Sea Angling News April 2016

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Sea Angling News

ISSUE 248 APRIL 2016

NEWS - BOAT & SHORE CATCH REPORTS - TACKLE REVIEWS - ANGLER FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION - COMPETITIONS - FEATURES

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Prestige sea fishing tackle

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SPURDOG RECORD SMASHED FOR THE THIRD MONTH RUNNING...

WINNER

Dan Wells from Hythe with 26lb 5oz Spur Dog (weighed on boat) our biggest ever. This superb fish was caught & released aboard Private Venture skippered by Arthur Savage.

TARPON-TARPON-TARPON As reported last month just as we went to print the SAN team were returning from a fishing expedition in Guinea Bissau. The team had hinted that James Wigglesworth had caught a very special fish and what a fish it turned out to be, a colossal 264lb Tarpon just 22lb shy of the world record. The magnificent fish was taken on a ledgered dead bait and had James sweating for over 2 hours before being landed.... Full report on page 24.

SEA ANGLING NEWS www.seaanglingnews.com HEAD OFFICE PROPRIETORS Keith & James Wigglesworth Sea Angling News Ltd, 9 Hayfield Close Minehead, Somerset TA24 6DE

EDITOR / DESIGN & PRODUCTION Adam James Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com Tel. 07581 384411

ADVERTISING James Wigglesworth

07825 181694 Printed by NEWBURY WEEKLY NEWS Newspaper House, Faraday road Newbury RG14 2DW SAN WRITERS Aurthur Savage, Dave Roberts, Rob Miller, Lee Bolingbroke, Kevin Morgan, Paul Whittall, Adam James, Andy & Sam Cumming, James Wigglesworth Craig Butler.

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The views expressed by contributors to the Sea Angling News are not necessarily the views of the editor but we do try to allow free speech.

Rules for all Sea Angling News competitions All entries must be accompanied by a clear photograph. All entries must be weighed on accurate scales and witnessed. All entries will be judged on the size of the fish, tackle used and the quality of the photograph. Weights must be submitted in pounds and ounces, metric weights may be submitted in addition to imperial weights. The Editors decision will be final in all cases.

Sea Angling News, April 2016

NEWS / RESULTS

2 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com NWASAC

Match Report: 2nd round of NWASAC Personal Members Championship 2016, Sun March 13th, Kinglake Promenade, Wallasey (33 rods).

Like the first match in this series, the Mersey Estuary was mirror-calm with an almost complete absence of wind. Fish, mainly small codling, were caught throughout the match although sport tailed off over high water.

A last minute decision to fish prompted a raid of his freezer’s frozen crab stocks for Ian Griffiths; this proved a good decision as this was the winning bait, outfishing fresh crabs used by anglers on other pegs.

Steve Bonner won Zone A for runner-up place, putting him in command of the championship to consolidate his first round win.

While no big fish were caught, there were enough of them to make an interesting contest; Bill Lindfield’s 370 gms codling, again to frozen crab, was the best on the day.

COMPETITION MINEHEAD HARBOUR Sat 2nd and Sun 3rd July 2016

Results (scored in continental style from 2 zones): 1. Ian Griffiths (Eastham) , 18 codling, 218 pts. (Zone B).

2. Steve Bonner (Wallasey), 10 codling, 175 (Zone A).

3. Joe Perry (Litherland), 16 codling, 190.

4. Heather Lindfield (Greasby), 10 codling, 148.

5. Paul Mann (Kirkby), 10 codling,130.

6. Bill Lindfield (Greasby), 9 codling, 1 whiting, 132.

Cost £150 per angler including boat fees, entry fees and presentation meal/buffet.

2 hook match, permitted baits mackerel, squid and ragworm (not maddies or whites) Good rate accommodation at The Old Ship Aground (please book direct 01643 703516)

Roundfish Pool: B. Lindfield, codling, 37 pts.

Flatfish Pool: Carl Edwards (Bootle), dab, 21 pts.

Series after 2 rounds: 1. S. Bonner, 49 pts.

2. H. Lindfield, 46.

3. B. Lindfield 43 4. J. Perry, 40.

5. John Waugh (Wallasey), 39.

6. Gordon Thornes (Connah’s Quay), 37.

Pairs Championship: 1. Lindfields, 89.

2. Edwards/ Waugh, 56.

3. es Trish (Crosby) & Steve Trish (Bootle), 55.

Juniors: 1. Emily Garrett (Bootle), 26.

2. Jamie Perry (Bootle), 13.

Entries open from 1st February " first come first served" Contact Vernon Allen Tel: 07519814228 Email: vernonallen5692@hotmail.co.uk SAN COMPETITION WINNERS IF YOU SEE A SNOWBEE RED GILL, DEVON BAITS OR ISOK WINNERS BADGE IN YOUR PICTURE PLEASE CONTACT JAMES WIGGLESWORTH ON 07825 181 694 OR EMAILeditor@seaanglingnews.com

Ian Griffiths (Eastham). NWASAC

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Sea Angling News, April 2016

THAMES ESTUARY / NEWS

Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 3

THAMES ESTUARY REPORT

by Lee Bollingbroke

A marked improvement this month with plenty of thornback rays mostly medium fish & twenty fish per trip not unusual, it’s no good trekking down to the Essex coast expecting cod they just are not here in any numbers at the moment, last week the best we had was three codling on the boat but we are hoping for a spring run and by the time you read this it may well be happening but I have to write a honest report on how it is now.

Some very large whiting being landed these are the big channel fish see our photos below a nice fish for the plate, you would almost think you had a cod on the end of the line. The masses of sprat and white bait seem to be moving away now thank goodness, this in its self will help fishing and the cod that are around will start feeding on the bottom again proof that there are a few cod about is that one of our local commercial fisherman drifted nets for five miles off the Essex coast for 18 stone of good cod all caught in the top few meters of the net also interestingly still catching several plaice in the nets.

The new bass ruling has come into play and the fisheries management team have started issuing information cards to all charter boats in our area to

explain to our anglers the detailed situation on catch and release and also the law regarding our punitive catch allowance, I for one will not police this very unfair E.U. ruling especially as the commercial boats the actual villains of the situation we find our self’s in have been given even more bass stocks to plunder, will our anglers still want to book our boats for bass fishing if they no its only catch and release up until June!! are we going to get compensated for our loss of business !! i very much doubt it.

So come on down lads and fish for bass I will be in the wheel house, and if you catch a deep hooked bass which will not live if it’s put back i say that would be a terrible waste. Squid prices seem to be on a one way passage and that’s up in price due to massive shortages around the world and if you log onto Google and check out the tons of squid found washed up on the shore line both in California and Chile it’s no wonder, they recon its because of poisonous algae so something is not right in our seas and squid is the staple food for lots of sea life, so if your skipper has to start charging for your squid normally included on many charter boats around the country he is not making extra profit he is just trying to cover his costs.

Stewart Baker and mates from Clacton with some of their haul of rays caught on Sophie Lea

Steve with one of his big whiting

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DO YOU HAVE A BOAT TO SELL? WHY NOT ADVERTISE IT IN THE SAN? CONTACT JAMES ON 07825 181694

4 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com

SPECIES HUNT APP

Sea Angling News, April 2016

Sea Angling News, April 2016

PLYMOUTH / DEVON BAITS

PLYMOUTH CLUB SCENE

By Scott Smy Traditionally March is usually one of those months where anglers spend their weekends re-spooling reels or tieing rigs due to the fishing usually being quite slow and this year is certainly no different. However in amongst the many blank sessions there have been some fish showing for those putting in the effort.

Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 5

CATCH PICTURES

By Devon Baits sponsored anglers Carl McCormack and Gary Mitchell

of the launce and first mackerel. Whilst I type this the sun is beaming down and I’m getting the first reports of gilthead bream from Cornish estuaries and mackerel from the rocks down on the Lizard at Porthkerris. Can’t wait!

Happy Dipping.

Rodbenders SAC members Mark (Ed – take note, not Mary) Bryce and Steve Arnold (aka ‘Shaggy’) made the trip up to Chesil at the start of March and were rewarded with a cracking session which yielded 11 plaice in total with Steve getting a new PB of 3-4. This fish has taken an early lead in the South West Sea Baits Plaice Comp and I was told that fresh black lug baits fished at range was the secret to being successful on the day.

One angler who has proved that there are some quality fish to be caught during March is the Plymouth Castaways SAC legend that is Martin Larkin. Not content with getting a nice bullhuss of 11-7 from an open coast rock mark the old mullet whisperer diverted his attention to his favourite quarry and landed a cracking early season grey mullet of 5-12. Nice to see the old boy has still got it – well done Larks. You just now need to teach your apprentice Mr Parry!

Martin Larkin Mullet 5lb -12oz When conditions have allowed those anglers fishing the open coast have been finding some bullhuss although the average size has not been that great. However as we get into April and May we should start to see an increase in both the size and number of huss being caught. One advantage of fishing the open coast is the likelihood of also latching into a decent eel and this was proved by Rob Wheaton of Rodbenders SAC with a nice open coast eel of 29-4. On the same evening I myself and a mate were fishing a mark nearby and managed a huss to 8lb.

After having countless trips cancelled due to the bloody awful weather we experienced earlier in the year myself and a few friends managed to get out on John Barbeary’s charter boat Bluefin out of Ilfracombe targeting the spurdogs. Whilst I generally had a nightmare of a day loosing a fair few spurs, overall we landed around 40 up to 16lb along with some big eels up to 40lb, bullhuss and the inevitable doggies. If you fancy a good day out fishing for the spurs (which should be around until May) then give John a call.

I haven’t heard much from the boat skippers operating out of Plymouth although those anglers fishing from private boats are reporting good numbers of Pollack both on the wrecks (which generally produce the larger fish) and on the reefs such as the Eddystone. With spring now upon us fishing on the reefs should start getting better and better with the arrival

Steve Arnold Plaice 3lb-4oz

THIS MONTHS FEATURED BAITS

SANDEELS

UNWASHED SQUID

BLACK LUG

CUTTLEFISH

6 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com

HAMPSHIRE / GEAR REVIEW

Sea Angling News, April 2016

VA LK Y R IE CH A R TE RS GEAR REVIEW – SNOWBEE XS TRAVEL Skipper Glen Ski Gl Cair C i ns Of f ice: i 02392 461717 Boat: B t 07831 878669

BAG & STOWAWAY CASE

By Keith Wigglesworth

Valkyrie 6 & 7 are based at Northney Marina with easy access just across Langstone bridge plus FREE secure parking.

Specialising in Wreck, Reef, Pollack, Cod, Bass fishing.

All the facilities you would expect onboard a modern catamaran heated cabin, seating, cooking facilities.

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Pollack - Valkyrie

Pollack - Valkyrie

VCod - Valkyrie

Smooth hound - Valkyrie

Travelling anywhere with fishing rods and tackle can be both costly and a nightmare, especially if that travel involves flying.

This year I decided that I wanted to take my own fishing gear on our annual expedition to Guinea Bissau. Despite the fact that Air Maroc have a generous baggage allowance, I was determined that I didn’t want to have to cope with transporting 2 cases, a rod tube and a back pack. With this being the case I had a shop around to find an alternative.

The Snowbee XS Travel Bag & Stowaway Case seemed perfect for what I wanted. The Stowaway case is specifically designed to hold fishing tackle and fits perfectly into the base of the main bag.

Alternatively it is sturdy enough to be used as a separate travel bag (as my friend did), giving you more room in the main case. The Stowaway case comes equipped with a shoulder strap and once at your destination can be lifted out and used as a tackle bag for either the beach or the boat.

Determined to have only one case to carry, I set about packing the Stowaway case. In went 4 travel roads, 2 reels, weights, poppers, lures, hooks, line and everything else fishing tacklewise that I was likely to need. When weighed it came to 14kg, leaving me 4.5kg in the main case for clothes (the main case weighing 4.5kg itself).

