West Sussex Fishing Report - 17th August 2025

Good evening, signs are hopeful of improved fishing with some nice Bass regularly being caught locally and in Sussex we are blessed with a wide variety of species available to target which vary by day and night, and finally its noticeable the beaches do seem to be clearing of seaweed allowing venues which have been unfishable for weeks to be worth trying again so why not get the rods out and give it ago. 

Here are Worthing high tides times for the week ahead:

• Monday 18th August: 06:59 (4.7m), 19:37 (4.8m)
• Tuesday 19th August: 08:28 (4.7m), 21:01 (4.9m)
• Wednesday 20th August: 09:48 (5.1m) 22:11 (5.2m)
• Thursday 21st August: 10:53 (5.5m), 23:10 (5.5m)
• Friday 22nd August:  11:45 (5.8m), 23:58 (5.8m)
• Saturday 23rd August: 12:28 (6.0m)

The weather for most of the past week has been warm with plenty of sunshine and mainly light to brisk winds from the east. The sea has been calm and thankfully in the last few days much of the weed seems to finally be disappearing.

Shoreham Harbour and Brighton Marina have seen some good-sized Bass caught within the past week and both venues can allow different baits and tactics to be used which can be successful. Beaches have also produced Bass and lure fishing is worthwhile fishing at dawn and dusk whilst low tiding around Worthing does fish well on occasions on the spring low tides again with dawn and dusk best. 

August is usually the time when Golden Grey Mullet catches are on the increase and venues around Shoreham and Lancing can see fish landed to red rag baits with Mullet usually starting to feed just after high water. The Burrells, Kingston Beach and Shoreham Harbour are worth trying whilst the rivers hold plenty of Mullet and patience can be rewarded with fish to over 4lb possible. 

Black Bream shoals are still prolific with still some decent sized fish in amongst increasing numbers of smaller fish. Darkness tends to produce the bigger fish whilst Brighton Marina can see few fish caught and Gilt Head Bream are also present in some venues such as Chichester, Climping and Kingston Beach. 

The previous week saw the first of the Codling locally and there is a good chance of odd ones being caught on the evening tides next week in darkness. Baits to use include blacks, blow lug and squid. 

Shoreham and Brighton are the most reliable venues to target flatfish with small Plaice showing from the beaches, harbour and marina with the occasional Flounder also being caught with Kingston Beach and the Burrells venues where Flounders tend to be caught in greater numbers to worm baits. Soles are likely to be caught at night from Shoreham, Brighton and Eastbourne.

Mackerel have appeared randomly throughout the region but again not in numbers usually expected. The marina is the most reliable venue to produce a few along with the occasional good day on the Harbour and Pier.  Scads have been caught in darkness and at dawn and dusk. Garfish which have been scarce this year should feature in catches within the next few weeks with fish likely at Shoreham and Worthing Pier. 

The best of the local Ray fishing seems to be from venues around Bognor and Pagham but on evening high tides expect the odd fish from Shoreham and Lancing. Undulate Rays are mixed sizes now along with a few small Thornbacks and with some beaches now becoming fishable some small Stingrays could be caught from Goring through to Climping, but most Stingers will be less than 10lb. 

Smoothounds are still showing from Selsey and Bracklesham with fish up to 10lb being reported whereas the rest of Sussex seems to be producing small Hounds. Most Congers that are being caught lately seem to very small straps with a few better fish from the marina but there always is a realistic chance of the odd bigger Eel appearing anywhere especially at night. Targeting Tope can be worthwhile from Bracklesham or Selsey with ideal conditions recently. 

Summer species such as Gurnards and Red Mullet have been caught lately and other species showing include Wrasse, Pout, Whiting and Silver Eels, Blennies etc. Within the next few weeks Squid should return inshore along with a few Cuttles possible. 

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. 

Good luck, Tight Lines!