Ella Nore

Ella Nore is a quiet, tide-led shore mark on the West Wittering side of Chichester Harbour, valued more for estuary species and summer bass chances than for long-range beach casting. It is best approached as a mobile, light-tackle venue where finding a bit of moving water, a gutter or the edge of firmer ground matters more than casting extreme distance.

• The ground is generally sheltered compared with the open beaches to the south and east, although the harbour entrance and adjacent channels can still produce strong flow.
• It is principally a spring-to-autumn mark, with school bass, flounder, mullet and occasional other harbour species being the usual targets.
• Expectations should be realistic: this is not a guaranteed high-catch venue, and catches are heavily influenced by tide, water clarity, bait presence and disturbance.
• The area forms part of a sensitive harbour landscape, so discreet, low-impact fishing is particularly important.

Ella Nore is associated with the West Wittering/Chichester Harbour shoreline in West Sussex, rather than the exposed surf beaches of Bracklesham Bay. Access is normally on foot from the public highway, public footpaths or the foreshore where lawful, but the exact practical route can vary with parking controls, tides and any local management measures.

• Do not assume that a lane, track, slipway, gate or shore frontage is public simply because it leads towards the water; much of the surrounding land and waterfront is private.
• Use designated public parking and walk in where possible. Parking restrictions in the Witterings can be actively enforced, especially in fine weather and holiday periods.
• Check the state of the tide before setting out, as sections of foreshore and the easiest walking lines can become cut off, soft or submerged.
• Keep clear of private gardens, moorings, boats, sailing-club operations and working access points.
• A lightweight, compact setup is preferable because the best water may involve a walk and conditions can change quickly.

The mark is most naturally fished for estuary and harbour species, with bass the headline target when baitfish, crabs and warmer water bring fish into the system. Flounder are a useful cooler-water possibility, while mullet can be present in calm, clear conditions.

• Bass: school fish are the most realistic prospect, particularly in warmer months and around the first or last of a useful tide; larger fish are possible but never predictable.
• Flounder: a traditional autumn, winter and early-spring target over softer ground and within quieter harbour channels.
• Thin-lipped and thick-lipped mullet: may show over shallow water in settled conditions; they are best treated as a specialist, stealthy target rather than a cast-and-wait catch.
• Eels, small rays, smooth-hound and other visiting species may occur in the wider harbour system, but should be regarded as occasional rather than dependable Ella Nore targets.
• Small wrasse, gobies and other mini-species can provide sport around firmer margins or any broken ground, depending on the exact spot fished.

A simple, adaptable approach works best: travel light, fish the moving water and be prepared to change position as depth and flow alter. Match tackle and bait size to the relatively sheltered, often shallow nature of the mark rather than automatically using heavy beach gear.

• For bass, fish a running leger, pulley-style presentation where snags demand it, or a light fixed-spool setup with a modest grip lead when the flow allows. Ragworm, lugworm, peeler crab and small fish baits are all sensible options.
• Small soft plastics, weedless lures and shallow-diving hard lures can be effective for bass when there is enough water over the margins; work them slowly and avoid repeatedly casting across navigable channels.
• For flounder, use a light flowing trace or simple two-hook flapper with worm, small crab baits or a worm-and-fish cocktail. Keep baits near the bottom and reposition if the tide carries them into slack, featureless water.
• For mullet, use fine line, small hooks and bread, floating crust or a carefully presented paste bait. Polarised glasses are useful, and excessive groundbaiting can attract birds and create nuisance.
• Carry a landing net, long forceps or disgorger, and a small selection of leads. The bottom can vary between sand, mud, shell and scattered snaggy material, so retrieve steadily rather than dragging rigs hard.

Tide is the key to Ella Nore. The most productive period is usually when enough water is moving to bring food along the margins, channels and any visible changes in colour or depth, rather than at completely dead slack water.