Now, 4.5kg is not a lot, but as I was off to warm climes with minimal clothing and knowing that I also had a 10kg hand baggage allowance, I was not at all concerned about the apparent lack of space. When everything was packed the main case weighed in at 22.8kg and the hand baggage at 7.5kg (and I still packed too many clothes!!). Had I been travelling to colder climes I believe I would have had to use the Stowaway case as a separate bag with my wet weather gear / flotation suit packed in its place, in the base of the main bag.

One of the big pluses for me, being 6’4”, was the fact that, with its length of 37”, I could actually walk upright whilst wheeling the case along instead of being bent over double resembling Quasimodo on a daytrip, as I do with most “wheeled” suitcases.

To summarise, this case ticked all the boxes for me. It was sturdy, well made and with its numerous pockets was able to contain just about everything I was likely to need...plus it was easy to either carry or pull along. I would have no hesitation in recommending it to any angler looking to improve his/her travel experience.

Full details / sizes of the bags can be found on the www.snowbee.co.uk

Sea Angling News, April 2016

Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 7

SUSSEX

EAST SUSSEX DIARY

By Kevin Morgan ANGLERS DEN OPEN 2016 The Anglers Den Open Beach Competition took place on Sunday 13th March. Over 80 anglers fished the beaches through Pevensey Bay. Congratulations to Darren Bond who was the overall winner with a catch of over 7lb of flounders, dabs, lings and whiting.

The day was a great success, fished in fine sunny conditions, although with a cold easterly wind blowing. The plaice did not show as expected as the sea was too coloured, but there were plenty of other fish on offer.

Results Overall Winners 1st - Darren Bond 7lb 1¾oz - £300 (pictured) 2nd - Ralph Crosby 5lb 5¼oz - £150 3rd - Mark Rogers 4lb 9¼oz - £120 4th - Richard Cleal 4lb 6oz - £100 5th - Colin Sargeant 3lb 14¼oz - £90 6th - Hugh Rathbone 3lb 12¾oz - £80 Zone Winners ‘A’ Zone B Zone C Zone 1st Ralph Crosby 1st Darren Bond 1st Gary Banfield 2nd Richard Cleal 2nd Mark Rogers 2nd Paul King 3rd Hugh Rathbone 3rd Colin Sargeant 3rd Hugh Rathbone

Bill Simms with 9lb 5oz cod

Jim Whippy Anderida match winner

Chris Latta with 2lb 10oz plaice

Biggest Flat Fish - Richard Cleal - 1lb 2¾oz (flounder) Biggest Round Fish - Eddie Painter - 12oz (whiting) Pairs 1st - Darren Bond/Colin Carey - 10lb 13¼oz (pictured) 2nd - Brett Green/Martin Payne - 7lb 2oz THE EASTBOURNE NOMADS On Tuesday 23rd February Graham Lewis won the club match with 13 fish for 6lb 9oz. Second Dan Wood with 5lb 12oz and third Gary Ogden with 3lb 12oz 8dr. The heaviest round was a pout of 12oz for Steve Frost and the heaviest flat a plaice of 14oz for Graham Lewis.

On Sunday 28th February The annual Officers Cup was fished with Gerald Sargeant winning with a total weight of 5lb 9oz 8dr. Second was Steve Frost with 3lb 9oz. Third Joe Plumstead with 3lb 3oz 12dr and fourth Malcolm Payne with 2lb 6oz 8dr. The heaviest round was a whiting of 10oz 4dr for Steve Frost and the heaviest flat a flounder of 12oz 8dr for Gerald Sargeant.

On Wednesday 9th March Dan Wood won the club match with 7 fish for 3lb 14oz 4dr. Second was Steve Frost with 1lb 15oz 12dr and third Graham Lewis with 1lb 14oz 4dr. The heaviest flat was a flounder of 14oz 12dr and the heaviest round a dogfish of 1lb 3oz both caught by Dan Wood.

Dan Martin with 6lb plus cod

Chris Latta with 2lb 10oz plaice

Darren Bond being presented with winnings by Glyn Morgan

THE RAILWAY TAVERN The 3rd round was fished on Sunday 14th February with Jason Anderson winninng with 3lb 6oz. Second was Paul Spiers with 3lb 2oz and third A.J.Puttick with 2lb 15oz. Heaviest flat was a flounder of 1lb 4oz for Steve Merner and the heaviest round a whiting of 7 ½ oz for Gary Windeat.

The 4th round was fished on Saturday 24th February with a tie for first place between Steve Merner and Ken Filtness with weights of 2lb 12oz. Third was Gary Windeat with 2lb 5oz. The heaviest round was a whiting of 8 ½ oz for A.J.Puttick and the heaviest flat a flounder of 12 ½ oz for Ian Bishop.

The fifth round was fished on Saturday 12th March with A.J. Puttick winning with 3lb 10oz. Second was Mark Underhill with 3lb 4oz and joint third were Mike Adams and Fred Puttick with 3lb 1oz. Heviest flat was a flounder of 1lb 5oz for Ken Filtness and the heaviest round a whiting of 6 ½ oz for Kevin Merner.

ANDERIDA On Monday 22nd February 21 anglers fished in Pevensey Bay in cold dark conditions. The winner with 4lb 8 ½ oz was Kevin Morgan, with a mixed bag of whiting, flounder, pout and dabs. Second Martin Payne with 4lb 1oz, third Gary Banfield with 3lb 10 ½ oz and fourth Colin Everest with 3lb 9 ½ oz. The heaviest round was a dogfish of 1lb 4oz for Colin Everest and the heaviest flat a flounder of 1lb 1oz for Ian Hopper.

On Tuesday 8th March Jim Whippy won the match with 4lb ½ oz, including flounder dabs and whiting. Second was Keith Bean with 2lb 13 ½ oz, third Kevin Morgan with 2lb 3 ¼ oz and fourth Paul King with 2lb. Heaviest flat was a flounder of 8 ¾ oz for Paul King and the heaviest round a whiting of 10oz for Jim Whippy.

Darrren Bond and Colin Carey winning pair

Kim McGreevy with a 68lb Tuna

OVER FIFTIES The fourth over fifties match was held on Thursday 25th February with Kim McGreevy winning with 3lb 1 ¾ oz. Second Keith Erridge with 2lb 6oz, third Peter Cracknell with 2lb 5 ¼ oz and fourth Dave Rudland with 2lb 3oz. The heaviest round was a dogfish of 11 ¾ oz for John Ryder and the heaviest flat a plaice of 1lb 6 ½ oz for Peter Cracknell.

The fifth over fifties match was fished at Whitehorses with 23 anglers fishing in calm conditions. First was Gary Hazelgrove with a mixed bag for 3lb 6 ¼ oz. Second Mike Perfect with 2lb 12 ¾ oz, third Vernon Vivian with 2lb 9 ¾ oz and fourth Les Glazzard with 2lb. Heaviest round was a whiting of 8 ½ oz for Gerald Sargeant and the heaviest flat a plaice of 13 ¾ oz for Gary Hazelgrove.

GENERAL There have been some nice fish showing from the shore recently, with a spring run of cod as well as the plaice beginning to show! Dan Martin caught a cod in Pevensey bay of 6lb plus and that evening Joe Plumstead caught a 5 ½ lb cod at The Kiosk in Pevensey Bay. Bill Simms manage a nice 9lb 5oz fish at Langney Point on Wednesday 9th March and Tim Harmer his fishing partner lost a much bigger fish the same night!!

Chris Latta caught 15 plaice along Eastbourne seafront on Friday 11th March including a 2lb 10oz fish. On Monday 14th March during the day Dave Burton caught this 8 ½ lb cod at Langney Point.

A group from Anglers Den went fishing to the Ascension Island, South Atlantic Ocean, in February 2016. Budge Booker, Andy Reeves, Kim McGreevy and Glyn Morgan, Organised by a travel company called Spoilt for Choice. They flew from RAF base Brize Norton straight to Ascension Island and had a great 9 days fishing, returning with many stories of the large fish that frequent this part of the South Atlantic! Full Story at http://goo.gl/kBuBRN

Andy Reeves with 50lb Tuna

Budge Booker with 25lb Black Jack

Glyn Morgan with large Almaco Jack

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POOLE / DORSET

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POOLE PORT REPORT

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Sea Angling News, April 2016

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SILVER SPRAY REPORT

By Sam Cumming

Tackle & Guns

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PLENTY OF PARKING Open 7 days a week: Mon - Fri 08:30-17:30 Sat 07:30-17:30 Sun 07:30-12:30

Although it might still be pretty cold out at sea most days it’s certainly starting to seem like the start of spring. It’s always nice to see the dolphins around in the channel when the sprats start to move in on the wrecks. On our first wreck trip a couple of weeks ago a large pod of dolphins turned up at the mark we were fishing and we had to move as the pollock went right off the feed due to the dolphins chasing the sprats about. This was just a small speed bump on our first wreck trip of the year and we managed plenty of fat spring pollock well up into the double figures. Elsewhere we are still getting the best fishing I’ve seen in

a long time on the banks for rays and spurdogs. This should continue into April before the temperature starts to rise slightly and the spurs disappear for another year. Our biggest to date this season is 25lb 4oz but unfortunately it was not overly keen on having its photo taken so we weighed and released her quickly.

This Monday will see our first trip down to target the turbot and brill of this year and wednesday will be our first crack at the plaice with the light gear.

Sam Cumming Silver Spray II

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Sea Angling News, April 2016

POOLE & SWANAGE / NEWS

Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 9

POOLE REPORT by Philip Higgins As spring has arrived and there is starting to get some warmth in the sun the more committed anglers put away their winter layers and the seasonal anglers clean their tackle ready for influx of the summer species.

Plaice have arrived and been caught along the beaches and Swash channel areas using local ragworm tipped with raw prawns on the usual set ups, in amongst the Plaice there are some early Gurnards and Red Mullet.

The local Ray marks have produced some good fishing with lots of Rays, Congers, small whiting and Dogfish which on some days this time of year are a welcome sight for all anglers. The offshore marks are producing some excellent catches of Spurdogs to 20lb and Rays to 30lb when the weather and tides allow, for those boats venturing to the wrecks Pollack to good size are being caught with Ling over the slack water.

Looking ahead at the inshore fishery the sporting Black Bream will finish their annual courtship and start feeding producing great sport for all anglers, many charter boats adopt a ‘return all females’ conservation policy allowing them to lay their eggs ensuring the next generation of fish. Offshore the wreck fishing will

see Pollack, ling and Cod along with the 1st shoals of Mackeral arriving in the Poole area.

The annual PCSA Species Competition has been planned for Friday 3rd June 2016 – for details contact Louis & Sarah Medley 07766715893 or email Sara at ‘pinkdolphin75@hotmail.co.uk’ - Louis at ‘sharfishingtrips@hotmail.co.uk’ , this is a superb team challenge competition where anglers have to catch as many different species as they can in the allotted time, team work is essential as only 1 fish per species counts so you are constantly changing tactics and communicating with team members to avoid repeat landings. Each boat carries 2 teams of 4 anglers from different clubs which usually promotes even more competition. I have just had a quick count up of the species landed on board the Mistress Linda and we have landed 8 more species this year compared with the same period last year already an encouraging start - will we break the 60!!! I will let you know next January.

Philip Higgins Mistress Linda Charters

Mistress Linda Fishing from Poole, Dorset

Skipper Philip Higgins Fast Twin Engined DS Bullet 38 Fully Licensed & Insured for 12 Persons All the Latest Electronics Full On-board Facilities, Hot Drinks Provided John Lavell Spurdog Mistress Linda

Tel: 07860794183

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Prestige sea fishing tackle

www.snowbee.co.uk Gerald and his Ray -Mistress Linda

Keith Slater, blonde ray Mistress Linda

10 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com

PHOTO FEATURE / NEWS

Sea Angling News Gallery A selection of photographs sent in by our readers this month

Barry Bowman caught on Hannah from Watchet

Joe Brewer, 3lb 6oz plaice caught on rag worm from Chesil Beach.

