Fishing in West Sussex: Where to Fish, Permits and Tips
West Sussex offers fishing across three completely different worlds: a 30-mile coastline of beaches, piers and harbour arms; four rivers (Arun, Adur, Western Rother, Sussex Ouse) that are almost entirely club-controlled; and around fifteen commercial day-ticket stillwater fisheries. Day-ticket prices run from £8 for a junior single rod at Five Oaks to £290 for a Cowdray Estate fly-fishing season membership. The single most useful fact for a new angler is that the rules differ wildly between salt water and fresh water, so this guide starts there.
This is a guide for anyone deciding what to fish for and where, with honest notes on which waters you can actually access, which need a club membership, and which need a phone call before you set out.
Before you go: licences, regulations and the rules nobody tells you
These are the things that catch new anglers out, often expensively. Read this section before you book or buy.
Environment Agency rod licence
You need an Environment Agency rod licence for freshwater fishing only: rivers, lakes, ponds, canals. Sea fishing from a beach, pier, harbour wall or charter boat does not require an EA licence. The single exception is salmon and sea trout in salt water, which still need the migratory licence.
The licence is required for anyone aged 13 or over. Children under 13 do not need one. Juniors aged 13 to 16 still need a junior licence, but it is free, and you must apply.
2026 prices (Trout & Coarse, up to 2 rods):
| Licence | Price |
|---|---|
| 1-day | £7.30 |
| 8-day | £14.70 |
| 12-month | £36.80 |
| 12-month, 3 rods | £55.30 |
| 12-month, age 66+ or disabled (2-rod) | £24.50 |
| 12-month, junior (13–16) | Free |
Salmon & Sea Trout licences are separate: 1-day £13.50, 8-day £30.50, 12-month £93.10.
Where to buy: Online at gov.uk/fishing-licences, or by phone on 0344 800 5386 (Mon–Fri 8am–6pm). Post Offices stopped selling EA rod licences in January 2023, so ignore any older guide that points you there.
Penalty for fishing without: A fine of up to £2,500. Equipment can be seized.
Coarse close season on rivers
Coarse fish and eels cannot be fished on rivers, streams or drains in England between 15 March and 15 June. Most stillwaters and many canals are exempt, which is why commercial day-ticket fisheries stay open year-round.
Trout and salmon close seasons differ:
- Brown and rainbow trout on rivers (Southern area): 1 November to 2 April
- Salmon: 3 October to 16 January
- Migratory (sea) trout: 1 November to 30 April
Bass regulations
Bass are tightly regulated in 2026:
- Minimum size: 42 cm. Anything smaller must be returned.
- Bag limit (open season): 3 fish per angler per day.
- Catch-and-release ONLY in February and March. No bass may be retained.
These apply on shore and from a boat. The rules carry a fine and equipment seizure for breach.
Black sea bream and the Kingmere MCZ
The Kingmere Marine Conservation Zone, off Worthing and Littlehampton, has its own bream rules:
- 4 bream per angler per day (lower than the wider sea bag).
- One section of the MCZ is closed to all recreational angling between 1 April and 30 June. This is to protect spawning fish.
Sussex IFCA enforces. If you are unsure where the closure boundary is, phone Sussex IFCA on 01273 454407 before you launch.
River safety
The Arun is tidal up past Pulborough and runs fast. Worthing & District Piscatorial Society (which holds Arun water) advises that anglers should not fish if the Littlehampton tide is over 6 metres. Banks are slippery and flood-prone. Carry a phone. A buoyancy aid is recommended.
At Selsey Bill, the boulder marks at the Point are physically unsafe to fish at high tide because of channel currents. Fish a couple of hours either side of low tide only.
Sea fishing
You do not need a rod licence to fish from the West Sussex shore or from a charter boat. Three useful divisions: shore marks open to the public, charter boats out of Itchenor, Shoreham and Littlehampton, and a few well-run tackle shops where you can get fresh bait and current advice.
Where to fish from the shore
Worthing Pier
Owned and run by Adur & Worthing Councils. Open 6am to 10pm daily, weather permitting. Free. The pier closes at Force 9.
