Fishing from Hastings Pier Update.

My apologies for being a few months late sharing this (though not since this photograph was taken, and many thanks again to Sandra Bryant for sharing this image), but I only realised how big the changes to rules for fishing from the Pier have been since the Administrators took over running Hastings Pier (see below) after speaking to Paul (facebook)... Essentially, on the days when people are more likely to have time off, and children can participate, they are the days fishing has been banned from the Pier, ie at weekends, public holidays, and school holidays! What kind of administrator/manager would create such rules?!?

Helps emphasise just how important it is to ensure Hastings Pier remains in the ownership of the local community, as I've said numerous times, and we've less than 9 days now to help raise necessary funds (see blog), although the Friends of Hastings Pier are trying to raise alternative funds too, not least by inviting the Foreshore Trust to seek ownership of the Pier. If you haven't already, or know someone who is willing to pledge funds towards this project, please go to Crowdfunding, many thanks!

Fishing from Hastings Pier Update.

I saw this dramatic older image of fishing from the pier on The Hastings Pier Appreciation Group's facebook page, posted by Sandra Bryant, many thanks!

As I've said before, details of current fishing hours from Hastings Pier can be found on the Hastings Pier Fishing facebook page, together with further information and photographs of impressive fish caught from the Pier, and are:

8am – 5pm Sunday to Thursday 
8am – 10pm Friday & Saturdays

If you want to fish from the Pier, permits can be purchased from Paul's Tackle, 38 White Rock TN34 1JL (facebook page and tel no: 01424 433404), which is just a couple of minutes walk eastwards from the Pier, and you can also find out up to date information from him (he's a friendly and knowledgeable chap), not to mention fishing tackle and bait can be bought there too, you may not be surprised to see! 

There are discussions going on at the moment about night fishing from the Pier, the main problem I believe, is that there needs to be some security presence whilst people are on the Pier, and this costs money obviously. Also, it has been announced that fishing is allowed now from both the east and west sides of the Pier.

Fishing from Hastings Pier, plus nearby Beach Huts!

Hastings Pier 

This morning I had a few miles wander along the seafront, I saw a Red Admiral... on the 6th of November! Also a few people fishing, walking westwards earlier, I had made a detour to the end of the Pier and chatted to a few lads fishing there, and as I turned up, one of them caught a small Bass, I'd brought them luck, their first fish of the day!

On my way back later I thought I'd see if I could bring them even more luck and, as you can see, the five of them were still there when I returned just before midday. Whilst I'd been gone, they'd caught a couple more bass, couple of plaice, whiting and sole, and another fish that I can't remember what it was (I'd taken no notes). Then, there just for a few minutes chatting, they were very friendly gentlemen, and another bass succumbed to the bait, slightly larger than the earlier one I hadn't taken a photograph of!

Bass, just before being returned to the water

Anyway, details of current fishing hours from the Pier can be found on the Hastings Pier Fishing facebook page, together with other information and photographs of even more impressive fish, and are: 

8am – 5pm Sunday to Thursday 
8am – 10pm Friday & Saturday’s

If you would like to fish from the Pier, permits can be purchased from Paul's Tackle, 38 White Rock TN34 1JL (facebook page and tel no: 01424 433404), just a couple of minutes walk eastwards from the Pier, and you can also find out up to date information from him, not to mention fishing tackle and bait is available there too, you may not be surprised to discover! I had a short chat with Paul earlier too, and he said hours of fishing from the Pier may change soon, so keep a check on the facebook pages.

As you can see from this photograph, twelve new beach huts have arrived on the beach east of the Pier, newly built and newly painted (I saw them being painted there, last week I think). I doubt they'll be used now until next spring/summer, but I wonder if they'll remain in situ over the winter, or will they find a place to hibernate, like the St Leonards/Azur Pavilion beach huts do? 😉

Fishing from Hastings Pier

This morning 08.40, and, OK, it may not be obvious, but there, at the end of the Pier, are people fishing; sessions until the 1st of November 2017 are, Monday to Friday: 

Monday – Wednesday: 8 am-7pm

Thursday - Friday: 8am-10pm 

Rules are: 

