Fishing from Eastbourne is some of the most varied in the channel – and since the Government sanctioned the introduction of a Marine Conservation Zone in a 195km² box from Beachy Head to Hastings, skirting round the now decommissioned Sovereign Lighthouse, the variety and numbers of fish do seem to have improved noticeably.
There are hundreds of private recreational angling boats accessing the area and four charter boats operating from Eastbourne Marina. Two of these boats, Deep Blue and Manx Belle, often operate as a team running species hunting competitions throughout the spring and summer. A variety of fishing clubs and groups come to Eastbourne to take part in these events, and I was lucky enough to get out on one of these with the Hampshire Police Angling Club.
The angling over the two days was split into two targets: plaice and species hunting. For once a weather window opened which allowed the boats to go out. The weather has been so poor since the autumn that boats
