I was up early yesterday morning in order to be at Brighton Marina for first light so I could stock up on some fresh mackerel for the evening’s planned assault on the bass there. I was out on the East arm ready to start by 4.30am and like clockwork, the mackerel appeared soon afterwards. Although there were no huge shoals, they were about in sufficient numbers that before too long, I had enough for bait plus a few for our lunch and some for Anna’s parents. Job done, I headed off home and prepared all my stuff for the evening.

I was back down at the marina for about 6pm and wandered out on to the East arm to find a decent spot. After two moves due to excessive (for me) noise and activity, I eventually started fishing seriously at bay 32, about an hour before low tide which was at 9pm. I fished two rods, both using a running ledger set up with 4/0 hooks baited with mackerel head. bass have become accustomed to feeding on the heads that are thrown back over the wall into the sea by people cleaning their catches  of mackerel and so have become a top bait for the venue.

Two hours after low tide, I was busying myself re-baiting one of the rods when the reel on the other rod started to click a few times and then screamed as a bass ran with the bait before stopping. I picked up the rod and lifted gently and watched as it arched over as the fish went off again, I struck and all hell broke loose. The fish ran right and then out before taking a left turn and running in the direction of  Beachy Head. After a short while, the fish was under control and ready for the net; this is always difficult at this venue as you are some distance up from the surface and there is no clear view from above as to what the net and fish are doing. Luckily, there was a couple of guys fishing just along from me (transpires both are WSF members, dannyc and mr codling), so I called out and both came over to assist to land it. Both of them did a sterling job, especially danny who clambered over the guard rails to net it. It weighed in at 9lbs on the dot; a lovely fish by any means but I was hoping (perhaps optimistically) that it might have nudged past my personal best of 9lbs 13oz. I will have that double figure fish by the end of this year!

I later missed another run which did appear less spirited and also landed another bass, although a schooly of around the pound and a bit mark that took a very small joey head. Looks like the spider peelers are in too. I landed a small one that was divided up and used for a few casts as I thought there might be a smooth Hound or two around. Each time I retrieved it, the crab was surprisingly untouched.