Anglers to keep where they are fishing clean and tidy.
Take their rubbish home with them.
Wash down their fishing area with bucket & brush provided when they leave.
Sign in and pay at Paul's Tackle, 38 White Rock, TN34 1JL (tel: 01424 433404).
When entering the Pier before 10 am, entrance is through the West gate. Close the gate behind.
Overhead casting only, no pendulum casts.
When leaving the fishing area to obtain refreshments etc, all tackle must be removed from the water and hooks must be un-baited.
Use toilets provided.
No Radios, or portable stereos.
Alcohol prohibited.
No drugs.
No Smoking.
No unaccompanied under 16 year olds.
Catches to be dispatched in a humane manner.
No fish to be gutted on the pier.
Catches to be retained in bags or buckets, out of public view.
Bait cutting boards to be used at all times.
Anglers must agree to catch bag inspections, refusal will mean a ban.
Please weigh and photograph specimen or large fish, for pier records.
Duty Manager, bailiff or security guards decision is final.
Hastings Pier takes no responsibility, as fishing is carried out at own risk.

I hadn't realised fishing from the Pier had recommenced, there you go!

Fishing from the Pier still, plus video...

I saw this on the Paul's Tackle facebook page, which said that there are "loads of fish coming off the pier this week...every day... the best catch was to Bill and his mate on Tuesday...80 fish and 8 different species, including Flounder, Plaice, Dab, Whiting, Rockling, and Pouting... Only reason they packed up was because they ran out of bait!" 

There is also a video on youtube about fishing from Hastings Pier, well worth watching. 

Remember, details of fishing and permits can be found at Paul's Tackle, enjoy!

November Fishing from the Pier.

Pictured is Peter Cornwell (left) with a 4lb bass, and David Freeman (right) with a 6 ½ lb bass, both caught off Hastings Pier on live whiting. Details for fishing from the Pier is on the Hastings Pier Fishing facebook page, from which this photograph has been copied, many thanks, or ring Paul's Tackle shop on 01424 433404. 

Fishing 7 days a week:
Day fishing £5 x 1 rod, £8 x 2 rods)
Monday-Wednesday: 9am - 4.30pm
Thursday: 9am - 8pm
Friday: 9am - 9pm
Saturday: 8.30am - 9pm
Sunday: 8.30am - 5pm

Limited to 20 anglers at a time.

Bookings and payments taken in advance or on the day on a first come first served basis through Pauls Tackle Hastings:
Tele: 01424 433404

Night Fishing, I do believe, is just Friday and Saturday nights, unless another event is being staged on the Pier, but check with Paul for day and night fishing arrangements.

Fishing from the Pier

I happened to meet Paul (from Paul's Tackle) by chance yesterday, when walking up on the West Hill, who told me that 17 people (I seem to remember, though I didn't actually make a note at the time, but it was either 17 or 18!) fished from the Pier over Saturday night, and had a fair catch, including many mackerel... This didn't surprise me as, on our way back from Bexhill, walking along the seafront on Saturday, we saw 2 young lads pulling in 3-5 mackerel each time, fishing from the beach near St Leonards, I have no idea what they were going to do with so many fish, but they were highly successful!

Also, not long ago, I had seen Paul at his shop and he had described the good catches from another night session, when a group of lads had caught 3 bass between them, each of 7lbs plus! Also caught were a 2.5lbs sole,  3lb rays, whiting, and mackerel. For details of October fishing from the Pier, go to an earlier blog; you'll note that there won't be night fishing this Saturday though (15th October), due to another event...

October fishing from Hastings Pier, and lots of it!

There's plenty of fishing from Hastings Pier during October, for further details, go to Paul's Tackle Shop: also, from his facebook page:  "October fishing 7 days a week: 

Day fishing £5 x 1 rod, £8 x 2 rods)
Monday-Wednesday: 9am - 4.30pm
Thursday: 9am - 8pm
Friday: 9am - 9pm
Saturday: 8.30am - 9pm
Sunday: 8.30am - 5pm
Fishing will not be possible on Monday 10th October, due to an event on the pier.

Night fishing in October on the following days, 5pm – 8am: (£10 for 2 rods)
Sat 1st 
Fri 7th
Sat 8th
Fri 14th
Fri 21st
Sat 22nd
Fri 28th
Night fishing on Sat 15th & Sat 29th won’t be possible due to events on the pier.
Bookings and payments taken in advance or on the day on a first come first served basis through Pauls Tackle Hastings:
Tel: 01424 433404 "

Keep up the good work Paul, cheers!

