Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 564 i Sea Angler

WHILE BREXIT IS DIVIDING OPINION, SEA ANGLING IS trying to gain some advantage. For example, many anglers hoped the Fisheries Bill would provide a Brexit dividend in terms of the UK seizing control of its own waters, but our representative body, the Angling Trust, is calling it a missed opportunity. On what could be a more positive note, those seeking a legitimate bluefin tuna fishery in the UK hope to use Brexit to their advantage. A campaign has been launched to establish a regulated, live-release UK tuna fishery, which would set a new benchmark for how such fisheries should be managed globally. Campaigners hope Brexit will help us to grab a share of the tuna quota. Find out how on page 40. Back to the subject of the long-awaited Fisheries…

WALTON-ON-THE-NAZE, IN Essex, is a seaside resort where I grew up and, although I now live a few miles away in Clacton, you will usually see me fishing somewhere along my home town’s shoreline. It also boasts the second longest amusement pier in England, which is also good for fishing, along with stretches of golden sands adorned with multi-coloured beach huts. Anglers sometimes forget how well these beaches can fish, but with a bit of thought, and the correct bait and tackle, there are some good catches to be had here. It’s a great place to fish for most of the year. The only time I avoid it is in January and February when those pesky sprats arrive in the Thames Estuary and most of the local fish are preoccupied…

HAVING SEEN SOME ANGLING Adventures footage of me abseiling down a cliff to target rays, I was set a challenge by top Yorkshire angler Paul Medd. He wanted to introduce me to a magical venue known as the ‘Bempton Bird Dash’, which I’m told is one of the best cod fishing venues in Yorkshire. Not for the faint-hearted, it involved me turning into a mountaineer and using a harness and attaching myself to ropes to descend the 300ft cliff face. It was something, I was told, that had never been covered by any magazine writer. Many have reached the point of the entrance to the mark and returned to their car. My date with destiny was during September’s 108th Scarborough Angling Festival. In the history of UK sea angling, the…

Henry Gilbey: What made you want to open up a tackle shop specialising in modern lure fishing tackle? Ben: It was an accident really, and never my plan. Being a bass angler/tackle tart and website designer, I was working on a new lure fishing review site at the time; this was early 2010. I used to import so much kit from Japan for my own use that I started rating and reviewing it on different technical elements; lures mostly. We lived in St Merryn, North Cornwall, at the time, and my business partner and then girlfriend, Jo, wanted to open a shop of her own. There was a small retail premises available in the village so I started joking about it making a good tackle shop. To my surprise, she…

BASS SHORE David Andrews, Chorley, 6-4, Morecambe Bay Steven Burbridge, Gravesend, 9-0*, Sussex Stephen O’Neill, Carrigaline, 10-0, Cork harbour Colin Wright, Chatham, 10-8*, Dover BASS BOAT Sid Griffiths, Millcombe, 17-4, Dartmouth Adele Harrison, Carlisle, 12-4*, Port Logan BREAM SHORE Gary Le Cloarec, St Sampson, 5-7 gilthead, St Sampson BREAM BOAT All caught at Weymouth unless stated John Guntrip, Banbury, 3-4 David Nicholls, Torpoint, 5-0, Eddystone Lighthouse Peter Rogers, Banbury, 3-3 Ben Prosser, Andover, 3-8 Ken Turner, Saltash, 5-11, Plymouth Norman White, Banbury, 3-3 COALFISH BOAT Donald Ashworth, Blackburn, 34-0, Cullivoe Dominic Wilson, Portpatrick, 30-0, Cullivoe COD SHORE Sean McCaffrey, Scalloway, 17-2*, Scalloway Matthew Philipps, Goodwick, 7-12, Chesil Beach COD BOAT Donald Ashworth, Blackburn, 30-0, Cullivoe Dominic Wilson, Portpatrick, 30-0, Cullivoe CONGER SHORE Matt Simmons, Yeovil, 22-12*, south coast rock mark.…

