South Coast Spring Awakening: Mackerel Madness and Bass on the Hunt

G'day, mates, this is Artificial Lure here with your South Coast UK fishing report for 15th April 2026, evenin' edition at 10pm. Been a cracker day down 'ere on the Sussex and Hampshire stretches—mild 12-14°C with light southerlies at 5-8mph, mostly clear skies lettin' the sun do its thing. Sunrise was 6:05am, sunset 8:00pm, so them low-light hours were prime. Tides? High water midday 'round 4m at Brighton, lowin' off now to 1m by midnight—fish lovin' that push, per local charts. Fish are wakin' up proper in this spring warmth. Pollack and mackerel smashin' inshore reefs, with lads pullin' 20-30 fish limits off Selsey Bill yesterday—schools thick on the move. Bass patrollin' the shingle beaches, early spawners hittin' 5-8lb; few reports of 10+ from Newhaven. Rays and smoothhounds pickin' up on night tides, tope showin' early signs too. Codlin' still about deeper, but it's the pelagics stealin' the show. Best lures? Go Dexter wedges or silver Yo-Zuri minnows for mackerel and pollack—cast 'em on 20lb braid from the piers. For bass, shallow divers like Fox Racer or weedless sandeels in 4-6ft. Live baits? Ragworm or peeler crab on the three-hook rig for rays and bass; mackerel strip for tope. Slow retrieve in the tide, specially now with moon risin' late. Hot spots: Hit the Brighton Marina arm for mackerel frenzy at dusk, or beachcast from Pagham Harbour—rays goin' mad there. Shore boys at Bognor reportin' non-stop action too. Tight lines, stay safe out there. Thanks for tunin' in—subscribe for more! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn