I hadn’t planned on doing a blog this morning being as things were so quiet yesterday what with a few plaice coming up here & there with a squid or 2 on the west confirmed and a couple of cuttle mid wall on the east.
That plan changed when I went down for a quick lunchtime look on the extension and pick up my scooter trailer.
A quick update from Mark fairly much confirmed that the daytime yesterday was hard going for everyone other than the few trying for squid & cuttle at various times through the day.
Saturday night did produce a decent squid for Tony who also I’m told dropped a couple of others while down on the west and planned his return last night also, of which he did and managed squid again last night but again things were overnight somewhat quiet. As well as the couple of cuttle I knew about caught over on the east Peter also managed a couple later in the day which Mark posted a couple of pics too the book of face.
This morning on the far end of the west there have been 6 or 7 fishing and can confirm schoolie bass , squid, cuttle and bream coming out so signs of a pick up are there. granted not too the level perhaps of some past years but the wind has calmed and perhaps now the water will have a chance too clear the yellow looking silt out of the water column.
Squid and cuttle have now been caught on one or both walls every day for the last 6 days even though only a handful of regulars have been targeting them. Perhaps it is finally time too dig out those squid jig from the bottom of last autumn’s fishing boxes, that, or invest in some new one’s😂😂 No doubt the tacklebox will have a stock of them for everyone. failing that , give me a shout 😉
I didnt stay long on the west as was only a quick pick up trip and I didn’t venture over too the east so no morning info from over there.
Thats it for now, and until the next one I will bid you all ADIEU
F
Category: Uncategorized
BRUTAL!
Sometimes some days don’t pan out as you would expect and from what I saw yesterday , well yep Saturday was one of those days that my tiny brain looked back on the day and todays title was the thought that went trough my head.
Now that may seem a bit melodramatic and a tad over the top but I shall explain my thoughts a bit further :).
So, for some weird reason I was up earlier than normal, I’m not the greatest sleeper in the world and as a result I sleep less than I doze alternating between the 2 through the night so often sleep if that’s what its called later than most would realise. For this lazy arse 10am is more normal than 8am these days.
Anyhoooo….. yesterday I was up earlier than the norm with the plan of get coffee, start blog, get more coffee and get the old bones and joints flexing. Well that was the plan, I got as far as get coffee when the door bell rang. Now, anyone reading right now expecting a short answer on why my brain went “well that was a bit brutal” don’t really know me and my typing, that or are a new visitor here and dont realise I have a skill too waffle for a while before |I get too any real point or bit of catch info although the title today may be a bit of a give away, Im just adding a bundle of context too it 😉 so buckle up sweeties, its gonna be a while.(more coffee time)
Back too that doorbell… well it wasnt the bell as that was still on charge by the keyboard but the door was knocked. Brain said “who the f*** is that at this hour” & thought.. postie, delivery, crazy neighbour (it happens) but no, it was a crazy angler down from London!, had too be crazy as he was knocking on my door at 8am on a Saturday morning when most know im not likely too be up and more likely too shout from out of the upstairs windows too the tune of
“WTF do you want at this time of day” BUT
Coz there is always a but in these things, as said for some unknown reason( i may be psychic, or psyco..) I was up dressed and had sufficient coffee in me not too shout sod off through the letterbox.
At this point Id say, cut too the short story bit, but, it’s me typing so I wont😂😂
Anyhoo, opened said door too see a wall regular & friend Wayne! stood there, who tbh was the
(*brain* wtf wer’e closed) last person I’d expected although to be fair he had messaged me as some weird hour of the gone midnight hour so hadn’t checked it then nor as I was getting up.
Yes I admit it , I let him in😂, then he mentioned, erm can’t stop friends in car& afterthought , oh and so is daughter, going fishing, “want my rods that I dumped on you for a whole year and forgot you had them” sorta speech followed thus daughter n friends were invited in for a coffee n chinwag etc.
General chit chat ensued and was established they were headed too the west and other than collecting rods tackle & bait wanted an insight on the fishing. This is now partly about that title of the day so sit up, pay attention or I will waffle even longer and you will run out of energy reading this drivel.
So, summed up the weeks blog added a bit more detail for where they were looking too fish.
well wayne, says I…
wind has been a big factor, killed it Saturday, wind eased a bit Sunday n east fished ok & west ticked over but Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, & even Fri the wind had played a big factor in knocking back the fishing with cross winds also dragging heavy loads of silt across the front of the east and in general I suspect put many of giving it a go certainly on the east in the cold wind but part on the west also. That and still being early in the season things had been fairly quiet on the numbers fishing.
Looking out of the window(my weather vane) I said, well winds dropped, suns out and the rate that the water had been clearing I expect decent water quality on the WEST and a yellowish silt line across the front of the EAST (got that right) The sea state is calmed so should still clear further & as a result I recon it could be a decent day as signs are there of a quick pick up being as we have seen through the week tough going but 1st’s of squid & cuttle and even a few mackerel but, should be good and being good can be two very different beasts when it comes too fishing the marina.
With the provided update Wayne & co headed off for the marina west and I would catch up with them some time after 6ish on the west. Once ready I stowed my loaded freeze box and rolled down the hill on the blue quad into the marina and pointed the wheels too the East wall, made a fuss of the cafe hounds and rolled onto the lower level of the east too check out the state of things.
By late afternoon many day trippers were packing up and heading for home so plenty of space for anyone coming down too fish the last couple of hours on the east prior too close at 8pm.
the first 12 bays were already empty and the first dude I spoke too was on a visit from Scotland. A short chat & info share told me he had had a tough day but pleasant day in the sun and was planning a return. next up a regular angler with his family of which his 2 lads seemed keen too fish but there seemed a lack of fish for them too catch. Again a similar story of very tough going but they had just pulled up a small conger that was returned. Rolling up the wall the general story was , “been dead for a while now but hoping for fish with the high at 7.30ish pm. Into the 30s the same things were repeated until I finally found someone with real fish 😉 A couple there had 2 dover soles, one each. Very happily I was told the dudes fish was a tiny tiny sole while his partner chuckled showing off a lovely sole she had caught… the story of pheromones did get mentioned 🙂
I did venture up to bay 60 & then turned the wheels around too head back too the cafe picking some rubish up as I went back. Overall the story was tough going and for those I saw , very few fish . yes the water was coloured with silt but I had expected much better with the much improved conditions and lack of wind.
I am pleased too say that most were in decent moods even though there had been a lack of fish, the bulk of ppl I had talked too had had an enjoyable day on the wall.
Over onto the west i rolled and caught up with Wayne & co starting too pack up, sadly no fish for them but like those on the west had enjoyed getting out and having a go in the sunshine. The west had been quite busy all day and the extension was open and still full.
Quite a lot of regular faces fishing the west so plenty of chin wagging and catch ups done. While chatting with Kadir one dude was leaving and had 2 decent bream in the bag.! yes, fish, someone had caught something too take home. It seems they had been caught earlier , much earlier than the high and probably just before the mid tide level. The west was tbh a tale of a few bits n pieces. A plaice here n there, (I was shown 2 separate ones while there) likewise a bream or two over the high but all in all totally what I hadn’t expected things too be like yesterday.
The morning started off quite well and full of promise & myself thinking, its looking good out there it should be quite fishy, and yet, as I was rolling towards the exit gate on the west my brain was thinking the title …. yep, WELL THAT WAS A BIT BRUTAL.
Now, I realise this post reads a bit like doom and gloom but there are two sides on a coin and the other side of the coin I just painted is a little better. There was a couple of squid caught on the west and also while on the east one regular had a cuttlefish, had dropped another and was trying for more. Out on the boats Simon (ex marina gardener) had had a decent day on the bream and squid and had shared a post with piccys on the marina fb group. There are decent numbers of squid, cuttle, bream, even mackies out there just off shore, perhaps pushed deeper by crap conditions this week , perhaps just because thats what fish do too piss us all off and tease by staying 300 yards away from our lines.
I stated too some yesterday that if things continue too clear and stay calm I wouldn’t be surprised too see mackerel bridge the gap too be caught on the walls come Tues/Wed this week ahead.
There are signs that this year can or could be better than the crap that was last year and while we may have “MAY ROT” looming, things feel too me at least on the up for a change.
Final update of todays extended yarn is about NIGHT fishing and an update of last Sat night and just gone Friday night. Catch report from Mark for both nights.
M/”well there were only 5 fishing”
me/ when , last sat or last night
M/both,
me/ any fish ?
M/ 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Okay… em , no horse mac yet folks , other than that, erm, I guess, no one really fishing .more reports too come if I get any !.
No info how last night finished up through the 7.30ish high as thats when I left the wall.
And finally, with that, I’m gonna sign off for the day and simply say, Until the next one folks, I bid you all ADIEU
F
To talk
Ya know it makes sense and yesterday was a good case in point. Why ? read on coz I’m gonna pad this one out a bit…. Are you all sitting comfy ?, if no naff off as you most likely are in the wrong place and don’t realise i’m about too start waffling and perhaps mention a fish on the bottom line of this yarn 🙂 but, more seriously you may save time if like some (I suspect) simply jump too the last three paragaph sections too save time and being bored sh1tless!
So where too start. Night opening.
As some should now be aware especially if you check the home page rather than just hit the blog and disappear after reading the blog that, we have had a couple of nights fishing on the west with last night being the second and the west will again be open tonight all night as well as Sunday night(tomorrow).
I believe the plan is too open most weekend nights if the trade is there. it would be nice for some of the regulars if mark opened every night straight off but obviously costs need factoring in and lets face it if only 3 people fished each night Mon to Thurs that has too have a warden working (all night) and somehow said warden will want paying and I doubt 3 ppl would want too cover the wardens dosh each night . Thus, we are , or should I say Mark is opening at weekends when he would at least expect too cover the cost of staffing the wall each night.
So what’s been happening(resisted the Marvin Gaye reference this time;) ) ?well the biggest feature this week hasn’t been a fish its been tht flippin wind. It seems too have started blowing last weekend and simply not giving up trying too chill the brass balls off them three monkeys everyone talks about.
I’m gonna put the somewhat crap fishing last weekend and the main chunk of the week down too this wind that has either howled a fairly strong easterly or its sat north too north east making things unpleasant for most especially as the sun has been out and the air without that wind has been t-shirt weather. The one real benefit of the winds being mostly north have been that the water is clearing out v fast and depth visibility is very good. thankfully that wind is fading off and its almost feeling like the summer is on its way fast-ish.
so, yes Im getting too the report bit, all two lines of it 😂😂
Mon too thursday there has not been much too report, mostly due too the lack of people fishing when I have been down thus accurate info has been a bit hard. ironic that many who have had a go have caught even on the east in the face of mother nature.
So, tough going the last week on the east shaken up with a few fish of the usual suspects of mostly plaice, a bream or two and a giant sea slug aka conger here n there. it truly hasn’t been great although it has been nice out in the sunshine. Yesterday there were a few more on the east but catch rates were very slow and is a bit hard too big up other than saying today as I look out the window the tree tops are still and its sunny out. its gonna be a warm day now that the wind has all but beggar’d off.
