Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 539 i Sea Angler

I SUGGESTED IN THIS COLUMN IN OUR previous issue that there would be a lack of support for the Sea Angling 2017 survey and, sure enough, the Angling Trust is asking anglers not to support the Government-backed project. The survey, commissioned by Cefas (the Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science), will build on the results of similar data collection exercises carried out in 2012 and 2016. As reported in Sea Angler 538, the project is designed to fulfil EU requirements for the UK to provide data on recreational catches for a number of species. Anglers will be asked to use logbooks detailing their catches over the course of 2017. However, many believe that the information could be used against anglers. Earlier this year the Angling Trust stated that its…

THERE WAS LITTLE DOUBT THAT this trip was going to be a baptism of fire for my travelling companion Steve Lawrence, who is regarded as something of a flounder expert. Heaving bull huss out from kelp-covered boulders would be a whole new ball game. There was an air of expectancy and excitement as we made our way to the little-known mark of Liddicombe Shute, which nestles between Branscombe and Sidmouth on the coast of South Devon. As we pulled into the car park at Branscombe, which is approached by a series of extremely narrow roads with passing places, the weather was far from good. There was rain in the air with a fresh breeze, but the overcast sky could be a bonus for our fishing. A word of warning, the…

How to go from this... ...to this! I HAVE VISITED THE RAPALA FACTORY , in Finland, and it was fascinating to find out how the company goes about making such an incredible amount of lures. To be honest, though, I was more impressed and interested when I went to Plymouth to watch custom lure maker Hendrik Strydom at work. My own DIY skills are, shall we say, somewhat limited, so to watch an expert work with pieces of wood, wire and lead is really quite something. For many years, Hendrik has produced handmade fishing lures in his spare time, but only recently has he started making a few of these creations for an increasing number of anglers who are hearing about this south-west, wood-turning magician. I find it fascinating how…

• Sunline Super PE 150m (4 strand): Hi-vis green, dark green and light blue. Low stretch for sensitivity and extra-tight braiding for durability. Special finish reduces guide friction. Superior control and response when using lures. Very tough when fishing rough ground. Knots are easy to tie. • Sunline Super PE8 150m (8 strand): Hi-vis orange. Resistant to abrasive structures. Sensitive, low-stretch design to capture delicate bites. Slick, smooth line surface for low guide friction and excellent castability. Knots effortlessly. • Sunline Momentum 4x4 150m (8 strand): High-grade polyethylene and high specific gravity ester mono with amazing specific gravity of 1.05. Less susceptible to the effect of wind and waves, and better able to blend with tide. Trouble-free handling on guides. Excellent abrasion resistance. • Sunline Cast Away 150m (8 strand):…

ADAM KIRBY & DAN SISSONS The Portsmouth-based duo fish ultra-light from shore and boat. They’ll provide answers on light rock fishing (LRF), the go-anywhere tactic where size of fish is secondary to the fun of catching them. PAUL FENECH Sea Angler’s features and tackle editor Paul Fenech is here to solve your shore angling problems. DAVE LEWIS Based in Newport, South Wales, our contributing editor Dave answers boat fishing questions. GARY ROBINSON Galway-based Gary gets a thrill from fishing afloat on a kayak. Send him your kayaking problems. HENRY GILBEY Angler and photojournalist Henry, based in Cornwall, will answer questions on lure angling. Q: Which is the most productive bait and rig for targeting winter cod? M. GLOVER, WHITCHURCH, SHROPSHIRE PF says: Basically, it all depends on where in the…

THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THERE ARE plenty of species to target, but perhaps the most desirable are the nation’s two favourite fish – bass and cod. The Bristol Channel is littered with sandbanks, gullies and other favourable marks, so there is no shortage of fish-holding areas. If you venture further offshore it is possible to reach the amazing porbeagle and blue shark fishing grounds, but you really need the weather and a hefty wallet to cover the fuel costs. During the summer it’spossible to target many species, such as black bream, smoothhounds, bass, pollack, bull huss and rays with general uptiding gear. In winter it’s cod, conger eels and whiting that take centre stage. One word of warning, though. Mumbles (next to Swansea) has the second highest tidal range in the…