The fishing zones are colour-marked on the upper deck. Green discs allow fishing all year round. Orange discs allow fishing only between 1 October and 30 April (no summer fishing). Red discs are no-fishing zones. Overhead casting is not permitted on the pier decking, but the landing stage is unrestricted.
Species: In summer, undulate ray, smoothhound, conger to 30 lb, garfish (late March to early May, returning in September), and mackerel. In winter, flounder, whiting, rockling, occasional cod and bass.
Key Information
Top Tip: The closest tackle shop is Prime Angling at 26 Marine Parade, BN11 3PT (50 metres east of the pier). They sell fresh bait and know exactly which zone is fishing on the day.
Bognor Regis Pier
Privately owned by Bognor Pier Leisure Ltd, who allow fishing although the operator's own website does not formally advertise it. Treat access as informal and respect any onsite signage. Open 24 hours. Free. Best window is two hours either side of high tide, with the end of the pier the productive spot.
A drop net is essential, as the drop to the water is significant.
Key Information
Top Tip: The pier operator does not advertise fishing on its own website. If signage on the day says no fishing, it overrides what any directory tells you.
Selsey East Beach, West Beach and Selsey Bill
A free public foreshore with three quite different beach faces. One is usually sheltered, whatever the wind is doing.
East Beach fishes at any tide. Bream from spring; rays and bass year-round; cod, wrasse, conger, flatfish, smoothhound, tope, mullet, mackerel, whiting and dogfish. Casting 40 to 80 yards is the productive zone. Use 6 oz grip leads on bigger spring tides. Watch the swell on big high-tide ranges.
West Beach fishes about three hours either side of high tide. Undulate, spotted and sting rays plus blonde ray, codling, pout, whiting, bass, wrasse, black bream to 4 lb, smoothhound, conger and tope to 50 lb in summer. Avoid the clay mounds in the first bay right of the coastguard tower.
Selsey Bill / The Point is best a couple of hours either side of low tide, when the concrete boulders are exposed. Do not fish at high tide. Channel currents make it physically unsafe.
Key Information
Top Tip: Selsey Angling Club (founded 1948) is active on Facebook. If you want to find out which beach is fishing today, that is the best feed.
Climping Beach (Atherington)
Free public shingle beach at the mouth of the Arun. Influenced by the river: flounder, eel, mullet and bass; whiting and flounder on night tides. The main car park is permanently closed; a small car park sits at the end of Climping Street. No facilities. Café and toilets are shut.
Key Information
Top Tip: A river-mouth beach with no facilities is a bring-everything trip. Pack flask, food, head torch and spare bait.
Shoreham Harbour Arms (East and West Arm)
Shoreham Port permits fishing on both arms 24 hours a day, all tides, for day fishing only. Night fishing (8pm to 8am) between 1 May and 1 Sep is restricted to members of the Shoreham Harbour Arms Community Organisation (SHACO), with strict rules: blue filter lights only (no white), max two rods and six hooks total, shock leader required, no pendulum or power casting, no alcohol or drugs.
SHACO membership: £65 a year, joined via the SHACO Facebook page. There is no listed phone number.
If the arms feel too exposed on the day, Soldiers Point and Kingston Beach are sheltered alternatives within the harbour, both a short walk from car parks.
Species: In summer, garfish, mackerel, mullet, scad, sole at night; bass, plaice, smoothhound, undulate ray, pout, gurnard, flounder and black bream. In winter, flounder in the river.
Key Information
Top Tip: Forthaven car park (pay & display) is roughly 300 yards from the West Arm and is the practical choice. East Arm is a longer walk from seafront pay & display.
Pagham Harbour LNR
Pagham Harbour is an RSPB Local Nature Reserve. The RSPB site is silent on whether sea angling is permitted inside the harbour itself. This guide will not tell you it is allowed when the official source does not. If you want to fish inside the LNR, phone RSPB Pagham Harbour first on 01243 641508 or email pagham.harbour@rspb.org.uk.
The Pagham and Aldwick beaches outside the harbour mouth are unrestricted public foreshore and safe to fish without an RSPB call.
Charter boats
Of the two-dozen charter operators advertised online for West Sussex ports, only a handful have a current first-party booking system and a recent trip log. The four below are the ones we can verify as actively trading in 2026. Several others appear in directories but their websites are stale or non-existent; phone before you book.
