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Per person or whole boat, from £20.
First-timer's guide
Your first boat fishing trip from Brighton Marina
Never been sea fishing from a boat? You do not need any kit or experience. This is what happens, from choosing a trip to carrying your fillets home, so nothing on the day comes as a surprise.
Do you need experience to go boat fishing?
No. Every trip on Kestrel Warrior includes tuition, rods and rigs are on board, and the crew show you how to bait up, drop down, feel a bite and bring a fish in. Families and children are welcome on every trip, as long as children under 16 are with an adult.
What helps most is choosing the right length of trip. A short trip with fast action is a better first day than ten hours waiting for one big fish.
Which trip is best for a first-timer?
Start short. The 90-minute mackerel trip is the classic first boat fishing trip, with strings of fish on feathers when the shoal is under the boat. Our article on mackerel season off Brighton explains when that works best. The 1-hour sightseeing tour is a fishing-free option if some of the group just want to be on the water.
The next steps up are the 3-hour squid and cuttlefish trip and the 4-hour multi-species trip. The 8-hour trips, at anchor or drifting for flatfish, suit people who know they enjoy it, and the 10-hour wreck and shark days are for when you are hooked. Each trip has its own group limit, from 6 to 11 people. Every option, per person or whole boat, is on the full list of trip prices.
How do you book, and what if the weather is bad?
Ring the booking team between 8am and 9pm, seven days a week, or send an enquiry through the booking enquiry form. A non-refundable booking fee secures your place and the balance is paid on the day.
The sea decides the rest. The skipper judges whether the weather is suitable, and if it is unsafe an alternative date is offered. Please ring at 6pm the night before to confirm the trip is going ahead and to check the departure time. The full rules are in our terms and conditions.
What should you wear and bring?
Dress for the sea, not the beach. It is cooler on the water than ashore, even in summer.
- Warm layers and a waterproof jacket and trousers
- Non-slip, closed shoes or boots
- A hat, plus gloves in winter; sunglasses and sun cream in summer
- Food and drink for the trip (alcohol only in moderation)
- Any medication you need, including seasickness tablets
- A cool bag or box for your fillets
Personal GPS units are not allowed on board. Our boat trip packing checklist has the full list.
What happens when you arrive at the marina?
Kestrel Warrior is based at Premier Marina, Western Concourse, Brighton Marina, BN2 5UP. There is a multi-storey car park by the marina entrance, and the number 7 bus runs from Brighton every 15 minutes. Please arrive 20 minutes before departure: the boat cannot wait for late arrivals, because it is not fair on everyone else. Directions by car, train and bus are on our Brighton Marina directions and parking page.
You meet the skipper at the waterfront and walk down the pontoon to board. Before the boat leaves there is a safety brief, and the skipper can ask anyone to wear a life jacket at any time.
How do you avoid seasickness?
Most people are fine, and a little preparation makes a big difference. Sleep well, skip heavy drinking the night before, and eat a light, non-greasy breakfast. Ask a pharmacist about travel sickness tablets and take them in good time. On board, stay in the fresh air towards the middle or back of the deck, look at the horizon rather than your phone, and keep fishing: it keeps your mind busy.
If you know you suffer, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you book. If someone is unwell and asks to go back, returning to port is at the skipper's discretion and no refund is given. Our tips for feeling good at sea go into more detail.
What happens to the fish you catch?
On most trips you keep what you catch, within the legal sizes and limits, and the crew gut and fillet it free of charge. Some fish always go back: every tope is released, and bass have their own rules. Read how a shark day with catch and release works, or how gentle drift fishing for plaice suits a calm spring day.
Fancy a day on the water? See the Prices 2027, or get in touch and we will find the right trip for you.
Fish in this article
= caught off the Sussex coast. More species in our UK sea fish guide.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Do I need my own fishing tackle for a boat trip from Brighton?
No. Rods and rigs are provided on Kestrel Warrior and tuition is included. Rod hire is charged per person (tackle is included on the shark trip), and extra tackle and leads can be bought on board.
How early should I arrive for a fishing trip at Brighton Marina?
20 minutes before departure. Please also ring at 6pm the night before to confirm the trip is going ahead and the departure time.
Can children go on a fishing boat trip?
Yes. Children are welcome on every trip, but all children under 16 must be with an adult. The 90-minute mackerel trip is the usual first choice for families.
What happens if the weather is bad on the day?
The skipper decides whether conditions are safe. If they are not, an alternative date is offered.
Keep reading
Keep reading
When the mackerel shoals arrive off Brighton, how we find them and the size rules.
Read more
Clothes, food and kit for a day at sea.
Read more
Articles on the fish, wrecks and history of the Sussex coast.