BACK IN THE 1980S AND ’90S , boat fishing at the eastern end of the Bristol Channel from October until the end of February was all about fishing for cod. During those halcyon days, the sport ranged from good to outstanding, and on some days it seemed that the only limit to the amount of cod you could catch aboard your boat was the amount of bait you had been able to buy. When the runs of fish were at their peak, you had to place a bait order with your local tackle shop days in advance, specifically for freshly dug lug and rag. Come Friday afternoon, if your name wasn’t in the book, more often than not you would walk out of the tackle shop disappointed. Recently, I happened…

Spiderwire Stealth Smooth 8 RRP: From £14.99 THE BRAND NEW, SUPER-THIN Spiderwire Stealth is being billed as the beginning of a great new generation of fishing braid. Stealth is a brand that anglers rely on to be smooth and strong, and now those looking for a smoother product that whisks through the rod guides with ease, should check out Spiderwire Stealth Smooth. Featuring a consistent, tight weave, Stealth Smooth is a true eight-carrier braid offering the smoothness to produce longer casts. Eight-carrier braid offers massive improvements in strength and shock resistance compared to four and six-carrier braid, while its tight weave helps illiminate fraying too. Sold in a broad size range of 6lb to 80lb, this braid is capable of handling any species. Constructed with what the makers say are…

WINTER can be a great time for going afloat. Whether you’re on a private dinghy or taking a charter trip, those cold, crisp mornings can be exciting as you prepare to steam out over a flat calm sea. With the thought of cod now firmly on every boat angler’s radar, or, perhaps you’ve got an overseas trip planned to places like Norway or Iceland, this money-saving deal will be right up your street. First up is the Lineaeffe Travel Boat rod. Rated at 20-30lb-class and fitted with quality guides and reel seat, it’s a 7ft, three-piece outfit. Broken down, though, it measures just 77cm, making it a perfect travelling rod. Accompanying the rod is the Lineaeffe JD boat multiplier. It features a lightweight yet strong frame and spool with a…

• Ben Conway (below), of Newquay, Cornwall, caught a 22lb 9oz blonde ray from a shore mark in the west of the county. The fish took a sandeel on a pulley dropper rig. Andrew Proudfoot drove from Cornwall to Chesil Beach in Dorset and bagged a 17lb blonde ray. • Kevin Mitchell, of Shirley, Southampton, caught a 6lb 6oz thick-lipped grey mullet (below) at Northam Bridge, Southampton. It was caught on a 12ft quiver-tip rod with 6lb line with freelined bread flake on a size 8 barbless hook. • Alan Painter, of Whitchurch, Hants, caught this 6lb 9oz haddock on October 30 while fishing the EFSA boat event at Penzance, Cornwall. His bait was rag and mackerel on a two-down rig. Alan was fishing from Bluefin, skippered by Sam Narbett.…

A large cuttlefish bait on two size 8/0 hooks produced this 18lb 8oz cod (right) for Dave Lyne, of Bournemouth, Dorset. He caught it on a heavy mono flowing trace just before slack water while fishing aboard Silver Spray II, skippered by Sam Cumming, out of Poole. • Ray Marino, who lives in Totton, Southampton, caught this 10lb cod (right) while fishing out of Lymington from his own boat. The fish, which was caught near the West Lepe Buoy in the Solent, took a double squid on a Pennell rig with size 6/0 hooks.…

AS AN AWFUL SUMMER SUBSIDED into more settled autumnal conditions, albeit winds from the east, the sea finally cleared a little, waves and swell eased and I got out with fly and lure. On the first trip, and none too confident about a persisting colour in the sea, I fished a lure rod, while my optimist friend Garry Davies fished the fly. With the clarity poor, I thought he was wasting his time. Shortly after starting, though, he called out when his rod bent into a good bass. I grabbed my camera, because all summer I had waited to get some shots of fly-caught bass. We were both determined this one wasn’t getting away, but for different reasons. Having caught nothing, my luck changed when we returned that evening. Garry…