NAVICO C-MAP EMBARK Navico, the world’s largest manufacturer of marine electronics, has launched C-MAP Embark, a nautical navigation app designed to refresh the planning, cruising and fishing experience – by making it simpler. C-MAP Embark is powered by map data from official hydrographic offices. This data is continuously updated and augmented from thousands of data sources, to help complete gaps in near-shore and inland water bodies, providing C-MAP Embark users with exceptional clarity where it matters most. Updated monthly, the maps work across platforms to ensure you have the most up-to-date charts on your smartphone, tablet or PC. The charts are crafted to show all the information needed to navigate safely, but still offer a clean and clear, user-friendly view. EASY TO READ C-MAP Embark maps are designed to show…

CRACKING THE BASS CODE IS A subject I often discuss with my sons Matty and Bradley. We’re convinced catching each fish requires its own skill level, and knowing where the fish are located is a small part of the equation. It has been a frustrating quest because some shore anglers have been catching bass in big numbers in south-west Scotland. We’ve tried the offshore sandbanks and had a few fish; trolled lures in different depths and had a few; drifted and anchored at bass shore marks and had a few, but we just couldn’t find any degree of consistency or catch the bigger fish that we knew were in the bay. It’s fair to say, the bass have frustrated us for years. Here in Luce Bay, we have picked up…

IT’S NOT THAT LONG AGO, 20 YEARS OR so, that 50lb-class rods were the mainstay of UK boat fishing. More enlightened thinking in the quest for greater sport, and a realisation that big fish could be landed on lighter, well-balanced tackle, saw 30lb-class rods become the kingpin gear more than a decade back. Nowadays, 30lb rods are looked upon as somewhat heavy for average angling, with 15 to 20lb-class rods the more typical choice for everyday situations. This has been brought about by modern technology and the development and manufacturing processes regarding the materials used in rod making. Rod action and blank power in relation to a low weight are the obvious advantages. This also applies to the development of reels as regards weight, gearing, size in relation to line…

WITH THE DAYLIGHT HOURS shortening and the first frosts beginning to nip the fingers, the final months of the year can be a very exciting time for the boat angler. Traditionally, this is the time when we brush off our cod gear, load up with mountains of worms and begin our vigil to target one of our favourite species. There is, however, a different story to be told here. With a myriad of interesting offshore reef systems, my local patch, the Bristol Channel, is home to many bottom-feeding species and the latter end of the year is when they burst into a feeding frenzy. Conger eels, bull huss, spurdogs and rays, to mention but a few, will now be feeding up to see them through the winter. The arrival of…

READING A VENUE One of the biggest headaches any shore angler can experience is choosing where to fish. Simply turning up at the beach and just fishing close to your vehicle will undoubtedly be a mistake. To get the best from a mark, it’s always a great idea to take the time to view it over low tide. Not only will this offer you the chance to see the ground you’ll be fishing over, but you’ll soon spot any potential fish-holding areas – or features – to improve your chances. These areas often involve things like gullies, patches of rock, weed or kelp, and holes that have been scoured out by a recent storm. Finding where these are leaves you with a virtual map of the fishing area in your…

Q: With the winter cod season upon us, I’ve heard that crab cart is a good bait to use. How do you make it? JOSHUA STANBRIDGE, BOURNEMOUTH, DORSET PF says: Crab cart is the inner coral that is found inside a female edible crab from September onwards. It can be mixed with other baits to make it even more pungent, and is usually mounted on the hook with elasticated cotton. Different regions have different regulations on size limits, so check before you collect your own. You can buy them from fishmongers. Remember to only use edible hen crabs that are of legal size. The minimum in the North East is 140mm, but it varies from 130-140mm. Turn the edible crab upside down so the eyes face the floor and, using…

Q: What is your view on these more technical ‘slow jigs’ for surf fishing for bass? ANDY THOMPSON, BRIXHAM, DEVON HG says: They make so much sense, as they can fish so seductively on the drop, and can cover a lot of ground. My only issue is that if you are faced with, say, a Force 5 onshore wind and a raging surf, all attempts at subtlety fly out of the window. Then you are really after something like a simple metal lure that will cut through the wind and hold the turbulent water on a straight retrieve. Q: Which do you prefer for bass fishing, a lure clip or loop knot? TIM RODGERS, HOLT, NORFOLK HG says: There is no getting away from how a loop knot gives your…

