West Sussex Fishing Report - 27th April 2025

Report by David Lewis

Good evening, there have some superb catches made this week most notably Thornback Rays, although the fishing has been very good at some venues yet challenging at others. Warmer weather is forecast for the week ahead and with some decent tides hopefully it should encourage a few more summer species to move inshore so why not grab the rods and give it a try. 

Here are Worthing high tides times for the week ahead:

• Monday 28th April: 12:16 (6.3m)
• Tuesday 29th April: 00:40 (6.5m), 13:04 (6.3m)
• Wednesday 30th April: 01:25 (6.4m), 13:52 (6.2m)
• Thursday 1st May: 02:10 (6.2m), 14:43 (6.0m)
• Friday 2nd May:  02:58 (5.9m), 15:34 (5.7m)
• Saturday 3rd May: 03:50 (5.4m), 16:31 (5.3m)

During the past week the weather has improved with plenty of sunshine although remaining chilly at night. The sea had been slightly coloured inshore on the smaller tides but is a lot clearer as the tides built. Warm weather is expected next week, and light winds are forecast. 

The past week has seen a vast improvement to the local Ray fishing with a few nice double figure Thornbacks and more Undulate Rays making an appearance. Hove and Bognor are arguably the most consistent venues now producing the best catches. With warmer temperatures next week hopefully, the Stingrays will show up with just odd fish reported so far. Venues from Climping, Bognor, Aldwick and Pagham are all likely to produce to baits such as king rag or crab. 

Black Bream are being caught but not in numbers it seems although the inshore netters are finding plenty of fish close in. A couple of decent sized fish were caught from Widewater Friday evening as well as odd smaller fish from the Marina and Worthing Pier. Bognor, Pagham and Selsey should see Bream showing at night if you can avoid the Dogfish. 

Anglers wishing to fish for flatfish will find Shoreham Harbour and nearby beaches as good a place as any with some Plaice, Flounders, Dabs and occasional Sole. Shoreham, Hove and Brighton beaches could be worth trying in the daytime on the big tides for Plaice to baits such as black lug or king rag. 

Some venues presently are producing vast numbers of Dogfish both during the day if the water is coloured and during darkness, yet other venues very few are showing. 

Small Smoothounds have been caught during darkness with decent fish more likely to show in the next month or so. Pagham and Selsey usually see the first larger fish appear locally. 

Last week saw a slight increase on the Conger catches but majority are still straps although there is the occasional better fish likely. 

If fishing for smaller species is your target there are plenty of fish such as Blennies, Wrasse, Bullheads, Smelt, Pout etc being caught from Worthing Pier and at Newhaven. 

Other summer species worth trying for include Mullet from the local rivers, Garfish from Worthing Pier, Shoreham Harbour and Brighton Marina with the slight chance of the odd Mackerel and Herring. A Red Mullet was caught at Seaford and shouldn’t be long before Gurnards make an appearance. Squid and Cuttlefish maybe worth trying for from the Marina or Worthing Pier with squid jigs. 

Bass fishing inshore remains surprising slow but there are plenty of fish just offshore which should move inshore so with ideal conditions lure fishing should become worthwhile soon both at high and low tide dependant on the venue. There does seem a lack of Schoolies but again numbers likely to increase as water warms up. 

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.