Sussex Sea Charters (Itchenor)
Skipper Warren took over Flamer 11 in 2022 and runs inshore trips out of Itchenor Public Jetty in Chichester Harbour. Fishing for black bream, bass, smoothhound, tope and mackerel at marks off Selsey, the Nab Tower and the Isle of Wight. Also family/private and corporate charters.
Prices (effective 1 April 2026): Full day £90 per person inshore (minimum 6 = £540, exclusive £720). Half day £50 per person (minimum 6 = £300, exclusive £400). Summer-only Evening Harbour Tour and Evening Fishing.
Key Information
Top Tip: Warren caps the boat at 8 anglers even though the licence is for 12. Worth knowing if you are choosing between charters on space.
Sussex Offshore Fishing Charters: Lady of the Lake III (Shoreham)
Skipper Jamie Paige runs Lady of the Lake III out of Shoreham Port: a 12.8-metre single-hull sports boat with twin 270 hp engines, licensed for 14 passengers. Wrecking, bass and reef trips, turbot and brill drift fishing. Trips of 4, 6, 7 or 8 hours. Tackle and bait available.
Key Information
Top Tip: This is the longest-range boat on the West Sussex coast (60-mile Code of Practice). If you want to fish wrecks and offshore banks, this is the choice.
Aries 2 Adventures (Itchenor)
Skipper Mike Lelliot runs an 8-metre catamaran for half-day full charters, family fishing packages, beginner trips and educational guided trips, all out of Itchenor Marina. Mike is an England Boat Fishing Squad member with 30+ years of local experience. Also runs harbour fishing, seal watching and sightseeing.
Prices: Half-day full boat £450. Family Fishing Package £180. Beginner Trip £100. Educational Guide £30. This is the most accessible price tier on the West Sussex charter scene.
Key Information
Top Tip: The £100 Beginner Trip and £30 Educational Guide are the strongest first-time and family options on the Sussex charter scene. Worth booking ahead in summer.
Salty Dog Game Fishing (Chichester Harbour)
Paul Haldenwang is an Orvis-endorsed saltwater guide running bass-on-lure-and-fly trips out of Itchenor. Maximum 3 anglers per trip. Single-supplement option for solo bookings.
Key Information
Top Tip: Specialist saltwater fly is rare in Sussex. If you have lure or fly experience and want a guided session for bass on the flats, this is the call.
Tackle shops
The shops most often recommended by local anglers:
- Prime Angling, 26 Marine Parade, Worthing, BN11 3PT. 01903 821594. Sea, lure, carp, coarse. Established 1988. Closest shop to Worthing Pier.
- Tacklebox, 20 Bath Place, Worthing, BN11 3BA. Sea fishing tackle, fresh bait to order.
- Southern Angling Specialists, 2 Stockbridge Place, Stockbridge Rd, Chichester, PO19 8QH. 01243 531669. Coarse, game and sea. Mon–Sat 8am–5pm.
- Aldwick Angling Ltd, 25 Nyewood Lane, Aldwick, Bognor Regis, PO21 2QB. 01243 829054. Coarse, carp and sea. Primary Bognor-area sea shop.
- Littlehampton Angling, 5–6 Pier Rd, Littlehampton, BN17 5BA. 01903 715190. General tackle on the pier road.
Tide times
Most West Sussex shore marks fish best two hours either side of high tide. The free UK Hydrographic Office tide service easytide.admiralty.co.uk lists Selsey Bill, Littlehampton and Shoreham. The service explicitly states it must not be used for navigation.
River fishing
Almost every named river beat in West Sussex is club-controlled. The main rivers are the Arun, Adur, Western Rother and Sussex Ouse. Day-ticket access exists on a few stretches but is the exception, not the rule. A reader expecting to "just turn up" on a West Sussex river will usually be disappointed: this section helps you avoid that.
The Arun
The Arun is the second-fastest river in England and tidal up past Pulborough. Tide reaches Arundel about 1 hour 30 after Littlehampton, Greatham about 3 hours after, Stopham about 4 hours after.