Over on the west things have been a bit more sheltered and is beginning too show signs of “almost summer” and yesterday there were a few more fishing than the prior five days & possibly more there yesterday than those five combined. Now I realise that makes the west sound rammed but hardly the case and reality is that the wind and slowed up catch reports have likely as not put people having a go.
Has anyone started too wonder when I’m gonna get too the title of todays yarn ? well hang in there as Im almost there.
Catch wise on the west things have picked up having had the first squid of the year a few days ago someone else had another yesterday of decent size. Now I realise two swallows does’nt make a summer or so the saying goes and I know 2 squid have happened in the past and then crash, no more until the Autumn but looking around the walls over the last ten days and picking bits of news up from other anglers and boat skippers this year is starting too look at least promising, that or its just being cruel with an early teaser followed by …pfffft… but lets face it last year was dire, id use other words but I believe some younger ppl read here also, so best keep it cleanish tho I know many U15’s that swear like sergeant majors!
So how is it picking up IMO ?
As already said in other blogs, this year we have seen at least three types of Ray in undulates, thornbacks and at least one small eyed (according too general ID)ray. Last year rays were almost non existant. Again as said we have had squid and cuttle fish caught on the walls. granted only a couple of each confirmed but I think or can only recal one squid last year so already an improvement. Bream have been scattered along the higher bays of the east and while plaice numbers arn’t that great they are ticking things over on the EAST wall and on the WEST they are also a regular catch at the moment. Add too the above and we have DAB making itself seen again in a decent number for the marina and frequent catches have been on the east wall.
John H had a decent sized wrasse in the last week giving a hint that their number may be recovering and high bays on both walls have seen guilthead bream. Not convinced >? conger numbers are up and there have been a few bass pushing up to the 5lb mark already.
Yes we have been plagued with dogfish followed by hound pups, nothing that unusual I know but now the water is clearing fast I expect too see those numbers drop as they get replaced by summer species.
No real signs of garfish yet but again they cant be far off as the decent weather arrives and water temps come up too summer levels. We have seen early mackerel bursts on the east, could this be the return of a spring run ? 10 days too 2-3 weeks prior too may rot. Im told there have been plenty out at the 2 mile regions so with luck they will make the hop inshore for those armed with feathers.
Back onto the wall, in particular the west wall I did venture up there for a mooch about sixish and a chat with friends Sue & Ian who fish the walls regularly when like myself health allows and the usual chin wag with other anglers also … see it is good(the title) but why I can hear in the background. Wellllll……
well, when I got onto the west it seems that things were very show and there were plenty of bored or glum faces if you don’t count the new arrivals. I did see a small bream come up too my left and also a conger of 8 or so LB’s but little else seemed too be happening. Sue & Ian in the middle of the wall had not anything too show other than a tan forming and the bulk of people that I said hit too indicated they were so far blanking. I will try and dig some info on how last night fished for tomorrow if I remember too accost Mark 😂😂
And so we get too the “it’s good too talk” Prior too my leaving I had quite a long chat with marina regular Tommy, part catches and part general chit chat &chewing the fat as some say. Now Had I not stopped for a chat I would fully have missed his info being as he had fished a big chunk of the afternoon/day up close too the tower block.
He had posted too the facebook group last night after I’d left the wall that he had had 7 bream and 2 were sizeable but more importantly he also gave me a bit of round up of what he had seen and there were a few people that had already left who also had caught bream some well before the high tide.
Now I have had bream on the low tides on the west but too be fair the bulk of bream catches have been either side of the high water marks and it seems yesterday the bream had got active 2 hrs prior too the high all proving something that I keep banging on about not only on the walls but also the marina FB page. Chat too your neighbour even them weird looking weird speaking white English dudes. Some of them have useful info, tips and perhaps a spare hook or two for when them spider crabs stat hacking up rigs without you realising they got the bait and the flippin hooks!
Yes there are spiders about & yes they seem too enjoy cutting lines so ya may want too invest in some pop up/floating beads.
So, as a quick round up (ok i dont do quick) spring has sprung and signs while not great quite yet they do look fairly decent with in the last 10 days despite the frikin winds the following, Plaice, Dab, Flounder, bass, conger, dogfish, hound pups, Mackerel, yes mackerel, spider crabs are arriving, squid, cuttlefish, sole, wrasse, black and guilt head bream, a few whiting, mullet (A) Dev D knocked off a debated is it A or B as in either a juvenile Turbot or Brill and tbh Im not gonna stick my neck out and say which because Im not 100% sure of what I think it is but was a nice catch for him of a local beach. A nice Topknot was landed on the east wall and there are red mullet and gurnards out n about already so while the numbers may not seem huge its not bad going for what has been quite low numbers on the wall. I do expect things too keep picking up as we do seem too be entering a better period of calm weather from today onwards so fingers crossed, the hints of fish out there seems too be better than last year and on the improve at the moment… there may even be some horse mackerel this weekend.. watch this space.
thats it, honest I’m gonna stop now.. well almost & thats too say the usual sign off. Until the next one… I will bid you all ADIEU
F
Due too a lack of anglers yesterday I sorta lack any catch info, there were only 2 on the east yesterday one under the steps at 29 and one high about 55 but both had avoided blanks with a small plaice each in what at the time was challenging conditions with a strong wind chilling push from the east.
Ironic that the water is starting too look quite clear with a decent visibility depth.