FIPS-M WORLD SHORE ANGLING CHAMPIONSHIPS, CONWY, WALES 20-27 OCTOBER, 2018. 18 TEAMS (MEN); 12 TEAMS (LADIES). WHAT PROMISED TO BE A fiercely competitive event certainly proved to be one of the closest in the history of the FIPS-M World Shore Angling Champs. Held on the beaches of Llandudno, Colwyn Bay and Penmaenmawr in Conwy, North Wales, 30 teams comprising the very best shore anglers on the planet gathered to battle it out for shore angling’s greatest prize. Hosted by Conwy County Council and the Welsh Federation of Sea Anglers (WFSA), proceedings kicked off with a fascinating opening ceremony through the streets of Conwy, where all competing countries were presented to the public during a medieval-themed procession. With a day of practice under their belts, it was finally time to get…

Geordie match angler Steve Williams has found a rich vein of form to take the lead in the 2018 Penn Sea League (turn to page 126). The angler, from Jarrow, won the Penn Final at Bossington earlier this year and could be well-placed to win both the league and final in the same year. Seen here fishing for cod at Bog Hall Rocks, near Lynemouth, Northumberland, Steve will be one of many anglers out and about seeking the nation’s favourite fish. Will you be joining the cod fishing action right now?…

A QUICK PINT IN THE PUB TO discuss fishing tactics always seems a sensible idea, and even more so when your drinking partner is the local expert and runs a tackle shop. In my opinion, Steve Liddle is the master when it comes to fishing around the Somerset holiday town of Minehead, so who was I to turn down his suggestion of a pint? We’d set up this trip to seek spurdogs, which, until about two years ago, were fairly rare from the shore anywhere in the Bristol Channel. There were always occasional spurs landed further down in North Devon, but now they seem much more commonplace in Somerset. Being able to actually target them around Minehead is only a very recent occurrence. Some anglers put the increase of the…

“Pollack are one of the mainstays of my autumn fishing and also my best chance of catching a big fish on light gear” During the autumn my focus switches from bullying wrasse to targeting the big, dark-backed, golden-flanked, big-eyed, explosive fighters that patrol the kelp forests around Scotland. Yes, the leopard of the kelp, the pollack. Prevalent all around our coasts, pollack are one of the mainstays of my autumn fishing and also my best chance of catching a big fish on light gear. Generally, my pollack fishing revolves around two types of venue – harbours/ piers and rock marks. Their common denominators are structure and cover. Where you find structure in the water, along with baitfish, you can bet pollack will be around. Pollack will hide in structure and…

MY BASS ADVENTURES OFTEN take me to remote coves, isolated reefs or winding estuary systems, but increasingly the wild surf beaches of the south coast of Ireland have been drawing my curiosity. After plenty of reconnaissance, research and a little bit of retail therapy, I started to focus on these large strips of golden sand in search of silver. Traditionally these large, roaring surf beaches were fished using bait tactics but with the correct gear you can successfully target bass in the surf with lures. The southern counties of Waterford, Cork and Kerry are littered with miles of golden sandy beaches which, in the summer, are abuzz with tourists but as the season tails off and the autumn commences these beaches become almost devoid of people. LOOK FOR STRUCTURE These…

An angler fishing for bass caught what is thought to be an amberjack that could set a new British boat-caught record. John Varcoe was boat fishing at a reef behind Newland Rock, situated a mile north-west of the mouth of the River Camel at Padstow, Cornwall. Fishing the flood tide on Carey Brown’s boat Pirate Jack, the crew had six small bass, which were returned before John had a different type of bite. “I had a hit that was totally different from a bass, wrasse or pollack,” said John, who lives in St Minver. “The fish kept deep. Carey said the rod was bending like a big bass, but after five minutes we got the fish on the boat and because we had both caught amberjacks while on a couple…

■ Kayak angler Gavin Dunn, of Helston, Cornwall, used a Savage lure to catch this 11lb 7oz pollack while fishing off The Lizard. ■ A whole coalfish accounted for this estimated 140lb common skate caught by Mark Clegg, of Berwick-upon-Tweed, who was fishing a Scottish sea loch. ■ On her first fishing trip, Laura Wilson caught a 16lb undulate ray. While fishing out of Exmouth, she caught it on a mackerel bait. ■ Jay Nolan, of Morecambe, Lancs, caught 12 bull huss on mackerel baits during a boat trip off North Wales. His best huss was 10lb 15oz, and he also caught an 8lb 8oz ray. He was aboard Jensen II, skippered by Tony Parry, out of Rhyl. ■ Kyle Sibbald, of Workington, Cumbria, caught a superb 14lb 6oz bull…

■ Only fish caught since October 2018 are eligible. ■ We must see a picture of the fish. We may refuse an entry. ■ You can claim one badge per species in an issue. ■ A further badge can be awarded in future only if you set a new personal best. ■ Enter by post using the coupon; by email (please include information requested on the postal form) to paul.fenech@bauermedia.co.uk ■ Prizes are as stated (Shimano reserves the right to send alternatives). ■ No correspondence will be entered into.…

■ NAME: Kane Wood-Brignall ■ HOME: Romney Marsh, Kent ■ LATEST BUY: Musto BR1 bib and brace ■ PRICE: £65 On a recent shore trip to Bodo, in Norway, Kane invested in a set of Musto BR1 salopettes. “When shore fishing during winter, I prefer to wear a reliable set of salopettes. “These from Musto are worn by professional sailors, who spend a lot of time at sea, to stay warm and dry. That’s good enough for me.” ■ NAME: Harley Thompson ■ HOME: Jarrow, Tyne and Wear ■ LATEST BUY: Palm PFD ■ PRICE: £35 Six-year-old Harley is one of the brightest and most talented shore anglers to appear on the scene. “I love fishing for cod from the rocks so it’s important to stay safe at all times.…

Onyer Marks Sea Fishing Charters operates in Luce Bay and has a pair of four-person, purpose-built 21ft angling vessels operating off south-west Scotland. They have made their name catching both big numbers of tope and a number of large tope over the British record, and regularly return record spurdogs and bull huss. Customers can also sample light-tackle pollack sport in only 30ft of water, with fish regularly weighing more than 10lb. It is a catch-and-release policy on these boats, apart from a few mackerel and sandeels for bait. To fish aboard Onyer Marks and Onyer Marks Too, tel: 01776 840346 and 07909 870300. ■ Website: www.onyermarks.co.uk…

CAUGHT USING THE SAME TACTICS and methods as cod, when it comes to the fight there is no question that a ling fights hardest. Where cod will lunge and give deep heavy runs, the ling will run and take line like the best of fish using the length of its body in fury to shake for freedom, which can be detected in the rod tip by the distinct rattling movements. Being a member of the same order of fish as cod, the ling has a similar colouration and a chin barbule, along with sensory glands on the head and a long lateral line to sniff out or sense anything that could be a potential meal. Offering the same edible qualities as cod, the only thing that really differs between the…

THE Dropshot rig is a very effective method of presenting a lure close to the seabed and keeping it in the zone. By adjusting the distance of the hook to the weight, you vary how close to the bottom you fish, even with a very tiny lure. The diagram (right)shows the rig and hook sizes to use with this set-up, such as size 14 with a 15mm Delalande Teaser. COMING SOON Andy Steer’s new LRF & HRF Knots & Rigs Book, packed full of great advice to help you discover the world of Light Rock Fishing, Heavy Rock Fishing or Light Game Fishing. ONLINE LINK TO THE VIDEO: https://youtu.be/v4froDUpWJE…

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. MARK CRAME Suffolk-based Mark 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.…

Q: Can you advise on how to fit handrails to my Orkney 440 boat? Should I install backing plates to secure the brackets, or could I just screw them to the boat? SIMON BARRETT, MILFORD HAVEN, PEMBS DL says: I recommend you fit backing plates on any accessory or piece of equipment you add to your boat that is intended or likely to be load-bearing, such as a handrail. A backing plate helps to spread the load over a wider surface area, thus ensuring a much stronger bond than if it were fixed using screws or bolts alone. Q: When connecting a new fuel tank in my boat, I occasionally get a small amount of fuel leakage. Is this normal? DYLAN WALTERS, BRENTWOOD, ESSEX DL says: A very slight amount…

