West Sussex Catch Report - 23rd August 2026

Report by David Lewis

Good evening, the fishing locally has certainly improved throughout the past week or so and pleasingly it is good to see so many Mackerel shoals along our beaches after it was predicted to be a poor summer for them, also there is a wide variety of other species coming up throughout the region so there is plenty to warrant getting the rods out and giving it ago. 

Here are Worthing high tides times for the week ahead:

• Monday 24th August: 09:43 (4.6m), 21:59 (4.7m)
• Tuesday 25th August: 10:30 (5.1m), 22:43 (5.1m)
• Wednesday 26th August: 11:11 (5.4m), 23:21 (5.5m) 
• Thursday 27th August: 11:47 (5.7m), 23:57 (5.7m)
• Friday 28th August:  12:22 (5.9m)
• Saturday 29th August: 00:31 (5.9m), 12:57 (6.1m)

The weather during the past week has again been decent with plenty of sunshine and light winds although the temperatures have been lower than recent weeks and we were even blessed with rain. The sea has had good clarity and been mostly calm. 

Mackerel which were seemingly scarce for much of the summer have moved inshore in vast shoals throughout much of the region during the past week with big catches made from Seaford, Newhaven, Brighton, Shoreham and Worthing. 

Along with Mackerel other species such as Scad, Garfish and Shad have all been caught to similar methods with Scads mostly caught during darkness or dawn and dusk with Brighton Marina the best venue to target them. 

Black Bream are still being caught both during the day and night with a mixture of sized fish and they will be caught to most baits with small hooks improving your catch rates. Some venues do tend to hold better sized fish such as Brighton Marina and Shoreham Harbour. Gilt Head Breams are also occasionally showing up with Brighton Marina, Kingston Beach and Chichester Harbour producing regular catches. 

Shoreham and Brighton are still providing some good Bass catches and fish to 6lb have been caught recently. With the Mackerel inshore in huge numbers live baiting could result in larger Bass with the Marina and Harbour venues worth trying. In the right conditions and tides lure fishing can be worth while especially at dawn or dusk. The lower stretches of the local rivers are still holding sizable Bass and can be targeted with lures or bait. 

Mullet are still about with plenty of fish visible from shore and local rivers with Goldies being caught regularly from Lancing, Shoreham and Tide Mills whereas Thin and Thick Lipped Mullet can be targeted in local rivers as well as structures such as Marina, Harbour and Pier. Mullet are often found in extremely shallow water and often just beyond the water’s edge at some beaches. 

Anglers wishing to target flatfish will find a few Plaice and Flounders to worm baits with Shoreham through to Brighton areas worth fishing during the daytime and this area will also see Soles caught at night.

Many Congers are extremely small straps but with Mackerel about in numbers fishing a big Mackerel bait could entice any larger Eel that have followed them inshore with darkness offering best chance of finding one. 

Also, the following species can be caught locally such as Red Mullet, Smelt, Gurnards, Wrasse, Hounds and possibility of a Ray. Codling could be a realistic target in the coming weeks with fish usually arriving late August into early September. 

Prime Angling usual opening times are 8am till 5pm Monday to Saturday and 8am till 4pm Sundays. We are located at 26 Marine Parade, Worthing, BN11 3PT, just to the east of Worthing Pier with limited customer parking available at the front of the shop. For bait availability it is advisable to phone us on 01903 821594. We also stock a large variety of frozen sea baits as well as a wide range of freshwater baits and tackle. 

Visit our online website at primeangling.co.uk with plenty of new stock regularly added so keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates which will include plenty of new items from Japan. 

Please send us pictures of your recent local catches via our Facebook page messenger or email and we will aim to publish them for you in the weekly report. Please note we DO NOT claim ANY FISH used and mentioned in our reports are caught on our baits or tackle, it is a report to show what has and is likely to be caught locally.

Good luck & Tight Lines!