Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 554 i Sea Angler

I MAKE NO EXCUSES FOR DEVOTING MUCH of this column to two superb achievements because we should all celebrate the successes of other anglers. First, I salute the amazing catch of Dave Wood-Brignall who, on January 21, caught what is possibly the largest-ever Atlantic halibut from the shore, weighing a colossal 153lb 8oz. The 46-year-old carpenter from Romney Marsh, Kent, is a regular visitor to Guided Fishing Norway, located at Bodo in the Saltstraumen region of that country. Two hours into his session the huge flattie grabbed a large herring bait on a size 10/0 Gamakatsu hook, and stripped more than 200 yards of mono from the reel on its first run. After Dave gained small amounts of line back on to his Avet SX Raptor multiplier, the fish suddenly…

EASY ACCESS AND PLENTY OF FISH all year is a dream come true for many anglers, none more so than Tony Irwin. He has fished at Littleton-upon-Severn for 60 years, having been introduced to the venue at the age of nine by his father. It has become his favourite destination along the Bristol Channel and the mouth of the River Severn, and over the past year Tony, now nearly 70, has been sending me photographs of some incredible catches from the area, including bags of codling and bass weighing up to 8lb. So I was delighted to get an invitation to join him for a session, looking forward to seeing how he approaches his fishing on the venue. CONSISTENT VENUE Littleton-upon-Severn, SouthGloucestershire, is one of the most consistent venues for…

Shark fishing is something that I have always wanted to do, and last year I caught my first blue shark while fishing on a charter boat. It was an amazing day, but boat fishing is not really my cup of tea. There’s something about fishing from the shore and rocks that makes me feel alive. Anglers don’t catch tope from the shore down here in South Devon, but is a species I wanted to tick off my wish list. Luckily, I knew about an area in North Devon that produces this species. It was the middle of December, and getting to the end of the tope year when the fish move into deeper water. A few of the Sea Angling Adventures team decided to visit North Devon to target these…

BIG RAY DOUBLE Two undulates in the space of three days shake shore record Two record-nudging undulate rays have been landed in the space of three days, with one of the big fish caught from the same venue that produced the British best. On only his third beach fishing session, Maciej ‘Maj’ Sularz caught and released a 19lb 12oz undulate ray. Fishing on January 14 at Chesil Beach, Dorset, he caught it on a whole squid on a size 3/0 hook. “I had been fishing since 11am, and as I was about to pack up when the tip of one of my rods suddenly bent – by then it was around 6.30pm,” he said. “As soon as I picked up the rod I knew I was into something decent.” For…

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 issue we award a Shimano Beastmaster CX bass spinning rod or a Socorro saltwater 500 reel to the captor of the best shore fish, chosen on merit. The top boat angler each issue, chosen on merit, gets a Speedmaster AX Boat Slim 20/30 rod or TLD20 multiplier reel. There is no choice of prize, which is awarded at our discretion. Kim Hodges, Newbury, Berks. Fish: 6lb ballan wrasse. Bait: Fiiish Black Minnow. Venue: Private boat, Littlehampton, West Sussex. Date: Dec…

FEBRUARY 2008 • Isle of Wight angler Steve Cave set a new British record for a shore-caught bass with a fish of 19lb 11oz 12dr. The gas service engineer, from the Isle of Wight, was fishing from the local Sandown pier. It beat the previous best, set in 1988, by a clear 11oz 12dr. • Gordon Mackenzie’s capture of a 183lb common skate from the Isle of Harris was soon eclipsed by one of 204lb for paramedic Andy Porteous, who was shore fishing at Tarbert. • Former world champion and Penn Sea League winner Alan Price became only the fourth person to win the SAMF UK Masters more than once. The event was fished at Pwllheli and Llandudno. • Highlights of our Young Rods pages were a 13lb bass caught…

You need part-defrosted squid, fresh or frozen black lugworms, some bait elastic and a Pennell rig or single size 8/0 hook. Begin by taking one large squid and three or four black lug. If you’re using frozen lug, make sure it has defrosted first. Remove the fins and skin from the squid by peeling it away like this to reveal the white flesh underneath. Leave guts in the squid for this bait, they add scent appeal. See how white the body is once the skin has been removed. Now take three or four black lug and lay them on top of each other. Then find the middle and double them over like this. You should have a nice neat pile of black lug once you have doubled it over –…

HAVING KNOWN Chris Buxton for almost 20 years, his enthusiasm for fishing has always been more than apparent to me. An extremely competent shore angler, who has the ability to pull fish out of thin air when many would struggle, he carefully crafted his art on the shores of the Bristol Channel, but in particular on the coast adjacent to his family’s home town of Clevedon. Even as a young man, he developed a mighty fishing cast that he used to good effect when targeting the winter cod of his home waters. It was little surprise to me to hear that during the latter part of 2017 he had embarked on a career as a charter skipper operating out of Portishead, just a few miles north of Clevedon, and it…

Write to: Sea Angler Mailbox, Media House, Lynchwood Business Park, Peterborough PE2 6EA. Email: cliff.brown@bauermedia.co.uk COD IN DECLINE As interesting as it was, the article on cod fishing in the Bristol Channel (issue 552) had one major fact missing. In mhy view, there are few cod left to be caught from the northern shores of the Bristol Channel. It was not too long ago when I could almost guarantee a few at least each trip, and I would fish twice a week. Now, I hardly bother because for the last three years codling have been difficult to find. The information that Dave Lewis gave on the South Wales marks was spot-on, as always. Although the article does say that it is harder nowadays, people travelling to the Cardiff side of…

• FEATURES: When first arriving on the beach, I look for features such as groynes, tidal patterns out to sea, and changes of colour in the water that could be rough ground. I like to set up close to a groyne and fish the tidal side of the structure, where any natural food in the water collects and attracts fish feeding on shellfish and shrimps. • SETTING UP: Once you have selected where you want to fish, think about where you are going to erect your shelter. Think of wind direction, sea state and tide. Make sure you set up camp above the last tide line, look for the weed line left from the previous tide and keep an adequate distance allowing for rogue waves. Always set up well above…

The porbeagle sharkis one of several species of mackerel shark, the Lamnidae family group that also includes the great white. The current British record, which is also the IGFA all-tackle record for the species, is listed as being 507lb, a fish caught in the Pentland Firth off Scrabster, Scotland, in March 1993. SPECIES Porbeagle sharks, Lamna nasus, are distributed widely in the cold and temperate waters of the North Atlantic and Southern Hemisphere. The meat and fins of the porbeagle are highly valued, which has led to a long history of intense human exploitation. The porbeagle is an active predator that feeds on small to medium-sized fish, including pelagic species such as mackerel, herrings, pilchards and sauries, and bottom species such as cod, pollack and flatfish.…

PAUL FENECH Sea Angler’s features and tackle editor Paul 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 queries. HENRY GILBEY Angler and photo-journalist Henry, based in Cornwall, will answer questions on lure angling. 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.…

• NAME: Ali Davidson • AGE: 29 • ADDRESS: Aberdeen • HOW LONG SEA FISHING? Since I was 12 years old, so 17 years. • FAVOURITE TYPE OF SEA FISHING: Rock fishing around the east coast of Scotland. DAMILTECH SOLUTIONS ULTRABOX RRP: PRICES VARY You can have the Damiltech Ultrabox made to order to your specifications – mine is based on an original Shakespeare Beta Box. As a result, prices for these bespoke items vary. Individual items can be purchased too; for instance, a Tray Toppa costs about £5. My seatbox is fitted with Tray Toppa, Reeltidy, backrest and rig winder tray. My box total was £160, and for a fully-loaded box, that’s a price with which you cannot grumble. Dave at Damiltech Solutions, who custom designs these boxes, is…

SUPER SAVINGS AND BARGAINS GALORE ALL WEEKEND Glasgow Angling Centre play host to another fantastic Open Weekend this year and this one is shaping up to be a cracker with more to see than ever before! It’s almost the start of another great season of fishing and that can only mean one thing to the avid angler – the Glasgow Angling Centre Spring Open Weekend is just around the corner! This year Scotland’s largest FREE angling event will be held from Friday 2nd until Sunday 4th March 2018, and this one is set to be their best yet! The team at GAC will be making a number of improvements to the format this year, but all your favourite bits of the show will still be there. Every major tackle brand…

Sea angling is what makes us really buzz, so it seemed sensible to put all our expertise and knowledge in this sea angling book that not only inspires you to fish, but also shows you how to do it at the same time. With 30 chapters to read, there is a lot of expertise, excitement and knowledge ahead. The 148-page information-packed book is divided into three clear areas – catching seasonal shore species, expert advice on how to fish from classic shore marks and, finally, top tips on how to catch a boat. To explain how rigs are built and work in the water, our artist David Batten has drawn a stunning series of graphics that show clearly what happens to the baited traces and lures when underwater. Scattered throughout…

