28 April 2001
REPORT FOR THE HUMBER TO THE THAMES
Well, yet another awful week of winter weather. Rumours are thatit is going to be a hot summer, or is this another conspiracy theoryput about by the government to make us feel better and vote for themat the next election and to make us forget the total balls up theymade of the foot and mouth?
The cold weather affected the fishing in the southern part of ourregion, with the roker heading for deeper marks I think. The Southendboats found less fish this week with only a few roker, dogfish,whiting and the odd smoothounds. I am told however that the trawlershave been finding good numbers of roker.
The beaches are starting to improve with some better qualityflounders falling to crab baits and the pier is fishing for garfishup to 1lb 8oz, with up to 6 fish per angler. Phone Rory at theSouthend Angling for the latest news on 01702 603303.
Canvey point has started to produce some small bass and floundersfrom the Thorney Bay and Southfall marks. Phone George at CanveyAngling to find where the fish are on 01268 691 542. Barry fromStanford Tackle tells me that all the paths are now open to fishhere, so fish here and let him know what is happening on 01375676739.
Mark Lawson and his family had an outing to Rainham the best fishwere an eel of 2lb 8oz and a bass of 2lb 8oz on lug and squid baits.Dave Godwin informs me that the cold weather and small tides hit thesport badly last week but is very hopeful this week will be better. Areported mullet from Bambergers Jetty also to note for you specialistanglers.
Not much better from the Bradwell boats with only a few roker to10lb 8oz and lots of dogfish. The Sophie Lea from Brightlingsea had areported 16 haul of roker. It appears that the codling have finallygone form the Walton marks now with the spring arriving. Howeverthere are big pouting, some eels, the odd bass from both beach andthe pier and also some dogfish from the pier. Rag and crab baits arethe best baits at the moment. Lawrence from Castaways tells me thatNacton is now fishable, with some good flounders falling to rag andcrab baits. Ring him on 01394 278316 if there is anything of interestto tell him.
From the Felixstowe area out from the Flugges and Jacobs ladder,the boats are fishing close to the shore and still finding codling to7lb as are the beach anglers using crab baits or lug and squid. EastLane is also producing codling, where there is a chance of some rokersoon. Stuart Smalley at Aldeburgh reports of some codling, bass andsoles at Pakefield, Dunwich, Aldeburgh and Lowestoft north beach.Gill at Sam Hooks tells me that a 7lb bass fell to Robert Lightfootfrom Tramps Alley and a 5lb cod to Tony Paul from the north beach. Jason from Gorleston Tackle reports a 7lb 8oz bass from Lowestoftpier and a few small bass from Gorleston itself with some eels fromthe river there.
Kessingland is fishing for dabs, whiting and codling. Doug atTackle and Tide reports bass up to 4lb from Cart Gap, Eccles andPakefield with some codling, big whiting and lots of dabs.Sherringham at the old high is producing codling as is Cart Gap andat Sea Palling you will find some bass to 2lb.
Finally at the north end of our region on the Holderness areathere are a few codling with some flounders in the river there. I amstill hoping for some more information from these areas so if youhave been fishing let me know.
CLUB CALL
The Aristocrat AAS was formed in 1976 and with 35 members, itconcentrates solely on boat fishing now. They would be happy for anywomen boat anglers as the last one left a couple of years ago. Theyfish once a month in Lymington and Ramsgate with even some membersfrom Lymington as they fish out with Roger Bayzand. They have acouple of 3-4 day trips with Roger fishing near Alderney. They meetevery second Monday in the month at the Echo Sports and Social Club.Anyone interested in joining please phone Martin Beadle on 01702330110.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
THORPE BAY
Current Form
Now the crabs have started the flounders will be hungry, at nightthere should be some eels starting to show soon, with plenty of smallbass to annoy you. There is always the chance of a good plaice aswell as they are always caught 2-300 yards out. Bait Peeler crab willbe the first bait now, but do not ignore worm baits, as they willoften catch as well.
