West Sussex Catch Report - 30th November 2025
Report by David Lewis
Good evening, as we enter December the fishing is still reasonable with plenty of species still worth targeting both big and small and conditions and tides are ideal for trying for species such as Congers and Bass and signs of a few more Flounders from the rivers so why not get out and try your luck and give it a go.
Here are Worthing high tides times for the week ahead:
- Monday 1st December: 07:26 (5.3m), 19:52 (5.3m)
- Tuesday 2nd December: 08:21 (5.7m), 20:45 (5.6m)
- Wednesday 3rd December: 09:11 (6.0m) 21:36 (5.9m)
- Thursday 4th December: 10:00 (6.2m), 22:28 (6.1m)
- Friday 5th December: 10:50 (6.3m), 23:22 (6.2m)
- Saturday 6th December: 11:40 (6.3m)
Last week started off cold and chilly then the weather changed to wet and windy although the end of the weekend was decent with sunshine and light winds. The sea is now coloured and choppy.
Congers have been featuring in catches locally with fish to around 15lb caught from Worthing Pier and when Brighton Marina is fishable decent sized Congers can be expected especially towards the end of the eastern arm. Whilst the sea is coloured, and choppy bigger Eels are always possible whereas once the water clears straps are more commonly caught during darkness. Remember to bring a drop net and use suitable tackle for targeting them when fishing from structures such as Pier and Marina. Whiting can work well as bait both dead and alive.
Flounder catches are slowly increasing with fish starting to appear in better numbers from the local rivers and there has been fish also caught from the beaches as well as the Harbour and Pier. A few small Plaice also have been caught with the occasional bigger fish usually at times when the water clarity is good. Dabs will soon become common from mainly sandy East Sussex beaches such as Eastbourne, Seaford and Brighton. It is getting a bit late in the year for Sole, but they remain a possible catch with the Harbour and Marina most likely venues to produce the odd fish.
Conditions are ideal for Dogfish, and they are likely to be caught in numbers from most venues whilst the sea remains choppy and dirty. The occasional Bull Huss is a possible catch as are small Smoothounds.
Sizable Bass continue to be caught locally from both the shore and local rivers and will likely feature in catches whilst the weather remains mild. Fish commonly seem to be in the 2-3lb region whereas smaller Bass can be caught to worm baits from the beaches and rivers.
The Codling remains scarce although one was caught from Worthing Pier this weekend and could randomly show anywhere within Sussex.
Still, we await the arrival of vast shoals of Whiting which could possibly not happen this year as they were expected to arrive weeks ago and although some are showing not in quantities that are usually present at this time of year. Some Jumbo Pouts are caught when the sea is coloured and choppy.
Anglers wishing to target Rays will find Thornbacks easier to locate with Hove, Bognor and Pagham all venues likely to produce a few whereas Undulates are fewer in numbers although one is also possible especially around Bognor and Pagham and Small Eyed could be caught from around Brighton.
When there was settled weather and clear seas Squid showed in numbers although once the winds get up and sea dirties, they move back out to deeper water.
It is getting a bit late for summer species and the periods where conditions are calm and clear are becoming less as the year goes on but if the water does clear a very small number of fish are possible. Herring and Shad are likely to appear during calms and clear seas usually to Sabikki lures.
Prime Angling 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.
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.
