Medmerry Beach

Medmerry Beach is a long, open shingle-and-sand Sussex shoreline west of Selsey, best treated as a mobile, weather-dependent beach mark rather than a fixed “cast-to-the-feature” venue. It can produce worthwhile mixed-bag fishing, particularly when there is coloured water, a bit of sea running and enough depth close in.

• The venue is most commonly fished for bass, rays, smooth-hounds and seasonal flatfish, with smaller species providing sport in calmer conditions.
• It is an exposed stretch: the same wind and tide that can switch fish on can also make presentation difficult or unsafe.
• The beach and adjoining Medmerry managed-realignment reserve are valuable wildlife areas, so anglers should keep to established access routes and fish with a low-impact approach.

Medmerry lies on the coast between the Bracklesham/Earnley side and Selsey, with access generally gained from signed public parking and footpaths serving Medmerry and the coastal path. The fishing is along the open seaward beach, not within the inland lagoon, scrapes or marsh channels of the reserve.

• Use the signed car parks and public footpaths for the part of Medmerry you intend to fish; access arrangements, gates and parking conditions can change.
• Expect a walk over firm tracks, shingle or sand from parking to the sea, sometimes with a climb over the coastal bank.
• Do not drive onto the beach, block field entrances or use unofficial shortcuts across the reserve.
• The shoreline is extensive, so a short reconnaissance at low water is useful for finding firmer ground, gullies, storm-cut channels and areas clear of heavy weed.
• The character of the beach changes after strong easterly or south-westerly weather; a productive gully one month may be filled in on the next visit.

Medmerry is capable of a genuine South Coast mixed bag, although catches depend heavily on water clarity, surf, season and the constantly changing beach profile. Bigger fish are often most realistic after dark, around the first few hours of flood, or when a moderate sea has brought food close in.

• Bass are a principal target, especially in coloured, lively water and around gullies, broken surf and any concentration of baitfish.
• Smooth-hounds can visit in the warmer part of the year, with crab baits usually the first choice when they are present.
• Small-eyed ray, thornback ray and occasional other rays are possible on suitable ground; squid, sandeel, mackerel and fish-strip baits are standard options.
• Dover sole, flounder and other flatfish may show, particularly in calmer spells and on mixed sand-and-shingle patches.
• Pouting, whiting and dogfish can provide evening and winter sport, while silver eels may also turn up after dark.
• In settled warmer conditions, smaller bream, gurnard, mackerel and garfish are possible, though they are not as dependable as the core beach species.
• Mullet may be seen inshore at times, but they are easily disturbed and should be approached with stealth and light tackle where conditions allow.

A conventional beach-casting outfit covers most situations at Medmerry, but it pays to carry both heavier surf gear and a lighter option for calm, clear-water sessions. Distance can matter, yet finding fishable water close to the shingle is often more important than simply casting as far as possible.

• A 12–15 ft beachcaster with a fixed-spool or multiplier reel, loaded with suitably rated main line and a shockleader, is a sensible all-round setup.
• Use a grip lead when the surf or lateral tide is moving tackle; choose only enough weight to hold, as excessive lead can bury a bait in softer sand.
• Pulley rigs or clipped one-hook rigs suit rays, bass and larger fish over mixed beach ground, helping to lift the lead on retrieval.
• Two-hook flapper or loop rigs with smaller hooks can be effective for whiting, pouting, dabs and other smaller species in calmer water.
• Fresh peeler crab, hermit crab and other crab baits are strong smooth-hound and bass options; lugworm, ragworm, squid, mackerel strip, sandeel and bluey all have their place.
• Keep hook patterns and bait size sensible for the target: a modest worm bait may outfish a large fish bait when the beach is full of smaller feeding fish.
• Check every retrieve for snagged weed, damaged bait and chafed line. Weed can accumulate quickly after rough weather and may make a previously clean trace unfishable.

Medmerry usually fishes best when there is enough movement and colour in the water without conditions becoming unmanageable. Many anglers favour the flood tide into high water and the early ebb, but the best window can shift with the beach shape and sea state.