JUNIOR SHORE ANGLERS INVITED TO TAKE PART IN ENGLAND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 2016

Junior Shore Anglers invited to take part in England Development Programme 2016 The Angling Trust is inviting junior shore anglers to get involved in the 2016 England Talent Pathway programme.

The programme provides opportunities for young anglers to learn about international tactics and techniques from current England international anglers and coaches.

Last year, 18 anglers received expert tuition and many went on to represent England at Under-16 level.

Due to its success and popularity, the Angling Trust has amended the programme for 2016 and anglers are invited to attend an assessment event at Lulworth Cove in Dorset on June 11th, 2016.

A maximum of 20 places are available on the day and anglers are advised to submit their entry quickly to avoid missing out.

Youngsters will have the opportunity to showcase their skills under the watchful eye of England coaches, who will provide each angler with detailed feedback.

Mark Carter lovely Plaice,1lb 8oz, Chesil beach

Sea Angling News, April 2016

England coaches will then invite a maximum of 12 anglers to join a development programme which will be held over the summer of 2016.

The purpose of the programme is to educate anglers about international fishing, understand and learn the skills and techniques required to compete at International level, while supporting angler’s ambitions to represent England at major championships at home and abroad.

The programme consists of a series of four coaching sessions which are free to attend.

Assessment Event: 11th June, Lulworth Cove, Dorset Event 1: 30th July, Lymington Sea Angling Club Event 2: 31st July, Lymington Sea Angling Club Event 3: 7th August, Lepe Country Park, Southampton Event 4: to be confirmed Team England’s Chris Clark said: "The Talent Pathway offers an excellent opportunity for any young person who wants to develop their skills and has the desire to represent their country. We have some of the best coaches in the country with a huge amount of international experience delivering the programme and every young angler will benefit from being involved.”

WHERE IN THE WORLD Photo competition

WINNER Steven Carter brace of Plaice, chesil

Daniel crump - 53lb conger - Bristol Channel

SEND YOUR PICTURES TO editor@seaanglingnews.com

With anglers now travelling all over the world in search of that ultimate fishing experience, here at Sea Angling News we thought it might be a good time to hold a little competition. Let us see how far the Sea Angling Newspaper can travel. Are you going somewhere exotic / unusual / remote? Take a copy of the paper with you, take a picture of it on location and if, in the view of the SAN staff on the 31st of December, we think your photo shows that you’ve really gone to the ends of the earth then who knows…it may just win you a prize.

We’ve started the ball rolling with our snap taken on Orango island, Guinea Bissau. We’re sure you can do better. Email your photos to keith@seaanglingnews.co.uk and, as always, the editors decision is final.”

RESULTS

Sea Angling News, April 2016 Poole Dolphins SAC We had a Home Shore comp at The Holly Bush, Sandbanks on Saturday evening 20/2/16. Members fished a very windy comp rearranged from Shore Road because of the 40 mile gusts forecast. The wind at Shore Road on the night was pretty bad and although the wind was nearly into your face at The Holly Bush with rod tips bouncing around at least it was fishable. After turning up early in daylight to see where the mooring buoys were and picking a clear casting area to fish, things started to go wrong, the wind knocked the rods over despite being weighed down and cracking one of the tip rings. Not noticing on casting out things looked fine, it wasn't until I started to reel in the braid line was shredded and I lost the lot, Thankfully it wasn't with a fish on. Luckily I had a spare rod and on the first retrieve managed to pull the broken line in, Blinkin wind. I was hopeful of a few fish with fresh lug and rag fishing nearest the North Haven Yacht Club on an end peg, unfortunately I was on the wrong end blanking on the night. Well done to Phil Thomas who won on the night fishing the farthest peg with a catch of Flounders and Bass for 111cm.

A good number of Flounders were caught on a slow night with a few small Bass and a surprise Whiting making up the nights catch. Second, third and forth places were separated by just 6cm and one tidy fish separated second to sixth place, a tight competition.

We had a Home Shore comp on Wednesday 24/02/16 at Shore Road, Sandbanks. Members Fished along the shoreline on a very cold clear night with no wind for a change. The lack of any waves and the cold seemed to affect the fishing. Bites were hard to come by and very slow. Well done to Phil Thomas who won on the night with 121cm of Whiting and a Flounder.

Dave Draper 2nd and Chris Mackenzie 3rd. The nights catch was made up of Whiting, Rockling and Flounder. Everyone caught on the night, which was good with 3rd to 8th place separated by only 19cm (one decent fish). The Club website for more reports is www.fishingpoole.co.uk

LDSFC

SAMALITE LEAGUE 2015 PRESENTATION. The presentation for the 2015 league winners was held at the Weymouth Angling Society . A well attended event that seen the top ten of the league win exceptional prizes from the sponsors smp electronics.

2015 league winner was Ben Stockley from Weymouth with a 27pt score from his best 9 matches.

Runner up(on count back) , Ben Bradstock (Honiton) 31pts 3rd, Rob Marshall (Taunton) 31pts 4th, Darren Cramer (Southampton) 38pts 5th, Russell Preston (Bristol) 39pts 6th, Darren Stevens (Bristol) 44pts 7th,(on count back) Richard Dorgan (Bristol) 45pts 8th, Danny Woodcock (Portland) 45pts

Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 11

Heather Lindfield rates this part of the Liverpool river promenade as one of her best venues and she proved it by easily winning Zone A. Only a few flounders were caught with Bryn Jones’ 250 gms specimen taking the flatfish pool.

Results and championship (scored in continental style form 2 zones): 1.Steve Bonner (Wallasey), 15 codling, 313 pts. (Zone B) 2. Heather Lindfield (Greasby), 15 codling, 2 whiting, 248 cms. (Zone A) 3. Bill Lindfield (Greasby), 17 codling, 298.

4. John Waugh (Wallasey), 9 codling, 153.

5. Mike Flynn (Llanfair p.g.), 14 codling, 1 whiting.

6. Les Trish (Crosby), 9 codling, 1 flounder, 147.

Roundfish Pool: Gordon Thornes (Connah’s Quay), codling 470gms.

Flatfish Pool: Bryn Jones (Benllech), flounder, 250 gms.

Juniors: 1. Emily Garrett (Bootle), 8 codling, 143 cms.

2. Jamie Perry (Bootle), 7 codling, 121 cms.

9th, Ian Dancey (Portsmouth) 48pts 10th, Dave Lane (Weymouth) 50pts The heaviest round fish 2015 sponsored by Weymouth Angling Centre went to Darren Stevens with a Conger of 14lb 13oz The heaviest flatfish 2015 sponsored by Julian Shambrook also went to Darren Stevens for his superb Plaice of 4lb 9oz

Winner Steve Bonner

Darren Stevens receives the heaviest roundfish prize from Mark Mockridge of Weymouth Angling Centre

Lymington & District Sea Fishing Club held a Shingle Bank League competition on Thursday 3rd March. 12 club members signed on and fished the competition in very poor conditions with heavy rain and a strong southerly wind. A few anglers had to rescue their beach shelters which were blown along the beach.

Of the 12 anglers who signed on 9 weighed in fish consisting of undulate ray, small eyed ray, dogfish, pout and whiting.

The best fish of the competition was a small eyed ray weighing 9lb 8-8ozs and caught by Ollie Hopkins.

Results: 1st Ollie Hopkins 10lbs 1.4ozs 2nd Chris Ellis 9lb 5ozs, 3rd Paul Watson 6lb 1.4ozs 4th Malcolm Stote 3lb 1oz, 5th Gavin Sloper 2lb 13.2ozs 6th Andy Hopkins 2lb 8.6ozs, 7th Arran Bridges 15.6ozs 8th Terry Kempton 12ozs, 9th Roland Blomfield 2.6ozs.

On Tuesday 8th March Lymington & District Sea Fishing Club held a measure and return Winter League competition at Steamer Point. The weather on the night was fine but sadly rather showery. Fish caught included rockling, pout, whiting, flounder and bass. The number of fish caught was 42 for a total length of 936cm.

Optional pool for best round fish was a whiting of 30cm caught by Keith Panks.

Optional pool for best flat fish was a flounder of 19cm caught by Paul Watson.

Results: 1st Keith Panks 191cm.

2nd Danny Panks 189cm.

3rd Paul Watson 179cm.

Ollie Hopkins 158cm.

4th Arron Bridges 150cm.

5th Andy Hopkins 90cm.

6th Terry Kempton 69cm.

7th

Junior Emily Garrett- codling

West Bay SAC 3rd March 2016, Thursday Night Eype 19:00 - 22:30.

Twelve anglers fished at Eype on an incoming tide in a moderate southerly breeze, unfortunately the fish were hard to find but at least most anglers had something to weigh in.

From the left Rob Marshall 3rd, Ben Stockley league winner, Ben Bradstock runner up

NWASAC Match Report: 1st round of NWASAC Personal Members Championship 2016, Sun 28th February, Aigburth, Liverpool (28 rods)

Harry Gray, 2lb 6oz flounder.

LDSFC

LDSFC

2015 Samalite league winners

Recreational trip.

On Sunday 14th February on a bright sunny morning 6 members boarded the charter boat “Strongbow” skippered by Dick Peckham to fish for flounder in Poole Harbour. With a north easterly wind blowing we looked for shelter on the western side of the harbour where we anchored.

Fish came quickly caught on a number of rigs i.e. one hook with beads, three hooks below weight with popups, some on spoons and even with floats. All were baited with ragworm. Over 30 flounders were caught during the day between tea and coffee breaks provided by the skipper. We even had time for a few drifts for early plaice with one being caught.

Best fish on the day were Harry Gray flounder of 2lb 6ozs, Cliff Williams flounder of 1lb 13ozs, Roland Blomfield flounder of 1lb 11ozs, Robin Lane flonder of 1lb 9ozs, Paul Hollyoak and Pete Drodge also caught flounder.

These recreational trips are designed for a non competitive atmosphere just to enjoy the fishing and give each other support when needed.

Report by Robin Lane.

John Hunt the clubs treasurer presenting a cheque for £132 to the RNLI this money was raised at last years RNLI open competition that the club runs yearly. The cheque was collected by Martin Newbury (on right) who is the chairman of the Bridport Branch of the RNLI.

Conditions were perfect for the first match of the series with offshore winds giving mirror- calm conditions on this section of the Mersey Estuary upriver of Otterspool.

Small codling came on the feed from the starting whistle, taking crab and worm baits and a few whiting showed over high water.

Steve Bonner overcame a slow start to accumulate a winning score of 313 points (length to weight conversion) and an early series lead. He overtook early leader Bill Lindfield, also in Zone B, a few pegs upriver.

1st Paul house 1565 grams 2nd Craig Horton 1190 grams 3rd PJ Wheeler 1145 grams Most species Dan butt (2) pout & shore rockling Heaviest fish Steve Fowles dogfish 790 grams Species caught, dogfish, whiting, pout & shore rockling.

27th February 2016, Andy Neal Rover 17:00 - 23:00 Just a handful of anglers fished the latest match on a calm cold evening, the format for the rovers for this year is basically a species hunt with only one of each species to be brought to the scales, the angler who catch's the most species is deemed the winner.

Most species: Steve Fowles (5) flounder, dogfish, whiting, pout and 5b rockling Heaviest bag (only one of each species): Paul house 1100 grams Heaviest fish (above bags removed): Simon Bowditch dogfish 765grams Species caught, flounder, dogfish, pout, whiting and 5b rockling.

