Brighton Inshore Fishing

A new record was set today For the amount of non anglers turned into anglers in a single day. Just one on the first sailing, and then all 4 on the second sailing, and again all 4 on the third sailing You would think this would affect the stats on the day, but actually, of someone hasn't fished before they are far more inclined to really listen, and fish the way I want them to. Certainly the case on the 2nd and 3rd sailings, where a cutting Northerly wind caused us all sorts

Fishing today was on pretty big tides, which aren't my favourite. First sailing was with 3 rods aboard, and all quite good anglers. The previous morning the last of the ebb was actually unite good. Today was more of a struggle, with just 4 bass landed, 2 for the table. 2nd sailing, I had 3 new to BIf1 Stephanie, an American living and working in the city of London, plus Mandy and her daughter Wing, down from Croydon (and actually scheduled for the 1330 sailing This was a wei

Finally at sea after far too long shorebound due to very strong North easterly winds. I had a great feeling about where to fish for the table fish, although from my 3 guys aboard,.only John wanted to take for the table, and with a large family BBQ at the weekend, and the others not taking, I relaxed my 2 fish limit that he might take 3 if he were to be so lucky. Which he was actually... John was always going to be top rod though, as regulars become excellent with the finger t

I quite enjoy putting myself under pressure by making statements about fishes , and then having to live up to those statements. But I only make those statements when my confidence is high. And it was still high this morning as I took Peter, Aaron, Dean and new to BIF1, Chris out to places where cuttlefishes swarm to test my theory that this is where table fishes will also be 15 bass landed. A BIF1 max kill (8 fish) plus 6 cuttlefish for top ups. Finally, a great session. 2nd

An interesting day It started with a very strong Northerly wind that was not forecast, that kept us pinned in tight. Fishes were amassing, according to the sounder and according to the numerous follows from whole school's of. very small bass. But actual takes? Just 2 bass landed, just one for the table. Cuttlefish however, abounded. Next sailing I was out with Mathieu, who had hired the whole boat. I needed to do something different. Something I hadn't done before. Those cut

Still not great out there chasing birds, just a few short weeks ago a great thing to do, now just sets you up to lots of frustrating follows from very small fish. And, despite knowing that there absolutely are plenty of good sized bass in tight enjoying the spider peel (based on excellent shore guiding results when the wind is onshore) to persuade one to take a lure is still super tough 18 bass landed today across 2 sailings, but with just 3 killed for the table. Plus bonus

A very weather affected day. The 0400 alarm sounded, and was accompanied by a flashing light. Except, I don't own an alarm with a flashing light... Instead it was a real lot of lightning. Checking on the rain radar, it was clear 1st sailing would not be happening. Lightning is strangely not considered particularly safe when one is afloat in the ocean with 5 carbon rods reaching for the skies. 2nd sailing, we made it to the end A real long hunt, until we finally found some gro

A better day, particularly for BBq intentions, which of course everybody has in these conditions. 8 fish killed across 2 sailings plenty released also. 1st sailing, an encounter with two tiny harbour porpoise. 2nd sailing an encounter with 2 huge bottle nosed dolphins A good day.

The tough, quite typical, June fishing continues. First up, I had my first fly rodders of the year aboard. I used to get more but even quite hardened fly anglers that were, seem to have all become lure anglers these days, and in don't blame them as catching bass on a fly is no easy task. But both managed it, although small bass were the feature of the trip. And then Tom, who previously had not fished with a fixed spool before, was very quickly casting like a pro with the lure

Another pretty poor day. 21 bass across 2 sailings. just a single fish killed for the table. we resorted to cuttle fishing for the foodies on the 2nd sailing...

