Brighton Inshore Fishing - Catch report 31st March 2025

First sailing, and out on dreamy flat seas with regular Max, and new to BIF1, Yakub, Emin and Ibo. Jakub had fished once before, Emins first time, but Ibo more experienced, with his own boat in his home town in Turkey. With an hour of ebb to deal with before we got new flow (on super big tides as well) we headed for an area where the bass have been showing for me recently.

Saying that, I had to go down at 0430 this morning and move my boat out onto the visitor pontoons, as the very low low tide coincided with sailing times. And I did see both sand smelt and a couple of small bass shooting about, which is a sign of change for the better. Indeed confirmed by two mackerel caught while bassing. Just two small bass landed though.

Then the new flood came. We headed off to fish a plaice bank, with good success. Plaice, gurnard, and a single herring fell to the white feather, slow jig and isome set up. I think the guys were quite happy anyhow. All too soon it was time to head back, although only for Max as Yakub, Emin and Ibo were all coming out on the 1030 sailing as well, joined by Rupert.

This sailing began a little later than planned, as I had to pop out and retrieve a friend who had unfortunately broken down on exiting the marina. But we got out and got to fishing, returning to plaice. This was not nearly as good as the previous session, although happily Rupert managed one to up his species list on lures. The reason was, the tide was easing back, and a SE wind assisted in putting the brakes on. For the isome approach to work, you need a reasonable speed, that makes the plaice chase that bit harder. So, after trying a couple of spots, I decided to take us back on the bass. A very good call.

From the first bass drift until the alarm screeched time over, we caught fish. They were all through the water column, possibly feeding on small white worms (not white rag or rockworms) that we spotted wriggling through the water. Whatever the reason, they were having it, with no less than 21 to around 7lb caught in about an hour and twenty minutes.

The guys were wrapped, although perhaps a little upset as I explained we had to release all of them, until after midnight. But they did enjoy the battles. Most of the fish would have been takeable 24 hours later as well. Really top quality bass fishing. And a real shame the weather will mean I wont be able to reach this area for the next few days. BIF1 out of the water for her 100 hour service on Thursday anyhow. I cannot wait to get back there. There should be at least a months worth of good fishing there, especially with other nature events about to occur on the same patch of ground. Exciting times.