Brighton Inshore Fishing - catch reports 17th May 2025

First sailing and it was my pleasure to take to sea Tomasz, and his young lad Tomasz, and Mark, and Mark, who are both regulars. It made getting the names right fifty percent easier than usual anyhow. The first hour was pretty good. Once we could find a spot on the beach. Not that we were ashore, but this morning the fish were in crazy tight just after dawn. Only until sunrise, and yet, that first hour saw us put a dozen on board, although only two were killed for that total. And then we struggled to find them. With no tide, I looked in all the usual no tide spots, but they just were not there. End total was 16, with just the two, plus mackerel, for the table.

2nd sailing couldnt have been more different. I took a punt on where the sand eel shoals might be early flood, and nailed it spot on. This began a session where Suntus, Nico, Anna Marie, and new to BIF1 Ryan (although small world, Ryan is good friends with a close friend of mine, whom I consider to be the best all round angler I ever met) knocked together a grand total of 61 bass, with a full 8 killed and plenty more keeper sized released. Plenty of mackerel also. A really good session, and the best numbers for 3 hours pipping last weeks 60 by a single fish. Additionally, a cracking gurnard AND a cracking black bream joined the pot. It seems we are free of the liliput bream of the last few years, and we have good sized fish back in very close indeed. I will be taking a closer look with the appropriate lure tackle in the very near future. Tomorrow IF I remember to pack my hooks tonight.

3rd sailing, it was my pleasure to take to sea with all new to BIF1, Richard, his mate Sam, and Sam's son Arthur along for the ride. This session was much harder, with just 7 bass landed, three of which were for the table. I measure each fish that are looking sub 45 and with good reason. I had the first of likely half a dozen over the course of my year inspections from fisheries today. All good of course. Great to see them out there.

But Arthur discovered he had a great cast in him, and everyone enjoyed the hunt so, I would say a successful day. I will of course be modifying tomorrow's routines to reflect todays as, that is what I do.