Still decent numbers of squid too be had on the walls with the bulk of catches at night although there are some coming up during the day nearer the high tides. Best bet is the areas where the tides are slower moving so low bays on east (or high if open, likewise much of the west is suitable due too wall angle and how the currents run around the marina walls.
Likewise this year bass activity seems fairly stable and 3-5lb are still quite common. I realise as we creep towards winter months most people assume that the bass will move out and into deeper waters but atm they dont seem too be showing the inclination too do so and they are still worth targeting.
This year the Garfish have for me been the surprise package so too speak, and im aware some that read this erm, shall we call it a blog (for want of summat more accurate) often show interest in gar and frequently ask about them when the erm, mackerel are in.
Well for the Gar lovers out there (im now wondering if there is some sort of collective name for “gar lovers” )the gar have bucked the trend and normal (for the marina) activity of arriving with the mackerel shoals.
Mind you, arriving with the mackerel shoals isn’t really a term that can be used this year.(more on that a bit further on in todays read) and on that I will elaborate for newer sea anglers.

Often over the last 20+ years the bulk of garfish sightings and catches have solidly been when mackerel are active off the marina. Either mixed in with the shoals or very close by, (just before or after) thus, mackie season if there is such a thing also tends too bring the gar, not always but mostly a thing, hence when there are mackerel about … well then there are questions of “any gar caught”.
Now, when I started todays blog it was going too be a short one and a quick read, unfortunately for some here my brain has done its meandering thing and drifted away with itself causing my fingers too simply go with the flow. Granted it was genuinely going too be a short post without the intent too ramble but hey, if you are still reading it tells me one of two things.
1/ you are used too my rambles
2/ you actually like em…. or
3/ you are now frustrated coz you are realising that maybe, perhaps just maybe Im padding the shit out of things as I have neglected too post much over the last 10 days although that wasnt the intent !
4/ we erm 4, we yea I lied I said one of 2 things and now you are groaning having read this shit this far and realised u walked into a check the numbers sorta thing !.
Anyhoo, Gar Fish.
They defo this year shown up quite differently from what I would call normal. High numbers almost arriving in shoals and being caught by the few anglers having a go in decent numbers.

Take note ppl, they are decent winter bait, i’m told cod love em so if you have any boat trips planned or have a trip to regions were there are better chances of cod it may well be worth having a go now while they are still around and conditions are good too get out and onto the wall fishing.
Food wise gar are very under rated and over looked often due too the scales shedding and green bone, trust me on this, they make good eating and I know a few who shop them into sausage type lengths and stick them on a charcoal grill. A simple too cook fish that is best with low or mild seasoning and a little bit of citric juice too finish off the cooking process. IMO , lime is better than lemon Juice while oranges can be a little bit more subtle n the flavouring and if a wine drinker try a light white sweet wine with it. Anyhoo what Im trying too say is go get them gar, if they not your thing too eat they also make a decent winter bait.
On a final note re gar, this year I have seen more gar than any other year I can remember and that lead me too wonder why. I don’t have any true answer but it could be possible that the vastly reduced number of mackerel this year has allowed the Gar fish population too expand. I suspect they share the same food sources thus perhaps the Gar have less competition for food and numbers have thus been able too expand. Speculation aside the marina has benefited from the larger numbers.

Back on the catch info as said, Bass are still doing well and this morning there was a burst of herring caught on the west wall while on the east there were sightings of Tuna fish as the light came good. There must be a decent food source still out there as not only the Tuna sighting but we have also had on & off this week sightings of Dolphins a mile or so off shore and both species have huge appetites. What ever they are feeding on atm well, i hope the fish come closer too the walls for ppl too catch.
Species wise it seems that the cuttlefish may have finished doing the do and numbers reported have dropped too near zero.
Hopefully the old boss (gotta chuckle the imagery now in my head of him old) doesnt often read here as Mark asked me not too say too him but there have been very very occasional bursts of mackerel but they are infrequent and usually will only see 2-3 caught in a day, like the mackies there are still some horse mac too be had at night but again very low in numbers.
Conger activity seems too have started up again although if im honest Id have thought that by now that was the last of seeing them a few weeks back when the air temps began too make ppl dig out the winter clothes but nope , congers do seem to be lurking still.

Final mention for todays post although Im sure Ive missed out summat that I cant recal is Sole, ahhhhhh Sole, there it got said 😂, yea couldnt resist and if ya missed it , once more .. ahh-sole. 😁
There have been (even during the day) some very nice Dover Sole being caught and that is not just on the one wall, both walls over the last 10 days have had some real quality fish for some too take home. Hopefully the catchers allowed the fish too mature in the fridge for a day or two as it not only improves the flavour but it also firms the flesh up.
Thats it for today, apologies for the unintended ramble (a bit of a)and the low use of spell check. While the checker is a decent aid Id like too think some of my typing quirks reflect myself n how I think as I type… hence the impromptu ramble today.

Now, in the words of Joey Rammone (look him up)… 🎵 Hey ho, lets go🎵 Thats it for today, unsure if I will post tomorrow as Brighton have a home game vs Brentford thus, until the next one I will bid you all ADIEU
F