Well….

Just too prove a point and make the fish predictions a farce they came out too play on the east most days it was open. By my standards of seeing things on the marina over the years Id say there wern’t load but there were catches almost every day on the east when open. Granted they came in smaller clusters/shoals and mostly over the day time high tides but, just too prove that the normal conditions for catching mackies can be thrown out the window.. well the buggers threw the normal out and sorta rewarded those that got their winter gear on too avoid potential waves and water spouts in the wind meaning that there were mackerel caught near every day last week on the east wall when open.

SOOOOO….. how about yesterday.
Well Lets start with the bollocks bit that prob wont interest many here bar perhaps one of the marina residents who regularly fished the walls until age related health sorta took its toll on him. Id say a bit of an old school type and always makes time too stop and chat and ofetn some days I find im somewhat busy and regret that I dont have time too say hello a bit longer.
Why am I padding this out you may wonder ? well Like myself Resident John has an interest in BHAFC and used too regularly cycle out to Falmer pub on match day…
So the bollocks bit, the game was flipping awful from a Brighton view point, the team were out run, out fought and so disjointed it looked like a game from the next division down, BHA were piss poor for well into 75 mins before the team even got it together, we defo stole a point yesterday and Leeds fans must be very miffed they never finished things off with 2-3 more goals but we snatched an undeserved draw.

So why link in the footy rather than fishing ? well thats how my day went or started and a crap 1st half then got worse. The wife dived out (not literally) too grab us both a beer, Queued up as ya do and as she got too the serving tills a space opened up too her left , a quick look and no one seemed too be there waiting as nearest dude was talking too someone behind em, thus she stepped across & ordered. As she got the beer this dude who was behind got right in her face shouting about queue jumping and somewhat threateningly leaned closer n said in her face near nose too nose ” I now got your face” leaving her well shook up n stressed. Turns out the dude was a Leeds fan in the BTN home section who Ironically was sat 5 rows in front of us, yes he has been reported and the club have the seat number. Needless too say that incident soured the rest of the game and tbh was glad too get away from the ground & calm down a bit.

On the fishing front I got a message about 4.30 saying both walls v busy could I come down early !😂 ah the irony of being asked can I leave a game early when I mock the hoards that do leave games 10 mins b4 they finish! But no I didnt leave early in fact a broken down bus at Falmer station caused widespread chaos around the local roads delaying me even getting home too get the quad out of the shed.

Eventual arrival on the WEST WALL was close too 6.30pm and yes the main white gate was closed, the wall at a glance was rammed and Mark was doing his best too control a very busy wall and the queue of frustrated anglers wanting on the wall despite the lack of room. Needless too say the next 4 hrs were crazy busy shuffling people about, checking tickets and start times while constantly being asked for weights & feathers. Needless too say yesterday was one of those days that the scooter was heavily used but, and this is a big BUT, I didnt have time too load any for the gear onto the scooter so most had too wait until I could find time too get at the weights etc. and meanwhile by 9pm the queue had grown somewhat towards 20 or so people waiting too get onto the wall.
Anyone reading here that were waiting last night I will say ty for your patience, most realised it would take time too get people onto the wall and at times we had more leaving that were being let onto the wall simply because the extension had been fully booked with mark and the daytime anglers coming off while leaving spaces were simply clearing bays for the incoming bookings .

Over on the main part of the wall which is a case of 1st come first serve we had a large number of people of which only half or so were actually fishing as families, friends & partners has all been on the wall for a day out. Needless too say then that more were leaving than going onto the wall and as things got dark we had too carefully monitor numbers on the wall too avoid over crowding.
By 7.45 Mark had too get over too a fairly busy wall too get that one closed down as per agreement with the marina so the gate was shut leaving me too try and wiggle spaces and get new anglers on the wall and I will repeat those waiting were in general patient and did wait without pressing too get onto the wall as we (or I) tried too control the numbers.

By 11pm things at the gate had eased but despite decent numbers of mackerel during the daytime tide it was clear that things last night were much more tougher going. A shad or two were caught Id’d and returned but there were hardly any mackerel and little sigh of anything else if i’m being honest. By time darkness had fully descended I was checking out lighting on the wall and again little too no sign of fish, why I don’t know, but perhaps the west wall had still a load of colour in the water putting the fish off and being as the tide was small… dunno but it was clear it wasn’t happening on the fishy front meaning people were leaving earlier than intended freeing up much needed wall space.
Wile sorting lights there was a fairly steady tick of people arriving and for an hour or so more were leaving than coming in , ahhh that moment of calm!.
Come 11.30pm I was sorting bait n tackle for those in need and the wall again slowly filled too capacity and required a little bit of juggling about for the people on the lower 4-5 bays.
If you was one of those on the lower 4 bays around midnight to 1am, I thank you all for your understanding and willingness too allow a little bit of juggling too fish all into the space that we had free.
Once the groups there were settled I was able too finally knock the day on the head and turned the quad wheels north for home about 1.30 in the morning, yup, a bit later than expected but hey, shyte happens, its only the depth that changes 😂😂
And with that I’m gonna close todays essay/sermon and sign off and until the next one, … bid you all ADIEU
F

Ok, well things are calm enough too have the west open today but will have closed by 8pm as the wind again picks up. I will be glad when it buggers off as the fishing was quite decent yesterday on both walls.
The west once shut will stay that way until things calm somewhen on Friday and I expect the west wall too be open FRI night fishing all weekend.

