Weston beach was again the venue for this midweek match. Most of the 11 anglers who fished were not disappointed with the numbers of fish caught including ray ,conger, flounder and some very nice sized whiting.
Russ Tinklin was the victor with a ray and about 7 whiting. Andy Shopland managed 1 conger to secure 2nd place and John Lintern had a mixed bag of fish for third place.
The results are very close in this years league. The final league positions will not be decided until after the final match at Burnham Low Light on Tuesday December 6th. Fishing 19.30-22.30.
Mike
Blue Anchor was a popular and crowded beach for the penultimate weekend league match of 2016. Not only were there pleasure anglers, but Blackdown, Reef Raiders and ourselves were holding their own league matches on the same evening.
All 13 of our anglers catches comprised of whiting and pouting although there were two congers and three dogfish caught. The congers and dogfish all fell to the top three anglers.
It’s beginning to get a little boring writing these reports as John Lintern triumphed yet again. John landed two congers, several whiting and pouting. Ian Brice came second and Pete Griffen was third each catching whiting, pouting and dogfish.
Next match November 19th on Berrow Beach fishing 19.30 to 23.00.
Mike.
This years penultimate boat league match took place in Minehead on a glorious October day. As is typical of the fishing at this time of year October can be a difficult month for fishing as the summer fish are beginning to disappear and the winter fish are just starting to show.
Between us we managed nine different species with the best fish being several bull huss in the 8-10lb range. The very best fish fell to the rod of Mike Strange, a fine small eyed ray of 13lb.
The results were tallied up at the end of the day and Rick Crosby just managed to beat John Thompson into second place by a few points even after John demanded a recount. Steve Lodge took third place.
The final league match is on Sunday November 6th and as the results are so close this year there is still everything to play for as the league can be won by any of four anglers.
Mike
Thirty really keen junior anglers headed to Weston beach for the annual WSMSAA Junior Open fishing competition in not the most pleasant of weather conditions. There was a strong south westerly wind with the odd spell of rain which undoubtedly deterred them or their parents attending.
As with previous years there was yet again a magnificent prize table to ensure that every angler went away with a prize. For this Weston SAA are extremely grateful to all the sponsors who very generously donated most of the prizes and I’m afraid we cannot thank them enough as many have done this for numerous years.
I would just like to mention all our sponsors not in any particular order and I do apologize if i have over looked anyone.
John May yet again came up trumps donating the 1st prize of a mountain bike.
- Any Fish Anywhere (Julian Shambrook)
- Thyers Tackle (Highbridge)
- Veals of Bristol Fishing Tackle Warehouse
- Reel Fun (Portishead)
- Olivers Angling (Clevedon)
- Cadbury Angling Thatchers Tackle (Wells)
- Somerset Angling (Bridgwater)
- Severn Estuary Angling
- BCFSA Cliff Jones All in Angling Tours
- Grant Jones (Fishing Revues)
- West Coast and Watchet
- Proper Job
- WSMSAA
There was also numerous donations from individual WSMSAA club members.
The winner on the day was Izzy Teakle with 2 flounders and a bass for 88cm. Izzy also had the two best fish of the day as both flounders measured 34cm. No doubt Izzys success was down to the tuition given to her by her Father, well known local angler Jansen Teakle.
In Second place was Jack Reynolds who also caught 3 fish 2 bass and 1 flounder for 76cm. Jack caught his first fish within five minutes of the start a fine flounder of 33cm.
In third place was probably one of the youngest anglers there 5 year old Harry Izzard. Harry had an eel and a bass for 36cm. I spoke to Harry very near to the end of the competion and he wasn’t the happiest of youngsters, as he hadn’t caught anything. It just proves that the a good result in a competition can come right at the end.
Congratulations to all who took part and I hope you all had an enjoyable time, I know the organisers did. Thanks to all the parents who gave up there time to support the youngsters and hopefully we will see you all again next year, as this is one event we hope will encourage the future generation of sea anglers.
Mike
The final leg of the BCFSA inter club pairs competition took place in Minehead. This competition was reduced to only two matches as an earlier trip in August had been cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.
As you may recall WSMSAA had entered two teams. Team A (Steve Lodge & Mike Tanner). Team B (Terry Giles & Rick Crosby).
Team B were the victors on the day with Terry winning aboard Osprey and Rick coming forth aboard Teddie Boy. Steve was a close second on Osprey and Mike came a dissappointing fifth on Teddie Boy although only eight points separted the top five places on Teddie Boy.
The results on the day were tallied up and WSM B were declared the winners. WSM A were in joint second place with Blackdown A.