Rovers Tackle Match Stokes Bay 10/03/2016 17 People fished Total length 1/ Chris Clark 564 cm 2/ Pete Farrell 383 cm 3/ Cormac Meenehan 292 cm Biggest fish 1/ Pete Farrell dogfish 59 cm 2/Dale Brenton whiting 32 cm 3/ Cormac Meenehan whiting 31 cm Whiting, pout, dogfish, bass, and rockling.

Honiton SAC had their presentation dinner on Friday18th March. All who attended enjoyed a great night topped off with a superb carvery. Nearly 100 awards were made. The picture shows the main winners. Middle is barry codling senior shore champ.

Left is boat champ Bill Cassar and right it Darren Bell.

12 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com

Sea Angling News, April 2016

ILFRACOMBE / NORTH DEVON REPORT

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Dan Spearman - One of a brace of blonde ray weighing 17lb 1oz and 15lb 6oz

Combe Martin SAC member Stefan Jones with thornback of 11lb 14oz

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NORTH DEVON REPORT

By Wayne Thomas March is traditionally a quiet month on the North Devon Coast with dogfish, rockling and the occasional huss or conger providing most sport. Early mullet can be tempted from some areas and I managed my first of the season from a local harbour on the first week of the month though only a couple of pounds I glimpsed many far larger fish ghosting around on the edge of the tide.

Whilst a report on North Devon several clubs have very extensive boundary’s so it is not always possible to know where the fish that feature in competition results have originated from with numerous fish coming from the neighbouring counties of Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset and even South Devon.

Robert Hancock won Triple Hook Clubs Derek Phillips Memorial a club whose boundaries are entirely North Devon with a fine dogfish weighing 2lb 13oz. In runner spot was Dennis Toleman with a dogfish of 2lb 2oz.

Ken Plouman won Triple Hook Clubs Windy Shield competition with a whiting weighing 12oz.

Ian Laird won Combe Martin Sea Angling Clubs February fish of the month with a fine shore caught conger scaling 25lb. In runner up spot was Stefan Jones with a thornback ray of 11lb 14oz and third Ian Laird with a boat caught spurdogscaling 15lb.

Combe Martin SAC member Rikki Cooper landed a fine conger of 26lb whilst fishing a North Devon rock mark.

Combe Martin SAC members Kevin Legge and Stefan Jones took a journey up channel in search of thornback ray sport and enjoyed success with Stefan landing a specimen ray of 11lb 14oz and Kevin catching ray of 9lb5oz and 9lb1oz.

Combe Martin Sea Angling Club member Dan Spearman travelled to a beach near Minehead to land a fine brace of blonde ray scaling 17lb 1oz and 15lb 6oz.

Over twenty Combe Martin SAC members assembled at, At One Braunton for their annual presentation night where Guy Sprigs was awarded the clubs top award for landing a British Record stingray of 78lb 6oz.

Taz Wotton won Bideford Angling Clubs monthly Rover with a rockling scaling 1lb 13/4oz. In runner up spot was Antony Smith with a plaice of 1lb 63/4oz and in third and forth Dick Talbot with dogfish of 2lb 11/4oz and 1lb 141/2oz Appledore Shipbuilders monthly Rover saw only two fish brought to the scales on a cold spring day. Top fish was a ballan wrasse scaling 4lb 33/4oz to the rod of Michael Hammett.

In second was James Atkinson with a plaice of 1lb 51/2oz.

When weather permits John Barbeary has taken parties of anglers out to mid channel marks on his boat ‘Bluefin” where conger, huss and spurdog are prowling. Fellow charter boat skipper Dan Hawkins’ who runs ‘Reel Deal’ out of Watchet joined a party and put his expertise to good use landing a conger of 30lb and a fine spurdog of 19lb. Pete Gregory from Exeter landed a fine bull huss of 16lb 8oz.

A fine conger of 39lb caught by Ted Stannett was the highlight of a trip aboard charter boat ‘Bluefin’ out of Ilfracombe where several specimen spurdog and huss were landed. Pete Gregory landed the biggest bull huss of the trip scaling16lb.

Bristol based anglers Steve Ace and Shaun Tromans travelled to a North Devon shore mark where Shaun landed a fine specimen conger of 27lb 4oz and Steve a specimen of 20lb.

Prestige sea fishing tackle Pete Gregory - bull huss 16lb Caught on Bluefin Off Ilfracombe

Dan Hawkins - 30lb conger on Blue-Fin

Ted Stannet with his 39lb conger caught on John Barbeary's BlueFin off Ilfracombe

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Sea Angling News, April 2016

ALDERNEY

ALDERNEY REPORT

By Mark Harding It’s not the best time of year from our shores but we have been getting plenty of Red Mullet and a fair smattering of Bass. The Red Mullet are a welcome sight and delicious to eat, most are sizeable if not massive, plenty of rattling rod tips but no real fight so luckily when fishing for these little critters that’s when the Bass have been feeding too. We’ve been getting more on worm bait than we have on the lures. Nothing massive but up to 3lb has been pretty common. The lads using the lures have found a few fish to 5lb but have had more sport with the Pollack. Live baiting for them has proved worthwhile in the harbour from the quay, this is the way to get the whoppers but it has not worked out for the lads with the best fish around 4lb 8oz so much the same stamp as elsewhere. A fair few fish caught though for the time put in! With regards to the Pollack previously mentioned over the last few years we have done well at this time of year for them, again very welcome as we wait for the waters to warm up and throw some bigger fish and different species at us. All nice plump fish so they feed well and provide good sport with a lot of fish in the 2-5lb range. You hope for something better and normally it turns up during the course of the month but alas this month it hasn’t, as with most of the angling size has been a problem lately. Thick Lipped Mullet well worth a shout, not enough folk targeting them but they are there. I’ve seen shoals on the dog walk in the cliff bays on the south side of the island just waiting for some bread to be cast in! Alas no one is having a go for them which is a shame.

Next month we should have boat reports as we look forward to the return of the visits from the UK boats, starting early this year so I hope to see some of you very shortly. Look out at our Facebook page for up to date reports and then maybe get yourself on one of these fabulous trips from Langstone, Poole, Weymouth, Exmouth or Dartmouth. Or fly in!! More details at bottom of report.

Alderney Angling Shore League 2016 Breakwater Pegged Match – 06/03/2016 The breakwater pegged match is always a fun one.

Peg draw is absolutely key, with pegs 50 and upwards almost always producing the goods. It was no different this time round either, with 3 of the 4 anglers fishing the higher pegs taking the top three spots on the day.

Lots of Bream around on the day, which is nice to see at this time of year, including plenty of Couch’s. The lower pegs are always a bit of an endurance test, fish hard and wisely to get your rewards. Both Darren and James capitalised on the Pollack potential just before dark and added some vital length to their tallies.

Included in that haul was the biggest fish of the day for James, a Pollack of 3lb 9oz, which now puts him in the lead in all but the heaviest flatfish categories, good effort Darkside! In the end though it was Wayne who out fished everyone on the day, landing a total of 27 fish for a winning total over 6.51m.

Here are the overall results and updated league positions: Wayne Cosheril – 6.51m Scott Audoire – 5.83m Norman Butel – 5.41m Darren Braby – 4.63m James Clarke – 3.35m Wally Walters – 2.96m Adam Salmon – 2.81m Andy Black – 2.67m Adam Barnes – 2.18m Fieona Cosheril/Michael Bohan – 1.93m Quay Zonal Match – 12/03/2016 Another fun format, I wasn’t fishing but I would have imagined though it got a wee bit frustrating with the lack of fish at the off! In the end though fish did show and the form table got thrown upside down with Scott and Norman failing, Mikey succeeding and nice to see Kim and Adam B get in amongst the points.

Darren and James consolidated their places. Smelt, of all species, saved the day with Ballans, Corkwings, Pollack, Pout and a few Gobies all showing but not in the numbers we’re used too. Well done to Andy Black who won the Heaviest Fish pool with a 1lb 11oz Pollack with no thanks to Darren!!

Here are the overall results and updated league positions: Michael Bohan – 387cm Darren Braby – 285cm

Adam Barnes – 233cm James Clarke – 222cm Andy Black – 178cm Kim Le Poullain – 167cm Adam Salmon – 155cm Jordan Walters – 145cm Wayne Cosheril – 89cm Andrew Scott – 79cm Alistair Walters – 77cm Norman Butel – 71cm Scott Audoire – 17cm The next match is scheduled for Saturday 26th March which is the Fish Race but at the moment the forecast is looking ok to try and re-schedule the 24 Hour Best Specimen over the weekend so let’s wait and see, make a decision on Friday 18th at tea time so sharpen your tools just in case!

League Table Top 4 fish the end of year Fish Race Final for a trip to the Florida Keys, so a fair bit at stake here. Still early days and with Jokers to play and lots of matches still to fish anything could happen but so far it has been topsy turvey except for Darren who has carved out a bit of a lead. The rest of you are so close and yet there is the likes of Marcus, Gary and Dicky who could all challenge in the long run. It’s going to be very interesting!

Darren Braby 330 Michael Bohan 216 Wayne Cosheril 195 James Clarke 190 Scott Audoire 180 Norman Butel 172 Adam Salmon 141 Adam Barnes 126 Wally Walters 121 Andy Black 115 Mark Harding 80 Fieona Cosheril 78 Dicky Smith 70 Andrew Scott 66 Kim Le Poullain 60 Jordan Walters 40 Jacob Maurice 26 Mick Maurice 10 Marcus Odoli 10 Trophy Contenders Team Trophy Top 3 fish a Fish Race final in this one too – a long weekend at Dorset’s famed Chesil Beach in the Autumn. There has been a change of leadership with Mikey/Wayne nudging ahead. Its all about getting your partner involved on this one and I wouldn’t discount Myself and Jacob putting a run in later once I’ve cleared my building work!!

Michael B/ Wayne 411 Darren B/ Andrew S 396 Wally W/Norman B 293 Scott A/Kim Le P 240 Fieona C/Adam S 219 Mick M/James C 200 Blacksmiths 185 Gary M/ Adam B 126 Jordan W/Marcus O 50 Mark H/Jacob M 26 Heaviest Fish of The Year James Clarke –Pollack - 3-9-0 Best Bass James Clarke - 3-0-0 Best Pollack James Clarke – 3lb 9oz Best Conger None Best Plaice/Sole Norman Butel – Sole – 2.3.0 Most Species of The Year 10 – James Clarke 9 – Darren Braby 8 - Scott Audoire/Ross Johnson/Adam Barnes/ Michael Bohan Boat Fishing Trips Something new and regular for 2016 and that is an addition to the local licensing to permit allowing visiting charter boats to take folk out fishing. Whether you live here or are a tourist reading this you will now be able to board one of these boats for a days fishing offshore so long as there is room. If you are interested

make it known to Alderney Angling by email at mark@ alderneyangling.com, phone call on 01481 824884 or pop in the shop as they will be co-ordinating what is available. Some trips can be forward planned but some trips will be at short notice. It will very much be an evolvement over this coming season so bear with us but if interested we will get you afloat. If you wish to fly in from the other Channel Islands or the UK and meet the boat here then the skipper can arrange that or again get in touch with us, Alderney Angling.

Alderney Lure Festival 2016 We are now in to our fourth year of this fantastic competition. Fished around the beautiful island of Alderney we have extended the competition from 24 hours to 33. Initially starting out as a Species Hunt the vast prize table now ensures that it is a mix of a Species Hunt and Specimen Hunt. This year it will be fished over the weekend of the 3rd/4th September.

Read on but all details are on the poster below plus reports attached here too from previous years.

Many thanks to our sponsors, all listed on the poster, for supporting us again and to the array of prizes that will be on offer. Last year each prize category was valued somewhere between £80 - £100 in tackle. This year we have the States of Alderney supporting the event too so with their help we hope to make the event bigger and better than ever.