The west was little better with a group of four high that seemed too be slowly packing and a few other souls mostly feathering lower down. Defo a quiet afternoon and I lack any other info beyond that. Tuesday I stayed away due too heading too the AmEx too watch Brighton take Chelsea apart.
Todays weather looks (from indoors) almost identical too yesterday so when I do venture down Im not really expecting too see many people.
A reminder here that the WEST wall will open all night tomorrow night (fri) and will remain open through the entire weekend with night fishing Fri/sat & sunday night.
Affter a message from Lee in the shop I can also confirm that the TACKLEBOX will stay open on all three days from 6am and close at 6pm.
Bait orders should be phoned in so that it can be reserved as they dont take any form of online orders either throught the shop or via the website email that comes direct too me at home. If you wish too contact the shop, the usual method is too phone them directly on 01273 696477 Emails as said too the site come to myself.
And thus, no catch info too pass on and a shrt post today. all this means that, yup, until the next one I will bid you all ADIEU
F
Spring that is, don’t believe me , take a look at the galleries where a few piccys have been uploaded, I shan’t say how many as that would spoil my fun with this teaser.
Want further proof ? well ok read on, are ya sitting comfy ? good , I shall begin.
And so, having woke late yesterday and sorted the blog at lunch time (sort of lunch time) I didn’t spend much time on facebook and somewhat unlike me I didn’t look at the marina group so hadn’t seen any pic Mark had uploaded earlier.
And thus out came the the quad and loaded with a bit of bait and the the wheel form my larger trailer loaded in the scooter backseat bag (a separate story) I headed down the hill and rolled towards the east wall.
An east wind had picked up making things somewhat choppy with cold air blowing cobwebs every which way but loose it was quite obvious that many had already packed up early and headed too the hills with many saying “its quiet m8,but there were some fish seen earlier” … hmmm, Thought Id investigate , but guess what… a lack of frozen in the wind anglers made it a tough task. Bay 60 is always a decent source so longer story short pressed the pedal too the erm cardboard and shot up the wall at a blistering 8mph! too bay 60… empty! oohhhkay… what too do?…..
I took a slow roll down the arm chinwagging with those that left and was tood the usual.. saw some mackies earlier, saw some bream.. no wasnt me that caught, ya get the picture, vague answers and little too no confirms… another conger down there m8, plaice , some dab again! but no confirms. No sign of Mark too ask so decided best i could do was head over too the west and hope someone had some firm info.
Onto the west the first faces I came across was a couple of squid regulars and James W walking towards me like he had given up so things were not looking great.
That was when I was told Pieman(phil) had caught a squid on the end of the west. Now stood on the upper I could see the west extension had all but emptied and the easterly wind was hitting the back of it quite hard so it couldnt have been too pleasant up there and he was now on his own. When i entered the marina there were at least 6-7 fishing up there.
A quick catch up with those squidding on the lower bays and then James arrived and said he had a bass of 55cm or so and no squid for him as he was climbing over for a final few casts on the low bays with a jig. By time I left all three had also gone leaving a fe hardy souls on the wall who all looed somewhat cold.
grabbing a few bits of info on the way too the toilet block I was told of Plaice, bass, one or two mackerel some reasonable bream over the high and of course most knew Phil had managed too get the first confirmed squid of the year off the last bay of the west wall. (well done him, there is a pic on the galleries as is a couple of cuttle pics… yea I know I didnt mention them earlier when posting east nes. Why ? coz I want aware of catches on the east until I had actually got home and properly caught up with messages and posts via the book of face!.
So why has spring sprung ? (imo) well as I said, there was late evening news, not only were there bream bass and mackies on the west. as said Phil who had been trying all week had his efforts rewarded with this years first wall caught squid and there were also plaice scattered along the west wall. While not huge numbers they are ticking over nicely on the west, more so than the last couple of years and this weekend also saw sole on the west so for that wall Id say yes spring has sprung., especially with the catch info for the east wall yesterday.
Monday east
So it took a couple of calls and a few later piccy posts but I can confirm that the EAST yesterday also saw bream over the high tide as well as some mackerel… now before the gangs of riders collect and charge the walls, this is usually a small spring run of 5-10 days and they dont usually shoal on the surface like the bigger mobs in the latter summer but… yes there were mackies over the high for a short while.
Again plaice ticked over on the east side mostly over the sand. As almost usual of late there were also dogfish and a smattering of hound pups.
And now for something different, Clive H a member of the LISA anglers group had visited the Marina with a topknot as his target species and so as I believe it he arrived with a bit of local knowledge (see its good too talk) and set up on his advised bay(s). I shant post here which bays as that for me is part of the joy of visiting a venue in that its worth learning the various features and catch areas . self research is so much more satisfying when you do the work rather than have it on a plate but I digress. Method, bait, bay etc I will leave out for the angler too share (or not) but I can confirm that his target species was landed and the proof is also on the flatties gallery. so Well done Clive on getting a TOPKNOT from the east wall yesterday.
The final it of spring info/round up I have left until last prior too a caught species list from yesterday. Regular angler and visitor too the wall and decent squid angler Larry was prior too my arrival also on the EAST and also clocked up his first cephlapods, yes plural of the year, this time it wasn’t squid but he did get a lovely brace of cuttlefish from his chosen bay. defo not too shabby for what had sofar been a poorish start too April and so this time I am going too post up a list of catches for the weekend and Monday too show why I chose todays blog title..
