West Sussex Fishing Report - 2nd March 2025

Report by David Lewis

Good evening, the past week has seen a vast improvement both with the fishing locally and the weather. If you prefer fishing for the bigger species such as Congers and Rays or targeting fish such as Plaice, there is a wide variety of species worth targeting and with good weather predicted for the week ahead why not get out and give it ago. 

Here are Worthing high tides times for the week ahead:

• Monday 3rd March: 01:19 (6.5m), 13:33 (6.3m)
• Tuesday 4th March: 02:00 (6.4m), 14:15 (6.1m)
• Wednesday 5th March: 02:40 (6.1m), 15:00 (5.7m)
• Thursday 6th March: 03:26 (5.7m), 15:52 (5.3m)
• Friday 7th March:  04:20 (5.1m), 16:58 (4.7m)
• Saturday 8th March: 05:34 (4.6m), 18:29 (4.4m) 

Lasts weeks weather has been decent and even warming up slightly in the daytime and the sun has even made an appearance. The winds have been generally light and with big tides the water is slowing clearing and should continue to improve water clarity next week on the big tides with little wind predicted for the coming days. 

Worthing Pier has seen some reasonable Congers with a few double figure fish plus decent numbers of smaller fish. Congers have also shown from the beaches at night with a nice 25lb fish caught from Seaford. A few smaller straps are also likely so using bigger fish baits could catch a decent sized Eel when the sea is coloured and choppy or at night in settled conditions. 

The calm weather, light winds and big tides have meant the water clarity is improving but most venues still hold some colours so deeper water is needed to find the clearer water. Despite this Plaice are still showing in reasonable numbers from the usual spots at Shoreham, Hove, Brighton and Eastbourne and catches should improve as the water clears. With Plaice fishing casting at distance usually improves your chances of better results and baits to use include black lug or king rag.

Anglers using worms are finding a few Flounders and they are a widespread species and can be caught from most venues and from the local rivers. 

Dabs continue to be caught at most sandy beaches through East Sussex including Seaford, Eastbourne and Pevensey. Dabs often caught in coloured water and calm conditions to black lug baits.  

A match last week saw a nice sized Thornback Ray caught on Worthing Pier measuring 53cm across the wings. They are also showing from usual beaches including Hove, Eastbourne and Pagham and can be caught of various sizes to variety of fish baits. Undulate Rays remain scarce with Pagham or Selsey most likely venues to find any with fishing in darkness offering best chance. 

Plenty of Dogfish have been caught in darkness or in the daytime at certain venues where the water is still heavily coloured and there is still Whiting around although not in numbers which can be present this time of year. 

All Bass are still currently catch and release only, see accompanying picture for details. Springtime often sees Bass taking baits such as crab and the lower stretches of the river can see some good fish show. A few Schoolies and the odd better sized fish have been caught but no numbers yet. 

Other species that could feature in catches will include plenty of Rockling to small worm baits, Silver Eels and Pout. 

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!