We have also extended the cash prizes so now we have a 1st/2nd/3rd for both visiting anglers and the locals, so separate sections at £300, £200 and £100 each minimum. If more enter we will increase these prizes Browse the poster below for full details.

For further details, or to book on your behalf, give us a call on 01481 824884 or email mark@ alderneyangling.com.

Flight prices are as follows: From Guernsey £66 return/From Southampton £136 return/From Jersey £136 return/From some regional airports from as far north as Leeds £170 return.

Book at www.aurigny.com and use the discount code ‘tronix16’.

Bed and Breakfast from £35 pppn League Entry: £25 Rules: No Bread No Groundbaiting No fishing rock pools Any number of rods can be set up with lures on, but only 1 rod may be in the water at any one time.

Only 1 rod will be permitted to be used at any one time, 3 hook max rigs. Treble counts as one.

Long/Short Spined Scorpion Fish count as one Saltwater species only count towards your total.

Cephalopods do not count towards your total.

You are required to photograph your catches during the hunt for inspection by the judges with your entry card.

In the event of discrepancies in species identification, the judges decision WILL be final.

All entrants will leave the booking in area at 8.30am exactly on the Saturday.

All entrants scorecards need to be returned to the weigh in area before 5.00pm on the Sunday.

The entire island of Alderney is allowed to be fished in the competition.

In the event of a tie for any prize there will be an immediate “fish off” between the entrants in question with the first to land a fish deemed to be the winner.

Alderney Angling Festival 31 years old now this event and as popular as ever.

100-110 anglers descend on the island and its all about our big fish – specimen hunting. 9 Categories and top 5 places in each category wins. £4,500 of cash to be won and loads of other quality prizes. Dates this year are 1st October till the 8th.

Adam Salmon in his new fishing transport a converted camode!

Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 13

Barnesy - cuckoo wrasse

Wayne red mullet

Adam Salmon in amongst the fish. This is the size of Bass we are seeing plenty of.

DJ Clarkey with a 3lb 9oz Pollack in recent Breakwater match

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Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com

WEST SUSSEX / NEWS

WEST SUSSEX REPORT

By Chris Snow Most beaches along sussex coast seem to be throwing up numbers of plaice in clear water to straight black lug or tipped with small strip of squid , best beaches seem to be Brighton and Hove, best method seems to be casting at distance on the flood and ebb and closer in over high water.Bigger tides will fish better .

Seaford and Shoreham also throwing up red spots but in lesser numbers. the obliging rockling and flounders also making up catches as well as the odd dogfish and schoolie bass. Whiting are still hanging around with the odd sizeable being caught.

Sea Angling News, April 2016

DINNER HOOKS BIG DONATIONS FOR FISHING CHARITIES Fishing charities are more than £76,000 better off thanks to the generosity of guests at a charity dinner held at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea on Thursday 10 March.

The Fishing for Our Future event, to jointly benefit The Angling Trust, Fishing 4 Schools and Casting for Recovery UK & Ireland, saw 160 guests dine in the Great Hall of the Royal Hospital and bid for eight premier donated lots, including a complete salmon fishing outfit, a week’s salmon fishing in north east Iceland and a week’s fishing on the River Laxford in Scotland.

Top lot of the night was a week’s stay on the Borana Conservancy in Kenya, which raised £32,000.

Each place-setting included a unique fly, hand-tied and donated by members of the Fly Dressers’ Guild and the guests ate trout donated by Chalk Stream Food and drank wine donated by Johnny Goedhuis and champagne donated by Gardet.

The night was organised by the Countryside Alliance events team, headed by Emma Mancroft. Emma said: “This was the first time we have run this event but we

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hope to make it an annual event. It was a fabulous night, with great food and drink in a beautiful setting.

“We would like to thank all our generous guests and the co-chairmen of the night. George Stephenson, chairman of Roxtons and the Angling Trust, and Robert Montague for helping us to hold such a successful event.”

Fishing 4 Schools introduces youngsters to angling through free school courses that fit into the curriculum.

Director and top fly-fisherman Charles Jardine said: “It was a fabulous evening for angling charities that showed the unity across the sport and how it touches so many lives. Special mention must be made of the very kind donations of lots and the people who rise to the occasion to bid for them. This is the start of something very exciting!”

The money will also be shared by Casting for Recovery, which offers healing fishing retreats to ladies who have or are recovering from breast cancer, and the Angling Trust, which lobbies for and promotes fishing in the UK.

Sea Angling News, April 2016

DARTMOUTH / NEWS

SALCOMBE CHARTERS

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15

SALMON, EELS AND BASS GET NEW CHAMPIONS IN PARLIAMENT Angling Trust

Three MPs lend their political support to help save three fish species

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Charles Walker MP (Broxbourne, Atlantic salmon), Jon Cruddas MP (Dagenham and Rainham, European eel) and Scott Mann MP (North Cornwall, sea bass) have become three of the first MP ‘Species Champions’ in England after lending their political support to protection and restoration of threatened stocks of fish.

Iconic and threatened English species are being ‘adopted’ by MPs across England, who are acting as ‘Species Champions’ to help improve the future of these species. From the smooth snake to the nightingale, 20 English species currently facing significant threats have been identified and put up for adoption.

The Angling Trust proposed these three fish species as a contribution to the initiative because they are among the most threatened of all fish.

The initiative was launched this month by a coalition of organisations including RSPB, Buglife and the Angling Trust. This follows a successful model in Scotland, and a trial in the South West of England in 2014.

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar): Salmon were once abundant and widespread in English rivers but in 2014, of England’s 42 principal salmon rivers 10 were assessed as being ‘at risk’ of not achieving their conservation limits in at least four out of five years, 28 ‘probably at risk’ and 10 ‘at risk’. None was deemed to be ‘not at risk’.

European eel (Anguilla anguilla): Recent official advice by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) to the EU is that whilst there has been a slight increase in glass eel recruitment, the status of stocks remains critical. ICES advice is for all human-caused mortality (e.g. recreational and commercial fishing, hydropower, and pollution) to be reduced to as close to zero as possible until there is clear evidence of a continued increase in both recruitment and the adult stock.

Sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax): over-fishing, increasing fishing effort, targeting of spawning and juvenile aggregations and successive years of recruitment failure have led to the stock reaching its lowest-ever recorded level. In December 2015 the EU Council of Ministers agreed a package of conservation measures for 2016 which is estimated to result in reported landings of bass in 2016 of 1,660tonnes – over three times the amount advised by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust and Fish Legal said: “We are very grateful to our MPs for agreeing to champion the cause of these three iconic species in Parliament. The Angling Trust has provided them all with detailed briefings about their species and what they can do to encourage decisions in parliament to help restore healthy populations.

We hope that this initiative will provide a brighter future for salmon, eels and bass, by increasing understanding in the political community of the challenges these fish face."

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Sea Angling News, April 2016

WALES / BURNHAM ON SEA

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As I write this there is a glimmer of hope that we will get to fish a competition this weekend. With 4 comps cancelled already this year we finally have a forecast that looks do-able. The last month has again been challenging weather wise. There are still some good fish to be caught when boats have managed to get out, which to be fair seems to be on the increase. Three boats got out at the end of Feb in not ideal conditions.

2 boats fished in the lee of Brean Down in calm waters and struggled whilst Ultra White and the Bristol boys stuck it out in the deeper water in a bit of slop and were rewarded with a fair few rays, straps and 3 codling to just over 7lb.

Ultra White and Seanies Flier were again out on the last set of big tides and found it hard going but managed to find a few fish including cod to 7lb 4oz for Nigel Devey. On the same weekend Myself and Stephen Saxby fished on the south coast from a Lyme Regis charter boat and had a tough day with only a few Pollack between us with Stephen taking the biggest at 11lb 9oz.

Fish of the month for February was won by Nigel Devey with a cod of 7lb 1oz.

April 17th is the Ray Farthing trophy and the only comp of the month. On the 1st May we will have another attempt to run our Presidents Cup. Our next club meeting is on Thursday 21st April at Burnham Motor Boat and Sailing Club on the sea front, pop along if you are interested in joining a friendly club.

You can keep up-to date with latest news and catches and all things fishy on our facebook page and website Burnham Boat Owners Sea Angling Association.

Gareth Griffiths with a blonde.

Stephen Saxby pollack 11lb 9oz. Inset top: Nigel Devey cod 7lb 1oz. Bottom: Nigel Devey cod 7lb 4oz

Gareth Griffiths with a Smalleyed.

The white Water shore team double shot of rays.

Gareth Griffiths with a fine shore caught Huss

Ryan Wingfield with a smalleyed ray.

Sea Angling News, April 2016

Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 17

NEWS / WATCHET

DIGITAL MARINE SOLUTIONS TO ACQUIRE THE MARINE DIVISION OF JEPPESEN Oslo, Norway – Digital Marine Solutions announced today it has signed a purchase agreement to acquire the marine division of Jeppesen, subject to regulatory approval.

Under the terms of the agreement, the former Jeppesen Marine will operate as a separate entity with its own dedicated resources and will trade under the C-MAP brand name. Jeppesen will remain as part of The Boeing Company.

Digital Marine Solutions is owned by the Altor 2003 Fund, which is part of the Nordic based Altor family of private equity funds. This strategic acquisition leverages Altor’s experience in the Marine industry, where it also is the majority owner of the Navico house of marine brands. Digital Marine Solutions will ensure that Navico and other 3rd party electronic manufacturers continue to have access to the C-MAP portfolio for both recreational and commercial marine.

Over time Digital Marine Solutions will develop C-MAP’s capabilities and sales by offering enhanced charting, digital content, and services solutions.

“Jeppesen Marine is one of the premier players in electronic charting and value added services for

recreational and commercial marine,” said Leif Ottosson, future chairman of the buyer. “We look forward to working with the Jeppesen Marine team to create fresh innovations and to continue to work with Jeppesen Marine’s existing customers to further grow the business.”

“This is good news for the marine electronics industry, Jeppesen Marine staff and consumers, as C-MAP’s high quality products and services will continue to be offered thus keeping the diversity in the market,” said James Detar, Director Light Marine Portfolio at Jeppesen Marine.

“We believe that with the vision and values of Digital Marine Solutions we can further improve our portfolio and better service our customers,” said Egil Aarstad, Director Voyage Solutions at Jeppesen Marine.

RECENT CATCHES ABOARD SEAFIRE II

Pending regulatory approval, the transaction is expected to be completed toward the end of the second quarter, 2016.

For information on Jeppesen Marine visit c-map. jeppesen.com and ww1.jeppesen.com/marine.

Woody with a good blonderay- Seafire

Tom with a cod - Seafire

Kylie with a nice smalleyed ray- Seafire

Another nice cod- Seafire

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Bonio kid with a thornback ray- Seafire

18 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com

BRISTOL CHANNEL / MINEHEAD

Sea Angling News, April 2016

MINEHEAD AND WATCHET REPORT

by Dave Roberts Easterly winds now dominating boat activity. Though not strong enough to stop charters completely, still enough to make angling difficult. The old adage of wind in the east, fish bite least certainly seems to have some meaning! Despite this natural phenomenon boats have been finding reasonable sport. Offshore grounds still showing good spurdogs with many fish well into double figures. Strangley, conger are still active with many Alykat anglers opting to give these feisty fighters a try. They are a great alternative when the other species are playing hard to get. Just an hour or so on a wreck on the first of the flood can provide great sport and heighten morals! Sand bank areas are now starting to produce some good small eyed rays.

Sandeels and squid will find these fish in good feeding

mood. Also blondes to over twenty pounds can now be expected along with the thornbacks. Inshore rough ground patches are now the favoured grounds for the bull huss. Many of these fish will now move onto these grounds to lay their eggs. Big females can be taken but must be returned to continue their breeding program so please treat them with respect. Land them with a net and return immediately to minimise stress.

Hopefully, next month will see the weather improving and the spring run of species getting well under way.

