8th April

Southwick Beaches

Toms First fish!!

Met up with Ian and Tom at the venue, the beach at Southwick. At four o clock this morning, I had awoken to go pumping, but returned to bed as a 30mph SW gale threw huge volumes of water down from the sky. That wind had eased right back, when I re-awoke at 09:00, but the energy was very much still in the sea. By the time I met the guys in the afternoon, the surf was perfect, although the sea was perhaps a little more coloured than I would have liked. The wind had also swung Southerly, and was holding the water on the beach a bit, preventing me from getting straight on the worm. I had foreseen this happening (useful things weather stations) and had taken some small sand eels along, which we started the session with. First cast for young Tom, and his first ever fish, a fine bass of around 1.5lb.

A more typical schoolie for Ian

Finally the water left the shingle, and a few worms let their presence be known (a lot of rock suddenly revealed on this beach at the moment). Predictably, the schoolies let themselves be fooled. Good practice for the main event though. Ians first UK bass above, although he has caught striped bass in the US with a yank guide!

A flattie first for Tom

Next fish for Tom, a fine flounder for a bit of variety. These East sussex surf beaches (at low tide) are very underrated! The bass were coming in steadily for the guys. Mostly schoolies, but as I was helping Tom, I noticed Ian bending in to a better fish.

Ian and the best fish of the session

He managed entirely on his own to battle the fish into the shallows, and then slid it out onto the sand. A lovely fish, inthe region of 3lb, which was despatched for the table. On preparing it, we found a herring and a small sandeel in the stomache.

A lovely evening

We carried on fishing until the sea hit the shingle, at which point the surf died and the bites with it. The guys had caught a dozen bass, plus a flounder, between them. Good April fishing by any standard!

The Last Cast.