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
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.
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’Â 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.
Well that was a disappointing evening. Being restricted to a late evening session and not wishing to travel far so as to maximise fishing time, I got to my chosen mark at Seaford beach at about 7pm and fished opposite West View flats.
lug on a 1 hook long and low fished at varying distances only resulted in Pout and the odd whiting. Whole calamari on a pennel fished in close resulted in 1 Pout on the top hook and that was it.
Quite a nice clear night with no wind to start with with. Breeze picked up later and it just started to rain when I left at about 2.30am.
Think I’ll leave the beach for a while and try some new venues.
Spent a few hours yesterday at Brighton Marina East arm yesterday evening/night to catch the 2am(ish) high water. Arriving on the arm, I decided, as it was light, I would trot a jig on a float over the reefier inshore parts to see if any squid had turned up. Despite my efforts, none of the creatures showed up. Water was clearing nicely though, so they should be here soon.
After jigging, I started the ground fishing in bay 10. Baits for the evening were lugworm, ragworm and some peeler crab. Everything I tried resulted in Pout of one size or another. Cast after cast resulted in the blighters taking the baits. There was the odd whiting thrown into the mix. One good thing though, there were no rockling, so maybe they have moved off now for the year.
Although not brilliant in catch terms, it was a nice night to be out – clear sky, minimal wind and not as cold as it has been of late.
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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.
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
