Im not sure about the Arun or ouse, but i come from a Small Market town Called Whittlesey just out~side Peterborough, we have the river Nene and its salt water up as far as the locks at the Dog~in~a~doublet, my friend is the lock keeper there, ive just phoned and yes you would need a rod leicense, so possibly you would on the 2 youve mentioned

hope this helps

Tight Lines

Paul

 

As for the Ouse, I've fished for Mullet up where the A27 crosses the river just outside the tunnel. It's tidal well up from there and I think the limit is up near Barcombe. I'm others here will know more.

 

Arun upto Arundel
Adur upto Steyning road Bridge
Ouse upto Lewes Town center
Cuckmere access is more complex and I can't remember the "new" rules

No you don't need a license if targeting sea fish but be aware they are all sea trout rivers which you do need a license for and the further up river you go with flies and small spinners the greater the risk of being accused of deliberately targeting sea trout.

Yes there are Bass in all of them.

Ordnance Survey maps (on multimap) for public access

 

the ouse is tidal to well above hamsey...i know of 3 x5lb plus bass caught from the town centre upwards..
be careful when spinning these rivers as there is a run of sea trout...

 

the ouse is tidal to well above hamsey...i know of 3 x5lb plus bass caught from the town centre upwards..
be careful when spinning these rivers as there is a run of sea trout...

Isn't that Ouse Angling Preservation Societies Water though and you need a freshwater license and club membership even if you want to catch sea fish. I'm a bit unsure where the license boundary is on the Ouse; A27 bridge or the town bridge?? I think the Tesco's stretch might be free to fish but you need a license....Shellys Fishing tackle shop, Lewes, next to the bridge have all the answers as to whats what but A27 bridge to the sea is free fishing.

 

Isn't that Ouse Angling Preservation Societies Water though and you need a freshwater license and club membership even if you want to catch sea fish. I'm a bit unsure where the license boundary is on the Ouse; A27 bridge or the town bridge?? I think the Tesco's stretch might be free to fish but you need a license....Shellys Fishing tackle shop, Lewes, next to the bridge have all the answers as to whats what but A27 bridge to the sea is free fishing.

i thought the tackle shop in lewes was called PERCY'S???

 

i thought the tackle shop in lewes was called PERCY'S???

Oops you're right, a bit of dementia setting in, I'll be calling it Bysshe's when it gets really bad :crazy:

 

Isn't that Ouse Angling Preservation Societies Water though and you need a freshwater license and club membership even if you want to catch sea fish. I'm a bit unsure where the license boundary is on the Ouse; A27 bridge or the town bridge?? I think the Tesco's stretch might be free to fish but you need a license....Shellys Fishing tackle shop, Lewes, next to the bridge have all the answers as to whats what but A27 bridge to the sea is free fishing.

From Tescos in Lewes and upstream is definitely controlled by clubs so you need a permit and a licence. Downstream of the town bridge is free fishing but you need a licence if after freshwater species or sea trout. The free stretch that can be seen from the A27 holds some quality roach and bream as well as bass and mullet at the right time of the year. Float fishing with bread at low water or using a quivertip at highwater will give you the chance of catching all 4 species.

 

i thought the bit running from the town bridge to wilys bridghe is free but needs a freshwater liecence and above wilys bridge is ops water...
but getting a liecence and joining the ops is a bonus as you then can fish for whatever with appropiate licence up in the upper tidal reaches..i have two very experienced carp angling chums who fish the river and see bass often in the town stretch..

 

Thanks for the replies, certainly looks like I will be investigating further.

However, I am a bit confused of the typically British-arsed-up-bureaucracy regarding licences....

For tidal bits of the rivers its free fishing as it's the sea, right, except if your specifically going for sea trout, yes?

For bits of the river that are non-tidal, or past a certain point you need a freshwater rod licence, yes? And if its on certain other bits of river, you may also need another licence from a local club or shop?:headhurt:

Now there seems to be two licences, one reasonably priced and one with sea-trout on it at an exorbitant rate.

So if I was fishing in a tidal bit for bass and accidentally hook a sea trout, and I didn't have any licence or just the plain licence, am I liable to get nicked?

Why or why do they make these things so bloody complex?!:banghead:

I'd like to give them areas a go especially the bit of the Ouse by the A27 and the Cuckmere where it comes inland from Seven Sisters. But I don't want to fall foul of the law either!:busted_co

 

Thanks for the replies, certainly looks like I will be investigating further.

