Well considering it’s Thursday and I’ve not put a report up since last Saturday I guess the infrequency sorta tells you a bit about the state of play …well sorta.
Ok, sorta what now ? well the fishing hasn’t been great although that said, to be fair in assessing there have been a few closed wall days due to winds, those days open have, often been somewhat blowy also resulting in coloured and very weed loaded conditions in this part of Sussex which as such has resulted in fewer visitors than would usually be expected. Add to this the march of the crabs and spring runs of mackerel and early squid simply have not happened.

The boats are doing well, specially out around the wind farm so could there be something off around the marina, is it a local issue or are other regions along the coast struggling also ?
Some areas do seem to be holding less fish than is seasonal, here, Shoreham, and Newhaven to Seaford have similar issues so could the wind farm be influencing things since the trawlers have been pushed further out to sea?
I suspect the wind farm has part of the answer in that again this year boats are reporting conditions there are like fish soup and it is thick again with fry. So its safe to assume the protection the wind farm offers is doing well for breeding fish and I guess as a result its no doubt good for those species feeding on the bounties that the wind farm is producing.
Could the wind farm be drawing fish ? possibly and probably although I suspect bream numbers on the lower east are better than last year which was a huge draw for bass and spider crabs. I also suspect the boom in the fishery around the wind farm is and will continue to expand as various fry species survive to become adults and the natural sea habitat recovers from the relentless trawls that the pairs subjected the sea bed too.

I do feel that as the fish stock expand beyond the wind farm the old nurseries will re-establish as will the sea vegetation that is so important to protecting and hiding fry and juvenile fish. There are already signs of Bream recovery and I suspect once the build/repair work is done on the west anglers will notice that things are on the recover. Already this year as said I feel bream numbers on the east are bouncing back slowly with catches of bream right along the front section of the east which in itself is less common than most realise. Also up are Wrasse catches and the quality of some of the Ballan this year have been better than the last 3+ years. Corkwing’s are also being caught again. granted not in big numbers but I used to catch these all the time when targeting bream and they have been near non existent of late. Ray numbers are up & down off the marina with Undulates in particular seemingly much lower this and last year but up are the likes of hounds and dogfish there have even been a few red mullet landed on the east which in itself is fairly unusual as most traditionally have been had over on the west.

The what iffs and future actually looks hopeful if greed can be kept out of the local fisheries but that doesnt really help the right now especially as most look too here and similar report places for info on where to make that 2-4hr trip in the hope of not only going fishing but the hope of some fish too take home afterwards. And with that I return to what has been happening this week.

Choppy conditions have for many seemingly hampered peoples catch rates unless they have been out braving the squalls, rain, sky rumbles and choppy conditions hunting Bass. Most prefer nice dry and sunny conditions, that, or balmy evenings into mild night sessions and quite simply put things have not been great. Yes the bass have returned (did they ever go away or simply move to sheltered areas? )
Plaice catches while there do seem to have dropped off to the level of being tough going. There has been a consistent and steady tick over of Bream with a few Wrasse and Bass chucked in but the days of species hunters having 15+ species in a day on the wall are currently not with us.

There are gobies spread along the wall and yet scorpion fish aka bullheads seem to be quite scarce or simply not being reported. Ive not yet seen tell of the dreaded mini slugs that Mr G loves to hate be they 3 or 5 bearded rockling they so far have not made themselves seen yet. There have been gurnard and red mullet but not this week afaik and yes I know a few want too know about mackerel so, put quite simply the numbers have been very erratic and hit or miss on some of the high tides.
As I rolled down the wall yesterday the weather had sorta spooked many with the heavy skies and general rumbles of a storm somewhere.

It does make me chuckle how the first rumble of thunder can clear a venue, granted the thought of standing out in the open with carbon fibre wiggle sticks and a storm brewing can leave you feeling a bit wary or even nervous and many would argue that prudence sorta says …
…….. hey dummy are you really gonna wave them things in the air ?….

For me it isnt the thunder thats an issue when its rumbling, more a case of keep an eye out for any storm flickers and their general direction and distance and thus, I rolled onto the east after there had been a few loudish rumbles, heavy skies but only a few drops of rain and perhaps passed half a dozen leavers.
chatting my way along the wall it was clear that of those there only a few had been there since the morning high and I learnt very quickly that yup “its dead” and other than once dude that had had a few mackies in the morning (yep the fish were still in a bag on the wall gone 5pm) the signs of fish were non existent until I reached the regular who was on his way home with a decent sized bass of 4+lb or so.

I got asked about the fishing by quite a few but coul only say the little I knew over the few days open/shut /open in the winds of stired up water, issues with weed, a few bass & mackerel and high tide bream on most days but the mackerel fishing (most were there for them tbh) was very slim pickings.
“did I think it was worth staying” or “do I think there will be mackies this evening” were common asks and in general from sea colour, sky colour, when not a heavy black and had some clear patches showing it sorta looked right for things too happen and I think most will agree that mackerel do have a way of coming out too play when it piddles down so I stuck my neck out n said I suspect that somewhen around 7 to 7.30pm things may happen..
Now I now of at least a couple of boats were out about that time and on chatting too those ppl it did indeed seem that mackerel and Bass came out to play. Now I cant say for certain it happened on the wall, I wasnt there & nor have I heard from anyone that was so Id like to think that I was right…..
probably 🙂

Im told today so far things have been seemingly quiet but that info was prior to high tide time and I may get a better picture later on when I trundle down there.

Aaaanndddd with that I will say my goodbyes and until next time bid you all ADIEU
F