Music on the Pier and Fishing from the Pier!

There's been quite a lot of music on Hastings Pier recently, and well-supported too, I've borrowed these images from the Pier's facebook page, many thanks!

Happy Mondays

And don't forget, there is fishing from the Pier every weekday this week (26-30 September) 10am to 8pm. From Paul's Tackle facebook page: 

Price per session will be £5 - 1 rod £8 - 2 rods maximum.
Tickets will be issued (from Pauls Tackle) for each session, carried at all times and available for inspection.
Maximum 20 anglers at any one time.
Signs for rules and general info will located around the pier.
Bookings and payments taken in advance or on the day on a first come first served basis through Pauls Tackle Hastings:
Tele: 01424 433404

Fishing from Hastings Pier Latest!

Sorry, but I only just found out, so missed this week! 

"It has been agreed with the pier charity that day fishing be allowed during the day in September on the following dates:

Fishing will be on:

12-14th September (Mon - Wed)

20-23rd September (Tue - Thur)

26-30th September Mon- Fri)

Fishing times each day are 10 am – 8 pm.

Price per session will be £5 - 1 rod £8 - 2 rods maximum.

Tickets will be issued (from Pauls Tackle) for each session, carried at all times and available for inspection.

Maximum 20 anglers at any one time.

Signs for rules and general info will located around the pier.

Bookings and payments taken in advance or on the day on a first come first served basis through Pauls Tackle Hastings:

Tele: 01424 433404

Updates for October, which will be more relaxed will be posted late September." 

I found the above information on his facebook page, cheers Paul!

Fishing from the Pier Update

Earlier today (Sunday) I was having my usual morning wander along the seafront wondering about the Night Time Fishing from the Pier, as I passed Hastings Pier and looked at the nearby display of tides and times. It made me think, I do now and then use the old grey matter, and I realised that the tide must be pretty damn important for fishing from the Pier, as there was hardly any seawater under the Pier at all, at that moment! Luckily, I noticed that Paul's Tackle was opening, so I popped over the road and had a wee chat with Paul, and I came away with a much better understanding of what is happening regarding fishing off the Pier, I think...

Where to start? Well, the post on the Pier's website isn't exactly correct, though it isn't wrong either, it just needs explaining more... First, though, to report that there had been Night-time fishing off the Pier on Friday night, with 15 participants, and with fish caught up to the size of an 8lb Bass, so a pretty successful first night, nice one!

OK, to the arrangements over the coming months, and I believe this is correct, but check with Paul for details of cost, dates and times, and to make bookings, either at his shop, or on 01424 433404. During the school holidays there is Night Fishing by arrangement (such as last Friday night), but from September, there will be daytime fishing Mondays to Fridays, and from October this will be 7 days a week, but subject to other events arranged on the Pier. Night fishing will be at weekends, Friday and Saturday nights, depending on tides.

Now, fishing on the Pier is limited to 20 anglers at a time in a designated area, booking for day and/or night slots are best made in advance with Paul, as, if you turn up on the spur of the moment, it will be on a first come first served basis, so don't be disappointed.

Also, there will be matches arranged during the winter by local sea angling clubs.

With many thanks to Paul's facebook page for the photographs, cheers!

What a Weekend on the Pier!

Well, I had to write about Hastings Pier individually this week, in addition to my usual weekend fun blog (I'll publish that either later today or in the morning), as much to do on and from there, including, from tonight for a week (19th to the 26th of August), the much demanded Night Fishing on Hastings Pier! This will be from 9pm until 8am, and is being organised by Paul's Tackle, from where you can purchase tickets; for more information either visit the website, or call (01424 433404) or visit the shop, Paul's Tackle, on the seafront immediately on the right when coming out of Robertson Street.

OK, and, of course, there is plenty more of the usual to do, including promenading, eating, drinking, shopping, playing on the children's funfair rides etc, researching the history of the Pier, enjoying a Science on Sea Family Workshop with Blast Science on Sunday from 11am, and, oh yes, Zippos Festival Circus is here until the 29th of August!

Let's hope the weather isn't too bad!