However, I am a bit confused of the typically British-arsed-up-bureaucracy regarding licences....

For tidal bits of the rivers its free fishing as it's the sea, right, except if your specifically going for sea trout, yes?

For bits of the river that are non-tidal, or past a certain point you need a freshwater rod licence, yes? And if its on certain other bits of river, you may also need another licence from a local club or shop?:headhurt:

Now there seems to be two licences, one reasonably priced and one with sea-trout on it at an exorbitant rate.

So if I was fishing in a tidal bit for bass and accidentally hook a sea trout, and I didn't have any licence or just the plain licence, am I liable to get nicked?

Why or why do they make these things so bloody complex?!:banghead:

I'd like to give them areas a go especially the bit of the Ouse by the A27 and the Cuckmere where it comes inland from Seven Sisters. But I don't want to fall foul of the law either!:busted_co

the bit by the A27 is not the best bit to try for tidal bass walk down river about 1/2 mile...

 

So if I was fishing in a tidal bit for bass and accidentally hook a sea trout, and I didn't have any licence or just the plain licence, am I liable to get nicked?

Anyone is allowed to accidentally catch a Sea trout but if you don't hold a license you must return them whether you're fishing the sea, an estuary or are in freshwater. The grey area is if you look like you are intentionally targeting them and haven't got a license, hence the comment about small spinners and flyfishing.

I'd try the Ouse rather than the Cuckmere if its bass you're after but remember all Sussex rivers suffer from clarity problems (coming downstream from the clay basins upstream or dirty seawater going upstream) and are often the colour of a cup of hot chocolate and take a long time to recover their relative clarity.

 

I had a picnic with a fair maiden last year and we walked the Ouse to about 2 miles north of Lewes and saw copius Mullet.

 

Thanks again for your replies. I think when I am down that way again shortly I will try and divert to follow the river a bit and see some of the spots for myself. Interesting point about the colour and one to think about, thanks.

 

I looked into this a couple of year back and got a reply from the Environment Agency and the basic mesage was:-

You must have a license for Coarse or Sea Trout if the methods you are using are liable to catch those fish and this applies up to 6 miles out to sea. That is it.

So theoretcally, even if you are 2 miles out to sea trying to catch Salmon or Sea Trout you need a license.

Practically the location is very important of course because it affects what you are liable to catch. The EA staff who check these tidal rivers know what they are talking about and can recognise anglers fishing for sea trout which is the main thing they are looking out for.

As for coarse fish obviously you need a license to fish a stretch owned by an angling cub. And if you start catching coarse fish then again, move or get a license.

Grey areas could include mullet fishing where coarse tactics are used and lure fishing for bass. If you are honestly targetting these sea fish and not expecting to to catch other as a by catch then you're fine as the EA will recognise this. But, for example, dont fish in Lewes with bread and say that you are targetting mullet because you know full well you'll get coarse fish as well.

So location is important and I'd say you're OK:

Ouse - Anywhere more than 1/2 mile Downstream of Lewes.
Adur - Downstream of Dacre Gardens (1 mile upstream from A27 road bridge)
Cuckmere: This is a special case as the east bank is owned by 7 sister country park (up to a mile north of Exceat Bridge) and no fishing is allowed. West bank south of Exceat brdge by the Golden Galleon pub is OK.

 

Now there seems to be two licences, one reasonably priced and one with sea-trout on it at an exorbitant rate.

So if I was fishing in a tidal bit for bass and accidentally hook a sea trout, and I didn't have any licence or just the plain licence, am I liable to get nicked?

Firsty you almost certainly wouldn't get nicked because the chances of getting caught are about 100-1. But yes, without a lciense it must go back. To be clear, you cannot tartget them without a lciense, even if you intend to return them.

The Sea Trout license is also a salmon fishing license and you'll find that a lot of the laws around fishing are there to protect these stocks. That's partly why the price is quite high, though nothing compared to aday's fishing on a good salmon river. The Sussex rivers hold some of the best runs of Sea Trout in the Uk but they are still realtively few.

The quote from the EA was "if you're fishing a N0. 4 mepps at piddnghoe and wearing waders then you need a Sea Trout license". So best to wear a floaty and use a 'bass bullet' lure.

 

Good advice, thanks again.:victory: