The 2009 British Cod Championships took place from 11 – 12 November, around the Isle of Wight. The first day of the competition saw good weather around the island, which meant boats were able to fish south of the Needles if they wanted to. However on the second day the competitors had to contend with strong southerly winds which confined the majority of them to fishing within the Solent.
The Top Skipper Prize was awarded to Dave Stephenson, who managed to record a total of nine fish over the two day competition with a combined weight of 76lbs 13ozs. Dave was delighted that he won the Skippers Competition as the 2009 championships would be his last as British Cod Championships Secretary. He received a New Raymarine A Series A70D 6.4″ Chartplotter / Fishfinder.
On board Dave’s boat ‘Becky M’, was also Lee Chilcott who was crowned the new British Cod Champion. He won the competition after weighing in a total of five fish with a total weight of 44lbs 11 ½ ozs, taking the £1000 overall winners prize.
The Runner up Prize was awarded to John Skeggs, who won a Raymarine Ray101E VHF Radio. John also caught nine cod over the two day competition aboard his boat ‘Last Laugh’, with a total weight of 75lbs.
On the first day of the competition Len Pyke, on board John’s boat, landed the biggest cod of the competition weighing 22lbs 11ozs, and winning £1000 cash prize.
The British Cod Championships has now been running for 17 years from the Isle of Wight and Raymarine has been proud to sponsor the event since 2003. Boats can enter from various ports along the South Coast, from Swanage through to Langstone. All boats fish from Yarmouth Quay, with a weigh-in at the end of each day to determine winners of the various prizes.
