New style of angling contest will lure them to Bognor

This exciting annual hard lure sea bass fishing event is planned to take place over the rugged and scenic Bognor reef system, which can be seen from the Bognor shoreline on a low spring tide.

It’s hoped local boat anglers will turn out in good numbers on Sunday, August 5 for a social and friendly competition.

For the second successive year, organisers have secured sponsorship – this year from local tackle experts Aldwick Angling.

Organiser Mark Gillen said: “Bass’O’Mania has grown in popularity over the years with many anglers from other regions wishing to participate. The competition has attracted a new style and breed of light tackle sport fishing anglers.

“Gone are the days of using heavy lead weights, thick beefy rods and massive reels. Our choice of fishing has been refined and scaled down.

“We tend to use 7ft ultra-light quick-action rods, small lightweight fishing reels being the order of the day, packed with thin braid lines for sensitivity and feeling for those aggressive fish bites instantly.

“At the business end we use a diverse selection of colourful hard-surface and sub-surface lures that can be worked at different depths of water.

“A typical hard lure can only be described as a plastic artificial bait fish resembling a sprat or mackerel – these are designed for tempting a predatory fish like bass.

“With a fish of up to 10lb on the cards, you simply can’t beat this method of fishing for excitement.

Competition organisers the West Kent & Sussex Sea Fishing Club welcome any local small boat anglers from the Littlehampton, Felpham, Bognor, Pagham and Selsey areas who wish to enter.

It’s a 6am start and a 10.30am start - a back-up date of Sunday, August 19, has been pencilled in after the event was lost to the weather last year.

An invite has also gone to kayak anglers, who are welcome to join in.

There are two winning categories and trophies - for the heaviest overall catch of bass and the heaviest single bass caught.

Entry forms and rules are available from Aldwick Angling in Nyewood Lane, Bognor. All entrants must book their place.

It’s £10 per angler and further details are available from the West Kent & Sussex Sea Fishing Club website or from Mark Gillen on 07775 438184 (evenings only).