Brighton Inshore Fishing - Catch report 8th April 2026

A very interesting day...

First sailing, it was my pleasure to welcome back Dean, David, Alistair and Sam. Not quite the flat calm sea I was expecting, as the wind had only backed down an hour or so ago, but at least the wind was with the tide, so swells were quite manageable. Fish were, more complexed. It started ok, but today the fishing died with the tide. The last hour particularly slow. But from the ten fish landed, everyone had fish to take home for tea, and I would say all had a good time.

2nd sailing, Nilesh, Kas, Michael, all returning, and Michaels lad Toby, new to BIF1. This session was actually even harder, despite having the early flood which often makes things happen. But it was the fortune of birds highlighting a sprat shoal that salvaged the session. Not amazing, with 7 bass landed, plus a bream on the shad, but again, everyone with something to burn on the BBQ so happy people.

3rd sailing wasnt even supposed to happen. Instead I was supposed to be having a tooth extracted. But did you see that weather? Teeth need to be extracted on windy days, and the wind had absolutely vanished. Happily, I run a Whatsapp group called BIF1 SHORT NOTICE and a quick shout on there saw me with Ian, another Dean (returning after a LONG absence) Andy and his father in laws brother (?) Dorian. And what an excellent session...

Possibly all down to Ian. I had set up to cover a bit of scrub that can be good on the early ebb, when Ian mentioned he could see some birds. Music to my ears. But these birds were after the rockworms. Also after the rockworms, revealed by my sonar, were the sprat shoals. Guess what was after the sprat shoals? But they were not alone. As also after the rockworm were large shoals of bream.

I was guessing they were bream, but the bream rig very quickly proved they were bream. We very quickly max killed on the bass, and then folks wanted to fish bream. So we did. I stayed on the shad, which is why I got a coddie. But Ian also bumped the species with a dab on the bream rig. Which is a lure rig, if you were wondering. Final score, at least 15 bream, 25 bass, the dab and a codling. Oh, and we were grabbed multiple times by squid, and had one follow a lure back to the boat. Its kind of all happening out there... And although the weekend is ruined by wind, I do still have a single space on Fridays 0630 sailing. Send a message to 07970 112774 if you would like that, or if you would like to be added to the short notice whatsapp group for BIF1, message your full name and the word BIF.