• The latter part of the flood and the first part of the ebb are often worth prioritising, but the exact best stage depends on the particular section of shore and how much water it holds.
• Moderate tides are often easier to fish than very large springs, which can create fast flow, awkward footing and extensive exposed mud or sand at low water.
• A little colour in the water can help bass confidence; calm, clear conditions may favour careful mullet fishing but can make bass more cautious in the shallows.
• Warm-water periods, baitfish activity and a gentle onshore or cross-shore breeze can improve bass prospects. In winter, choose periods with enough depth and movement for flounder rather than expecting a busy summer-style session.
• Watch the water line throughout the session. Do not leave kit below the anticipated flood line or rely on a dry access route remaining dry.

This is an uneven, tidal harbour environment rather than an easy promenade mark. Soft mud, slippery weed, submerged obstacles and fast-moving water are the principal hazards, and a safe retreat route should be identified before fishing.

• Wear boots with good grip; trainers and smooth-soled footwear are a poor choice on wet mud, algae-covered timber, shingle or harbour-edge structures.
• Never attempt to wade across channels, creeks or apparently shallow mudflats. Harbour mud can be deep and channels can fill quickly.
• Avoid casting near boats, moorings, paddleboarders, swimmers, sailing craft and harbour traffic. Keep lines well away from fairways and access channels.
• Fish with a companion where possible, carry a charged phone and a headtorch if staying towards dusk, and check weather and tide information before departure.
• Accessibility is limited: uneven surfaces, soft ground, variable shore access and potentially long walks make it unsuitable for many anglers with reduced mobility.
• Take particular care after dark, when tidal channels and soft ground are much harder to judge.

Facilities immediately at the shore should not be assumed. Most practical supplies, food, toilets and tackle requirements are better sorted before arriving, using the wider Witterings or Chichester area.

• Bring drinking water, bait, a rubbish bag, hand wipes and any essential tackle with you.
• Public toilets and seasonal amenities may be available elsewhere in the Witterings, but opening arrangements can change and should be checked locally.
• There may be no convenient refuge from rain, wind or sun at the fishing area.
• Mobile reception can vary, so download tide information and keep essential details available before walking away from the road.
• Do not obstruct residential access, emergency routes, launch areas or turning spaces when parking.

The best local approach is to arrive early, watch the water before committing to a swim and keep moving if there is no sign of life. Quiet presentation pays dividends in a shallow harbour, especially during bright weather or when targeting mullet.

• Look for a defined edge: the lip of a channel, a crease in the current, a darker patch of water, a shellier strip or a place where small fish are showing.
• Keep casts controlled and accurate. A bait placed along a current seam is generally more useful than a maximum-distance cast into featureless water.
• Travel light enough to move with the tide, but do not sacrifice safety equipment or a landing net.
• Use only the amount of bait needed and take every scrap home, including line, hooks, elastic and bait packaging; the harbour supports wildlife, residents and water users.
• If birds are feeding hard, baitfish are flicking or mullet are rolling, pause and observe before casting. Those signs often reveal the most productive line of water.
• Respect the quiet character of the area: minimise noise, lights and vehicle disturbance, particularly at dawn and dusk.

There is no basis to state that all fishing at Ella Nore is universally prohibited, but access and activity can be constrained by private ownership, harbour operations, conservation designations and temporary local controls. Anglers should treat permission to reach a shoreline as separate from the general right to fish tidal water.

• Check current Chichester Harbour Conservancy information, local authority notices and any signs at the access point before fishing.
• Observe all national sea-angling rules that apply to the species you intend to retain, including current minimum sizes, catch limits, seasonal protections and any local byelaws; these can change, so consult official sources rather than relying on old tackle-shop advice.
• Do not fish from private land, private jetties or restricted harbour infrastructure without the owner or operator's permission.
• Avoid disturbing nesting birds, roosting birds, seals or other wildlife, and comply with any seasonal exclusion, access-management or nature-conservation notices.
• Use sensible catch-and-release practice for undersized, unwanted or vulnerable fish, and retain only fish that are lawful and genuinely wanted for the table.
• If signage, a landowner, harbour officer or authorised ranger indicates that access or fishing is restricted at a specific point, move on and choose another lawful area.