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Ballan Wrasse Fishing in East Sussex

East Sussex has 11 shore marks rated for ballan wrasse. They're ranked below by how strongly ballan wrasse show at each spot, with today's live conditions beside every mark — so you can pick a spot that's worth fishing right now, not just on paper.

When to go

In season now
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Best months: Apr–Oct · green months are prime, the outlined box is this month.

Tide Fish the flood

Time of day Daylight sessions fish best

Best ballan wrasse marks in East Sussex

Ranked by how strongly ballan wrasse show at each mark. The chip on the right is today's live fish forecast.

Beachy Head Ledges Hotspot for ballan wrasse
Today 65 Good

Common around the ledges; present crab or hard-back crab tight to cover.
Splash Point Reliable for ballan wrasse
Today 65 Good

Fish short-range with crab, worm or mussel close to kelp-covered rocks; expect snags.
Birling Gap Reliable for ballan wrasse
Today 65 Good

Target rough chalk and kelp-edged patches in warm months with crab, ragworm or small soft-plastic lures.
Holywell Ledges Reliable for ballan wrasse
Today 65 Good

Fish close to the roughest gullies with crab, prawn or worm; expect snags and use a robust short trace.
Hope Gap Reliable for ballan wrasse
Today 65 Good

A rough-ground species; present crab, prawn or worm tight to the chalk and expect snaggy fishing.
Seaford Head Reliable for ballan wrasse
Today 65 Good

Fish close to kelp-covered rocks with crab or ragworm on a light, strong tackle setup.
Telscombe Cliffs Reliable for ballan wrasse
Today 65 Good

Found tight to kelp and broken ground in warmer months; fish crab or worm close in.
Fairlight Cove Reliable for ballan wrasse
Today 65 Good

Lower a crab, mussel or ragworm bait tight to kelp-covered rock; expect tackle losses.
Brighton Marina East Arm Worth a try for ballan wrasse
Today 65 Good

Fish small crab or worm baits close to any rough, weeded arm structure in summer.
Holywell Beach Worth a try for ballan wrasse
Today 65 Good

A possibility close to the rougher ground and groynes; present crab, worm or prawn bait tight in.
Rock-a-Nore Beach Worth a try for ballan wrasse
Today 65 Good

A warm-weather possibility tight to rough ground; use crab or worm baits and expect snaggy fishing.

Planning ahead? The live fish forecast map compares these marks across the week.

Tactics for ballan wrasse

Top baits, best first

  1. Peeler Crab
  2. Hardback Crab
  3. Ragworm
  4. Prawn / Shrimp

Rigs that work, best first

  1. Float (Sliding)
  2. Texas Rig
  3. Running Ledger

Full tactics, seasonal detail and more baits are on the Ballan Wrasse species guide.

Ballan Wrasse fishing elsewhere

Ballan Wrasse in Bridgend Ballan Wrasse in Carmarthenshire Ballan Wrasse in Ceredigion Ballan Wrasse in Conwy Ballan Wrasse in Cornwall Ballan Wrasse in Devon Ballan Wrasse in Dorset Ballan Wrasse in Gwynedd Ballan Wrasse in Isle of Anglesey Ballan Wrasse in Isle of Wight Ballan Wrasse in Kent Ballan Wrasse in Neath Port Talbot Ballan Wrasse in Pembrokeshire Ballan Wrasse in Somerset Ballan Wrasse in Swansea Ballan Wrasse in Vale of Glamorgan