ALDEBURGH ‘BLIND’ OPEN Aldeburgh, Suffolk, 135 anglers In his first match, Craig Wallis won this annual event with four fish for 1-9-8 from peg 8. Second went to Rick Bennett on page 6 with two fish for 1-1-8, while third was shared between Louie Smith on peg 54 with three fish and Austin Adams at peg 77 with one fish, both for 0-13-0. ■ Result: 1 Craig Wallis, Suffolk, 4 fish, 1-9-8 (13pts); 2 Rick Bennett, Ipswich, 2, 1-1-8 (12); Jt 3 Louie Smith, Dover, 3 & Austin Adams, Ipswich, 1 (the heaviest fish), both 0-13-8 (both 11). Zone – Ian Reynolds, South Benfleet, 1, 0-7-0 (4). PENN PLUS BARRY FESTIVAL Cold Knap & Porthkerry, Vale of Glamorgan, 110 anglers Top spot went to John Bray, of Barry, with two…

■ With £10,000 in tackle prizes spread over the two divisions, points, based on entries, are awarded to the top three, section winners and captors of the largest fish caught in each designated Penn match. Penn also awards a prize of a 525 Mag reel to the angler scoring the most points in matches shown in each issue. If there is a tie, the winner will be the angler whose total is from the greatest number of results and is then chosen on merit by the editor. An angler can win only one reel during the year. To win a prize you must be registered with the Penn Sea League – supply your name, address, phone and email. Send fixtures, results and league registration by email to: cliff.brown@bauermedia.co.uk…

UNLOCKING THE SECRETS AND potential of some marks can be frustrating, even for the most experienced anglers, with tidal and weather conditions often being a major factor in success. That’s before we even consider if the target species plays hide and seek. One such area is the beach to the east of Swanage running up towards the towering cliffs at Ballard Down, which eventually drop down to Old Harry Rocks, a very fishy area in its own rights. Over the years I have fished this area of Dorset on a number of occasions with a varying success rate. Some hefty rays often figure at the top end of the beach just before the rocky section starts, especially over the low water period at night. Low water allows anglers to cast…

GETTING THERE From the M5, take the A39 past Bridgwater and Watchet to Minehead. You can also follow the A358 from junction 25 to Watchet and join the A39 to Minehead. TACKLE SHOPS I recommend visiting or contacting the local tackle shops, asking for additional information on venues, bait and tackle. ■ Westcoast Angling Centre, 53 Swain Street, Watchet TA23 0AG. Contact Steve Liddle, tel 01984 634807. ■ Westcoast Tackle, Quay Street, Minehead TA24 5UL. Contact Craig Butler, tel 01643 705745. Craig also provides guided fishing in the Minehead area, tel 07528 208758.…

HRF HART BONY This small metal jig has been incredibly successful for me, and is my go-to lure for fishing for pollack, coalfish and cod. It is capable of taking many species, even squid. It is a compact jig, with the 18g version being only 6cm, and the 28g being 8cm. This means it absolutely flies when you cast it and is the perfect lure for achieving distance. The finish on the lure is excellent and really tough; mine get regularly rattled on rocks, and despite a few chips to the varnish, the paint job holds up really well. The lures have a detailed, lifelike finish and give out lots of flash. They also have three luminous strike points under the chin at the head end, and two ‘eyes’ at…

A CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN LAUNCHED to establish a regulated, science-based, live-release UK tuna fishery, which would be world-leading and set a new benchmark for how such fisheries should be managed worldwide. In recent years, huge Atlantic bluefin tuna have appeared each summer in UK waters. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) began a stock recovery programme in 2007, which has seen numbers recover sharply from danger levels. From Cornwall and Wales to the Outer Hebrides, these fish are now present in unprecedented numbers. Fish up to 320kg have been hooked accidentally, and released by shark anglers. Until the 1950s the UK had a thriving recreational bluefin fishery operating from Yorkshire, but commercial over-fishing of herring saw tuna stocks collapse. Representatives of the Angling Trust and campaign…