Tackle and Tactics
On most times you will need to cast out just beyond thebreakwaters, however often you need to vary your cast. Best tacklewould be a 2 or 3 hook paternoster using size 2 crab hooks or 3261aberdeen hooks. If you need to cats the distance a clipped down rigwill be needed. The ebb is normally the best catching time here butnot always, also you will often catch fish very early or very late inthe tide. Beware of the boats that are moored here, try to fish awayfrom them. On the flood there is not much run so a plain lead maywell pay off but on the ebb you will need a 5oz breakaway on mosttides, especially when there are eels about in the summer.
Location
Take the A13 or A127 in to Southend and follow the signs for theseafront, travel east past the Kursall, follow the seafront road pasta small round Bastion of concrete and fish anywhere past the slipwayat the bottom of Thorpe Hall avenue. Local Tackle Shop Bait andTackle Centre 258 Southchurch Road Southend 01702 617764
A fish to note from the Isle of Shepey was a 3lb 12oz plaicecaught by the well know match fisherman Roger Weeks on rag, this is aisland record.
Folkestone pier is producing one or two plaice to 2lb, with lotsof small fish and still lots of dabs which then locals recon shouldhave moved of by now. A 14″ brill was also landed from the pier. Oneof the netters working the channel found on hauling his gill nets,the 6″ mesh meant for roker was jammed packed with mackerel. A jumboshoal must of swum into the mesh in such huge numbers they could allget through at the same time.
The Jetty Anglers Open on the Sunday 21st April fished alongSouthend seafront. Some very good-sized flounders were caught amongthe 94 anglers that took part. The winner in a close match was KrisCook with a winning weight of 3lb 6 3/4oz, he won £ 550 pluspools from peg 6. Second place was Rick Hodson fishing peg 64, Rickwon £ 250 for his 3lb 2 1/8oz. Terry Knott came in third placefrom peg 159 with 3lb 1 1/8oz to win £ 125. Forth place wasTrevor Rooney with 3lb 1/4oz from peg 24 and fifth place was CraigGore with 2lb 13 5/8oz from peg 63. The heaviest fish was won by AlanGaskin with a superb flounder of 1lb 13 1/4oz from peg 15. The matchpaid out over £ 1800 in money.
The SAAS club match last Sunday was fished by 8 members as mostwere fishing the big open match. It won by Gus Summers with a weightof 5lb 7oz 5 garfish, 1 flounder) beating Sue Bowman into secondplace with 3lb 13 3/4oz (3 garfish, 2 flounders). In third place wasNicola Saunders with 2lb 3 1/2oz. Junior Page Hudson caught his firstgarfish weighing 1lb 2oz.
The last match in Micky Carters flounder league in North Kent waswon by M Hawkridge with 6 fish for 4lb 9oz beating T Flack intosecond place with 2lb 11 1/2oz, coming in third was P Johnson with2lb 4 1/2oz.
This meant that the winner in the series was D Jackson with 18pts winning £ 400. In second place was K Cook with 18pts (lessfish) winning £ 250. In third place was P Chapman with 20pts andin forth was organiser M Carter.
LWAAS Open Pier Competition – 3rd June 2001
Fishing Times – 8.45am to 2.45pm (100 pegs only)
Early drawn on Thursday 31st May from 8pm onwards at TEAC club,Eastern esplanade, Southend on Sea on the day of the competition from7am. Entries close on the day at 8.18am
For Further information contact: Barry Tillson on 01702 218303
BAIT & TACKLE SPRING/SUMMER MATCHES
Sunday 29th April Thorpe Bay 4pm – 8pm
Sunday 20th May Pier 10am – 3pm
Sunday 10th June Grays 1pm – 5pm
Sunday 1st July Grays 7.30 pm – 11pm
Monday 16th July Thorpe Bay 8pm – 11.30pm
Golden peg £ 1 (Golden peg now stands at £ 146)
Entry £ 5 Heaviest Fish 50%
Heaviest Bag 50%
Optional Pools £ 5 (Heaviest Bag)
Top 4 (40%, 30%, 20%, 10%)
(Over 25 people 2 x top 3)
For further details please contact: 01702 617764