On the fish front yesterday despite choppy condition the mackerel came out too play with decent numbers caught on both walls. Also in with the mackies were Gar fish and as I understand it the best of them were over on the east wall.
With somewhat sloppy conditions the water was somewhat colours and it wasn’t long before the Eels came out too play with Congers of mixed sizes and silver & green eels on the catch list yesterday. Also being caught in the coloured water were some Sole caught on both walls and a Surprise 3lb-ish Mullet hooked then lost at the net on the west wall. Smaller bits n bobs down the sides of the wall included pout and blennies and just for a change, or so it seems was an Undulate caught on the East wall of which they seem this year few and far between.
No night fishing tonight or Thurs Night,
East wall open every day from 6am til 8pm

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

As the title says, 2026 and we have seemingly reached September in a flash ! where the heck did the Summer or even the year vanish too. It only seems like a few weeks ago we were in February looking too the next month and hoping the fishing will improve. The irony is that wee seem too have done that every month since ! One way or another this year has already the worst for fishing I can recal in the last 26 years.

So, latest info,
Did anyone notice the change on the home page other than the date ? Y/N? nothing major but the EAST WALL will now close at 8pm as the evenings draw in.
WEST WALL will be open tonight for night fishing and while it may be a bit lumpy ATM it is expected too settle this evening allowing the west too be opened up for a session, and then it looks like another couple of days closed re opening for Friday night fishing .

The EAST WALL was opened yesterday after being shut over the weekend and while fairly busy it wasnt the best of days producing mostly Eels and Sole mixed in with a few more eels and plenty of red seaweed swamping lines. A stiff westerly didnt help too much either.

Things looking somewhat calmer out there at the moment and both walls are open today and the east wall expected now too stay open all week with, as said potential closes on the west for WED & Thurs.
Thats it for today, very short n sweet for me 😉, all that remains is for me too bid you all ADIEU
F

The title today ? well its the day before the blow coz we aint at the day after 😊

So, whats been going on? Well I got over on the west about 5ish and could see down the EAST that there were very few left on the wall. It had been steady over there but always plenty of space for all.
Im told again there were a fair few Garfish caught over there along with a slowish tick of mackerel a red mullet here n there as well as a few plaice. Mostly Id say it was a bits n bobs type of day. By time I took the quad over the cafe had closed and there were a dozen people on the lower level & maybe only 6 had been or were fishing
As things were quiet I rolled the wheels straight up the east and turned about bay 60 where 2 regulars were in the pack up process.
It seems that the mackies never made it that far up the wall but they seemed quite happy away from the usual numbers lower down.

I gather there have been some conger activity not only high on the wall but also the lower 8 bays over the last 3-4 days. For those wanting mackerel on the east wall the bend atm seems too be the most likely area too produce although they can be a bit hit and miss unlike the west wall where they are fairly regular but please dont assume they have a fixed arrive time like only the high as this year they are proving too be sometimes hit and miss like the east followed by a day or two fish fish everywhere but rare all day.

The best of the mackies does come on the WEST wall atm, it may change after this weekends blow but for now more are being caught on the west wall.
Now some may groan at that news knowing so many more on the busy west wall will now be wanting too only break out the feathers but, unfortunately for the bait anglers the cold truth is that there are simply more mackies and horse mac being caught on the west and its not just the number of rods making it seem that way.
So, you may wonder if anything else is being caught while the walls get peppered with mad mackerel and the frenzied rush they can cause.
There are bass chasing the shoals but Id say those are likely too be more juvenile bass. The larger ones likely know better and lurk and attack from hiding spots letting the younger fish chase about.

As mentioned, Gar seem too be arriving on the daytime high tide and plaice catches are slowly building. There have been some flounders caught, either low on the West wall but mostly on the East wall over shingle/sand mixed ground areas. Gurnard, red mullet, Bream Wrasse Shad (protected please return) are there too be caught despite the focused interest in mackerel on the west.

A quick thanks (unsure if any read but may hear via grapevine) too the beach anglers that while fishing at night have messaged me about over bright lights scattered along the wall. It does help me pinpoint areas that need sorting and Im pleased too say that things are getting better at night on the wall.
Also helping at night is reducing the non angler & walkers on the wall as the night settles. Less wandering about makes the wall a safer place and reduces accidents while removing any crowding issues.

Non anglers should remain on upper level although some still refuse too listen. The lower level should be anglers only or those with a permit too be on the lower level. Those not fishing on lower level should have a ticket too be there.
Well other than saying there are wall closures this weekend so please check the home page, Ive said my bit for today . So, with that I will as usual bid you all ADIEU
F