Arundel to Ford railway bridge: possible free public access
A 2½-mile stretch on the right bank from Arundel downstream to Ford Railway Bridge is widely reported by anglers as free to fish, with mullet in season and coarse upstream. Tidal water. An EA rod licence is still required.
This is the only candidate genuinely public stretch on a West Sussex river that surfaced in this research. The catch is that the boundaries are not formally listed by the Environment Agency or any council page that we could find: it sits on multiple secondary sources but not on a primary one. Confirm landowner status locally before fishing, and treat any "no fishing" sign on the bank as decisive.
Pulborough Angling Society (PAS)
Roughly 3 miles of tidal Arun controlled at Greatham Bridge, Parham, Washingham, Stopham and Hardham, plus shared stretches at Pulborough. Roach, dace, chub, mullet, perch, pike, bream, barbel, carp.
2026–27 membership (paper rate; £5 less if bought online): Adult £85, Intermediate (18–21) £65, Junior (13–17) £5, Senior (65+) £55, Disabled £55, Family £95.
Day tickets are guest tickets only. £10, must be requested at least 48 hours in advance, and a full member must accompany the guest at all times. There are no walk-up day tickets on the bank.
Junior policy: Under-13s must be accompanied by an adult member. Juniors 13+ should be accompanied on river waters.
Key Information
Top Tip: £5 a year for a 13-to-17 junior membership is one of the most affordable junior club tickets in southern England. If a teenager is the angler in the family, this is the route in.
Worthing & District Piscatorial Society
Several miles of the Arun north of Arundel. Recent catches include carp, barbel, pike, bream and roach.
Day tickets: £10 from local Arundel tackle shops. Phone-confirm the named tackle shop before relying on this.
Junior rule: No junior member may fish the river Arun unless accompanied by a senior member.
Key Information
Top Tip: This is the best route to the Arun for a casual visiting angler who does not want to join a club. £10 day, no advance booking, plus the safety of a daily catch update from the tackle shop.
Other Arun clubs (members-only or guest-host)
- Hassocks & District AS holds a beat at Stopham. Adult membership £104 joining / £94 renewing. Children under 12 free on a parent's adult membership. No public day tickets; phone 01444 235978.
- Petworth & Bognor Angling Club holds 1.5 km of west bank above Stopham Bridge. Members-only. Adult £118; Junior £25; Family £210; Juvenile under 13 free with adult. Membership reached capacity in September of the last season, so if you want to join, do it early. Email membership@sussexangling.co.uk.
- Rother Angling Club holds about half a mile of natural bank at Greatham Bridge. Membership and day-ticket details are not published; contact via rotherac.co.uk.
The Adur
Tidal from Shoreham past Bramber. Some older directories say there is no day-ticket fishing on the Adur. That is incorrect.
Pulborough AS Adur beats
About 3 miles of tidal Adur from above Stretham Bridge near Small Dole down to Bramber. Bream, skimmers, roach, dace, chub, perch, eels, pike, carp, sea trout and grey mullet.
Day tickets at Beeding News Agency, Bramber Bridge were historically £5 with concessions for juniors, OAPs and disabled anglers. The arrangement should be phone-confirmed before relying on it in 2026. If you cannot confirm, use the PAS guest-ticket scheme above (£10, member-hosted, 48-hour notice).
Top Tip: The Adur runs sea trout and grey mullet on summer tides at the Stretham–Bramber stretch. Worth timing a visit to a flooding tide rather than slack water.
Henfield & District Angling Society
Henfield AS holds many miles of the Adur on both eastern and western arms, plus tributaries (Chess Brook, Honeybridge Stream) and a clutch of stillwaters: St George's Park Lake (Ditchling Common), Forest Farm Lake (Mannings Heath), Oxcopse Farm Lakes (Ashington), Batts Pond (Henfield) and West Town Farm Pond (Hurstpierpoint).
Adur species: Chub (3lb), pike (30lb), carp (25lb), perch (3lb), tench (7lb), bream (7lb).
Membership fees are not published on the public site. Application form via the website, or join in person at local tackle shops.
Junior gold: Batts Pond at Henfield. Children under 12 fish free on the parent's membership. This is the strongest first-cast water in West Sussex. Crucian carp, roach, rudd. Small pond, manageable scale, no current.