“It was the anglers using bottom-fishing tactics who got off to a flier” BEN BRADSTOCK PUT IN THE performance of his life to lift the coveted title of SAMF GB UK Masters champion. During the two days at Cogden, on the mighty Chesil shingle bank in Dorset, the matchman, from Honiton, Devon, scored a perfect two points by winning his section on both days. All the talk leading up to the event was of garfish dominating, but as the first day got underway, it was the anglers using bottom-fishing tactics who got off to a flier. From the start, dogfish and plaice, along with the odd gurnard, provided healthy points for the competitors. Those who decided to use surface methods for garfish found hordes of annoying Joey mackerel a pain.…

A MASSIVE THANK-YOU TO ALL anglers who replied to the EU Commission’s consultation on Fishing Opportunities for 2017. We are united and a formidable force. The Commission was inundated with replies and was clearly listening – it has proposed that in 2017 the Northern bass fishery should only be open to recreational anglers and commercial hook and line fishermen - the most sustainable forms of fishing, yielding the greatest environmental and socio-economic benefits for society. You may already know what the EU Council of Ministers Fishing Opportunities meeting agreed on December 12 and 13 (this issue of Sea Angler goes on sale on December 15, but subscribers sometimes get it earlier). As I wrote this, anglers were getting increasingly nervous about what will be decided. Will the bass stock will…

There must be many examples of popular venues attracting crowds of anglers due to the ease of access or the promise of great fishing, while adjacent marks seemingly get ignored. One such example is the Knap pebble beach, which has long been one of this most popular shore angling venues in South Wales. Located to the west of Barry, there were times when it’s incredible autumn run of whiting often attracted hundreds of anglers. During perfect conditions, consisting of a high spring tide coinciding with frosty weather during the evening, the beach would echo to the persistent hiss of Tilley lamps and tinkle of bells clipped to rod tips (remember those?). ANGLING EFFORT Winter cod fishing could also be good. This was where I caught my best shore-caught cod, a…

GRANTON BREAKWATER, situated in Edinburgh, is a popular venue that gives access to the fantastic fishing that the Firth of Forth has to offer. This 19th century breakwater provides great fishing throughout the year, and its weathered stones provide a haven for many rock-dwelling species, plus a few surprises. Fishing is varied, and it gives great opportunities, including for my LRF passion, either by fishing into the harbour on the inside of the breakwater, or by targeting the open sea. The best fishing, either with lures or bait, is found very close in to the structure. A gentle cast to put your bait 20-30ft out will see it resting at the bottom of a rocky ledge that runs right around the pier. This ledge acts as a fish highway, and…

Henrik starts by creating a lure shape on his lathe Finer carving creates the tapered shape of the lure The proportions are checked with measuring callipers The basic carving is done and a groove made along it Preparing a piece of lead to go in the groove as weight Loops are made to hold split rings and hooks on the wire The through-wire is placed into the groove in the wood The basic wooden lures after completing the wire work After priming the wood, it’s time to choose the colours A spray gun is used to create stunning colour effects From lures for a simple his customers piece of – wood and , they Henrik can produces be unique some to you amazing !…

THE LUCKY LURE During a recent holiday in Cornwall I visited The Angling Centre at Mevagissey to buy some fresh lugworms. While I was waiting for them to be wrapped, I looked at the lures on offer. I eventually chose one costing £5.50. That evening, I fished off the quay at Gorran Haven. I decided to try my new lure and caught a mackerel on the first cast, a garfish on the second and a launce on the third. While trying my luck for a pollack over the weed, I caught a bass, which was released. It was not a big one, but my first from this quay in 60 years of fishing the venue. That made it four species in four casts on the same lure. On reeling in…

THE tournament leader knot is a another very strong connection for attaching your shockleader to the mainline on your reel. This is a low-profile knot that should readily pass through your rod rings. A Form a simple loop in the end of your leader line. B After passing the mainline through the loop, pull loop tight and then make four turns of the mainline around the shockleader. C Take the line back under itself and three times around the leader, ensuring that the end of the leader comes over the top of itself near the knot. D Moisten the line with saliva and pull on the mainline and its end to close up the loops and form the knot. E Once the knot is tight behind the original loop, use…

Each month we’ll select a winning question from each of our shore, boat/kayak and lure/LRF questions. Three lucky readers will get great gear prizes from sponsors Tronixpro. The sponsors reserve the right to send an alternative prize to an equal value. • BEACH: Tronixpro Centurion Rod, worth £149.99. • LURE: HTO Rockfish ML, HTO Rockfish 2000 reel, YKG G-Soul 4 ½ lb braid, HTO lure scissors & three Go! boxes, worth £118.93. • BOAT: Tronixpro Envoy Wave reel, Tronixpro seat box, Tronixpo Boatpro rig selection, worth a total of £109.88. HOW TO ASK A QUESTION • Q&A, Sea Angler, Media House, Lynchwood Business Park, Peterborough PE2 6EA • cliff.brown@bauermedia.co.uk • www.facebook.com/ seaanglermag…

WITH LIMITED DAYLIGHT through to the end of February, the chances are, at some point, you’ll be on board a boat in darkness. It may be an early-morning start, or you may be fishing into late afternoon because of the tide. Either way, fishing in the dark can pose a number of problems. Most charter boats will have outside lighting, but what if you’re on a small boat with a couple of mates, or the boat you are on only has light for the first three-quarters of the deck? There are a number of things you can do to make the experience more enjoyable, so follow my tips to keep you fishing for that fish of a lifetime. USE YOUR HEADLAMP The obvious problem with fishing in the dark is…

PLYMOUTH IS FOREVER FAMOUS AS the port of departure, in September 1620, of the Pilgrim Fathers to America. It was also the arrival point for many historical dignitaries, including Catherine of Aragon in 1501 and Pocahontas in 1616. Plymouth Hoe, overlooking Plymouth Sound, is where, it is said, Sir Francis Drake, in 1588, aware the Spanish Armada were in sight, said he would finish his game of bowls first in order for the wind and tide to turn in his favour before taking on the enemy. Plymouth is equally famous in the development of sea angling as we know it today, making a major contribution to modern tackle and techniques. It was in the 1950s that Plymouth Sea Anglers started to record their catches with a strategy for learning when…

WITH WINTER UPON US, I’ll be fishing at anchor on my kayak from now on, so it’s time to check thoroughly that all the kit is ready for a cold-weather campaign. ANCHOR KIT • Anchor trolley: This is a system combining pulley blocks and a bungee at either end with a loop of cord connected with a carabiner. Make sure it’s in good order. This allows me to clip my warp through from next to my hip and shuttle it aft to sit in-line with the current and fish downtide. The bungee, which absorbs shock and keeps the loop tight against the hull (on both sides), is checked for wear and stretch, the cord loop is tightened and re-tied to take out any stretch, and the carabiners are checked to…

OKUMA ALC-20CS MULTIPLIER SSP: £149.99 I HAVE TO ADMIT WHEN THIS multiplier first landed on my desk, a huge smile spread across my face. It was almost as if someone had tapped into my thoughts and my prayers had suddenly been answered. For here was a reel that appeared to tick every box on my wish list. A reel that looked as though it could accomplish probably everything that my shore fishing demanded. On top of that, the reel looked pretty cool too. The Okuma ALC-20CS, or ALC Mag as it will undoubtedly be known, will certainly appeal to shore anglers who prefer to use a slightly stronger mono than the more conventional 15lb beach line. Anglers who need to cast bigger baits into deeper water, or, over testing ground,…

HOW TO ENTER Simply go to our website at www.seaangler.co.uk  and click the ‘WIN’ tab and then locate the special link to enter this competition. Terms and conditions apply, and the closing date for entries is Janaury 10, 2017. You can enter the other competitions on the site.…