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Please mention the Sea Angling News when replying to adverts Chris Moseley bull huss Alykat

Gary Siddell Bass 6lb 2oz - Osprey

Mitch Johnson making the most of some slack water eel action aboard Alykat

Conger 40lb - Teddie Boy

Early smoothy and thorny Alykat

PJ Smith haddock Alykat

Thornback Ray - Teddie Boy

Thornback Ray - Teddie Boy

Gary Siddell cod 5lb - Osprey

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Sea Angling News, April 2016

MINEHEAD / BRISTOL CHANNEL

BRISTOL CHANNEL SHORE REPORT

By Craig Butler of West Coast Tackle Times have been generally A bit lean along the shore of the Bristol Channel this last month. With the poor weather and seemingly an ever present east wind that we have endured for much of the past few weeks it's no wonder many anglers have stayed at home, and hence minimal catch reports.

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Buzzer with a fine 13lb Thornback from the upper channel

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A few small eyed and spotted Ray's have been making themselves known in and around Minehead. These fish are more and more becoming residents 12 months of the year now, with catches slowing up when the water temperature drops away. Hopefully if we see some settled conditions this coming month with our prevailing west south west winds, and a rise in sea temperature this will see some potential impressive Spring coding throughout the channel in the localised hot spots.

Chris Buxton with a tidy handful of Bristol Channel Spring codling

Anyway let's hope for some warm spring sunshine to shine upon us and bring us some pleasant days and pull us into spring.

Tightlines and happy hunting...

Dan Spearman and his 15lb6oz Blonde Ray

Dan Spearman with his 17lb1oz Blonde Ray

Tel: 01643 703 516 www.theoldshipaground.co.uk

COAST TACKLE WESTTHE QUAY

The upper channel marks around Portishead, Clevedon and Weston have seen a good stamp of codling in and around the 5lb mark. It's great to see and hear there's lots of small codling in the channel the last couple of months. With many under a 1lb. Quite where they have appeared from is anyone's guess, as there were no signs of them last year when they would of been of catch able size at 6-8inches. I guess that's fish migrations for you. Let's just hope they like the channel and stay local. It could make the Autumn run (or should that be the summer run?) interesting later on this year.

Along with the codling there should be a few decent bass about. These early season bass are of a better average stamp and generally run from 4-8lb and just like the spring codling they can't resist a juicy fresh peeler crab.

By the end of the month ahead we may start to see signs of a few summer species returning to the channel but that's a long way off at the moment as we are still like locked into the late winter early spring species zone of things.

THE OLD SHIP AGROUND

Historic Harbour-side Venue

When conditions have been good the hardy souls getting out there doing it have been rewarded on many occasions with a good stamp of cod up to about 7lb, Ray's well into double figures and the odd bass all being recorded.

A recent Three Counties SAC club match fished as a rover in the Minehead area saw cod up to 7lb2oz recorded with plenty of dogfish caught. Dan Spearman from Barnstable made a last minute change of plan from trout fishing locally to pop to Minehead for a Ray and got rewarded with a cracking brace of Blonde Ray's weighing 17lb1oz and 15lb6oz in consecutive casts. Dan has been hunting a decent blonde ray for a few years in this area and finally it all came good.

Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 19

Kev Goodman caught this 3lb5oz Spotted Ray from Minehead recently

20 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com

CLASSIFIED

Torbay Shore League Presentation Evening

By Mike Spiller A good crowd gathered at The Brixham Sea Anglers Clubhouse to attend the second League presentation.

Many thanks to the lads for inviting me down to present the awards once again.

The winning team for the second year was team 50/50 with 243 points. Best fish of the year went to Bobby Drew with a huge Pollack of 11-12-13 (391%) Bobby also won the best of three fish with a Bull Huss and a Blonde Ray, his total for the three fish was an amazing 643%. I wonder if this percentage will ever be bettered?

Team honours went to the Teignmouth Team who

Sea Angling News, April 2016

CHANNEL ISLANDS CHARTERS

won the K/O cup and the award for the most species recorded. The Brixham Barbs took the honours for the three named fish awards.

Ashley Cockram had the most specimens awarded with his total of ten fish over 100%, his best fish was a cracking Small Eyed Ray of 13-9-10. Best Mackerel went to Jason Hemmings with a fish of 2-3-10 and Roy Repton took the Mullet cup with a huge Golden Grey of 2-14-0.

The new season starts on the 2 April and anyone interested in joining these ultra keen anglers should contact Ashley Cockram or Jason Upham.

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Usual competition rules apply

Sea Angling News, April 2016

WEST WIGHT REPORT

By Arthur Savage

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LAST LAUGH REPORT

By John Skeggs The beginning of March, “Last Laugh” was lifted out and blocked up ashore for 10 days annual maintenance. Having carried out all the jobs it is now gleaming and back on the water for the season ahead.

With the smell of spring in the air and the prospect of some good fishing in the coming months, we have it all to look forward to. Winter is long forgotten !

Our first mid channel wreck trip of the season showed encouraging results with each angler catching several

Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 21

WEST WIGHT / RESULTS

Pollack.. This is 2 – 3 weeks earlier than usual.

Offshore: On the small tides you can expect to catch most species of Rays along with potential record breaking Spurdogs.

Inshore: The Plaice have started to show, although a little thin on the ground, the coming weeks should see the numbers increase ).

Tight Lines John Skeggs (Last Laugh / Lymington ).

RECENT CATCHES ABOARD LAST LAUGH

With the warmer weather holding for this month we have seen the water temperature remaining higher than usual for the time of year, this is keeping the fish inshore with a good selection to go for. Christchurch bay has started to produce a few early Plaice over the banks to the West, these are not big fish with an average size of 1-5 to 2-5 lb but should increase in size and numbers over the next few weeks. Also over the same area there are Thornback ray. Undulates.

Spotted ray. Channel Whiting. Flounder. and a few Bass (returned) so its a real bonus for the start of the season.

The off shore banks are also worth the extra miles over the smaller tides with Spurdog still on the scene. Mr Dan Wells a local angler from Hythe fishing aboard Private Venture boated a superb fish of 26lb 5oz, this fish was weighed aboard and witnessed by all the crew and returned to the water (the fish was full of pups about to give birth) Also over the same area were Blonde ray and Undulates.

Tight Lines.

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RECENT CATCHES ABOARD PRIVATE VENTURE

Spurdog - Private Venture

Ady Hume with early Plaice Private Venture

Mike cottingham Plaice Private Venture

Hugh Shepherd 27lb Blonde Private Venture

Plaice Private Venture

John with early Plaice Private Venture

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22 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com

NEWS / WEYMOUTH

Port Report March: the windy month (aren’t they all?), chilly but with a few calm days and a gradual raising of the average temperature.….always renown for its pollack fishing out on the wrecks with turbot offering a completely different style of fishing from the Shambles Bank.

Although the above offers a reasonable summary of a typical March there have been a few changes over recent years to the fishing patterns. The most obvious is with the plaice fishing. The plaice used to arrive on the Shambles at the end of February with March producing exceptional specimens with many over 5lb and a few over 7lb with an occasional monster over 8lb. The plaice arrived to feed on the little sandeels. Well, the sandeels are still there and, as can be seen from a number of the Weymouth skipper’s social media outpourings, there are a few Shambles turbot about….so why don’t the plaice return?

The species that has replaced the plaice (don’t you just love the English language?) is rays. Blondes, undulates, spotted and even a mention or two of thornback rays. There will be many suggestions as to why we now have the chance of good inshore ray fishing but all the restrictions and the fact that anglers have been in the main have been returning rays for years now must have made some impact. Last year, for example, was outstanding for undulate rays with these inshore marks already producing mixed catches including a last whiting, a sprinkling of very early bream, dogfish and conger.

Offshore, the wreck fishing has been all about the pollack with reports of quality fish in the mid-teens and a couple on the revered 20lb mark. There are so many different lures around now that everyone has their own favourite but you can’t go wrong by checking with your skipper what colours are currently working and, in Weymouth, we are very fortunate to have Weymouth Angling Centre very close to quay. Not only is the Centre extremely well stocked with the local favourites but the staff are keen anglers and very helpful…..and the shop opens early (0630 every day) enough for you to stock up before your chosen boat departures.

March is also the month when skippers prepare their boats for the coming season. A lot of work goes into this and the skippers are rightly proud and protective of their investment.

It’s good to see how today’s modern angler appreciates all this effort and takes as much care of his chosen boat as does his skipper. It is very gratifying to see caring anglers washing off the winter mud and other things from their boots before stepping gracefully onto the vessel’s freshly scrubbed deck which has been cleaned with the angler’s safety in mind.

Sea Angling News, April 2016

Pollack - Alan Wild Fontier

Pollack - Clem Wild Fontier

Pollack - Pete The MEat Wild Fontier

Pollack - Dean Bradshaw Wild Fontier

Pollack - Deano Wild Fontier

Pollack - Bob Morrison Wild Fontier

Pollack - Plughole Wild Fontier

Pollack Wild Fontier

There is the possibility that mackerel could arrive at the end of the month with the southern end of Portland Bill being the most likely place to catch some fresh bait. It is very likely that a solitary mackerel can turn up anywhere in April but I am referring here to the arrival of enough mackerel to help the day’s bait supply.

The Channel Island trips will be underway…there may have already been a couple in March. The spring months are aimed at flatfish on the banks and pollack on the wrecks and inshore reefs. Bait has to be taken on these early trips so do not expect to automatically be able to catch them.

Please check with your skipper as regards the bait situation in advance of your trip as it may well be necessary to order up enough for yourself or your group from your local fish supplier. Again, Weymouth Angling Centre can supply quality bait but you must pre-order. Frozen mackerel baits are very expensive to buy so make the effort of looking after them and keeping them on ice especially if your Channel Island trip is several days long.

Good Luck to everyone in April and thanks to all your keen anglers for supporting the Weymouth fleet throughout the winter months….we look forward to fine catches in ‘the cruellest month’ together.

ATLANTA

Pollack - Gareth - Wild Fontier

Pollack - Hoyle - Wild Fontier

Pollack - Steve - Wild Fontier

Pollack - Rob - Wild Fontier

Reef, Wreck, Shambles & Kidney Bank fishing.

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Wreck, Reef, Shambles & Bank Fishing Individuals, Groups & Novices Welcome 60 Mile COP Licenced, Operating All Year Skipper/Owner, Jeff Clarke Tel-01308425494 / 07778315778 fishonduchess2@btinternet.com

And now for April…already! Last year April was a brilliant month and we were all at sea virtually every day….and then it all went downhill after that with ever present winds. So…. let us sincerely hope for a repeat of last April’s conditions but may they last all season.

The wrecks will still be producing Pollack but (we hope) the cod will arrive. Last year they arrived very early in April…. but it is more usual for the middle of the month onwards.

There will be a few ling about…but no-one wants them as proven by the advertised ling trip on my own boat for April 1st. After many requests for an anchoring/drifting day targeting ling and the date being advertised for 8 months…. there is just ONE taker. This is the first time I have ever cancelled a trip through lack of interest especially when the trip was put together in response to so many anglers telling me how they loved ling fishing. Yeah, right.

Pollack - Allan - Wild Fontier Anyhow, pollack, ling and soon to be cod will be the three target species. There may be a bonus bass so remember to take your camera in order to ‘keep your catch’; there could be a coalfish or two in amongst the pollack and it’s always possible that something very unusual will turn up such as a stray haddock or a john dory…such is the delightful unpredictability of sea angling.

Turbot - Amarisa

Inshore fishing will feature more ray action from a variety of bank and rough ground marks. Boats anchoring The Shambles Bank for turbot will undoubtedly catch rays as part of their day’s variety. There may be a plaice or two from the ‘mussel beds’ south and west of The Shambles…that will be very interesting.