Key Information
The Western Rother
The largest tributary of the Arun, flowing from Hampshire through Midhurst, Stedham, Petworth, Fittleworth and joining the Arun near Pulborough. Brown trout (wild plus stocked), grayling, barbel, chub, eels and lampreys.
Cowdray Estate fly fishing on the Rother
About 3 miles of the Rother near Midhurst. Stocking of brown trout plus a healthy wild population. Season 3 April to 30 September (fly only).
Day tickets, evening tickets and season memberships all available; season membership includes an 18-fish allowance and an exclusive ½-mile stretch. Limited and subject to availability.
The Cowdray public page does not list 2026 prices. Phone the estate office on 01730 815714 before you commit.
Key Information
Top Tip: Cowdray is the only public-access fly water on the Western Rother. If you want a wild brown-trout day inside the South Downs, this is it.
Other Rother clubs
- Petworth & Bognor Angling Club holds several Rother fisheries between Petworth and Fittleworth (Coates Castle, Coultershaw, Shopham, Stopham Bridge). Members-only. Barbel, chub, carp, bream, silver fish, grayling.
- Pulborough AS holds 1 mile non-tidal at Hardham, south of Pulborough. Members and guest-ticket only.
- Rother Angling Club holds North Mill in Midhurst plus 1.25 miles upstream from Woolbeding bridge. Plus stillwaters at New Pond Midhurst, Cooks Pond Milland, Rotherfield Pond and North Mill Pool. Membership fees not published.
Leconfield Estate (private, do not approach as casual angling)
The Leconfield Estate near Petworth has 3 miles of exclusive Rother access plus seven still-water lakes. The club's own page is explicit: "the lakes and river are within parts of the Leconfield Estate to which the public has no access." Do not turn up. Mention here only because it surfaces in directory listings.
The Sussex Ouse (West Sussex section)
The Sussex Ouse rises in West Sussex near Slaugham and flows east through Lindfield. Most organised river fishing on the Ouse is in East Sussex, but the Mid Sussex Angling stretches at Lindfield are West Sussex.
Mid Sussex Angling
Formed by the merger of Haywards Heath & District AS and Copthorne & District AS. Roughly nine miles of Sussex Ouse fishing in total, including East Mascalls, Sloop (Lindfield), Sheffield Park, Fletching and Goldbridge. Plus stillwaters: Ardingly Reservoir (separately bookable), Balcombe Lake (10 acres, north of Ardingly), Deaks Lane, the Little Rowfant complex (4 lakes), Piltdown Pond.
Species: Barbel to 16lb (average 6 to 8lb), chub to 6lb, trout, sea trout, grayling, roach, dace, bream, occasional carp 20lb+, pike to 26lb.
2026 membership: Adult £115, Senior (65+) £75, Disabled £52 (proof required), Teen (13–17) £35, Child (under 13) free, Trout-only £35, Non-fishing £15, Ardingly Night Premium £250.
Guest tickets: £10 adult, £5 under-18.
Key Information
Top Tip: The Sloop stretch at Lindfield is the most accessible Sussex Ouse water for a West Sussex reader. £10 guest ticket is the way in.
Stillwater fishing
Stillwaters are the easiest entry point for a new angler. No close season on most of them, day-ticket access usually walk-up or phone-ahead, and a wider beginner welcome than the river clubs. You still need an EA rod licence on every stillwater listed below, for anyone aged 13 or over.
Mixed and coarse day-ticket fisheries
Sumners Ponds Fishery & Campsite, Barns Green
Multi-lake site near Horsham with a campsite on the same plot. Open 7am to 9pm or dusk.
Day tickets (2025/26): Adult £12 (1 rod) / £14 (2 rods); Junior up to 15 £8/£11; Senior 60+ £8/£11.
Betty's Lake (specimen): Flat £18 for all anglers. Carp to 45lb plus pike to 22lb.
Booking: Bankside, card payments only, from bailiffs or reception.
Species: Mixed coarse across Farm, Match, Ribbon and Sumners Lakes. Carp to 16lb, tench, perch, barbel, chub, bream.
Rules: EA rod licence mandatory. Carp cradles required on Sumners, Match and Betty's.
Key Information
Top Tip: The campsite makes this the most workable weekend-fishing destination for a family in West Sussex. Book a pitch and a junior day ticket together.
Tilgate Park Fisheries, Crawley
Public-park setting, best first-time family fishing day out in the county. Fishing lessons with a coach available. Toilets, parking, accessible.
Day tickets: Adult £15. Junior pricing separate; check the booking site.
Species: Carp, pike to 30lb+, tench and bronze bream to 7lb, perch, crucian, roach, rudd.
Booking: Online via tilgateparkfisheries.com.
Key Information
Top Tip: Both lakes typically close for Race for Life in mid-July and Dragon Boat Racing in early September each year. Check the booking site if planning a summer visit.
Five Oaks Fishery, Slinfold
Open 24/7 year-round. Strong family pricing.
Day tickets: Adult £8 (1 rod) / £10 (2 rods); Junior 1 rod £5; 24hr £20.
Booking: Online via website or bankside on the day.
Species: Carp to 25lb, ghosties and mirrors to 14lb, tench to 7lb, perch to 5lb, bream, chub, crucians, roach, F1s.
Key Information
Top Tip: £5 for a junior single rod is the cheapest junior coarse ticket in the county. Pair it with the parent on 2 rods for £15 total for a half-day.
Hunters Lodge Fishery, Copthorne
Tucked between Crawley and East Grinstead. Phone Paul first (07812 073435); gates locked, no walk-up.
Day tickets: Jack's Lake 12hr day £10, 12hr night £15, 24hr £25. Eden's Lake (members only, £60/yr) day £15 / 24hr £30. Specimen carp to 40lb+, catfish to 55lb+.
Rules: Jack's barbless only (size 6 max). Eden's micro-barbed or barbed permitted.
Junior policy: Under-16s must be accompanied. Eden's Lake excludes under-16s entirely.
Key Information
Top Tip: Jack's Lake at £10 for 12 hours including night fishing is one of the better-value day-ticket options in the area. Bring lights and a flask.
Alderwood Ponds, Steyning
Wed–Sun walk-up, cash only. Dave's Pond is purpose-built for disabled anglers with hard-stand parking; one of very few accessible-by-design fisheries in Sussex.
Day tickets: Adult £10 (1 rod) / £15 (2 rods); Disabled, OAP and Junior £8/£9.
Species: Carp to 38lb 8oz (Island Pond), tench to 10lb, perch 5lb 10oz, roach, rudd, orfe.
Key Information
Top Tip: Dave's Pond is the only fishery in West Sussex that is genuinely set up for wheelchair-using anglers. Worth knowing if accessibility matters.
Passies Pond, Lancing
On-site tackle shop, café, snack bar and toilets. Multi-generational venue.
Day tickets: Adult £12 (7am to dusk); OAP/junior £7; 24hr £24; night (4pm to 7am) £15.
Species: Tench, roach, perch, carp to 35lb across 3 lakes.
Key Information
Top Tip: The on-site café and tackle shop make this a workable trip if you forget bait or want to extend by an hour. Few WSW fisheries offer that.
Other verified day-ticket fisheries
- Mill Farm Fishery, ~3 miles south of Pulborough (RH20). Cash only bankside. Two different prices in circulation (£7.50–£12.50 older split; £10/£16 newer). Phone-confirm before you go.
- Menards Carp Fishery, West Grinstead (RH13 6PG). 6-acre specimen carp lake. Day £25, 24hr £35, longer sessions to 72hr £90. Phone Paul on 01403 243213 to reserve a swim.
- Whitevane Carp Fishery, Forest Grange, Horsham (RH13 6HX). 200-year-old 10-acre lake. £25 daytime. Specimen carp to 40lb+. Juniors must be accompanied.
- Wintons Fishery, Burgess Hill (RH15 0DR). Annual £60 membership required before any day ticket. Carp to 50lb+, catfish to 100lb. Specimen-focused.
- Chichester Lakeside Fishery, Chichester Lakeside Holiday Park. 7 day-ticket lakes. Booking primarily via the Go Catch app. Barbed/micro-barbed only, no fixed/bolt rigs, unhooking mat and carp care kit required.
