Bass Fishing in East Sussex

East Sussex has 55 shore marks rated for bass. They're ranked below by how strongly bass 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–Nov · green months are prime, the outlined box is this month.

Tide Fish the flood

Time of day Night sessions clearly outfish daylight

Best bass marks in East Sussex

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

Camber Sands Hotspot for bass
Today 52 Fair

Best from spring to autumn, especially on a flooding tide with surf, coloured water and sandeel, crab or worm baits.

Rye Bay Hotspot for bass
Today 52 Fair

Best in summer and autumn, especially at dusk or dawn on a flooding tide; use ragworm, peeler crab or sandeel baits.

Splash Point Hotspot for bass
Today 65 Good

Best around dawn, dusk and a moving tide; use ragworm, sandeel or plugs around the rough edges.

Cliff End Hotspot for bass
Today 65 Good

Best in summer and autumn, particularly around dusk, surf and moving water; fish ragworm, peeler crab or sandeel.

Rye Harbour Arm Hotspot for bass
Today 52 Fair

Best around flood tide, especially with peeler crab, lugworm or a small lure worked near the harbour flow.

Sovereign Harbour Outer Wall Hotspot for bass
Today 65 Good

Most likely around the wall and harbour entrance on a flooding tide; use lures, live sandeel-style baits or crab.

Birling Gap Hotspot for bass
Today 65 Good

Best around dawn, dusk and a flooding tide; use peeler crab, ragworm or small lures around broken ground.

Hope Gap Hotspot for bass
Today 65 Good

Best around dawn, dusk and a pushing tide; work bait or lures along the reef-and-shingle edge.

Pett Level Hotspot for bass
Today 52 Fair

Best from spring to autumn, especially at dusk, dawn and over a moving tide; fish crab, lugworm or sandeel close in.

Winchelsea Beach Hotspot for bass
Today 52 Fair

Best around the flooding tide, especially in coloured water or a moderate surf; use lugworm, ragworm or sandeel baits.

Cuckmere Haven Hotspot for bass
Today 65 Good

Best from late spring to autumn on floodwater or around the mouth; use peeler crab, ragworm or sandeel.

Brighton Beach Reliable for bass
Today 65 Good

Best from spring to autumn, especially around dusk, dawn and coloured water; fish baits or lures along the groyne edges.

Saltdean Beach Reliable for bass
Today 65 Good

Best at dawn, dusk and on a flooding tide; fish ragworm, lugworm or a small lure along the surf line.

Eastbourne Beach Reliable for bass
Today 64 Fair

Best in warmer months or autumn, especially around groynes and coloured water; use peeler crab, lugworm or sandeel.

Rottingdean Beach Reliable for bass
Today 65 Good

Best around the flood and at dusk; fish worm, crab or small lures close to groynes and broken water.

Hastings Beach Reliable for bass
Today 65 Good

Best around the groynes, surf line and coloured water; fish ragworm, lugworm or sandeel at dusk.

Pevensey Bay Reliable for bass
Today 65 Good

Best around dawn, dusk and on a flooding tide; try lugworm, peeler crab or sandeel baits close in.

Banjo Groyne Reliable for bass
Today 65 Good

Best in summer and autumn around high water; try peeler crab, sandeel or a shallow lure close to the groynes.

Bexhill Beach Reliable for bass
Today 65 Good

Best around groynes, surf and coloured water; fish crab, ragworm or sandeel near high water.

Glyne Gap Reliable for bass
Today 65 Good

Most likely in surf or coloured water; fish lugworm, peeler crab or a live sandeel near groynes on the flood.

West Marina Beach Reliable for bass
Today 65 Good

Best around dawn, dusk or coloured water; fish worm, peeler crab or a lure along groyne edges.

Beachy Head Ledges Reliable for bass
Today 65 Good

Best around moving water, dawn or dusk; try lures or peeler crab along gullies.

Bulverhythe Beach Reliable for bass
Today 65 Good

Best around high water, especially at dawn, dusk or in coloured water; use worm, crab or small baitfish baits.

Ovingdean Beach Reliable for bass
Today 65 Good

Best around dawn, dusk and coloured water; fish ragworm, squid or small lures close in.

Cooden Beach Reliable for bass
Today 65 Good

Best in summer and autumn around the flood tide; fish worm, peeler crab or small lures close to groynes and coloured water.

Plus 30 more rated marks — browse every mark in East Sussex.

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

Tactics for bass

Top baits, best first

  1. Soft Plastic (Sandeel)
  2. Peeler Crab
  3. Surface Walker (Spook)
  4. Sandeel

Rigs that work, best first

  1. Flowing Trace
  2. Long & Low
  3. Livebait Float Rig

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

Bass fishing elsewhere