Paul ‘Pablo’ Phillips has two reasons to celebrate. First he caught a personal best bass, measuring 64cm long, while fishing the Walney Channel, but then watched in horror as his rod and reel were pulled from his tripod and disappeared into the sea. Five days later, while out bait digging, his friend found the tackle. “A new personal best and my gear back. Happy days!” said Paul, from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. Perhaps his next task should be to buy a lottery ticket.…

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 superb Shimano reel to the captor of the best shore fish and best boat-caught fish, both chosen on merit. There is no choice of prize, which is awarded at our discretion. Donald Ashworth, Blackburn, Lancs. Fish: 30lb cod. Bait: Lure. Venue: Oberon (Kenny Graham), Cullivoe, Shetlands. Date: Oct 16. Keith Johnson, Alton, Hants. Fish: 32lb blonde ray. Bait: Mackerel on a running leger rig. Venue: Valkyrie 6 (Zac Cairns), Hayling Island, Hants. Date: Sept 29. Ken…

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…

TEAM VASS WINTER 350 HEAVY-DUTY CLOTHING RRP: JACKET: £115.95; SMOCK: £94.95; BIB AND BRACE: £74.95 Fishing from the beach or boat during winter can be no fun at all if you’re wearing clothing that is inadequate to protect you from the elements. Staying warm and dry during a session is vitally important. I’ve worn so many outfits over the years, and while some did a sterling job, others failed miserably. Now, though, the latest Winter 350 Edition, from Vass, has caught my eye and looks like it could be just what I need for my cold weather fishing sorties. The heavy-duty jacket, smock and bib and brace are incredibly tough on the outside, while on the inside they are lined and  quilted. The downside, some might think, is that they…

THIS MONTH’S offer showcases a superb fixed-spool reel, together with some quality mono mainline and shockleader. Star of the show is the Tronixpro Envoy 7000 fixed-spool reel. Featuring 5+1 bearings, with a cranking power of 4.1:1, it’s ideal for conquering all of your winter beach sessions. Not only does it possess enough grunt to beat a nodding cod, or a battling bass, it’s also incredibly smooth and easy to master. The frame is lightweight and will certainly balance perfectly on your chosen beachcaster or Continental-style outfit. Other features include an infinite anti-reverse and powerful front drag system. Accompanied with a high-capacity spool that will easily swallow up 270yds of 17lb, or, 230yds of 20lb mono mainline – it even comes with a spare graphite spool. Finished in super-stylish chrome, it’s…

IF THERE IS A PRETTIER MARINA THAN BIRDHAM Pool anywhere in the UK then I have yet to visit it. Located in the upper reaches of Chichester Harbour, Birdham was built in 1937, which makes it the oldest marina in the country. It’s also home to RBS Marine, which builds the hugely practical range of Kingfisher Powercats. Recently, I travelled down to the West Sussex coast to cast a critical eye over its Kingfisher 450CC Minicat, and right off the bat I will say it has been a long time since I have been so enthused by a small angling boat; she really is a little cracker! Fabricated out of marine-grade aluminium in nearby Portsmouth, the build quality of the 450CC Minicat is very good. Certainly, this is a solid…

NOVEMBER 2008 ■ Isle of Wight angler Chris Duff added a new species to the island’s local record list when he caught a 3lb 10oz Ray’s bream. The angler, from Cowes, was spinning for bass at Atherfield when his lure was taken by the bream. ■ The formation of the Angling Trust was a step closer. The Trust’s chief executive would be Mark Lloyd, who said the body aimed to recruit 100,000 anglers by 2011, and that the vast majority of angling clubs in the country would join. ■ Scientists discovered a greater weever in the tidal River Thames, bringing the total of recorded fish species found between Fulham and Tilbury to 125. ■ Roger Beer became what was thought to be the only angler to catch congers of 50lb-plus…

ON THE 31ST JULY 2012 VIC Haigh passed away – he was 82 years old. Some of Sea Angler magazine’s more mature readers may remember that Vic used to run the popular Endeavour fleet of charter boats out of Aberystwyth, in West Wales, and that for many years he contributed a monthly local prospects report covering Cardigan Bay. Vic was one of the great characters of our sport, and some of my earliest charter boat memories are of hot summer days spent aboard various boats in the Endeavour fleet. I believe that at one time there were three of these, traditional wooden displacement hulls that invariably started to roll before they had even left Aberystwyth’s quaint little harbour. I can clearly remember the pungent whiff of diesel and fish oil…

WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT some soft plastics in our tackle boxes? I’ve been using soft plastic lures for more than two decades. Back in the early 1990s, before jellyworms and shads were readily available in UK shops, I’d been using jellyworms during the summer for bass in the Thames Estuary. I brought them back from a trip to a Bass Pro shop in Texas while on holiday. A year or so later we saw a huge influx of jellyworms, closely followed by shads, into the UK marketplace – and the rest is history. This rubber invasion had nothing to do with me – I wasn’t working in the industry at that point, it was just pure coincidence. How I wish I’d had the foresight to start importing them. There…

THE EU FISHERIES MINISTERS ARE meeting in early December to decide bass fishing opportunities for 2019. We need to get our voices heard. We should never have had the bass bag limit taken away from us in the first place. But, thanks to our combined efforts and the political pressure that sea anglers can bring to bear when we are angry, we have successfully won back the bag limit in record time. Our campaign to save the bass stock is starting to bear fruit too. Scientists expect that by 2020 the stock will be well on the way to recovery; and the only people legally allowed to target bass now are sea anglers and commercial hook and liners, setting the foundations for a sustainable bass fishery in the future. The…

■ Bass Master Kerry open, Kilcummin, County Mayo, 33 anglers: 1 Rosaleene Murphy, 12 fish, 310pts (3pts); 2 Chris O’Sullivan, Tralee, 7, 270, including longest fish, 57cm painted ray (2); 3 James Allman, Tralee, 7, 212 (1). ■ Bexhill Festival of the Sea open, Bexhill, East Sussex, 30 anglers (result decided on continental system): 1 Nathan Elliott, Dover, 552pts (3pts); 2 Scott Brown, 292 (2); 3 Ian Hopper, 359 (1). Heaviest fish – Tom Wells, 53cm bass. ■ Chesil Bait ‘n’ Tackle open, Ferrybridge, Dorset, 30 anglers: 1 Ben Bradstock, Honiton, 31 fish, 1196pts (3); 2 Jeff Fisk, Bournemouth, 35, 1014 (2); 3 James Madsen, Clevedon, 14, 880, including heaviest fish, cod 290pts (1). ■ East Anglian Teams of Five open, Felixstowe, Suffolk, 66 anglers: 1 Steve Adams, Shotley, 7-13-5…

NOVEMBER • 17: All Ireland Cod Championships, Youghal, 4.30pm-9.30pm, JP 00353 (0)87 2861669 or John 00353 (0)87 741 3964. • 17-18: Morecambe Bay two-day open, noon-4pm Sat, 1pm-5pm Sun, 50 pegs, book on 9.30am-10.30am at Gerry’s, £50 entry, John at Gerry’s 01524 422146. • 17-18: Ian Reid Memorial open, Kirkcaldy noon-4pm Sat, Leven, noon-4pm Sun, register from 10am-11am Kirkcaldy beach snack bar, 60 pegs, measure & return, all fish count, size 6 minimum hook size, presentation form 4.30pm at Burt’s Bar, Buckhaven, David 07940 111729 or Alan 07872 899791. • 18: The 58th South Wales Open Championships (Garry Evans Seamaster), Penarth, 12.30pm-4.30pm, Bob 02920 70699. • 18: Country Stores Welsh Flounder Festival, Loughor, 9.30am-2.30pm, Country Stores, 01792 875050 or 07970 404522 (evenings). • 18: Weston Outcasts SAC Burnham open, noon-4pm,…

MANY YEARS AGO, AS CHAIRMAN of a car factory’s angling club, I was organising a trip to Northern Ireland for more than 40 of its members. The Tourist Board had invited me and three club officials to check out the boats and accommodation. It had been arranged for us to meet one of the charter boat skippers at his departure point. Arriving about 10 minutes early, we drove along the pier but there was no-one there. When we got towards the end of the pier, we saw a pile of items on the ground and got out of the car to see what they were. We got the shock of our lives. There on the ground were a couple of shotguns and three rifles with boxes of ammunition. Thinking we…