Brighton Inshore Fishing - Catch report 6th January - 2nd March 2026

Winter is not a good time to be running a 21 foot open boat. Opportunities to sail are less frequent, more and more so as our environment clearly changes. Plus winds, and then February is fairly empty of fish inside the 3 miles that I work. And so I rent accommodation in the Algarve, and invite people to join me there. The theme is mostly lure fishing in both fresh and saltwater, but I call it the gastronomical light line lure tour of Portugal, because eating, and introducing people to one of the few towns still not selling out and becoming a warmer version of England, Olhao, is also a key feature. A major selling point is come and escape the English weather. However, that aspect was a bit of a fail this year.

Usually, and I have been running this tour for 6 years, a high pressure system sits over the Azores, and it protects the Algarve from winter storms that will run through Lisbon and further North. Temperatures are mid teens to low 20's. Sunshine is a regular event. It makes for more pleasant fishing than that which is available in the UK. Species sort are Bass and spotted bass from the shore, Barbel, American large mouthed bass, Gibel carp and Zander in the freshwater. Both rivers and large reservoirs are the places we seek these fish. This trip, there was a polar vortex event that pushed the high pressure away from the Azores. The jet stream pushed way further south than normal, and big winds with unprecedented rains were more the norm. A once in 70 years event. And it changed everything. However, the years I have been out here really showed their value. We lost just 2 days where weather was actually dangerous to be going fishing (207 km/h winds were recorded on one day, a record for Portugal). Part of the reason we were able to fish was the American large mouthed bass, which were still feeding even in massively rising water levels, and with big hills surrounding the reservoirs, it was possible to find fishable conditions.

A typical week would normally be mostly sea based, with a day on the reservoirs, and a day on the Guadiana river. First week, with Greg and Lee we did manage to fish the river, on two days, and managed to score two zander and a barbel. And then the rains came, the Alqeva dam which is the source of the river, had to discharge water at a phenomenal rate. This raised the river so much, that where we would normally park the car was under ten feet of water for the rest of the trip. River was now off limits. This river also discharges into the Atlantic, but the water then enters inside the Ria Formosa, which is effectively and estuarine system separated from the Atlantic by a sequence of sand barrier islands, which, with the addition of other flooded rivers, made brackish water the norm, and most bass and spotted bass vanished out to the open Atlantic. It basically left us just reservoirs for the first four weeks. Week 6, the weather finally changed. The high pressure formed over the Azores, and settled, warm and sunny weather was again the main feature. This is why the statistics for the trip reflect a large number of American Large mouthed bass, and far fewer of the regular Labrax.

The one thing that remained 100 percent on point was the gastronomical part of the tour. Each week, five nights of classical Portuguese cuisine, plus one night in an amazing value Sushi buffet, which incorporates a seafood grill. As many razor clams as you care to eat can be eaten. The only grumble I had of all the cuisine was that the sushi was not made with proper sushi rice. My response was , who gives a shit when they charge EU 18.90 for endless plate full's. Stunning value. And all places we eat we get received with the warmest of welcomes, often with free plates and free drinks just to say thankyou for our custom. This is the value of preparing this tour over 6 years. Some restaurants do fail, as they can change over time, but they get dropped immediately, as there is so much choice. This year, it was sad to drop a firm favourite, Cantina de Cristina, a known place for traditional Cataplanas, due to poor service. But the same night we went into another regular haunt, where the owner, on hearing of our experience, went into the kitchen himself, to cook us a cataplana, which was the best one I have ever eaten. This reflects the importance of the service that I seek for my clients and I .

From the 2nd week to the sixth week, some clients were happy to don waterproofs and crack on, others less so, and only wanted to fish in the brief windows of better weather that presented themselves, preferring to sit out the poor weather in the multitude of bars available. The sand barrier Island of Armona is firmly on the tour. Although results have never been great, usually small bass and spotted bass, the island itself is an absolute delight and I strongly recommend even non anglers visit it. Better in the winter, as it gets mobbed in the Summer. We had beaches all to ourself. And I have made many friends in the bar "PARADISE" which is located close to the ferry jetty. Including my best friend in Portugal, a dog called Doc.