- Ardingly Reservoir, College Road, Ardingly (RH17 6SQ). The largest accessible water in West Sussex (198 acres.) Day tickets £15 coarse / £15 pike via SwimBooker or Mid Sussex Angling Clubmate. Coarse 1 Jun to 31 May, 7am to 7pm. Pike Oct to Apr. Carp to 36lb+, pike to 28lb+.
- Woodpeckers Coarse Fishery, Old Hollow, Worth, Crawley (RH10 4TA). Cash only. Phone-confirm 2026 prices on 01293 886598 before travelling; published rates are stale.
Trout fisheries
Chalk Springs Trout Fishery, Amberley
Edge of Arundel inside the South Downs National Park. Four spring-fed lakes, founded 1984 on old watercress beds. Open 8am to 6pm.
Beginner gold: Equipment hire and Level 2 Coach tuition available. The best beginner trout entry point in West Sussex.
Phone-confirm 2026 prices before booking; the current page does not list a tariff.
Key Information
Top Tip: If you have never picked up a fly rod, this is where to start. Book a coaching slot rather than a standalone ticket the first time.
Duncton Mill Fishery, near Petworth
Quota-ticket model, not single-day. Non-member quota from £55 at Birch Lake, valid 6 months across multiple visits, can bring 1 guest. Annual membership from £290 (all 4 lakes, 5 fish included). Open 8am to 6pm.
Species: Rainbow trout, brown trout, tiger trout. Fish at 2lb+ from the on-site farm.
Tackle shop on site. Tuition available.
Key Information
Top Tip: The quota model rewards repeat visits. If you intend to fly-fish more than twice in 6 months, the £55 quota beats a series of day tickets.
Blackwool Farm, Kirdford
Two lakes, weekly stocking with rainbows and browns. Open 8:30am to dusk year-round. Rainbow record: 24lb 9oz. Phone-confirm 2026 day rates before you go.
Key Information
Quick comparison
| Venue | Type | Access | Price | Beginner-friendly? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worthing Pier | Sea (pier) | Free, public, zoned | Free | Yes |
| Bognor Regis Pier | Sea (pier) | Free, owner-permitted | Free | Yes |
| Selsey East/West Beach | Sea (shore) | Free public foreshore | Free | Yes (East Beach gentlest) |
| Climping Beach | Sea (shore) | Free, no facilities | Free | OK; no facilities |
| Shoreham Harbour Arms | Sea (harbour) | Free day; SHACO £65/yr night | Free / £65 | Yes (day) |
| Sussex Sea Charters (Itchenor) | Sea (charter) | Online/phone | £50–£90 pp | Yes |
| Lady of the Lake III (Shoreham) | Sea (charter) | Phone | Varies (offshore wreck) | No (longer trips) |
| Aries 2 Adventures (Itchenor) | Sea (charter) | Phone/web | £30 educational; £100 beginner | Yes (strongest charter for first-timers) |
| Salty Dog Game Fishing | Sea (guided lure/fly) | Phone | Phone for rates | No (lure/fly experience needed) |
| Arundel→Ford right bank | River (Arun) | Possibly free; T2 only | Free + EA licence | Yes (with caveat) |
| Pulborough AS (Arun beats) | River (Arun) | Members + £10 guest ticket (48h) | £85 adult, £5 junior | Junior £5 is excellent |
| Worthing & District (Arun) | River (Arun) | £10 day ticket from Arundel tackle shop | £10 + EA licence | Yes |
| Henfield AS (Batts Pond) | River-club lake | Members; under-12 free | Members only | Yes (first-cast water for under-12s) |
| Cowdray Estate (Rother) | River (fly) | Day tickets / season membership | Phone for 2026 prices | Yes (with tuition) |
| Mid Sussex Angling (Sloop) | River (Ouse, Lindfield) | Members + £10 guest ticket | £115 adult; under-13 free | Yes |
| Sumners Ponds | Stillwater coarse | Bankside, card | £12 adult / £8 junior | Yes |
| Tilgate Park Fisheries | Stillwater (park) | Online | £15 adult | Yes (best family day out) |
| Five Oaks Fishery | Stillwater coarse | Online or bankside | £8 adult / £5 junior | Yes (cheapest junior) |
| Hunters Lodge | Stillwater coarse + carp | Phone first | £10 (12hr) | Jack's only; Eden's 16+ |
