West Sussex Catch Report - 29th December 2024

Report by David Lewis

Good evening, we hope you all have had an enjoyable Christmas and got lots of fishing related presents and managed to get out and fish in the reasonable weather lately. The fishing has certainly been challenging as is usual for the time of the year but there are still enough fish worth targeting locally and with changeable weather conditions for the rest of the week why not get out and try your luck.
Here are Worthing high tides times for the week ahead:

• Monday 30th December: 10:39 (5.5m), 23:08 (5.6m)
• Tuesday 31st December: 11:19 (5.7m), 23:49 (5.7m)
• Wednesday 1st January: 11:56 (5.8m)
• Thursday 2nd January: 00:29 (5.9m), 12:38 (5.9m)
• Friday 3rd January:  01:12 (5.9m), 13:23 (5.8m)
• Saturday 4th January: 01:58 (5.9m), 14:08 (5.8m) 

The past week or so has been fairly settled with mainly dull, cloudy, damp weather and light winds. The sea has been calm and is slowly clearing out. This week’s weather starts off similar before a couple of windy days midweek then reverting to light winds from a northerly direction with temperatures expected to drop.  
 
Whiting still dominates many local catches with some venues full of fish yet others just odd fish. If the water is coloured Whiting are likely to show both during the day and at night. Whiting can be used as live baits with the possibility of hooking a Conger or Bass especially from Worthing Pier or Shoreham west arm.  Whiting sizes are mixed with plenty of sizable fish with occasional fish exceeding 40cm plus.

Dogfish were plentiful from Worthing Pier in a recent match with most fish taken from the landing stage. From the beaches they have been showing from venues such as Selsey east beach and Pagham plus in smaller numbers from Shoreham and Hove. Along with the Dogfish are the occasional Bull Huss. 

Flounder fishing in the local rivers is steady but not spectacular with fish there but a case of locating them. Darkness should produce better catches although in areas they can be caught as well in daylight. Beaches have produced the odd Flounder and Kingston Beach can often fish well with Flounders to red rag baits. As we enter January hopefully it should be just a matter of weeks before the arrival of Plaice from the usual beaches at Shoreham, Hove and Brighton but this will be dependent on the weather and sea conditions. Settled weather with light winds and calm, clearing seas for a week or so should see the first fish make an appearance. 

Other flatfish expected from beaches will include some Dabs mainly from the East Sussex area and possibly the odd Sole. 

The midweek winds could bring in the odd Conger but in general decent Eels have been scarce. Straps are more likely with occasional fish caught from Shoreham although Worthing Pier is still the venue where anglers stand a good chance of a better fish appearing. Whiting fished as either a dead or live bait should pick out the bigger fish if any are about. 

Rockling are slowly increasing in numbers with some showing to worm baits from the beaches and Pier and surprisingly a few have been caught quite far up the River Adur.

The majority of Bass being caught at the moment are Schoolies but some sizable fish are likely in unsettled weather with choppy seas and coloured water ideal. 

Not many other species are likely to feature in local catches but a possibility of the occasional Silver Eels especially from the rivers, Pouting, Rays which so far remain scarce this winter although they are still a possible catch with Selsey and Pagham likely venues to find one if any are about.

After New Years Day we revert to usual shop opening times, 8 am till 5pm Monday to Saturday and 8am till 4pm Sundays. New Years Day we are closed. 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. 

Please feel free to 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 and Happy New Year!