• Bass Rock SAC biggest fish open, Gullane beach to Torness helipad, East Lothian, 36 anglers: 1 Derek Ayton, Port Seaton, 2-13-0 (3pts); 2 Steve Williams, Jarrow, 2-11-0, also heaviest bag, 4 fish, 10-0-0 (2); 3 Steve Burns, Edinburgh, 2-3-0 (1). • Gower Rockhoppers SAC heaviest fish open, The George, Mumbles, Swansea, 44 anglers: 1 Paul Morgan, Swansea, 3.490kg cod (4pts); 2 John Hearn, Neath, 0.825kg dogfish (3); 3 Mike Green, Mumbles, 0.785kg dogfish (2). • Holt SAC Christmas open, Kelling, Norfolk, 43 anglers: 1 Craig Buy, Colchester, 47 fish, 8-14-0 (4pts); 2 Dave Aldous, Ipswich, 48, 8-0-5 (3); 3 Keith Morley, Gorleston, 7-13-0 (2). • Holt SAC Rocket House open, Salthouse, Norfolk, 12 anglers: 1 Keith Morley, Gorleston, 66cm (1pt); 2 Mike Watts, Ely, 57cm; 3 Tony Thomas, Sheringham,…

FEBRUARY 9: EOBC Flattie Bash, Hornsea and Mappleton, 10am-2pm, catch and release, zoned, £10 entry on day from 8am-10am at Hornsea Floral Hall, info: www.eobc.co.uk or George 07857 550125. • 10: Isle of Man Winter League rnd 8, Queen’s Promenade, 6pm-9pm, 20cm catch & release, dogfish count as 50cm, maximum two hooks, £10 entry, Andrew 07642 490312. 10-11: The 25th Paul Roggeman European Open Beach Championship, Bridlington North Beach to Spurn Point pilot jetty, 9am-3pm both days, weigh in ends 4pm, £4,000 1st each day, £30 weekend ticket, £20 a day, £20 junior weekend, £10 a day, £20 pairs (Sat), £20 fours (Sun), www.eobc.co.uk or paper copy of application form 01482 391669. • 11: East Anglian Team League, Sizewell, 10am-3pm, Rob Tuck 07855 848967. • 17: Southern League rnd 2…

FLOUNDERING AROUND IN estuaries has never really fuelled my enthusiasm, unlike Steve Lawrence, the flounder guru who was my travelling companion when I visited a little-known and barely fished estuary. He really was hopping around like a kid in a sweet shop. Our destination was the Axe Estuary, a relatively small estuary with restricted access except at its lower reaches, which flows into the sea on the eastern side of Seaton. As I headed to Poole, in Dorset, during the early hours in late December to pick up Steve, a heavy frost was glistening on the grass verges; at -2°C, it was a tad chilly. As usual, the mere thought of targeting mud-dwelling flatfish had Steve bubbling with excitement as we headed west, and an hour later crossed the Dorset/Devon…

HAVING GROWN UP IN SUSSEX , MY first sea fish came from the East Arm at Brighton Marina more than 30 years ago. That tiny ballan wrasse left an imprint in my mind and was the beginning of a lifelong passion. The Sussex coastline is blessed with many good piers and breakwaters. From the traditional Worthing Pier (pictured below) in the west to Hastings Pier in the east, we are spoilt for choice for great fishing venues. The breakwaters at Brighton Marina and Shoreham Harbour are incredibly popular, and for very good reason. With 24-hour fishing available, excellent parking facilities, plenty of room and access to deep water, it’s easy to understand why. Young or old, experienced or novice, there’s something for everyone at these venues, and herein lies the…

WHEN SOMEONE IS CATCHING more fish than you, how often do you stop and watch what they are doing, and then learn from it? If you do this, you will catch more fish. It couldn’t be more simple, but I’m constantly amazed at how few anglers take a good look around them when other people are catching fish. It matters not that I will concentrate on bass fishing techniques here, because the same logic applies to all fishing. Recently, three of us were lure fishing for bass, and without doubt what I learnt from that session will catch me more fish in future. It may not do so tomorrow, but at some point I will find myself in a similar situation, and because I stopped and watched and learned I…

IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT BASS FREQUENT A specific reef, gully, patch of sand or weed bed to a timetable of their own. Tagging studies have proved unequivocally that bass are very territorial and habitual in nature. In common with many bass anglers, I think a lot about why they’re present in particular areas, at certain times. For the enthusiast, attempting to figure out these patterns is what forms part of our love affair with this magnificent sporting species. There are factors beyond our control that might throw up an unexpected result. This could a red-letter day or a blank when you really thought the conditions were ‘spot-on’. If you were expecting the bass to be there, what could have occurred for them not to be? HEAD SCRATCHER It’s well…

BASS • Shore: 19lb 13oz 8dr John S Locker • Boat: 19lb 4oz Wayne Milton BLACK BREAM • Shore: 5lb 5oz 1dr C Le Monnier • Boat: 6lb 6oz Tony Heart COUCH’S BREAM • Shore: 2lb 15oz 1dr Lynton Carre • Boat: 6lb 9oz 7dr Ray Fallaize GILTHEAD BREAM • Shore: 9lb 8oz Scott Smy • Boat: 10lb 2oz Roger Simcox PANDORA’S BREAM • Shore: 1lb 2oz Baz Wheater RAY’S BREAM • Shore: 6lb 1oz Jordan Colwell RED BREAM • Boat: 6lb 4oz Patrick Meegan BRILL • Shore: 6lb 12oz Mark Griggs • Boat: 13lb 10oz Tony Hayward TURBOT • Shore: 20lb 2oz Eddy Barham • Boat: 32lb 1oz Steve Scally BULL HUSS • Shore: 21lb 9oz M Urquhart • Boat: 23lb D Nicholson COD • Shore: 32lb Adrian Lloyd…

WHEN FISHING AFLOAT , just how large is a big fish? Of course, this question has no definitive answer because everything depends on exactly where and when you fish, and, of course, an individual’s goals and aspirations. In an attempt at seeking some form of standardisation, from personal experience I would suggest that for the majority of UK boat anglers, fishing in most areas of the country, at most times of the year, a fish in excess of 10lb is a big one. Assuming that catching a double-figure fish is your goal, how many species of fish that weigh in excess of 10lb can you expect to catch on a day’s charter fishing? Again, there is no definitive answer as everything depends on where, when and how you fish. Once…

THE MAIN BENEFIT OF FISHING FROM Watchet is the shelter offered from any prevailing south-westerly winds. You don’t have to go too far off in order to find the fish either, because the Bristol Channel is littered with sandbanks, gullies and other fish-holding marks, and there is no shortage of areas to choose from. If you venture further offshore, it is possible to reach the superb porbeagle and blue shark fishing grounds, but you really need the weather and a hefty wallet to cover the fuel costs. Dan Hawkins, of Reel Deal Charters, has had them to over 460lb on his boat in recent years, although he now spends his summer season fishing out of Ilfracombe, while spending the winter season at Watchet. During the summer it’s possible to target…

A KAYAK IS A VERSATILE CRAFT AND can be shaped and suited to cater to your style of fishing. To assume that it has been designed solely for either the lure or bait angler is wrong. Yet, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been asked: “What’s kayak fishing best for – lures or bait?” Every time I get asked it, I let out a bit of a chuckle. The question is about as daft as asking: “What’s boat fishing best for – lures or bait?” The kayak will allow the user to perform both tasks rather than focusing exclusively on one at the expense of the other. In fact, to focus on either lures or baits exclusively would be a waste of the kayak’s capabilities. ON THE…

ONE OF THOSE DAYS Some years ago, I set my sights on taking up sea angling as a hobby for when I retired and moved near to the coast. I brought rods and reels and tackle and did not unpack them as I was still in full employment. Time moved on and I started to semi-retire, and my son moved to Hove in West Sussex and took up sea fishing. Recently, he suggested that I might like to start using my sea gear during a trip to Hove. I got my fishing gear out for inspection, added new line, leader and clips. I selected the items I anticipated using and settled for just the minimum in the tackle box. Setting off for Hove, I soon suspected it might be one…