• Charter skipper Colin Penny, of Weymouth, took a trip out of Penzance in search of haddock. Fishing aboard Rob Chapman’s Bite Adventures, Colin caught a 4lb 11oz haddock (above). Among others caught were fish of 7lb 3oz and 6lb for Denise Youngs (below). • An angler fishing for ling with a whole Joey mackerel flapper caught a surprise 3lb 1oz red gurnard. It was taken by Richard Dray, of Kingsteignton, Devon, who was fishing eight miles offshore on Swallow, skippered by Murray Collins, out of Looe, Cornwall.…

• A mackerel bait fished only 50 yards out produced a 12lb 13oz bass for Steve Middleton. The angler from Bognor Regis, West Sussex, was fishing in a club match at his local beach. He used a two-hook flapper rig armed with size 3/0 hooks and fished with a Leeda Icon M Sport rod and Daiwa Shorecast reel. The fish was returned. • Dave Taylor, from Plymouth, Devon, bagged a 10lb 2oz bass on a Yamamoto Senko lure on November 10 at a local mark. • An evening trip to Chesil Beach in Dorset produced a stunning fishing session for Oliver Male. The angler, of Ilminster, Somerset, caught three bass, the best 10lb 1oz, which took a side of mackerel fished in the gutter. He also added a 6lb 10oz…

An angler who thought he had hooked a bass ended up landing a stunning cod weighing 24lb 4oz. Robert Moore and his pal Paul Stuart arrived at Chesil Beach in Dorset to start fishing in the early hours of November 19, but sport was slow. At 4am they decided to sleep for a few hours and resume their fishing at 7am. “I put on two black lug, whacked it out and waited,” said Robert, of Cobham, Surrey. “About 30 minutes later I noticed a bite, struck and had a fish on; a nice undulate ray weighing about 8lb.” After unhooked and returning the fish, he baited up again with two black lug and cuttlefish wrap and cast out. “About 10 minutes later I noticed a little rattle of the rod…

FANCY winning tackle from Shimano by catching a fish? Your target is to catch one over the weight given on our nominated species list. If you do, you automatically win a Mission Accomplished badge, as well as being in with the chance of winning a great monthly tackle prize. Each month we award a Shimano Nexave Surf 400 five-piece rod and a Speedcast XS-B fixed-spool reel, worth a total of £300, to the captor of the best shore fish, chosen on merit. The top boat angler each month, chosen on merit, gets a Beastmaster AX Boat Slim rod and a Tyrnos 20 multiplier reel, worth a total of £320. John Paul, Caerau, Cardiff. Fish: 18lb 1oz blonde ray. Bait: Frozen sandeel on a Pennell rig. Venue: St Mary’s Well Bay,…

BEDLINGTON STATION SAC NIGHT OPEN Amble pier to Tynemouth, 70 anglers Five fish for 15-0-0 caught at Tynemouth secured victory for Mick Davis, with second going to Frank Oldham with four fish for 12-1-0 from Rocky Island at Seaton Sluice. • Result: 1 Mick Davis, 5 fish, 15-0-0 (7pts); 2 Frank Oldham, Whitley Bay, 4, 12-1-0 (6); 3 Dave McLauchlin, 5, 10-1-0 (5). PENN PLUS BRITISH OPEN Deal and Walmer, Kent, 173 anglers For the second year running England international Saul Page won this event. which is now fished on a catch and release basis. He caught 25 fish for 4.110kg. • Result: 1 Saul Page, Deal, 25 fish, 4.110kg (17pts); 2 Andy Hurcombe, Thanet, 19, 3.830kg (16); 3 Rex Palmer, Hastings, 13, 3.810kg, including heaviest fish, 1.850kg ray (15);…

Many years ago I owned a minibus. This glorified van was falling apart, with holes in the floor and its front wings flapping like a seagull’s, but this was in the days before MOT tests. A few of us had arranged to go fishing on a Sunday, but on the Saturday the exhaust dropped off. So, I purchased a new one thinking that, if we fished somewhere like Blyth quayside, the lads would help me fit the new one. At seven on the Sunday morning, I collected two or three of the lads in the Newcastle area, where I lived at the time, and that left me only one to pick up - a young lad who lived in Whitley Bay. You can imagine what this thing sounded like with…