| Alderwood Ponds | Stillwater coarse | Walk-up Wed–Sun, cash | £10 adult / £8 junior | Yes; Dave's Pond accessible |
| Passies Pond | Stillwater coarse | Bankside | £12 adult / £7 junior | Yes (café on site) |
| Menards Carp | Stillwater specimen | Phone | £25 day, card up-front | No (specimen) |
| Whitevane | Stillwater specimen | Direct | £25 day | No (specimen) |
| Wintons | Stillwater specimen | Member £60/yr first | £60 + day | No (specimen) |
| Chichester Lakeside | Stillwater coarse | Go Catch app | App-based | Yes |
| Ardingly Reservoir | Stillwater (reservoir) | SwimBooker / MSA Clubmate | £15 day | Yes (open water) |
| Chalk Springs (Amberley) | Trout (fly) | Phone for 2026 prices | Phone | Yes (best fly-fishing intro) |
| Duncton Mill | Trout (fly) | Online; quota model | £55 quota / £290 annual | Yes (tuition) |
Choosing where to fish this week
If you have never fished before: Take a child or a partner to Batts Pond at Henfield (first you join Henfield AS as an adult; under-12s then fish free), Tilgate Park (book a coaching slot), or Five Oaks (£5 junior, walk-up). All three are warm-water coarse, no current, manageable scale.
If you want a sea fishing day from a train: Worthing Pier (10 min from Worthing station, fresh bait at Prime Angling 50 m away) or Shoreham Harbour Arms (15 min from Shoreham-by-Sea station, sheltered if the wind is up).
If you want to try fly-fishing for trout: Chalk Springs at Amberley with Level 2 Coach tuition is the entry point. Duncton Mill if you want to commit to a quota and come back several times.
If you want a charter day for a group: Sussex Sea Charters or Aries 2 Adventures, both Itchenor. Aries 2 has the best beginner pricing (£100 for a beginner trip; £30 educational guide).
If you want a specimen carp session: Whitevane (Horsham) or Menards (West Grinstead). Both £25 day, both phone-first, both target 40lb+ fish.
If you want a free river day with the lowest setup cost: The Arundel-to-Ford right bank if you accept it as not-formally-open (mullet in season), or join Pulborough AS for the year (£85 adult, £5 junior 13–17, includes Arun, Adur, Rother and Ouse access via the membership).
Practical information
Booking platforms vary: SwimBooker, Clubmate (used by Mid Sussex Angling, OAPS), Go Catch (Chichester Lakeside), individual fishery websites. Most clubs and fisheries also accept phone bookings.
Tackle shops are listed by area in the Sea fishing section above. The two with the strongest local-knowledge reputation are Prime Angling (Worthing) and Southern Angling Specialists (Chichester).
Junior welcome is strongest at: Batts Pond (Henfield AS, under-12 free with adult), Mid Sussex Angling (under-13 free), Pulborough AS (Junior 13–17 £5/yr), Five Oaks (£5 junior single rod), Tilgate Park Fisheries (lessons with a coach).
Disabled access: Dave's Pond at Alderwood is the only stillwater in West Sussex specifically built for wheelchair-using anglers. Worthing Pier is step-free. Sussex IFCA can advise on disabled licence eligibility (Blue Badge, PIP, DLA).
Sussex IFCA is the local sea-fishing regulator out to 6 nautical miles. 12A Riverside Business Centre, Brighton Rd, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 6RE. Phone 01273 454407 if you have a question about closures, byelaws or the Kingmere MCZ.
For more days out across the county, see our golf courses guide, our castles and historic days out guide, our best beaches guide, or what's on in Chichester, Worthing, Bognor Regis and Horsham.
Licence rules, regulations and per-venue facts were verified against gov.uk and each operator's own website between 24 and 28 April 2026. Where a club page was unreachable or did not list current prices, the body text says so explicitly and recommends a phone confirmation. Fees, access policies and operating status change regularly: always check the venue's own site or phone before travelling.