This weekend caught on the wall despite unpleasant but oft sunny conditions have been, in no particular order…
Plaice, Bass, Flounder, Mackerel, Sole, Bream, Conger, Dab, dogfish, smoothound pups, rays (3 species), Topknot, Squid, Cuttle, Horse mac(a few)Pouting, whiting, Sprats, whitebait, Red Mullet, and Blennies. Not that is a decent list and while many may not have caught or even seen a fish for mid April vers how things were in March Id say that fairly decent and yes
SPRING has SPRUNG 🙂
With that, one final note. I wont be on the marina today as Brighton are at home & play the Brighton reserves better known as Chelsea. and on Saturday there is also a high chance I wont (but might) be down after Saturdays home game vs Wolves.
Thats it, all done for today, and so, until the next one, I will as per, bid you all ADIEU
F
Pieman with the first squid of the year , caught on the west
A late night up watching the tv till the silly hour and what does the body do? yep, wakes me up at the crack of dawn ! Thankfully Dawn didn’t mind and the wife doesn’t read this very often 😉 plus I have a GP appointment later due too the spring vampire wanting their regular arm load of blood too test ! Anyhoo….
Whats going on,? 3 posts in a row, anyone would think I’m about too post a fishing report ! most unusual this early in the year. So, fishing report or just a catch up ? well more a catch up tbh plus a bit of news for a Monday morning.
As ya’ll recal Saturday was a bit of a shocker once the unexpected wind set in and did it damndest too freeze the brass balls off the three wise monkeys, well Sunday it was a case of chalk & cheese with regards too the sun coming out and the wind swung more too the easterly than anything else, was less fierce and erm it became very spring like, yup, spring had sprung.
Want proof ?, well it seems that with the morning tide came some fish. yes real honest a’ gawd fish proverbially and quite literally hit the wall.. or at least the middle of the east from about bay 18 up through the forties on the high mackerel yes , real mackerel started too be caught in fairly decent numbers. Mark even got a few pictures posted even though im not sure why he was up because I swear john was working yesterday 😂😂
Now if mackerel aint your thing I suspect you havn’t been paying attention too the fishy news about failing stocks, increased quotas and dire warnings from the conservation fish stock counters. Thus mackerel on the wall mid April is either a damned good thing too see, especially when what I tend too call the spring run of mackerel hasn’t been seen on the marina for two years, and, if its not, well, let me put it like this.
The last 2 years past we have not seen a proper spring run of mackerel, nor the early squid, last year the spider crabs all but failed too reach us and sardine has been missing from shop shelves for over 18 months meaning for me there is something wrong going on with the fish stocks. I could dig deeper and list many more changes that may seem unconnected but food chains connect the world and if part of a chain fails the whole chain fails …., ya know, plankton gets eaten by little fish, med fish gets too eat little fish, little fish feed the mammals in the sea, they all get too make bigger fish happy and well fed. until we get too the whales, sharks, the cod we all love too eat and the big fish we all want too catch, fek with part of the food chain and ya suddenly realise something is missing and its that something that is missing people say “oh where are the COD” or the mackerel, or the pollack or the spiders and squid, it paints a start picture tbh.
Anyhoo enough of the gloom from me, yes there was a smallish spanking of mackerel on the east wall yesterday and too add too that I was told that there were also quite a few DAB caught along the wall as well. add too this a tick over (ok a slow one) of plaice, the usual for the time being of dogfish, hound pups, conger, bass pouting, flounder and other bits n bobs sorta shouts too me hello spring. I ddnt hear of any bream yesterday but by time I was onto the wall quite a few were leaving as the tide dropped.
Now I know the palace pier group had a match on the east yesterday but I have no info from that as everyone fishing with them had left by time I showed up, soooo, if anyone from the pier group are here reading, please let me know how it went, fb message or even a short email too the addy on the home page will reach me.
Chatted too quite a lot of anglers on the walls yesterday with plenty out enjoying the better conditions. The water state was defo better than Saturdays blast of wintery wind but still has some way too be clearing ready for the summer.
We did have one incident on the east wall that trully should not have happened and as I understand it some fekin eejit decided that when he hooked into a decent bass and lacked a drop net rather than shout for proper help he managed too borrow a 20ish gallon rubber bucket and jumped off the wall after the flippin fish.
Stupid, infact bloody foolish, the currents along the walls mean near always entering the water from the wall is life risking, means 99% of the time a lifeboat needs too be called out, the water is shock inducing cold and lives can quickly be lost. This time the dude was lucky and a nearby kayak came too assist prior too the life boat being called out too them for a needless rescue.. Trust me, the lifeboat has better things too do on a busy Sunday morning without having too muster too a needless and preventable emergency. Thankfully this idiot was pulled from the water and Im not going too comment further on his bit of stupidity.
On the west wall late afternoon numbers had thinned quite dramatically and it was slow going as the tide was closing on its lowest point so catch info was very sparse.
Over all yesterday things were much better, the catches were on the increase(not that saturday was that hard too out do.) I still lack decent catch info for the years first night session but if I get any other than the hound & dogs I will post it up.
I’m gonna whisper it quietly but things are seemingly looking up for this year, I may be wrong but, at the moment as I type there seems too be a feel that this year feels better than last years poor showing on the walls, cross ya fingers, ya never know I may be for a change calling it right 😉
And with that I’m gonna clear off and prepare for the vampires down at the GP’s thus, until the next one I will as usual , bid y’ll ADIEU
F
Afternoon world, yep its afternoon as i type being as today has been assigned as lazy barsteward day.. That on top of a late night/early morning watching WWE on Netflix without the chill bit. Oddly enough that isnt the Sunday shocker, that tbh was yesterday but being as it is Sunday I felt it wouldn’t be right too post Saturday shocker on a Sunday … get it ? yep ? good. If you aint half confused and you dont know me yet you aint reading my rambles enough too realise my aim in life is too confuse and confound the sane until their head state is as warped as mine.