• You can get the printed book and Kindle version at www.amazon.co.uk • This book is also available for download at the iBooks store • To view this book, you must have an iPad with iBooks 2 or later and iOS 5 or later, or an iPhone with iOS 8.4 or later, or a Mac with OS X 10.9 or later. The e-book is readable on almost all smartphones and tablets using the free Kindle reader app • Facebook: anglingknots2014 • Website: www.anglingknots.com • A waterproof guide to knots is available via: www.fishingmegastore.com/angling-knots-waterproof-pocket-guide-to-fishing-knots~37397.html SEA FISHING KNOTS – FROM THE REEL TO THE HOOK by Andy Steer ONLINE LINK TO THE VIDEO: • How to tie the Rapala Knot video: https://youtu.be/Kkq78CnM-C4 ALL THE KNOTS SO FAR: •www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjmwIZwVUb0d_Of8H8v46QVga56tbjPo5…

THE BOTTOM LINE IN CASTING IS that if the method is sound, a rod cannot help but propel a rig plenty far enough to catch fish. Or, to put it the other way around, a casting method that doesn’t do that is plain wrong. All popular and time-proven styles have one aim: to make you and your tackle gel so that the rod can propel the rig efficiently. Physical strength hardly comes into it for beach fishing, for even a compact off-ground style powered by nothing more than a modest left-hand pull will throw a baited rig at least 100 metres. The way to succeed is to build your method around a handful of key steps that make a rod operate properly, by which I mean compress early, accelerate through…

Q: What’s the best piece of sea fishing tackle you have purchased recently? Why is it so good? • STEVEN DAVIES: Inova Bait Elastic holder comes with a lanyard. Finding and tying your elastic has never been so easy. • KYLE STUBBS: I find the elastic snaps and retracts back into the housing. • EDDIE HOBBS: Parker 4-8ft adjustable tripod, stable, not too heavy and suits my need for shorter gear. • DEAN CAREY: Gemini disgorger. • WILLIAM HOOPER: Zziplex HSM, a beautiful rod, but also bought some cascade swivels which are handy in strong winds. • ANDY CARPER: 6pz Gemini Splashdown gripper leads. The grips are super strong and the clips take big hooks no problem. • STUART VINE: 15ft Anyfish Anywhere 6 & Bait rods, beautiful. • CHRIS…

Built by Pembrokeshire Yachts in West Wales, the Pirate 22 Cabin has clearly been designed with the requirements of the serious sports fishermen in mind. A quick glance is all that is needed to confirm this, as immediately you’ll take in the ample deck space for fishing, and note the perfect amount of inboard freeboard – 27 inches. Look closer and you’ll find plenty of fixtures and features that anglers appreciate, including an aerated livebait well, rod-rests and racks aplenty, and lots of dry locker stowage space. None of this should be surprising as the man behind the Pirate Boats concept, Howard Williams, is a passionate sport fishermen, who, when not working in his West Wales workshops, is likely to be found in Madeira indulging in his passion for marlin…

PENN SEA LEAGUE CHAMPIONS • 1999 Alan Price • 2000 Alan Price • 2001 Ian Golds • 2002 Alan Price • 2003 Shane Russell • 2004 Joe Arch • 2005 Peter Corker • 2006 Jim Dobie • 2007 Joe Arch • 2008 Dave Roe • 2009 Rob Marshall • 2010 Joe Arch • 2012 George Smith • 2013 Dave Roe • 2014 Paul Medd • 2015 George Smith • 2016 Saul Page • 2017 Ged Stevens A stunning last three months of 2017 ensured a comfortable win in Britain’s most prestigious shore angling event for Barrow’s Ged Stevens. Taking the title of Penn Sea League champion for the first time, the 47-year-old matchman kicked off the year with second place in the annual Irish Winter Shore Festival against a high-quality…

ASSO TWO-DAY OPEN Hythe Parade, Kent, 242 anglers Both days of this event attracted 121 anglers, with Darren Bond taking top spot thanks to a zone win and a third place for four points. The angler from Lancing was third in zone A on day 1 (40 fish, 708pts) and won zone C on day 2 (17 fish, 231pts). The first day produced rays along with plenty of whiting and dabs, with a few soles and plaice. Sport was slower on day 2. For the second year running, the runner-up was Filip Galans, of Blankenberghe, Belgium, with six points, thanks to second in zone A on day 1 (44 fish, 743pts) and fourth in zone D on day 2 (10 fish, 160pts). Third went to Grimsby’s Karl Nangle, with seven…

