Brighton Inshore Fishing - Catch report 3rd May 2025

A strange day. First sailing began with just two anglers aboard, thanks to an administrative blunder by myself But perhaps everything for the reason as it was strangely, the worst session of the day. We threw our lot in with a bass hunt, and it was a poor decision, as bass were doing nothing that they really were doing just yesterday. Nico and Richard fished hard for the sum of just one schoolie. And a bum hooked pouting This despite marking a real lot of fish. The obsession for small things is at is peak. This is a phenomenon that has made itself apparent for many years now. Indeed, the evidence was screaming at me. And the older I get, the more I can filter the information, There is a lot of shagging and hatching happening just now And all of it can cause pre-occupation in bass. I can confirm the rock worm, as they reveal themselves on the surface in their desperation to get laid, but as a non-diver (well, non-swimmer really) I cant confirm my suspicion that there is a mass sandeel hatch happening as well. But thats what I attribute to what is showing on my sounder, combined with the actions of the newly arrived bass inside the marina.

Second sailing I was scarred by the first. I explained all to Dag, Will, Arvid, and Arvid's dad, visiting from Sweden, Roland, I suggested we split the session with half dedicated to hoping the bass would come on the feed, and should that not happen, make the most of the full bore of the tide and hit the plaice, again with lures. All agreed it was a solid plan. So we cracked on. Slightly better action from the bass, although still piss poor. Three landed, with just one for the table. Better than one though. So, onto the plaice fishing.

This was much better fishing, with fifteen landed in 90 minutes, plus tub and grey gurnard bye-catch, Some perfect table fish as well, with skinny place seeming a distant memory already. Guy's were a little shocked by the power of a plaice on perch gear also. They really pull. Great fun, and a very enjoyable session.

Final sailing, and Dimitry bought his boys along. His youngest, the twins Nik and Maxim, and his eldest, Tim. We headed straight back to the plaice bank, But the pace was dying, and the plaice, although 100 percent there, did not want to play. A move to some deeper water was productive though, but just for gurnards, including a double shot of tubs to Nik. And, irony, only the second ever bass on the frolic / isome technique, although only 36cm, to Max. While waiting for the ebb tide, to go back to the plaice bank, we tried a little trot around some rocky holes, which later in the year, once the spider peel is in full swing, are a given. But nothing doing, except a jumbo pout for Dimitry.

With the ebb tide, back to the plaice bank, but to be met by a very stiff Northerly wind that is the theme of the next six days based on the current forecast. Plaice like their food tumbling down the current, not across it, and the only plaice that succumbed was reverse hooked in the tail. More gurnards. But the moment of the session for me, indeed the day, was when I pumped a suspected jumbo plaice to the surface, to see a 4lb turbot hanging off the Frolic. As I looked around for the location of the landing net, I felt the rod relax. Looking back, it was turbot no more. Gutted.