As for the final league results Steve Lodge and Mike Tanner (Team A) retained the title which they won in 2015. Terry and Rick (Team B) were runners up and in joint third place was Combe Martin and West coast and Watchet.
Unfortunately Steve Lodge missed out on the top individual trophy by one or two points to John Shapland from Combe.
Martin.
Several club members headed to Burton Bradstock for this weekend league match. Unfortunately some of our regulars were either on holiday, or fishing a boat match the following day and were unable to attend.
Those who took part caught a mixture of congers, garfish, pouting and plaice. Isn’t it strange that Dick Hooper went down there a few hours early to pleasure fish and managed to catch 4 plaice before the competition started. Yet in the competition he couldn’t catch one.
The best fish of the day fell to the rod of Andy Shopland, a magnificent plaice of 3lb 7oz. John Lintern was again the winner closely followed by Andy Shopland and Dick Hooper.
The main amusement on the day was provided by Vicky Izzard who when returning a fish slipped on the shingle and the next wave went right over the top of her. I would have liked to have seen that!
Next match October 15th at Blue Anchor fishing 16.30 to 20.30.
Mike.
The “Old Codgers” returned to Clevedon Pier after their August break to fish the next round of the retired league in some what very wet conditions, but at least the wind kept down.
There were plenty of small whiting to be caught up to 30cm long which at least kept the rod tips nodding.
Dick Hooper after a series of poor results broke his duck and won with a conger and 5 whiting for 175cm.
John Beer came from behind to pinch second place with 4 whiting a dodfish and a magnificent sole of 50cm which weighed exactly 3lb. His total length was 161cm.
Mike tanner chipped in with 7 whiting to secure third spot (145cm)
Next match 24th October fishing 10.15-14.30
Mike
Weston beach was the venue for this midweek match fished on a lovely calm, warm, September evening. 10 anglers took part and we were not to be disappointed with the number of fish being caught. All caught fish bar one. This was one of our more proficient shore anglers who I won’t name! Perhaps I will it was Tony Tandy. A total of 24 fish were caught which included 15 thornback rays, silver eels, whiting and 1 flounder. It’s great to see that number of rays being caught but where have the trusty Weston flounders gone?
John Lintern was declared the winner yet again with 200pts (4 rays), Russ Tinklin came second with 141pts (4 rays and a whiting) and Mike Tanner was third with 105pts (2 rays and a whiting). The best ray of 8lb 6oz fell to the rod of Darren Cox.
Next midweek match Wednesday October 19th again on Weston beach. 19.30-22.30.
Mike.
The annual Junior versus Senior competition took place at Burnham Low Light on a hot calm sunny day. We decided that in fairness to the juniors who took part to have the juniors and ladies against the men, making two teams of five.
The star of the competition was 3 year old Alfie Salter who put the rest of us to shame by catching 2 bass and a silver eel measuring a total of 101cm. The nearest to Alfie was his Grandfather Mike Tanner with 4 fish measuring 62cm.
When the total lengths were added up the juniors with 193cm were declared the winners for the second year running. The men totalled 186cm.
The catches comprised of small bass and sole 1 flounder, 1 whiting and 1 silver eel. Alfie took the prize for the longest round fish (silver eel 50cm) and Steve Sparks had the longest flatfish a sole of 27cm.
Well done to the junior team, us seniors must improve for next year.
This trip proved to be one of our better outings this year with plenty of fish coming to the boat. 14 different species were caught but it was fortunate that the dogfish were not there in abundance. Lots of smoothounds and quite a few bullhuss were caught which is always good fun. There has been a shortage of the smaller species in previous trips but it was pleasing that the usual poor cod, pouting, pollack and mackerel put in an appearance. It was also nice to see a couple of small black bream.
The league competition was closely fought with the lead changing several times during the day. The eventual winner was John Thompson closely followed by Mike Tanner, Terry Giles took third place. These three anglers managed to amass in excess of 600 points which is no mean fete using our scoring system.
Next one September 4th sailing at 10.15.
Mike.
The Lower Light in Burnham was the venue for this Junior League match. Small bass and sole made up the catches for the seven youngsters who took part.
Jack Salter returned to his winning ways catching 3 fish. In second place was Harry Izzard with 2 fish and third also with 2 fish was Alfie Salter.
The next match is the juniors versus the seniors also at the lower light on Sunday August 14th. Fishing times 15.00-17.30.
The seniors must try to do better this year as the juniors won the trophy in 2015.
Mike
In all the years that the retired league has been running we have never had a match where all anglers failed to get even a bite. I counted 22 rods along the length of Clevedon Pier and only saw one tiny sole landed in four and a half hours fishing.
Next one Monday 26 September. Fishing 11.30-16.30.
Mike