WITH... SAM HARRIS MBE Veteran angler and presenter of a popular fishing show on radio ONCE WHEN I WAS IN FINLAND working for a Finnish TV company filming a series on angling in Europe, we were taking part in the Salmon Trolling Championships out of Helsinki. The idea was that we went out into the Baltic and trolled for salmon and sea-trout – nothing else could be weighed in. For some reason, I had been made an honorary member of the Finnish team, even though I couldn’t speak the language. Whenever I went across I always used to take a few bottles of spirits for the lads because drink across there is very expensive, so they were always glad to see me. On the first day of the competition I…

AN ELEMENT OF SHORE fishing that’s always impressed me is the vast array of knowledge and experience that can be absorbed during a session. No matter how good you think you are, the important watercraft and venue topography skills picked up over time will undoubtedly make a positive impact on your fishing. If you’re not soaking it up, though, progression in the sport is bound to be a long and slow process, with little or no reward. From the age of nine, it’s fair to say I threw myself fully into shore fishing, especially for cod. During those early years serving my shore angling apprenticeship, I relied heavily on my dad. His knowledge of conditions, tides and, more importantly, venues, proved invaluable to my progress. I wanted to learn everything…

IN THE WEST OF IRELAND THERE’S A CHAIN OF beaches offering some of the finest flounder fishing I’ve ever witnessed. They can produce big fish well in excess of the Irish specimen weight of 2lb 4oz 8dr. It’s not really about the specimens, though, but the sheer numbers of fish these beaches can produce and the consistency of the fishing, day and night, throughout the year, that sets them head and shoulders above other surf marks I’ve fished with flounders specifically in mind. The famous four are Keem Strand (on the western point of Achill Island in Co Mayo), Lacken Strand (between the towns of Ballycastle and Killala on the north Mayo coast), Mullaghmore Strand (close to Bundoran) and Silver Strand (at Malin Beg on the north-west tip of Donegal…

SITTING WITH ACTOR AND television presenter Paul Young in the front room of his home in Glasgow, flicking through old photographs and press cuttings, I was suddenly thrown an unexpected curve ball that could have ended my interview there and then. “The thing is Dave, essentially I am a freshwater fly-fisherman, so mostly I only fish for trout and salmon. I’ve really not done a lot of sea angling.” I stared at him quizzically, spotted the hint of a mischievous grin, and then smashed his delivery back at him. “Well,” I replied, “over the years you’ve certainly done a fair amount of sea angling around Scotland, and further afield.” Without giving him the chance to throw me another unusual delivery, I added: “I know you have also fished at sea…

This 13lb 5oz blonde ray fell to the rod of 11-year-old Tara Streeter when she fished locally on a private boat. The Cardiff angler used downtide tactics, offering squid on a flowing trace. A shore session at Stokes Bay, in Hampshire, yielded this cracking undulate ray that tipped the scales to 10lb 1oz for Samuel James. The 12-year-old, from nearby Fareham, used a three-hook flapper rig armed with squid baits. Lily Bate caught this fantastic flounder weighing 3lb 1oz when she presented a peeler crab bait on a running leger rig. The 11-year-old, from Padstow, Cornwall, was fishing in a local estuary and returned the fish after weighing. A shore trip to Poole harbour in Dorset saw Tom Harker bagging this chunky 2lb 15oz flounder. The seven-year-old, from New Milton,…

BASS BOAT Kim Hodges, Newbury, 9-4*, Littlehampton COD SHORE Scott Peerless, Weston-super-Mare, 15-12 COD BOAT Neil Ford, Portishead, 20-6, Portishead David Lee, Camberley, 24-0, Weymouth CONGER SHORE Joshua Davies, Lake, 20-14*, Sandown pier Matthew Herring, Llanbradach, 60-0*, Barry FLATFISH SHORE Paddy Ennis, Craigavon, 1-0 dab*, Donegal Mark Harris, Canterbury, 1-8 dab, Whitstable Ryan Lewis, Abbotsbury, 2-3 plaice MULLET BOAT Sean Jukes, Telford, 5-10*, Aberdovey RAY SHORE Joshua Davies, Lake, 5-5 spotted*, Ryde pier Simon Dillon, Sandown, 23-6 blonde*, Sandown Steve Gale, Dorchester, 20-0 blonde, Abbotsbury Richard Jones, Pontypridd, 7-15 small-eyed*, Witches Point Stuart Milton, Bridgwater, 9-5 thornback*, Blue Anchor Christopher Noctor, Donegal, 8-11 thornback* Mark Owen, Dunwich, 11-5 thornback* RAY BOAT Clive Hurst, Portchester, 16-10 undulate*, Portsmouth Colton Jones, Port Talbot, 23-0 blonde*, Weymouth Kevin Rishman, Selsey, 20-0 blonde*, Chichester…