“Be prepared to put in plenty of hours to make it happen” FALLEN LEAVES LIE UPON SODDEN ground, their autumnal colours fading like the daylight of winter days. Trees become threadbare, as Jack Frost’s icy claw sends them into a winter slumber. The nights are long, the central heating goes on, and winter clothing is rummaged from the back of the wardrobe. If you are a sea angler, this time of year would have come to mean only one thing to you…cod fishing. The Bristol Channel has been a hit or miss affair for cod fishing over the last decade, but last December produced some steady fishing, along with some quality cod for those who persevered. With numerous double-figure fish accounted for, and a healthy smattering of smaller examples, many…

ANCHORING A KAYAK Most of my kayak fishing is over rough ground targeting cod among the kelp and pinnacles. The best fishing is during the bigger tides, but the effect of wind and tide on drift fishing often means more paddling than fishing. I decided to give some thought to safe anchoring, and have tried the following method. I remembered reading how some Yorkshire kayak anglers had made anchors with heavy lead weights and large cheap fishing hooks, which could be cut loose if snagged on the seabed. I used an 18in length of pipe, bending it in half, and hammering both halves together to make a doubled length. Next I got two size 10/0 forged hooks and inserted them inside the tube ends, fixing them permanently by hammering. The…

SOMETIMES LADY LUCK SHINES on us when we’re fishing. In my case, I had the good fortune to be on a bass trip the day after a magnificent 15lb 2oz beauty was caught, and the fishing seemed to be on fire. I had organised to visit Littlehampton to fish a big spring tide with my friend Martin Donald on his private boat Bluprint, but, with the weather deteriorating, I was gutted when I heard that he’d boated that double-figure fish. I messaged Martin to congratulate him on his leviathan bass, taken on November 14, and to see what he reckoned our chances were for the following day. “I’ll probably be sticking my nose out for a look tomorrow anyway, but it’s only five minutes for me, whereas you’ve got a…

WE’RE LOOKING FOR THE nation’s favourite charter skippers. Each issue we will throw the spotlight on a top boatman nominated by a Sea Angler reader. Use the form right (photocopies acceptable) to tell us the skipper’s name, boat, port and typical charges, along with the reasons you would recommend their services (use a separate piece of paper if you require more space). It’s your chance to tell Sea Angler’s readers why the skipper is so good and what a great service is provided. We’ll select the best entry for each issue and will award the winning operator with a special Sea Angler plaque that the skipper can display with pride on their vessel. Alternatively, enter by email, with the subject line Top Skipper, with the details listed on the coupon…

OVER THE MANY YEARS THAT I’VE been reviewing boats, I have observed the evolution of several of today’s leading manufacturers of sport-fishing boats. They’ve progressed from producing basic, run-of-the-mill boats into high-quality, superbly-finished vessels that perform equally as well as they look. The Quicksilver Captur 675 Pilothouse is a great example of this. The opening paragraph from the brochure states: “The 675 Pilothouse contains an intelligently designed cockpit for comfort, coupled with class-leading space that is perfect for both fishing and leisure. “The craft’s maximum 200 horsepower engine will allow you to easily reach a cruising speed of 25 knots, and whether you want to relax with friends, or get your line in the water, our SMART edition combines the right mix of cockpit, cabin and fishing options for your…

KAYAK FISHING IS VERY INCLUSIVE . Our many approaches to angling are not only facilitated with a kayak, but can be enhanced. For instance, if you are happy chasing mackerel with feathers, then you can do just that. If you want to look for fish hiding among underwater features, the vessel can get you to within reach of them. If all you desire is to drop a bait beyond the range of shore casters, then the kayak can also provide that service for you. There has been what appears to be a rush to capture the biggest fish, and the general consensus seems to be ‘the bigger the better’. Tope were looked upon as viable target, but kayak anglers soon mastered these fish and progressed to blue sharks and skate.…

IMAX SANDMAN HEADLAMP RRP: £54.99 Perfect for any night trip, with an easy operation, plus an adjustable focus beam. An ultra-white light blasts out 600 lumens with full, half and flash operations, plus red options too. The head can be adjusted to 180°, and the outfit is water resistant. Powered by three AAA batteries (not included) or 2200MAH rechargeable battery (included with charger). • Sold through Imax dealers, tel: 01827 59659. FENIX HL60R RRP: £67.99 Robust and extremely bright, this lightweight model will punch out a maximum of 950 lumens. Features brightness levels of 950, 400, 150, 50 and 5 lumens of light with a maximum beam distance of up to 116m. There are five levels of light comprising of burst (48 minutes), high (three hours), medium (10hrs), low (29hrs)…

WELCOME TO THE SEA ANGLER TACKLE Awards, where you can vote to decide the winners for 2016. In a bid to reward the best in the business for their contribution to angling in 2016, we are calling on every reader to vote for their favourites in 16 categories. It’s been a tough job to decide the shortlists in each category, which include rods, reels, accessories, boats, kayaks, clothing and luggage – however, now it’s up to you to decide. It’s been an impressive year in the tackle sector. Hundreds of innovative products have hit the shelves, with new, rods, reels, terminal tackle and accessories from the biggest names within the industry. Our tackle editor Paul Fenech has been impressed by the quality of tackle released by the top manufacturers this…

Ireland really made home advantage count in the World Shore Championships, held from November 12-19 in County Wexford, by winning both the men’s and women’s events. The hosts took gold in what was the 33rd men’s event and 24th women’s contest, with Alan Mulcahy and Harry McKee Jnr also taking gold and silver in the individual men's competition. In the women’s section, Lisa Gormley and Anne Whitty scooped individual silver and bronze medals, completing a fantastic week for Ireland. In all, Ireland, sponsored by Grauvell, won six out of the eight available medals. During the four matches, Ireland’s men scored 10 day points, with England second on 18 and Spain third with 19. In an event featuring 18 teams, Wales finished sixth and Scotland ninth. With Ireland taking gold and…

• This 9lb 6oz bass was caught on November 13 by Arran Harmer during a Lymington and District SFC trip aboard Strongbow, skippered by Dick Peckham, out of Poole, Dorset. • This 9lb bass fell to a Fiiish Black Minnow lure fished by Nick Pearce at a rivermouth near Seaton, Devon. The angler, from Beer, took it on his second cast. • Boat anglers have got in on the bass action too. A personal best fish of 16lb 4oz was boated by charter angler Bob Booth while fishing out of Weymouth, Dorset. The angler, from Nottingham, was aboard Paul Whittall’s Offshore Rebel and caught it on a blue and white Sidewinder lure.…

• Tommy Essery, aged six, used a surface popper to tempt this 2lb 8oz bass. The Chichester, West Sussex angler was lure fishing from a private boat out of his local port at Pagham. • On his maiden boat trip, Kevin Boyt, 11, bagged his first cod, which tipped the scales to 12lb. He was fishing aboard Reel Easy Charters, skippered by Kevin Williams out of Keyhaven, Hants. • Oli Cole, from Watchet, Somerset, fished under the guidance of experienced skipper Dave Roberts on board AlyKat out of Minehead to catch this 12lb blonde ray. The 16-year-old used squid and mackerel for bait. • A night session at South Shields pier in Tyne & Wear yielded a decent mixed bag of codling, mackerel, plaice, dabs and coalfish for 14-year-old Ellis…

1 Only matches fished at weekends or bank holidays can qualify for Penn points, but no other weekdays. 2 Multi-day events (maximum five days) will be accepted (subject to at least one day complying with rule 1), but with points awarded for the overall result and only up to a maximum of 20pts for the winner. Zone points will be based only on the daily entry, not the overall entry. 3 Multi-day species festivals will only attract points for total entry, not multiplied by the number of days. 4 League events and other major national competitions will be awarded Penn points at the editor’s discretion. 5 All events must be open. League, pairs and team competitions are allowed only if they have a separate individual event. 6 Matches only to…