Well John (he knows who he is) my spell checker is working, its also having a melt down with the way my brain types very differently too the way my fingers hit the keys ! 😂😂 be warned folks I’m in the mood for a ramble … allthough I am a tad pressed for time today.. things to do little time too do it …
ok, so what was the shocker you shout. well if you was out yesterday afternoon the weather made my post yesterday of looking lush out there into a bit of a fabrication.. of which I found out as soon as I took the quad out onto the seafront. OMG that frikin wind , what the hell! weather man never said anything about that level of blow, ffs I had a T-shirt on and my knuckles were going white.
Phone grab, weather app opened … 8-15mph west too south west later swinging too the nort west and erm dropping by 1-2 mph …. boy oh by wast the weather man having a laugh … by time i got onto the east arm those erm light breezes couldnt make their minds up if they were westerly, southerly or easterly. I was blowing almost in circles and while the sun was out the chill factor was more like sitting my butt in the freezer at home…no it doesnt happen… well not often but ya get the picture. that wind was a game changer from mid day onwards.
I for sure wasnt the only one caught out and quite a few were saying as I went past chatting too the world that things had gone quiet, they were cold and the flipping wind was killing the joy of being out fishing.
And so, something about a catch report at this point of the ramble I guess would be a good thing. well not unless you actually come here too read what new shh 1 t my oddly functioning brain can come up with on the fly 🙂
As we have established well erm I have, 🎼🎼the wind they called Mariah 🎼🎼😂😂😂😂there ya go , one for the oldies to work out 😉
So, bitter wind, sunshine, funny coloured water on the east side(yea it got stirred up) and me rolling up the wall as becky had been in touch and was fishing with a couple of friends up on 53. A bit of a chinwag told me that as the wind built things had died but one of them had a very tidy looking dover sole that I will hunt out and get the piccy posted. (piccy posted at bottom of page )The fishing was slow up there and they figured that it was probably time too go. the wind was unpleasant and the fishing for them wasnt up too par I’m not sure if Becky reads here but will add thankyou for the fresh worm, a few got too benefit from them on the west an hour or two later 👍👍
It turns out John H had been fishing higher up around bay 60 but had left b4 I got up there but again a sluggish morning was the topic with the now usual Plaice caught a flounder also made a change of species and bass all too fresh lug. Another regular who I missed mid wall on the east was Neil who very obligingly puts plenty of catch report up onto the book of face. As with all posters over there it does help me gather further info on top of what I can learn as I visit the walls. (daily if my body is up too it now that im an old fart officially :))
Being as Im referencing Neil’s post I will simply copy/paste here his text
Fished Bay 45ish of the east arm today. Bites throughout with a small lull near high tide then it started off again on the drop. Quite a few small plaice plus dogs, smups and dab. Coloured water with a bit of weed. No signs of may rot atm nor crab activity. Saw pretty much the same coming up elsewhere plus a slab of a sole. Nice day on the shore. Cheers folk
One of the decent things for me is that many regulars are happy too chat & tell me what they have had and also add what they may have seen re catches, all of which mean this page benefits as do some reading if they can wade through all of the padding too make it all look soooooo busy and tons of fish 😂😂😂😂😂
On a more serious note though, yes I ramble, yes I pad reports with ramble but if the fishing is cack or not up too par I will say so. While many loved EDDIE in the shop boy did he lay down some bull if anyone rang or asked him for a catch report . I do dress the reports sometime but I try too paint an accurate picture. When I was on the wall in green I always said, if ya want a true report ask me I wont bullshine it so if things are crap id say so…. pointless a warden saying fishing is wonderful if its not, ppl would stop asking me very fast if I kept talking fibs!
So more fish anyone ?
Down around the 30’s another regular was battling the wind as the tide dropped so a short stop with Chris H who is a decent angler and patient. one day he may shock me with saying he blanked but that is not going too happen much. Again plaice was the mainstay of the morning tides with doggies and some smooth hound pups lurking and attacking any baits they could. Sadly he mentioned some dude close too him had caught a hound pup and then proptly lobbed it out on a hook as live bait. Now Im not even sure they make decent bait, yet alone live bait but had I been there id likely as not asked him too unhook and let it swim off.. maybe not that politely either but hey, i wasnt so wont stress it.
Overall the general picture from the east was that the morning pre high was the better of the fishing, quite a few feathering but when I got there the bulk had baits out and most of the featherers had given up, perhaps left or like a few had packed up and were heading over too the west wall as Noah & his dad were doing (more of them on the west )
Did I mention this one was a ramble.?
There was some talk of conger on the east but the picture was hazy so just a mention although a decent one was had on the east on Friday along with a nice bass.
And so, a few more chats as I do and I was heading off the wall too be greeted by the 2 cafe dogs. Pepsi as she often does now chose the jump on my lap method of trying too sniff out the pocket with the treats in…
Yes I carry dog biscuits in my pocket and yes I always ask the owners if its ok too bribe their hounds first 🙂
From the cafe I pointed the quad towards the west wall, I did have a distant look at the wall as I was initially entering the marina earlier and there had been 5 or 6 fishing the extension. . . YUS it is up and running and actually open . It had also been booked by someone who was going too fish it through the night. No i dont have any catch info for there as yet, yes you can book it for groups by contacting mark..