Week 7, an element of irony. Very settled weather, the formosa returned to saline water, but my people were two very good lady friends of mine from the Czech republic. Very little fishing, but lots of laughing, walking, drinking and eating. Weather was dry with light winds. First half a little cloudy and cool, last few days were hot, with unbroken sunshine. Forecast for the rest of the trip, the same. Not completely without fishing though. My friends, Petra and Veronica, were curious about my job, so I took them to the reservoir for an hours fishing instruction. Further irony, clear waters for the first time on this trip. I could clearly see the rock ledges that with brown water had claimed many shads. The girls were great students, and Petra was soon the proud owner of her very first fish, a 1kg American large mouthed bass, which made her very happy. But the rest of the trip, eating, drinking. A trip out to another of the barrier islands, Farol. to discover that Pina Colada's are definitely cheaper on the mainland. Farol does have an amazing breakwater but to fish it light line style you need to climb down some very brittle looking rope ladders, to be greeted by some seriously slippery algae. If I lived there, a telescopic ladder and spikes in my boots would be the way. But thats all a bit much for a day trip.

Then the final week, joined by Suntus and Paul. I did warn them that, as they had the best forecast of the whole trip (and it was amazing weather, touching over 30 degrees in the inland spots) I would be pushing them harder. "No problem" they said... But my version of harder is perhaps, well, harder than anticipated. They did well, suffering some 0500 alarms, as well as some into darkness sessions. I was desperate to show that the sea DOES have some good fishing. And yet, the water didnt look right even up to when we left. We did manage a few schoolies, and some spotted bass, including a beast for myself, a personal best. But despite two attempts at Armona, plus a couple of sessions into dark, it still wasnt right. A trip up to Canais in the Guardiana river valley showed why. The water was still 20 feet too deep, as the Alqueva dam was still discharging. At its peak, the river was 80 feet over its usual winter levels, something that is very hard to grasp unless you visit it.Nature is impressive, especially when a polar Vortex event brings unprecedented storms and record rainfall. Not in living memory had any local experienced such conditions.

The baragems did still produce however. But even here, nature was plotting against us. A new local friend, Reuben, highlighted that in the pictures the fish suddenly were sporting almost evil red eyes. They were moving into spawning mode, with their energies being devoted to finding a mate more than eating. The guys did love the scenery though, which I had witnessed changing from Almond blooms and white flowers in the ground cover, moving to stunning yellow flowers and orchids in this final week. The flora and fauna are as the gastronomy on my tour. Simply stunning.

And then, suddenly, the tour was over. I headed back this morning, grabbed an Uber, and immediately headed to BIF1 to retrieve her batteries and get them on charge. The gastronomical light line lure tour of Portugal is a long way from being a money earner. But it does keep me out of the UK for the worst months of the year. And everyone loved the uniqueness of Olhao, with both its amazing side, and its darker side, being simply amazing. Art, food, and a legacy of times when the people had far less hope, combine with the modern, and the traditional in every level, from the guys scraping shells out of the mud, to the multi million euro apartments that these days overlooking them. Olhao is not Portugal. Its unique in its own right, and everyone that came to find out more left resolved to visit it again. For my tour, the six years spent developing it, have been six years well spent. I have the most amazing friends there. Restauranteurs, Ex-pats, Locals, fishermen, anglers, Artists, homeless, Musicians, all with a common theme. A love for Olhao, and huge hearts. I miss it already. Still five weeks available on the 2027 tour, which will run from 25th January to the 15th March. And should be, back to the weather than brings brits in their tens of thousands to the Algarve in the winter.

Now, back to the realities of the UK, and a desperate need to earn money. It does look like Ive bought settled and dry weather back with me from the Algarve, with Friday, Saturday and Sunday looking good. Still some spaces as well. Availability on the home page as usual. One slight less good point though. I can ignore inflation no longer. After 9 years at £60 per session, I am finally forced to raise the price of fishing with me on BIF1 to £70. I hope the skills you will learn, and the fish you will catch, will mean that does not put anyone off. I cant wait to get back at it.