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By Vic, 13 May, 2008 12:31

Following the weekend’s squid action, I felt I needed a break and wanted to try for something else to add to the species list for this year. I fancied having a crack at some float fishing with live prawn for bass and pollack.

Monday morning saw my wife and I off down to Rottingdean at low water. I scrambled around the reef for bait while my wife went gathering winkles. We were having lunch with her parents and squid from Sunday was on the menu; the winkles were to be included in this seafood feast.

After about an hour or so, I had collected enough prawns for an evening session which was to be fished at Brighton Marina. There were a few large specimens but it has to be said, most were quite small compared to what can normally be collected. My wife however had collected enough winkles to feed a small army!

Later, I headed for the marina and headed out onto the East arm hoping to get a spot near the rocks at the far end. On arrival, I saw that there numerous people fishing at the beginning and over the rocks. I had to settle for bay 54.

Live prawn was sent out under a float and allowed to be carried by the current around the base of the caissons. Within seconds, the float disappeared and a small plump pollack of about a pound was swung in. I thought that this was going to be a great session but in the end was quite slow. In the three hours I was fishing, I had only six pollack all bout the size of the first. It may have been slow, but at least I was fishing and didn’t blank.

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By Vic, 12 May, 2008 21:43

Having had some success at the WSF organised event on Saturday, I returned to Brighton Marina again yesterday with squid being the target. I arrived at at around 3pm with high water expected at approximately 5pm. As before, the marina was quite crowded, so I headed out to the bays nearer the end and eventually set up in about bay 54.

Tackle consisted of an eleven foot, 2½ lb test curve carp rod, bait runner fixed spool reel loaded with braid. Terminal tackle was a green jig under a float cocked with a 1½ oz ball weight.

Things started slowly with no indications of activity showing. By about 4pm, I tried a tactic change and decided to bait the jig. I’d been unable to get any mackerel for bait at the ‘Tackle Box‘, so after being persuaded, I thought I’d try frozen ‘Blueys’, otherwise known as Pacific Saury which are an imported oily fish, mainly used as a food source but have found their way onto the bait market. I cut a section from the tail end of a Bluey and lashed it to the jig with bait elastic. I cast to roughly the same location as before, hoping that there were more waiting there.

I propped my rod against the wall, set the bait runner and started to get a drink when the bait runner wailed as line was pulled from the reel. While picking up the rod, I looked over the edge and saw my float disappearing. I lifted gently and began to recover some line and saw a nice squid below the surface.

This is where I took a chance in deciding to lift the squid straight out rather than using a drop net. I pointed the rod down, wound in as much as I could until the squid was just on the surface below me and lifted in one smooth movement. Job done, one squid landed safely. It was photographed by a kind chap who was fishing just along from me. Whoever you are and if you’re reading this, many thanks.

In the next ten minutes, I had a further two squid landed, both on ‘bluey’ baited jigs just off the bottom and no more than twenty yards out from the base of the wall. Biggest of the three weighed in at 2lb 6oz.

The action died after not long after these three had been caught and no more were found. I tried various tactics – baited and non-baited jigs in varying colours and sizes from the medium sized green one I’d caught the three on, to blue, orange and red, small and large. I am of the opinion that groups of squid work their way along the wall hunting their prey of prawns and small bait fish and do not remain static in one place. On my next trip, I’ll travel lighter and be more mobile while attempting to follow them along the wall and try to establish a pattern of feeding behaviour. Of course, I’ll be experimenting as I go, trying different rigs, methods and even baits, trying to gather more information on these interesting (and tasty) creatures.

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By Vic, 11 May, 2008 16:43

Saturday 10th May was the date for ‘squid Only’ competition organised by ‘Fishyrob’ a local angling guide and member of WSF forums. The venue was to be the East arm at Brighton Marina.

We gathered on the East arm at about 12.30pm and walked our way out onto the arm. It was packed beyond belief with nearly every bay occupied. From the antics of some, it appeared that they were only there for the mackerel.

We managed eventually to find some vacant spots near the far end from bays 40 odd up. Everyone tackled up virtually identically – light carp rods, float gear with one or more jigs.

First hit for was for Steve ‘Mesito’ who brought in a decent specimen to get the ball rolling. Things were really looking positive for the competition. Soon after, Steve landed another nice looking one. Reports came in of further squid being landed along the wall.

It wasn’t until sometime later, after I thought I was going to blank, that I had my one and only of the day. I had being watching my float carefully, when I noticed a small dip before it gracefully slid slowly under the surface. I wound in slowly and felt the weight at the other end of the line. as I retrieved, I was mindful of the fact that squid have a habit of escaping at the last moment. Rob leapt to my assistance and carefully landed my prize with the drop net.

By the end of the day, most of the competition entrants had caught at least one squid. George of ‘Tronix‘ fame also had a prize Cuttlefish. It was only fitting really, as he had provided all entrants with a jig at his own cost. Steve ‘Mesito’ was the final winner with a total of five decent squid. His prize was a wonderfully vibrant pink spinning rod kindly donated by Dave Grinham of the ‘Tackle Box‘. It was a fantastic day which also resulted in £70 being raised for the RNLI

Full report can be read here

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By Vic, 3 May, 2008 20:44

Had a disappointing session at Brighton Marina East arm yesterday. Things looked promising, with light SW breeze and the sea clearing nicely. The plan was to fish the last few hours of light for squid and mackerel and then fish the bottom later.

I arrived at around 7pm and set up in bay 16. A jig was set up under a float and was sent on it’s way to try and trap the unwary Cephalopods. I alternated this with feathering for for mackerel for bait but was rewarded with nothing.

Anyway, as darkness fell, I packed away the floats and feathers and concentrated on bottom fishing. Standard formula – one rod baited with lugworm on a running ledger and one rod baited with calamari on a 3/0 pennel rig.

The night went pretty much the same as the last trip, Pout falling to the worm baits and nothing on the pennel.

Decided to pack up at around half midnight as there seemed little point in standing there like a lemon and not landing much to speak of.

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By Vic, 23 April, 2008 20:26

Fished East arm of Brighton Marina, bay 12 yesterday from 7pm through til 3am. Fantastic night absolutely no wind, warm (double t shirt only – no fleeces or jackets).

Early part of the evening, after tackling up and sending some lugworm to the seabed, I tried for a few of the mackerel I’d been reliably informed were there – Nada, nowt, zilch.

As darkness I fell I set up another rod and used peeler crab on a running ledger and lobbed it out a few yards from the base of the wall.

First fish of the evening was a small ‘schoolie’  bass which fell to the crab. This was followed by a never ending line of Pout to the worm baits. A few were kept as baits.

As darkness fell I was contemplating what a great evening it was when I saw a large tug on the rod with the Pout bait followed by nothing. On retrieving, there was a large chunk out of the baits head/neck area. Next bait it happened again leading me to believe that either squid or Cuttlefish were the likely culprits.

I would have tried a luminous jig but had left it home along with my float gear. I will not forget again!

I had another small bass at about midnight. More pouting and then all went quiet for the last couple of hours so jacked it again.

It was a lovely night, so nice not to be wearing floatation suit or fleeces or ‘owt like that.