18th June

Brighton Beaches

John with first fish of the day

Today was a classic example of why you need to be adaptable whne fishing for bass. Originally booked as a float and prawn session, on the day, a brisk Southerly breeze suggested a trip to the Southwick surf. And so it was. Yousif, Callum and John pitched up at my pad, and we took the rather too small fishymobile along to the West. Being a fairly short tide, there was no mud showing, so along came fourty hard found peelers and a couple of frozen mackerel. I was worried there wouldnt be enough surf, as the wind was still building, but on arrival it was rolling nicely. We ran through the rigs, and the lads started their assualt. It wasnt long before John was away, with his first ever bass.

Yousif catches his first bass

The fish came regularly from the beggining, but what was noticeable was that John was getting more takes than the others. Callum was also getting more takes than Yousif. I moved Yousif above John, and he was into fish straight away. It seems to me that a ridge I liked to fish to has receded, but I will know more when the bigger tides appear.

Three go surf bassing

Callums first bass of this session

John, Callum and bass

It was clear that the surf has bought plenty of fish to the shoreline, but the biggest of the surf session were fish in the caliber of the one held by Callum above, about a pound. I guess it wasnt so suprising that with the short tide, and the lack of sand showing, and so far less pounding, and subsequently far less free food released to hungry mouths, that the bigger boys didnt come in too have a look. But rods were bending, rigs were working, and experiences were being registered for the times when the bigger fellas do show. The wee ones were feeding so hard, that with the count at twenty between the three of them, the crab had run out!! I sliced up some cuts of mackerel, and headed back to Brighton to replenish crab stocks. Not peelers this time, but some nice bassy softies.

First fish off the new location

When I got back all rods were out of the water, and some despondent looking faces on the beach. As the tide had flooded, and the depth increased, so the energy in the sea increased, and with some weed around, the fishing had become impossible for our light gear. As I had just made the effort to get more bait, I gave the lads the option of the end of the session, or a relocation to the beaches to the east of the marina. They took the second option. Here the fishing was far less fast and furious, but with an excellent chance of a better specimen. Here Callum was first away.

Yousif and eel

It wasnt just bass lookin for freshly peeleed crabs on the beaches here. Eels were happy to oblige, in the rough, slightly coloured waters.

Callum and the biggest ifsh of the day - 2lb exactly on the scales.

I think they managed a total of three bass on these beaches. Including the biggest fish of the day, a 2lb. Not a huge fish, and not Callum's biggest ever, but on a day of small fish, it was a well earned capture. There were more eels, and also an incredibly dark blenny. The lads experienced totally new techniques to add to their angling repetoire, and with super keen attitudes to the sport, and some stamina for standing out there, I wouldnt be suprised to hear more of this angling trio and their captures in the future!