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By Vic, 6 June, 2008 15:29

Fished a few hours down at the East arm of Brighton Marina last night from about 7pm through until around 2am.

Settled in bay 24 and fished 2 rods – one was rigged with a long & low alternating between peeler crab and hermit crab as bait, the other, a running ledger with 3/0 pennel alternating between mackerel fillet and whole calamari.

The supposed North westerly light breeze had turned to a West or South West which added a bit of chop to the water which had just a slight hint of colour to it.

Tried to get a few mackerel for bait and added 3 to the bucket but they weren’t exactly swarming. That changed once the light faded when it went absolutely berserk, the water boiling in huge patches. After a few minutes, I had enough for bait and for the BBQ.

First ‘proper’ fish of the night was a small thornback ray about twice the size of my hand which fell to hermit crab. Another followed about half an hour later – again to hermit crab.

There was no interest in the pennel rig apart from being ripped up by crabs and other small creatures.

About an hour before high water, I had a stonking bite on the pennel whole calamari which had the rod hooped over. I was convinced it was going to be a bass as I lifted into what felt like something reasonable – not a great fight by any means, just weighty. Imagine my surprise when this large Pout came up. It’s the biggest I’ve had from the marina and one of the biggest I’ve had from the shore. It weighed in at 1lb 10oz and was just nudging 40cm.

That was actually the last fish of the night and I jacked it in shortly after.

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By Vic, 2 June, 2008 12:26

Some time ago, a fishing competition was organised by one of the Dorset members of WSF. It was to be fished at West Bexington in Dorset on 31st May. For some reason, it all went udders up and was cancelled. Not to be deterred, a few members of Shoreham Angling Squad decided that they would still attend as arrangements had already been made. The only difference was that this now just a friendly get together with a bit of competitive spirit and Fishyrob’s hat as the victory spoils.

Being one of the few, I set off early on Saturday morning to avoid the traffic and to arrive at the venue in time for the 2pm book in. I stopped off at The Newhaven Angler to pick up some previously arranged hermit crab as there was a chance of smooth Hounds where we were fishing. Once on the road proper, it was a pleasant drive until hitting the various queues of caravans and other assorted traffic heading out in my direction.

Following my trusty directions which I had quickly printed off from ‘Multimap’, I got lost soon after leaving the A35. I went through a couple small villages before admitting defeat and asking for directions.

After finally finding my way out of the maze, I arrived at the car park and awaited the arrival of the other competitors. Looking along the beach, I couldn’t believe the amount of people there. It was one long line of bathers, sunners and people fishing. Nearly every person I could see ‘fishing’ was chucking strings of feathers out obviously looking for that summer staple – the mackerel. There was hardly space between each. This did not look good for any serious fishing.

Not long after my arrival, WSF and SAS members, Steve and Shaun arrived in Shaun’s ‘Surf, dive, and fishy wagon’. After a brief chat, we trudged onto the beach so that they could have a quick feather session for mackerel to supplement the bait supply. After a few thrashes, they gave up with one solitary fish to show for their valiant efforts.

A few of more WSF lads from Dorset turned up and swelled the ranks by about four. We waited in the car park for more to arrive before we would decide whether to stay or try another venue along the coast.

By 4pm, we decided to stay and began the slog of carrying our gear across the Chesil shingle. The Dorset lads strode off into the distance, while we three, found a spot near enough that did not necessitate the use of an iron lung and sports therapist to revive us.

Finding a spot large enough for three to fish in comfort, I began to unpack, only to find that along the way, I had lost one of the supports on my tripod. Inconvenient but not disastrous. after getting everything up and running, I cast out one rod with a long ‘n’ low baited with peeler crab and the other using a ledger, baited with ragworm. After erecting my beach buddy and sorting out my ‘camp’, I sat back in anticipation. To say that the action was slow, would be an under statement, no knocks not even the slightest indication of fish activity.

Steve was the first in with a 35cm bass which was followed by nothing. Soon afterwards, ‘Fishyrob’ and Andy turned up and encamped just along from us and began fishing in earnest.

There were no more fish caught during the daylight hours. It wasn’t until soon after the sun set that activity started. Bites became common but these turned out to be Lesser Spotted Dogfish. These pestered the baits for the rest of the night. No sign of any smooth Hounds at all.

Highlight of the night was a wonderful Paella cooked up by Steve in his makeshift kitchen set up in his and Shaun’s camp on the beach , This was washed down with a hit of Riocha. It nearly didn’t happen as Steve had forgotten the rice, He and Shaun had had to drive off and search the area for somewhere that stocked it. I don’t know where they found it but managed it luckily.

By 3am, I had enough and was dead on my feet. I packed up my gear and retired to the car park for a couple of hours kip before setting off on the long journey home. This had been my first visit to the location and although the fishing was dire, the place itself was a delight and made a lovely change to my usual haunts. Would I go back? Sure, but only if better fishing was assured.

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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