Very quick update as I was shore based till late last night (great session) and up at 4 with the boat this morning. In summary 1st sailing - 12 landed, 3 killed 2nd sailing 5 landed, 1 killed 3rd sailing 5 landed 1 killed. Bath then bed for me... looking like we will only get away with 1st 2 sailings tomorrow.

last year, the spider crabs did not venture inshore locally in any numbers at all. This affected the fishing in close greatly, and overall, both the shore fishing and the fishing in tight was quite poor until later in the year. This year... we got crabs. First sailing at the midsummer time of 0500 thanks to unseasonal winds the past fortnight. With me, all returnees, Max, Dean. Sam and Jake. And all nicely finger trained, which is why 13 fish were bought to the boat. Mostly o

Another report of hardship. with signs of recovery creeping in towards the end of the 3rd sailing. Bait fish still vanished and pretty much everything vanished with them. 1st 2 sailings producing very little. A few small bass. A wrasse. But not the standard we hunt for. 3rd sailing, I managed to postpone a father and son, as an 8 year old must catch. This left me with Aiden, never fished before, and Danielle, not fished for 3 years And finally, some shoals of Brit were mark

Two sailings today, with the wind stealing the afternoon one, but the bait fish are still missing, and the fishing has become even harder. First sailing, Richard, David, and new to BIF1 Alexa and her boyfriend (birthday boy as well) Aron. And what a shame they chose a day with such terrible fishing. Just 4 small bass in 3 hours. Not good Next up, 2 father and sons. Peter and Leo, returning for many years now, and new to BIF1 , Michael and his son...Michael. Now youngsters hav

Just the one, evening sailing, due to wind removing all the earlier ones. Joining me Richard (that Richard), and Like, returning. and Luke had dragged along a couple of associates, Mark and Lawrence. A good start, with a shoal of smalls at the mouth of the marina meaning the technique teaching was proven with some fish. But after that, not so easy All those shoals of Brit, suddenly missing. And possibly, the bass have followed it. It took almost of effort to bump the total t

JP and Billy returning, Lee and his lad Ralph new to BIF1, and off out to yet more dreamy flat seas. And immediately (and as it turned out thankfully) into a flock of seagulls. Not the rock group that came from Canvey Island, but the real deal. Feathers and everything. Why are they important? Well, there are brit shoals everywhere just now. Football field sized shoals of everything that has hatched just recently swimming around eating the decaying may bloom. It all ties in an

First sailing and a family affair. Peter and his brother David (David being new to fishing) with the whole boat for plenty of space for his tuition. Not that he needed it as he was a good listener and fairly nailed what was required pretty quickly. To the point he had 3 fish before Peter got into gear. Fish everywhere but hard to temp as they are very preoccupied with tiny stuff. Fly rod would actually be the most productive method just now. As a result just 7 landed, 2 taken

kind of similar to yesterday's first session. but with zero table fish. less gulls around meant less Brit and sandeel, but we quite quickly found (by hearing) a particularly raucous flock. Fish showing on the surface but I declined requests for surface lures due to said gulls. With me Cameron, Charlie and Ian. lots of fun, but after 35 smalls we went prospecting for something bigger. a cuttlefish went home with Cameron, plus two mackerel made the total BBQ content of first sa

A cracking first sailing. Reports from friends fishing ashore down towards Shoreham of birds everywhere, but we only got as far as the pier where Heldar, Milan, Saaron and Liam pulled the bulk of the 58 bass landed. maximum kill. For the last hour we left the shoal to vessels exiting the marina to look for a trophy fish in the rocks. More sub 3lb fish but none of the 60 pluses we were after. Still, happy faces with the fresh bass needed for afternoon BBQs in perfect weather.

First sailing, out with David, Andy and Liam, and Liam had bought along his friend and business associate David, to kill 2 birds with one stone. Mixing fishing with strategy meetings is highly recommended. Forewarned about the mass of sandeels down west, it didnt take long before the gulls pointed out where the fishes were, and they most certainly were. Mackerel in among the bass, but typical sandeel chasing shoals. Mostly sub 42cm fish, with just four out of thirty five land