• Fish a few hours either side of high water when possible, especially if the flood brings deeper water close to the shingle.
• A moderate onshore or cross-onshore breeze can create the coloured, broken-water conditions that favour bass and other feeding fish.
• Very clear, flat water can be slower by day; dusk and darkness often improve confidence for bass, rays, sole and whiting.
• Strong easterly weather can make the coast rough and weed-laden, while strong winds of any direction can make casting and holding bottom difficult.
• At low water, look for darker strips, drains and depressions rather than assuming the deepest-looking water is always the best line to cast.
• Tide tables for a nearby standard port are only a guide for this open coast. Check current local predictions, weather, swell and wind direction before travelling.

This is an exposed natural beach rather than a sheltered promenade mark, and conditions can deteriorate quickly. A cautious approach is particularly important at night, in surf or when fishing alone.

• Check the forecast for wind, swell, rain and temperature, and abandon the session if the sea is building beyond your experience or equipment.
• Keep clear of the water’s edge in heavy surf; waves can run much farther up a shingle beach than expected.
• Wear suitable boots with grip, warm waterproof layers and a headtorch for night fishing. Shingle, uneven tracks and coastal-bank paths can be awkward in darkness.
• Avoid standing beneath unstable shingle faces or close to actively eroding sections of beach or bank.
• Tell someone where you are going, keep a charged phone protected from water, and know your exit route before darkness falls.
• Access is unlikely to be ideal for wheelchairs or anglers with limited mobility because of uneven shingle, sand and walking distance from parking; check the reserve’s current access information before making a special trip.
• Take all line, hooks and bait packaging home. Discarded tackle is a serious hazard to birds, dogs and other wildlife.

Facilities are limited compared with a resort beach, so Medmerry rewards self-sufficient anglers. Parking and visitor provision are associated with the reserve and nearby settlements rather than being available directly beside every fishing position.

• Use only designated parking areas and check the displayed terms, opening arrangements and any payment requirements on arrival.
• Do not assume toilets, drinking water, lighting, tackle supplies or food outlets will be available at the beach.
• The nearest wider range of shops, fuel, food and services is generally found in the surrounding villages and Selsey area; obtain bait before heading onto the beach.
• There are no beach-side facilities for disposing of fishing litter, old line or bait waste, so bring a rubbish bag and remove everything.
• Camping, fires, barbecues and overnight vehicle use may be restricted by landowner rules or signage; do not treat the car park as an overnight fishing base without checking.

The most productive approach at Medmerry is to match the session to the sea rather than forcing a target species in unsuitable conditions. Arriving early enough to read the water and move along the beach is often more valuable than committing immediately to the nearest access point.

• Walk the beach at low water if safe to do so, noting gullies and changes in sediment, then revisit those areas as the flood covers them.
• For bass, concentrate casts around surf lines and discoloured channels rather than always casting beyond the breakers.
• For smooth-hounds, fresh crab on a robust single-hook rig is usually preferable to a complicated multi-hook trace.
• Carry spare leads, rigs and a weed-resistant setup after rough weather; conditions can change markedly during one tide.
• Keep tackle compact and leave room around you. The beach is used by walkers, dog owners and wildlife watchers, especially in daylight.
• A quieter evening session away from the busiest access points can be more pleasant, but never sacrifice a safe, known route back to the car for extra space.

There is no clear indication that shore fishing is universally prohibited along Medmerry Beach, but the adjoining Medmerry reserve is a protected and actively managed wildlife landscape. Fish only from lawful public beach areas, obey all current signs and do not assume that access to the beach gives permission to enter lagoons, marshes, banks or closed paths.

• Follow all landowner, reserve-manager and on-site signage, including any temporary seasonal closures, path diversions or wildlife-protection measures.
• Check the current rules issued by the reserve manager and relevant local authority before fishing, particularly if approaching from a reserve car park.
• Anglers in England do not normally need an Environment Agency rod licence for ordinary sea angling, but this does not override local byelaws, access controls or protected-site restrictions.
• National fisheries rules can apply to retained sea fish, including bass, and minimum sizes, catch limits or seasonal restrictions may change. Check the current official guidance before keeping any fish.
• Return undersized, protected or unwanted fish carefully and promptly, and consider releasing breeding-sized fish where practical.
• Do not collect bait, dig for worms, remove shellfish or disturb birds within protected areas unless you have confirmed that it is lawful at that specific location.
• Keep dogs, vehicles, drones, lights and noise under control around wildlife-sensitive areas, and report any uncertainty about permitted fishing areas to the site manager rather than relying on old local information.