Sea - KJSDR

Beachy Head and River Cuckmere – Beachy Head has some great venues to fish but can be a long walk and think twice about fishing near cliffs – rockfalls have injured people in the past! Areas that give access to deep water offer good lure fishing and spinning for bass with mackerel also taken. Point known as the Ledge best for bass fishing. River Cuckmere is runs inland (obviously) from the South Downs Way and has bass in the mouth of the river. Mullet, silver eels and flounder can also be caught here and all travel surprisingly far inland. Float fishing can be an effective tactic to catch the eels, bottom fished baits will catch flounder, and stealthy tactics, groundbaiting and light gear will be needed for the mullet. Spinners and plugs will get bass and there is also the chance of a sea trout, although technically a licence is needed to take this species. View this area on Google Maps here.

Seaford Beach © Simon Carey

Seaford – Seaford beach is a good venue that produces a nice variety of fish. Point known as the Buckle in the middle of the beach is a favourite of local anglers. This is a steep beach that gives way to deep water at high tide, but can also be successfully fished at low water. Summer sees mackerel, garfish and scad to spinners, lures and floatfished baits. Bass, dogfish and potentially thornback rays will go for bottom fished baits. Also chance of something a little bit more unusual from here such as a black bream or even triggerfish. Whiting and cod turn up in winter, along with flounder and rockling. East side of the beach (towards Beachy Head) has deeper water and can fish better when sea is rough or after a spell of bad weather, especially for the cod. View this area on Google Maps here.

Newhaven Habour © Mike Lis

Newhaven – East Arm offers the chance to cast into the bay or out towards Seaford beach. Summer will see pouting, gurnard, mackerel, silver eels and bass on the cards, as well as mullet to the usual tactics. Late summer can be excellent for sole. Winter brings cod, whiting and flounder. Port authorities are constantly restricting access to various parts of harbour to anglers and some good fishing marks are being lost to anglers due to lack of access. Further inland along the river offers some sheltered fishing points for similar species. Nearby Peacehaven and Rottingdean have some good rock marks to spin for bass from, with shore marks near the cliffs at Rottingdean also fishing well over winter for cod, whiting and flounder. View this area on Google Maps here.