Brighton Inshore Fishing - Catch report 30th September 2025

That has been a September that will quickly be forgotten. Indeed, Summer 2025 completely leaves without much to crow about. Warm and sunny, yes. But the heat bought the winds most afternoons. The amount of full day sailings has been a fraction of what it was just eight years ago when I began. Back then, filling the boat was the issue. Now, interest in lure fishing is such that if I sail, the boat is full, or all spaces chartered at least. And yet, the amount of sailings and turnover, is reduced. The answer... ?

A bigger boat? That will mean less fish in the shallow water, at least where bass are concerned. Fish deeper? Fishing deep on lures, is no fun for me. I will always be the shore angler, that fishes from a boat. I did think at one point I had technique nailed on the wrecks, but it became apparent working from Kraken this year, that it remains very frustrating to fish with the gear I want to fish with in any depth, certainly when combined with strong currents. So, the answer is... Relax. I also remain the shore guide, and when sailings are cancelled by wind, often shore opportunities are available. So, I wont be getting bored. Or hooked on Eastenders, as I once was in a corporate life what seems like several lifetimes ago. If you would like to be added to the shore guiding group on Whatsapp where sessions are announced, simply text SHORE to 07970 112774

Onto the fishing. Today I had a double dose of Malley, which is always a pleasure, and joined by all regulars, Richard, David, and Nick. Buoyed by yesterday's successes on the last sailing, I headed for the similar areas... Can anyone guess where this is going...? Just one for the table over that way, and a few smalls. Fish of the day was the John Dory ( released ) to David. We did then find some great fun action with smalls in the last 30 minutes, bringing the bass total to 25, but really, it was not a great trip.

Hopeful for the following sailing to be better, simply proved that hope is a very strange emotion. New to BIF1, and fellow boat owner Richard, bought along his friend and business partner Leroy, to join Malley and regular Duncan. It started quite well. I demonstrated the shad technique in a hole that can be quite good when all around is at its shallowest on the low tide. And it was.

Leroy got a table fish, and a couple of smalls also fell. But sadly, a misinterpretation of our intent as we came up the drift, saw another vessel smash straight across the hole at 30 knots. Guess what wild animals do when startled? ... And that really was it for the bass fishing. We roamed far and wide for very few indeed. I think the tiny tides were against us. Even the squid were lacklustre, which was a worry as the following sailing was indeed a squid sailing.

Joining me on the squid session, was Dean, Steve, Mark and Jamie. And worries soon slipped away, as from the beginning squid fell. It did go a bit wrong in some respects, as I felt the catch rate to be a little slow, so checked out some other know squid spots. These however, were strangely empty, and I ended up returning to the original area. Where we knocked away at them, with the final tally being a respectable 36. Not tragic.