These two harbours form a unique environment for all forms of wildlife. They are particularly important to migratory and resident bird life, which includes the little tern nesting area, hundreds of common white egrets and herons.
Parts of the harbours are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest and it’s important for anglers to respect this and to keep to codes of practice with respect to bait digging and crab collecting.
Both harbours are very tidal with up to a 5m low to high water. Most of the marks described can be fished two hours either side of high water, although the harbour mouths can be fished from low water up.

1 Northney MarinaThis is found by turning left after Langstone Bridge on the A3023 to Hayling Island. There is free parking alongside the public slipway. This is a limited mark in so much as angling is not allowed in among the boat berths. The large, green dome at the entrance to the marina is fishable and is an excellent mark for thick-lipped mullet from June to September. Mashed bread is essential to get the mullet to feed. Bread flake on a size 8 hook presented near the bottom should score. Take a landing net with you as the banks are steep. Using maddies or small king ragworm should bring mixed bags of eel, bass and flounder.

2 The Confluence
Drive into Northney Marina and park to the far left. Walk down to the open channels and you will see where three or four channels meet together. This is a mark for three hours up to high water and down the ebb. This can produce large bags of flounder by using a two or three-hook flapper baited with small ragworm. A long cast is unnecessary as the ragworm beds are only 30 metres out from the shore. A 4oz grip or plain lead should hold bottom and best sport is had using a light ‘flattie’ or bass rod. Bass up to 5lb and the occasional mullet or eel make up bags here. The best time for the flounder is November until February.

3 Langstone Bridge
This is the bridge, which joins Hayling Island to the mainland near Havant. It has recently been refurbished with four angling ‘bays’ along its length. There is ample parking at either end of the bridge. Traffic is very busy here and youngsters in particular need to be aware. The mark is best known for its summer, after-dark fishing over high water. Whitebait are attracted by the street lights, and bass, mackerel and scad accumulate here. Shrimp-like lures work well under the lights, as does ragworm fished on a paternoster kept on the move. Float fishing is a good bet during the day. In winter, try a float-fished spoon close to the bottom for some excellent flounder.

4 Broadmarsh to Budd’s Farm
This stretch of shallow beach is found by exiting the A3M at the Havant turn-off. Go straight over the two roundabouts and follow the signs to Havant Industrial and Innovation Park. Take the first right, labelled Broadmarsh. There is plenty of room for parking. This a two hours either side of high water mark and it fishes well through the winter for flounder. In summer it’s mainly school bass and eel. Ragworm is the main bait. A stiff southwesterly would be uncomfortable on this south-facing beach.

5 Eastern Road Jetty
Here is a comfortable place to fish and it is found by following the Eastern Road signposted to Southsea (A2030). There is a turning to the left into the car park just after the Harvester restaurant and opposite the golf course. This again is a summer venue for school bass and eel and is very popular in winter for flounder. It is one of a few marks in the area, which offers some shelter from westerly gales.
Ragworm is again the main bait. There is a gravel-ship channel far out from the end of the jetty and this is the first area to hold flounder on the flood tide.

6 Southsea Marina
Follow the Southsea Eastern Road to Fratton Park football ground and turn left at the roundabout. Follow the signs to Southsea Marina. Turn into the narrow marina road and use the free car park on the right after the marina entrance. The West Winner bank is located after a short walk past the old sewer pipe. There is excellent bass fishing here, especially after a storm and using slipper limpet bait. There is access to the old sewer pipe platform, from which it is possible to catch black bream, scad, pollack, bass, mackerel and garfish. It gets very busy here in the summer with jet-bikers and boats. It is best fished early or late.

Tackle shops:
Paige’s Tackle, 36 Station Road, Hayling Island. Tel: 02392 463500.
Rods and Reels, 418 Havant Road, Farlington. Tel: 02392 789090.
Bennetts of Havant, 10 Park Road, South Havant. Tel: 02392 450700.

 Total Sea Fishing