FOR MANY REGIONS, FEBRUARY AND MARCH can be a very poor time in terms of what’s available to catch – especially inshore. However, at this time of year, the main tidal estuaries often produce some hectic sport during the traditional migration of spring codling. In years gone by, the sport has been non-stop when the fish are running, so it’s a good idea to make sure that you’re prepared for a standout day afloat. Most of the time the spring run is made up of much smaller fish than those caught throughout the winter. As a rule, these fish are not normally bigger than 5lb. TACKLING UP You’ll need a decent uptide rod or a 12lb-class boat rod to catch these spring codling. Although you’ll be fishing in relatively shallow…

BRITISH COLUMBIA IS THE ONLY province in Canada that borders the Pacific Ocean and is the country’s westernmost province. Located between the Pacific and the Rocky Mountains, the coastline stretches for more than 17,000 miles and includes deep, mountainous fjords and about 6,000 islands, most of which are uninhabited. Much of the province is undeveloped, so populations of many mammals that have become rare in much of the United States still flourish in British Columbia. KEY SPECIES Anglers fishing off the coast of British Columbia target a wide range of different species, many of which are endemic to the Pacific north west. American and Canadian anglers primarily target the five species of Pacific salmon, notably the mighty chinook – or king salmon – and sweet-tasting coho or silver salmon, which…

THERE ARE ALWAYS NEW STARTERS in kayak fishing, and I take an active interest in helping local guys get started, safely, for the benefit of all. I can pass on lessons I’ve learned over 10 years kayaking and they, in turn, get an idea of how to do things without risking experimenting on their own. Key points I address when offering to take people out are anchoring safely and getting back into the kayak if things go wrong. It’s fine doing this when it’s warm and calm, but I usually offer a basic skills session in winter to give them a head start when conditions are more tricky. With cold seas, strengthening winds and the possibility of cod, I bumped into a newcomer and offered to give him some help.…

BEING brought up in the south of England, I have spent most of my fishing life on the shingle beaches of Kent and the surrounding counties. I can remember family holidays staying in Dymchurch and endless days on the beach at Dungeness or Dengemarsh, taking the long walk from the car park by the lighthouse across the shingle with what felt like everything apart from the kitchen sink. After a while, and with some thought, my grandfather made a stretcher-like contraption that we loaded with our equipment and carried to the beach. As time passed, more suitable items were made to assist us in this task. Today, the modern sea angler has everything he can wish for, but, for me, going back to my youth and helping my grandfather design…

THERE IS SOMETHING INCREDIBLY satisfying about catching fish on baits that you’ve put time and effort into preparing. While digging for them is possibly the most strenuous part of bait preparation, storing the baits until your fishing session can be the most challenging. Of all the worms, ragworms are probably the easiest to keep, being relatively hassle-free, and they don’t require as much attention as other types. Fridge temperature is very important, but often domestic fridges are far too cold. Ideally, your fridge should be around 8°C, but if it’s below this you’ll find your worms start fizzing and popping – a tell-tale sign that they are on their way out. Once your fridge is at its correct temperature, you can start storing worms. You’ll need a storage vessel. Many…

DAIWA SHORECAST 6000B FIXED-SPOOL REEL RRP: £79.99 The outstanding feature of this quality shore fixed-spool reel is the very large aluminium spool capacity of 530m of 15lb mono. Weighing just 655g, it boasts a 4.9:1 crank, Air Rotor, Twist Buster, Crosswrap and huge 15kg of drag. • For more info or to locate your nearest Daiwa stockist, tel: 01698 355723. Web: www.daiwasports.co.uk DAIWA ISOFLOT FLOTATION JACKET RRP: £110 This is Daiwa’s most recent certified flotation jacket, which is designed to offer ultimate freedom for anglers, especially when casting. It has the same buoyancy as a conventional, longer outfit and is incredibly comfortable and warm. It features a tough outer shell in 210D nylon Oxford, making it totally wind and waterproof, with a rating of WP5000. In addition, it has a…