Brighton Inshore Fishing - Catch reports 21st August 2025

First sailing, was always going to be a bit challenging. The stiff NE wind would mean that we would need to stay in tight. But I wasnt worried. I only had one rod booked on. David, and he being more friend than client, as so often happens, I was quite happy to sail just he and I. Even if the fishing was uber difficult, as David's finger is super trained. That was, until the night before, when a message came from Luc. He and his friends, brothers Charlie and Zac were in Brighton celebrating Luc's birthday. I explained it would be super hard. Maybe even a blank. But the boys didn't care. Game on...

It was the predicted struggle, and exactly as predicted Davids finger did well. The boys were of course uncertain which of very few contacts were bites. We are still missing a lot of bass in close. And I couldn't get out to where I knew fish were waiting as leaving the lee of the cliffs meant instant swell. Very frustrating. However, all was not lost. Because Neptune likes a birthday celebration. And right towards the end, gave Luc the best fish of the seven bass landed.

Next up, I really thought is was going to be the session of the day. A full run of ebb tide. Awesome. Except the wind had not dropped as forecast. We were still pinned in tight. And the only fishy experience in 3 hours was a dropped mackerel. About as bad as it gets. Which left me very nervous for the 3rd sailing. Miles, plus new to BIF1, Allan, his son Calum, and Calum's son, six year old Will. A near miss with what I can only describe as a French SHIP entering the marina at speed on the wrong side of the fairway, was not the best start to the session. Understanding that the likelihood of six year old Will grasping the concept of zero fish on a fishing trip, and while we still had some ebb to play with before the dreaded low, I elected to start with plaice on Isomes.

It was a good call and cast the blanking monkey from the shoulders. 4 plaice, 2 for the table. Gurnard, that refused to chat no matter how much I asked. Kids are fascinated by talking fish. Not a lot else though. But as the tide eased back, so did the wind. The sea dropped pretty flat almost instantly. I pushed out to where the fish are. We gave it a good going over for a bass. Pretty much given up when, bang... Will found himself attached to a bass! And one to feed the family with as well. Amazing. So, what to do with slack water...

"Anyone fancy a crack at a squid?" I asked. Four anglers from tall to far less tall nodded enthusiastically. "Ok, lets give it a go". Calum caught the first, Allan the 2nd, and I popped a double shot into the cool box before the final whistle. A well salvaged 3rd sailing I felt.