Onto the west I slowly made my way up the wall of which only one person was fishing below bay 10. That was a surprise as by time I hot over there the end had emptied and there was a load of water being spouted up the “Vs” all along both parts of the wall crating a game of wave dodge for some of the juniors up there.
Fairly tough going for most in challenging conditions but the wall was producing some fish every now and then despite very lumpy conditions close too the low tide but there was the occasional plaice too be had amongst the smaller bits n bobs found down the side. I stayed on the wall just past 8pm and mark about 7.30 hit the east wall too close it down for the night so I wandered around having a chat here & there.
Noah & his dad were set up near 15 and were busy part fishing part petting the dog of a newcomer too the marina but not too fishing in general who had got some advice from Lee in the shop then had someone else totally miss direct him in a roundabouts way to get from the carpark onto the west wall. You wouldnt think it was that hard but Hugh had ben sent on a right journey.
Now at this moment I cant stress strongly enough why on the facebook group I bang on about chatting with your neighbours while fishing. Its a great Icebreaker for all and often like yesterday there may be a new visitor who may not be used too the ways of fishing on the marina or in the sea in general and those chats can be hugely beneficial and also massively influential. A simple example of how it works.. a chat with Hugh told me exactly how he found the marina too be super helpful, anglers willing too chat and show or teach new things that some may be unsure of or like Hugh fairly new too. He was full of praise for those he had (so far) met and it really does make a difference for a new visitor too be given that little bit of insight or help. so keep it up folks , as grannie beatie said some years ago “its good too talk“
How, I do get the impression that as the light went things picked up on the mini shark font and the dogfish and baby hounds came out too play in force and there was also a fair bbit of conger activity while the plaice ticked over through the night. I dont have a clear picture but if I hear more I will post it up at a later point.
For now I have things too do prior too rolling down manor hill, and so I will close with, until the next one…. I will bid you all ADIEU
F
ps, ya been warned , mackerel have arrived …
P.P.S. That promised pic 2 days late
I know this pic speaks for itself but as most will ask for details.
worm baits aaannnnddd it went 1.8 lb and 44.5cm
As I type it’s already looking lush out there with the sun up and hardly a breeze stirring the air.
Today the open/close time moved too the latter time of 6am to 8pm and will adjust as we get more into the summer. Over on the west it will also stay at a 6am opening with an 8pm close when it is not open all night.
Tonight 18th is the first all night opening of the year and any further late ones will get posted here and listed on the home page.
The tacklebox is open until 6pm today for evening arrivals and will re open at 6am Sunday morning. The shop does have fresh bait but I strongly advise ring them if you want some reserving as it is in high demand. frozen is also available and prices can be got on phone request.
Please note I maintain the website and blogs(frank) and as such also maintain where possible their online prescience and also try to oversee some of the search engine info that people search for. Some such as google allow users too send in edits and as such means that they can be unreliable for genuine and accurate info and this includes some of the reviews sent in by fake/clone and quite simply peed off “reviewers”. yes the shop gets complaints , Im not that delusional too think otherwise but malicious posters are not just excusive too social media.
As a result of only partial control of the likes of google and other search engines they are not always up to date, nor always accurate. I do try and reset shop times that get edited online but cant lock out others editing some of the info on them. If you want accurate shop times, check here, email the site(all emails come too me) or simply phone the shop before mid day. like any other business in the world they cant be open 24/7 and life events, customer flows among other things all can impact when they are open.
For this reason the shop doesn’t take online orders but if you call them & they expect too have bait it can be put aside for collection.
I do try and post shop current open times but they can be seasonal and quite fluid and as a result I can only post up changes when they inform me. what I can say though is that info on the home page is the most accurate and updated by myself ONLY outside influences have access too the search engine’s info and thus cant always be relied upon too be accurate.
So what’s going on / hmmmmmm can you now here Marvin singing ? if not, you AINT old enough for Motown :)…. do I start with some boat info and make it all look wonderful and sparkly n smelling of roses or shall I post the roses freshly composted 🙂 how about a bit of both.
If I’m gonna be truthful with a little bit of dressing up (we are in Brighton after all ! ) it has been quite hard this week too give a decent picture of the fishing.. there are signs too say should be good, but, truthfully last weekend through too yesterday morning the walls have been fairly quiet with more people feathering than bait fishing. Thus im adding in some info from the boats that post sometimes on the marina fishing group & in general too facebook.
For the numbers of ppl with bait in the water the fishing has been slow but varied. not yet the explosion of different species but enough too tease that summer is almost upon us.
Now I swear the dude doesnt give me any commission and so in fairness today I wont post his website as I did the last time I name dropped but in my defence Robin Howard is not only a very busy skipper and damned good at showing his skill sets but he tends too fish very local too the marina and thus is an excellent weather vein/indicator of what is happening just off shore and under them waves, plus his blogs are informative, a good read and an efficient way too attract new customers who’s customers stay. Big words backed up, trust me.
Anyhow, enough of massaging his ego the proof of the pudding is returning customers and his blog posts that tell me, you and anyone else wanting too know that offshore Bream are in good numbers, black and guiltheads Bass(a big focus of his) cod, yes I said inshore cod and arriving with the cod there are also pollack too be had Cuttle have been confirmed and squid are starting too arrive and tease baits with those sly & gentle downwards and backward little tugs on your lines too think you missed a fish bite…. think about that last line ….