There will be a few bream caught from marks to the east of Weymouth. Expect to see Dave Pitman’s Atlanta featuring early bream along with rays, conger and dogs from the east side reef areas.

Pollack - Bill - Wild Fontier

Pollack - Fish On II

Pollack - Fish On II

Sea Angling News, April 2016

WEYMOUTH / RESULTS

Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 23

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http://www.deepsea.co.uk/boat/offshore_rebel Pollack - Fish On II

Pollack - Fish On II Chris Reekes 26lb Blonde ray - Duchess II

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Caroline 10lb Turbot - Duchess II

y An n J o l l a S

Skipper Colin Baker Wreck, Reef, Shambles & Bank Fishing 60 Mile COP, Licenced & Insured Tel: 07814301708 www.sallyanncharters.co.uk

24 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com

INTERNATIONAL

Silver Dreams

By James Wigglesworth Sometimes in life you get opportunities you simply cannot pass up on. This happened to me when my dad returned from Guinea Bissau last year with tails of giant tarpon that were un tameable, huge nurse sharks and more snapper, barracuda and jacks than you could shake a rod at. Keith and Tim had unfinished business and were keen to revisit the following year and wanted myself and George to join them.

We didn’t take much convincing and so it was decided we were going. Nine months later and we start the long journey to our destination. Now I won’t bore you with all the details but after two flights, an overnight stay on the coast and a three hour boat journey we arrived at the beautiful Orango Island. We were promptly greeted and given a cold beverage then shown to our rooms. We were fishing first thing the following morning so early nights were in order although the excitement and anticipation got the better of me and I cant say I got the shut eye that was required. So the day was upon us and after a quick breakfast we were promptly loaded onto our designated vessels and off we went. The first day involved trying to find some bait fish but the wind made this very difficult so we had an hour or so of trolling where we picked up some fairly respectable barracuda the biggest falling to George that went to 40lb. That was followed with some bottom fishing for snapper and the beautiful cassava and we ended up in the area that is known for the big sharks and Tarpon. Unfortunately these failed to show on our first foray there. The next two days followed a similar pattern with us hunting the bait fish first then fishing a variety of marks and ending up in big fish alley. We had some nice fish between us with Keith boating a variety of sting rays and a nice nurse shark around the 100lb mark, George was consistently banging out cassava and snapper and he also managed one of his target species in the shape of a banjo shark or guitar fish as they are also known. Tim was happy Banging out the species while I was struggling a bit but hey ho that’s fishing. Day four saw us happen upon a huge shoal of feeding jacks and I can honestly say I’ve never seen such hectic chaotic fishing in my life. As we approached a reef the skipper suddenly jumped up and shouted JIG, JIG, JIG, QUICK! This had us all frantically searching for jigs in our bags while being shouted at by Max to hurry up. The next 15-20 minutes were a bit of a blur but we were all simultaneously into the incredibly hard fighting jack crevalle. I think I managed 4 in just one drift. No sooner had you boated one than the skipper was passing you a rod with another one on.

It was great to look around the boat and see everybody smiling with their rods bent double and all of us giggling like school girls. Later that afternoon we stopped off at a mark renowned for big nurse sharks and it wasn’t long before I was into one. Unfortunately after five minutes or so it bit through my trace but a short time later I was into another and after a twenty minute scrap we had the first monster of the week estimated at 260lb. Day five was supposed to be our last on the boat and it turned out to be a day I’ll never forget.

We managed to get some live bait that morning and the day went by with us catching the usual culprits and as the previous days we ended fishing in the area known for producing monsters. It started producing fish from the off with several barracuda and a nice bonus Jack for George, we had black tip sharks circling under the boat and I couldn’t resist reeling my bait off the bottom and instantly hooking one which went nuts. It wasn’t a huge fish and again this one slipped the hook just under the boat. The evening went on and skipper gave out the orders that it was our last drop as we had to head back in for dinner so everybody started preparing for the off.

Sat with my rod in hand I had a savage take that resulted in nothing but on a quick inspection of the bait looked like it

George with a fine guitar fish

George with a 40+lb Barracuda

Keith with a good sized Nurse Shark

had been smashed by a barracuda, knowing we were off any second I quickly dropped the now not so live bait back to the bottom and within seconds I could feel something having a munch. Whatever it was moved off slowly with the bait so I gave it a few seconds before gradually tightening up on my lever drag reel. As soon as the fish felt resistance it just took off and within a matter of seconds there was a huge splash behind the boat and the skipper let out a cry that will stay with me forever...... TARPON, TARPON, TARPON! Before I knew what was happening the anchor rope had been cut and we were off trying to keep up with it. The next two hours and five minutes were the most painful yet most enjoyable I have ever experienced. The first 15 minutes flew by and I had the likes of Tim telling me I had better get comfortable while taking several photos of my distorted face! To the right hand side of me I had our amazing deckhand Hassan talking me through every headshake, run and jump of the fish.... this guy really knew his game. As the minutes rolled into hours he fight settled into a pattern but this didn’t do anything to ease the pressure my back was under. Luckily I had my old man at my side and there were times when I could have easily passed the rod to somebody else but there was no way he was going to let that happen. I won’t lie, I moaned a lot and some very choice words passed my lips on more than one occasion but gradually the fish was tiring. It came up in the water some ten yards off the boat and gave a very lazy roll, this was when we first got sight of the sheer size if her. I said to Hassan “how are you going to land it?” his reply was “don’t worry about that, it’s my job! So all I had to do was concentrate for the last few minutes and we would have her in our grasp and concentrate I did. The skipper was working tirelessly to position the boat so the fish didn’t swim underneath and rub the line on the hull while I just kept the pressure on. It came to the stage where it was either me or her that was going to break and thankfully she submitted first. That shining silver flank just popped up next to the boat and there she was. In the blink of an eye the skipper Ze and Hassan where hanging over the side of the boat and between them they managed to just about pull her over the gunnels. The screams went up followed by lots of man hugging and hand shakeing, we had what we came for....

The Silver Queen. Various weights were being suggested but I couldn’t accept an estimate, I had to know so we took the relevant measurements and photos before we said goodbye to her. It wasn’t until the journey home that we had the weight confirmed at a colossal 264lb (see front cover) which just blew my mind. We were soon to find out that this is only 22lb shy of the world record. Heading back to camp that night was a surreal experience. We had missed dinner and everyone was in bed but the guys at the bar kindly stayed on so we could have a quiet celebratory drink. Let’s just say I slept well that night. We managed to secure a couple more days on the boat in the hope that someone else could hook into one of these leviathans. Unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be and the following days passed with some quality fish being landed just not the monster that we wished for. This holiday exceeded all my expectations and one day I will return. Pepe our guide for the week couldn’t do enough for us and made sure everything ran as smoothly as possible along with all the other staff at the hotel. A special thank you must go out to the old man and Tim who dragged us out there and had to put up with us all week and not forgetting Richard and Kelly at World Sport Fishing for putting the whole trip together. If you fancy a bash at these huge Tarpon and the many other species that dwell in these rich waters then drop them a line on 01480 403293.

James & the crew with a big cuda.

Tim with a Jack Crevalle

Sea Angling News, April 2016

Sea Angling News, April 2016

CHESIL BEACH / NEWS

Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 25

Chesil Beach Report

By Danny Hardwick

Spring is finally here and the winter storms look to have passed. The water clarity is good and getting better day by day. This tends to be that time of year when the fishing is not at its best, with the winter fish leaving and the summer species just starting to move in. One of the first of those warmer water species to arrive is the plaice which is most anglers preferred target along Chesil at this time of year. Cogden to Abbotsbury are the best areas to target the species although anglers with a shorter cast may be better trying Westbexington to Cogden as the further west you go along the beach the less distance is required to hit the clay beds which the plaice like to feed on. Lug or rag baits or a combination of the two fished during the first few hours of daylight seems to be the favoured tactics to bag yourself a few spotties. Early reports are all pointing their fingers to the Westbexington area at present with some good bags of up to 8 plaice but I must add the fishing is patchy all the way along at the moment with one angler having a steady flurry and the next angler having next to nothing. As we progress in to April as long as we don’t have any weather that could colour up the water the bags of plaice will improve and the average size will get better. In my experience April can be a very good month for the plaice, I have caught and witnessed some very good fish in the first week up to 4lb although they do look visibly larger but unfortunately they tend to be very skinny fish at this time of year.

Due to the mild winter we have just experienced I have a feeling the spider crabs may be slightly earlier this year and can be a right nuisance. To avoid losing every hook you own a good tip is to use braid on the last 6inch of your hook length. It does take slightly longer to tie traces but will save you loads of fishing time on the beach. The crabs are not there yet this is just a warning and something to prepare for.

The ray fishing all the way along Chesil so far this year has been exceptional with a lot of undulate and

thornback ray showing mainly at night. Ferrybridge to Abbotsbury are the best areas to target the better fish but you have a chance of a ray or two anywhere along Chesil. Most venues around the British coastline you can target small eyed here and thornbacks there, the beautiful thing about Chesil is you stand a chance of nearly all the ray species, undulates, thornbacks, spotted, small eyed, blondes and as most of you probably already know the British record stinger was caught at Ferrybridge just last year. Stingers are a very rare occurrence along Chesil but it just goes to show you never know what you will hook into next and that what makes anglers visit Chesil again and again. Best baits to target the ray are sand eel, mackerel, bluey, peeler or a good fillet of pout. Although fish baits are very good for the rays’ dogfish love the stuff as well so patients and persistence is the key.

One question a lot of anglers have been asking is when do the mackerel come in? There has already been mackerel caught off Ferrybridge, Preston beach in Weymouth and pods of dolphins have been spotted not too far off Portland so early signs are good. The mackerel are not here in great numbers at the moment but if you feather for them over high water you stand a good chance of catching some prime fresh fish baits.

The early mackerel are usually the best to freeze down for bait as at this time of year they are not full of oily bait fish and they stay a lot tougher when defrosted, the later more oily fish tend to end up like mush when defrosted. It’s not uncommon to pick up herring on feathers at this time of year which are also equally as good as mackerel for bait when fresh.

Steve Perry & Harry Quilliam with a couple of early plaice

Jock Melrose with a 11lb 8oz thornie

Mike from chesil bait n tackle with a plaice from westbexington

Over the coming month the bigger mackerel shoals should move in, the plaice numbers should improve along with the ray fishing. I dare say we may also see the first of the smooth hounds make an appearance.

Until next month,,, Happy Hunting!

SEATON ANGLING CENTRE freshly dug ragworm live sandeels live peeler crab all frozen baits

The Harbour, Axemouth Devon EX12 4AA Tel: 01297 625511 Mob: 07930 398313

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 7AM - 6PM www.seatonanglingcentre.co.uk FREE PARKING Tronix●Daiwa●Grauvell●Mainline●Akios Blackrock●Abu●Sonik●Parker Tripods

SEATON

Barry Cooper with a good undulate weighing 14lb 2oz

KAYAK CENTRE

The Harbour, Axemouth Devon EX12 4AA Tel: 01297 625511 Mob: 07930 398313

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 7AM - 6PM FREE PARKING

For all your kayak fishing needs www.seatonkayakcentre.co.uk Ben Stockley with a 7lb 2oz cod caught whilst on a recent plaice fishing session

Chris Buxton with a good plaice of 2lb 6oz

Richard Dean with a cracking 17lb 2oz undulate

6.9m series Cheetah Marine Catamaran.

Engines: Twin Yamaha 60 H.P. Outboards Cruising speed 16 – 18 knots.

Wreck fishing for bass in Lyme bay, from the river Axe in east Devon.

Licensed for 6 persons.

MCA Safety Code Of Practice Category 2 and can operate up to 40 miles offshore.

