Last Updated: 15/01/26
Swanborough Lakes
Swanborough Fishery is made up of three fishing lakes set amongst the scenic South Downs not far from
the county town of Lewes in East Sussex. The 3 coarse fishing lakes that make up the fishery are Tench Lake, Decoy Lake
and Specimen Lake where Carp have been weighed in up to 37lb+. These waters are set on flat open fields
with each lake surrounded by large clumps of reeds.
Swanborough Lakes are a big Carp day-ticket venue and big Pike day-ticket venue with a number of 20lb and 30lb+ fish
with the largest getting close to 40lb. The fishery also offers anglers night fishing for single nights or multiple
nights.
Swanborough Lakes are set next to Swanborough Lakes Luxury Holiday Lodges.
Fish
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| Mirror Carp: 37lb+ | Common Carp: 37lb+ | Ghost Carp: 10lb+ | Grass Carp: 37lb+ | |
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| Pike: 30lb+ | Crucian Carp: 3lb | Tench: 6lb | Chub: 6lb | |
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| Bream: 10lb | Rudd: 2lb+ | Roach: 2lb+ | Perch: 4lb | |
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| Eel: 1lb+ | ||||
Prices
| Specimen Lake Prices | |||
| Adults | OAP (65+) | Children (under 16) | |
| 2 Rods (Day): | £15 | £15 | £15 |
| 3 Rods (Day): | £20 | £20 | £20 |
| 2 Rods (23Hr): | £25 | £25 | £25 |
| 3 Rods (23Hr): | £30 | £30 | £30 |
| 2 Rods (34Hr): | £40 | £40 | £40 |
| 3 Rods (34Hr): | £50 | £50 | £50 |
| 2 Rods (58Hr): | £65 | £65 | £65 |
| 3 Rods (58Hr): | £80 | £80 | £80 |
| + Guest: | £10 | £10 | £10 |
| Tench Lake and Decoy Lake Prices | |||
| Adults | OAP (65+) | Children (under 16) | |
| 2 Rods (Half Day): | £10 | £10 | £5 |
| 3 Rods (Half Day): | £10 | £10 | £10 |
| 2 Rods (Day): | £15 | £15 | £5 |
| 3 Rods (Day): | £20 | £20 | £10 |
| 2 Rods (23Hr): | £25 | £25 | £25 |
| 3 Rods (23Hr): | £30 | £30 | £30 |
| 2 Rods (34Hr): | £40 | £40 | £40 |
| 3 Rods (34Hr): | £50 | £50 | £50 |
| 2 Rods (58Hr): | £65 | £65 | £65 |
| + Guest: | £5 | £5 | £5 |
*Gates open 7am - 7pm.
*Specimen Lake can be pre-booked through Swanborough website (see contact details below).
*Specimen Lake pre-bookings take priority over walk-ins - if you haven't pre-booked speak to the bailiff before fishing.
*Pay on Tench Lake and Decoy Lake bank to bailiff.
*Tench Lake only open Mon - Wed (Tench Lake is closed Thu - Sun).
*Children must be accompanied with a responsible adult when night fishing.
*Fishing available all year round.
*The prices / info shown here may be incorrect / out of date, the fishery owner overrules this info
Facilities
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Disabled Fishing |
Parking |
Night Fishing |
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Showers |
Toilets |
Shop |
Disabled Fishing - you can park by some of the swims, there are flat swims, some swims have bark chip.
Night Fishing - There is night fishing available on all lakes.
Parking - There is parking and on the Specimen Lake parking is available next to the swim.
Showers - There is a shower and water tap in the toilet block.
Toilets - There is a toilet block.
Shop - Swanborough Lodges has a shop which sells drinks, snacks and ice cream. The shop opening hours are 10am-6pm.
The shop doesn't sell tackle.
Specimen Lake
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| Mirror Carp: 37lb+ | Common Carp: 37lb+ | Ghost Carp: 10lb+ | Grass Carp: 37lb+ | Pike: 30lb+ |
Features: Reeds, Lily Pads
Lake Size: 3 1/2 acres
Lake Depth: 8ft
Swims: 14
The Specimen Lake is a large oval shaped 3 1/2 acre water surrounded by large clumps of reeds in the margins and the odd patch of lily pads. This water holds a number of 30lb+ carp with the largest weighing 37lb+. There are 14 purpose built swims on the Specimen Fishing Lake, some of which are double swims. There is parking available next to each swim.
Tench Lake (only open Mon - Wed)
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| Common Carp: 30lb | Tench: 6lb | Bream: 6lb+ | Roach 2lb | Rudd: 2lb |
Features: Lilly Pads, Reeds
Lake Size: 2 1/2 acre
Lake Depth: 6ft
Swims: 18
Tench Fishing Lake is a long 2 1/2 acre water surrounded by many reeds. There are approxiamtely 18 swims. The swims on Tench lake are grassy banked raised quite high from the waters edge.
Decoy Lake
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| Common Carp: 27lb | Chub: 6lb | Perch: 4lb | Roach 1lb+ | Rudd: 1lb+ |
Features: Lilly Pads, Reeds
Lake Size: 1 1/2 acre
Lake Depth: 6ft
Swims: 12
Decoy Lake is the furthest lake from the car park and the smallest of the 3 lakes at 1.5 acres
though has been stocked fairly recently with a stock of Common Carp, the biggest sized Carp
for Decoy now stands at 27lb with an average size of 20lb. The fish are in a pristine condition.
The lake has an oval shape and is surrounded by many large clumps of reeds and the odd patch
of lilly pads.
The lake saw a full refurbishment in 2025.
Contact Details
Telephone: 07495 677201 (Geoff)
Email: ben@swanboroughfishinglakes.com
Website: www.swanboroughfishinglakes.com
Directions
Address: Swanborough Fishing Lakes, Swanborough (near Lewes), East Sussex, BN7 3SL
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Please Note:
The details on this website are given in good faith, the information shouldn't be fully relied upon as it is constantly evolving, there is scope for error and information can become out-of-date, please confirm any details with the fishery or club.