In on the walls the east has started too pick up, some bays in particular stand out but will let you all work it out where but. Conger have been a thing for a few weeks as well as some silver eels, very random sizes at the moment but I have a feeling we are due too see some biggies coming up real soon. Plaice are sorta hit n miss. Glenn landed a lump yesterday higher up (yea everyone gonna charge up at 6 am tomorrow. the dogfish plague is still here , a bit like the coloured water yesterday (more on conditions after this ramble) there have been some red mullet off the wall and off the local boats as was the post from birthday boy Simon Grist today with a nicely colourful red mullet (aka goat fish) juvenile. pouting are about as well as some of the smaller pests such as scorpion(aka bullheads) fish and blennies.
The lower bays are also starting too see a few people crabbing so a quick reminder of please check the size & catch rules on crabs, some have restrictions and the marina is in the beachyhead marine controlled zone(MCZ) and the walls do get patrolled by IFCA officers on a regular basis so if a warden pulls you up…. please dont get arsey with them, they have a job too do and are answerable too people higher up. they dont check catches just too be an arsehole too your fun of catching undersized stuff .
take a look at the webpage here SIZE REGS
ALSO ON THE WALL(EAST) we have seen some small rays , mostly undulates & thornies and tbh as local angler DEV has had, the best of the sizes atm are after dark & sardine baits are doing well for them. Both walls have seen as said, plaice, also sole, bass and bream. while the bream have mostly been small im expecting that too change fast.
yes there have been herring , most on the bigger tides so sabikis need packing and while we have (so far) only seen 3 mackies on the east plenty of boats this week have reported them off shore, some being charter boast and others the likes of local private owners warming up engines for the 1st time this year.
Other species ? want more / hmm lets think, some small smooth hounds this week on the east, add some dogfish, spider crabs are starting too arrive and squid expected off the walls real soon. Am not aware of any Mullet but am aware a couple of regulars are giving it a serious hunt already. Sprats have been mixed in with the herring so we could see a grand mix of mackerel, sprat, herring and potentially gars as well. one or two wrasse have als been reported so while fishy numbers dont seem high it could simply be due too a lack of anglers .
Some people spend their time waiting and reading social media too then follow fish reports on where too go. If this is you…. well folks you are likely missing out. catch reports from the wall I suspect would be higher if ppl just gave it a go and as one post put it on marina group yesterday as a reply .. … “whoever is telling you these things, block them on all social media”… get out there n get fishing and just enjoy being out there.
And so, EAST shuts at 8 from tonight and subject too ok conditions will continue too be open 6am til 8pm
The WEST is open tonight for a night session and scheduled like the east too be open 6am til 8pm fif a night session hasnt been posted.
CURRENT CONDITIONS as I saw yesterday. There was an easterly breeze causing quite a lot of colour in what normally now is a decent emerald green. Heavily silted was the order of the day and at times was a bit lumpy with some splash ups , hardly a shock when we have a 6.6m or more tide.
The west wall was much cleaner as sheltered from the cross wall tides and currents with a decent near glow of emerald green. I can see the water clearing rapidly with a little bit of a calm spell.
Things looking good through too mid week when we get some easterly breezes and then another swing too coming from the North/north east at least upto next Sunday(25th) so no further shut downs other than standard wall times for 7+ days
As said, its looking gorgeous out there. Tides today
Low was 6.26 and 0.5m
High 12.29 & 6.8m then low this eve at 18.45 with a high after midnight at 00.48 of 6.9m
Sun
HT 00.48 & 13.10
LT 07.08 & 19.28
I will be down on the wall late afternoon for those that miss the shop, I may even have a dabble with a rod.. or 2 if I have any energy left
Stay safe folks and enjoy the summery spring weather. Thats it, and so, until the next one, I will bid you all ADIEU
F
Nope, not miss spelt, just my way of saying its the day after yesterday ! … carpet tongue set in
ok gonna cheat as someone asked me for a whats going on and rather than re type 95% of the reply its mostly here below also….
“ctrl + C” boom…
FROM SAT 6am til 8pm oops clear last action and re copys… boom…
Hard to call the fishing Punter numbers been low as temps up n.down n last 2 weeks wind hampered (Bit like my insides) More of the few out there on tinsel than baits. Bait anglers trying to hit bass bays n getting conger but erratic numbers.
Water should be clearer sat.
Going down about 3ish for usual mooch. Yesterday close to east was an ok green water state 40m off the straight was coloured a lot with silt in the cross wall flows. West deep green emerald so clearing faster. 5 days of south n easterly strong wind shifts look to settle today Middle east 30-50 hardly anyone fished in 10 days. Flatties still slow n mixed sizes.
Rays coming up in ok numbers 95% at night on oily fish baits Signs of squid n cuttle 200m from wall on boats. Only 3 mac been confirmed in one hit bay 35. Herring were about on last bigger tides Usual times of 30ish b4 n post flood. In out n gone..
Tiny gar 2 week ago…..Only few bream so far, most sub 10oz with Guilts on the increase Nests locals mean 58 up or 74 east best and bream bays on west. Ext expected open & Bass hits a bit random atm.
Conger seem bigger tides n rockier bays Lacking anglers make updates tricky atm Much of this may copy too blog .. trying to catch up n i think my arse just ran past me….. oops slipped again….
Ok thats it for today, well, almost.
Evening fishing on both walls will be extended to 8pm close on both walls from this Saturday. Thats it, and so, until the next one… I bid you all ADIEU
F
I don’t have a catch report for today but can post up the first night that the west will stay open for a night session. This SATURDAY 18th April the west wall will remain open for the night. Further nights will be announced soon, especially if the squid start too play at night.
Have a great week folks Hopefully summer is about too arrive. Thats it, so, until the next one I will bid you all ADIEU
F