Robert Franklin with a smooth hound from ferry bridge

Garry Cook 13lb 4oz Undulate landed on a size 6 hook scratching rig

www.devonbassprocharters.co.uk

26 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com

TRONIX PRO / NEWS

Sea Angling News, April 2016

Sea Angling News, April 2016

FIXTURES / SNOWBEE

MATCH PLANNER WEYMOUTH ANGLING SOCIETY OPEN COMPETITIONS Saturday 21st Nov - Sunday 29th , Heaviest fish wk, Dorset rover, fish may be weighed in at tackle shops or HQ after 7pm evenings. Book on by 2pm on 21st, last bag 10pm on 29th.

Saturday 19th December, Xmas fayre, Chesil centre, 2 - 8pm Sunday 27th December, Bangers & Beans Harbour competition, book on in club from 12.30 ,fishing 2pm 7pm last bag 7.30pm.

SAMALITE OPEN COMPETITIONS; August 22nd, Burton , 7pm - midnight September 26th, Abbotsbury, 2 - 7pm October 10th, Chesil Centre, 2 - 7pm December 12th, Chesil centre, 4 - 9pm Contact number for further details on all of above matches, Dave, 07977132951

2016 Samalite Chesil League (open) Date Mar 26th Apr 23rd May 21st Jun 25th Jul 23rd Aug 20th Sept 24th Oct 15th Nov 19th Dec 17th

Venue Bexington (right) Abbotsbury Chesil Centre (right) Cogden Chesil Centre (right) Bexington Abbotsbury Chesil Centre Bexington (left) Chesil Centre

Time 6 - 11pm 6 - 11pm 6 - 11pm 7 - Midnight 7 - Midnight 7 - Midnight 9 am - 2 pm 4 - 9 pm 7 - Midnight 5 - 10 pm

Further details contact 07977132951 new members welcome.

BOGNOR REGIS AMATEUR ANGLING SOCIETY OPEN BEACH COMPETITIONS 2016

Penn Points Sunday 10th April 2016 1030 to1530 to fished at pagham beach booking in and draw for pegs from 0930 at Pagham yacht club, 1 West Front Road PO21 4SY 1930 to 0030 midnight westend beach bognor regis booking in 1830 opposite waverley pub marine drive west PO21 2QA Sunday 4 december 2016 1000 to 1500 pagham beach booking in 0900 pagham yacht club 1 west front road PO21 4SY Saturday 18 june 2016

ALL COMPETITIONS ARE PEGGED PENN POINTS ENTRY COST SENIOR £8 JUNIORS / OAP £ 4 POOL FLAT £1 ROUND £1

TEL JOHN SMALL 07799 762377 AFTER 5 pm

ROVERS TACKLE 2016 MATCHES 2016 Pegged thursday evening matches Measure & return entry fee £10 Payout for 3 longest bags & longest fish – 50% 30% & 20% Only one prize per angler per section.

Flat/round fish – one-off £5 payment. Longest flatfish and roundfish of series – eels & garfish excluded Fishing 8pm – 11.30Pm - peg numbers drawn in the shop. Pre- book only – latest 5pm on the day Date April 21 May 19 August 18 September 15 October 13 November 3 December 1

Venue lee-on-solent clarence wall stokes bay (bistro) pyramids stokes bay (bistro) lee-on-solent stokes bay (bistro) All anglers fish at their own risk

High tide 12.00 pm 11.13 pm 12.00 pm 11.23 pm 10.13 pm 01.13 am 12.23 am

2016 Bexhill Festival of the Sea For the fifth time we are holding the following sea angling competitions during the 2016 Bexhill Festival of the Sea: Junior Pegged Beach Match 4th September (12pm to 4pm) Beach Specimen Hunt 5th to 9th September (9am 5th to 5pm 9th) Boat Species Hunt 11th September (9am to 5pm) Kayak Species Competition 18th September (10am to 3pm) Bass Species Hunt 25th September (12.30am to 16.30pm) Pegged Open Beach Competition 2nd October (10.30am to 15.30pm) There will also be another Charter Boat Species competition from Eastbourne Marina on a Monday in September on a date to be confirmed.

All of these competitions are organised with the assistance and sponsorship of Bexhill Sea Angling Club. We would be extremely grateful if you could include these in your match planner.

Further details will be available on the Festival website in early 2016 www.bexhillseafestival.co.uk

Bognor Regis Amateur Angling Society 52nd Open Boat Fishing Bream Festival One Day Sunday 22 May 2016 0730 To 1630 Alternative Date If First Date Is Cancelled Due To Bad Weather Sunday 29 May 2016 0730 To 1400 Booking In On The Day From One Hour Before The Start Time At Braas Boat Pound Admiralty Gardens Felpham PO22 7AD Or At Littlehampton RNLI Station Fishermans Quay River Road BN17 5BL Bring Your Own Boat Visiting Boat Welcome Cost Seniors £10 Juniors £5 Pool £ 1 Drawn Cash Prizes Subject To Entry Tel: Tony Chant 07766 078977 John Small 07799 762377 After 5pm Please Note It Is The Responsibility Of The Boat Skipper And Crew To Ensure That There Is Adequate Safety Equipment On Board.

Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 27

28 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com West Bay S.A.C West Bay S.A.C.’s annual presentation night held at Highlands End Eype on Saturday 5th March, kicked off as usual with a delicious three course meal. After the meal, chair Rod Barr started proceedings by thanking all those present for attending the evening. Then Maureen Jackson our Vice President stepped up to present the honours to the winners.

The presentation started with the prizes for the club's species league which runs throughout the year. This years winners were Senior League: 1st Ollie Mears 131 pts., 2nd Paul House 127pts, Match points champion Craig Horton 80 pts., Lady Champion Frances Kitchin 46pts.

Handicap League: 1st Paul House 84pts, 2nd Simon Skinner 80pts

TACKLE SHOPS DIRECTORY / RESULTS The evening continued with the presentation of the numerous trophies and awards members can win throughout the year.

The Presentation ended with two awards that are highly valued by club members; the Clubman Shield and the President Cup. Firstly the Clubman Shield which goes to the member who has best supported club events throughout the year and the recipient for 2015 was Craig Horton.

Next the Presidents Cup which is presented to the member who the incumbent president considers has done the most work for the club, this years worthy winner was West Bay Water Sports.

TACKLE SHOPS DIRECTORY ALDERNEY ALDERNEY ANGLING 32 Victoria St., Alderney GY9 3TA Tel/Fax: 01481 824884 Mob: 07781 130304 Email: mark@alderneyangling.com Website: www.alderneyangling.com

DEVON The evening finished off with a raffle and the committee would like to thank all those individuals who donated prizes.

The committee would also like to thank Highlands End for a wonderful meal, Craig Horton for organising the night and Adam Cullingford for collecting and sorting the trophies.

Junior League: 1st & Match points champion Nathan McMaster 95pts & 68pts, 2nd Ewan Chambers 92pts.

SEAVIEW ANGLING 14/15 Faraday hill, Plymouth PL4 0ST. Tel: 01752269698 SEATON ANGLING CENTRE The Harbour, Axmouth, Seaton Devon EX12 4AA Tel: 01297 625511 www.seatonanglingcentre.co.uk HIGH STREET TACKLE, 153 High Street, Ilfracombe, Devon EX34 9EZ info@highstreettackle.co.uk Tel: 07516 730749

DORSET

For the second year running Ollie Mears won all three of the major leagues; the Rickard Cup and Axminster Cup for best weight and points in the Thursday night series, the Andy Neal Roving Challenge for wining the Saturday night rovers and the Daytime Cup for the Sunday afternoon competitions.

Best lady in shore competitions was June Stokes who picked up the Andy Neal Roving Challenge Ladies Trophy & the Ladies Shore Cup. Best junior in senior shore matches was Eden Lynham who won both the Junior Cup (shore) and The Jake Neal Roving Challenge.

On to the boat section and this year’s winner was Gerry Reed who won not only the Symes Cup but the Boat Champions Shield with Charlie Lawson winning the Junior Cup and the Churchouse Boat Plaque for best junior in boat matches.

Sea Angling News, April 2016

Prize winners Left to right: Paul House, Simon Bowditch, Ollie Mears, Aaron Chambers, Gerry Reed, Ewan Chambers, Rod Barr, Frances Kitchin, Craig Horton & Ian Draper.

SWANAGE ANGLING CENTRE 6 High St., Swanage BH19 2NT Tel. 01929 424989 email martin@ swanageanglingcentre.co.uk THE ANGLING CENTRE, 10a West Bay, Bridport tel. 01308 421800 www.fishto.net WEYMOUTH ANGLING CENTRE 2-3 St Edmunds Street, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8QU Tel 01305-777771 Fax 01305-788881 ABBOTSBURY FISHING TACKLE Rodden Row, Abbotsbury Weymouth DT3 4JL Tel 01305 871199. Delivery service to beach available.

WESSEX TACKLE & GUNS 321 Wimbourne Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 3DH 01202 668 244 CHESIL BAIT N TACKLE 77 Portland Road Wyke Regis, Weymouth Dorset DT4 9BE Tel: 01305 766222, www.chesilbaitntackle.co.uk

ESSEX COLCHESTER BAIT & TACKLE, Harwich Road Colchester CO4 3DQ Tel: 01206 860649 www.colchesterbaittackle.co.uk

JERSEY MORNING WATCH TACKLE St Catherines Breakwater, St Martins Jersey JE3 6DD 01534854359

HAMPSHIRE ALLAN’S MARINE 143 Twyford Ave., Portsmouth Tel 02392 671833 www.allansmarine.co.uk ROVERS FISHING TACKLE 178a West St., Fareham, Hants PO16 0EQ Tel. 01329 220354 Fax 01329 829040 roverstackle@yahoo.co.uk POINGDESTRES Unit 11, Southampton Trade Park, Third Avenue, Southampton, Millbrook SO15 0LE 023 8077 2958 www.poingdestres.co.uk

KENT DOLPHIN ANGLING CENTRE 11-13 Queens St. Gravesend. 01474 355440 SEAGULL FISHING TACKLE 4 The Parade, Greatstone, Romney Marsh. 01797 366837 THE ANGLERS DEN 10 Franklin Road, Gillingham Tel. 01634 852180

SOMERSET VEALS FISHING TACKLE, Brunel Rooms, Unity St. Bristol, BS2 0JP. 01179 260790 THYERS FISHING TACKLE, 1A Church Street, Highbridge 01278 786934 Fax 792397 WEST COAST TACKLE The Quay, Minehead Tel. Craig 01643 705745 WEST COAST ANGLING CENTRE 53 Swain St, Watchet Tel. Steve 01984 634807 FISHING TACKLE WAREHOUSE Unit 1 Warne Park Warne Rd Weston-super-Mare Somerset BS23 3TP Tel: 01934 782407 WESTON ANGLING CENTRE 25A Locking Road, W-S-M, North Somerset, BS23 3BY 01934 631140 email: westonanglingcenter@hotmail.co.uk

SUSSEX THE ANGLERS DEN 6 North Road, Pevensey Bay, East Sussex BN24 6AY Tel: 01323-460441 LAGOON BAIT& TACKLE, 327 Kingsway, BN3 4LD Brighton - 01273 415879 TROPIKOI AQUATIC & ANGLING CENTRE Chalcroft Nurseries, Chalcraft Lane, Bognor Regis, West Sussex PO21 5TS Tel: 01243 842660 Email: info@tropikoi.com www.tropikoi.com SQUIRES 25 Southwick Square, Southwick, Brighton BN42 4FP Phone:01273 592903 PRIME ANGLING 74 Brighton Rd, Worthing BN11 2EN Phone:01903 821594 www.primeangling.co.uk/

WALES TELBOY’S TACKLE Amlwch, Anglesey Tel. 01407 832965 www.telboystackle.co.uk All advertising shops are automatically included, but any other shop wishing to be listed can be for just £20 per month. This will give you your shop's name, address and phone/fax number and a bundle of the Sea Angling News each month.

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