HSAC Salthouse April 5th

By Robert Ford & Dene Conway

After the excitement from last week’s match many of us had high hopes. Ok we know that there wouldn’t be as many codling on the beach, if any, but spirits were high.

Our newest member Peter " Baglady" Simmons

There was an amazing turn out this week with 15 anglers wetting their lines, including an angler known to us all but new to the club Peter "Baglady" Simmons watch out for this man on the beaches and throw him some pennies…The feeling was that if you could find a flounder or two, you would be sure to be in with a chance.

Peter Loke registering a fish with Baglady Simmons

With this in mind most anglers headed to the left from the car park. However John and Sam both headed to the right where there is slightly deeper water.

The matched seemed to drag this week because the fish were few and far between and the crabs were ravenous. 7-10 minutes between casts would be long enough for the crabs to strip your bait.

Nicole with yet another fish….

Adding fish baits to tip off lug helped to slow down the onslaught. Also letting the lead roll in the tide kept the bait on the hook a bit longer. This also allowed your bait to find the gullies; whether they held fish was a different matter.

After the recent blow ups and rough seas there is such a steep shelf just off shore which tested leader knots and gear. When the tide dropped the water showed just how far out it was. From the high water mark if you cast 40 yards you would have cast too far. Mr Thomas utilised this by casting two hooks on a rolling lead about 80 yards up tide and then clipping on a 3rd hook with rolling carp leads to his main line and letting it side out 20-30 yards in search of a few fish by the shelf. A very effective method that is used in Ireland a lot.

It managed to get him 2nd place with 1lb 11oz. But the day went to Collin Howard who found the gullies straight off and pulled out 2lb6oz of dabs, whiting and pouts. Oh yes I almost forgot, Mrs Conway showed Mr Conway how it was done again, well done Nicole and keep it up!!

The results

1st: Colin Howard 11 fish for 2lb 6 2/3oz
2nd: Tony Thomas 9 fish for 1lb 13 1/3oz
3rd: Peter Simmons 5 fish for 1lb 6oz
4th Peter Loke 4 fish for 1lb 2 1/3oz
5th Robert Ford 5 fish for 1lb 1 2/3oz
6th Ray Ward 2 fish for 0.11 1/3oz
7th Nicole Conway 3 fish for 0.8 2/3oz
8th Richard Ives 2 fish for 0.8oz
=9th Dene Conway 2 fish for 0.4 2/3oz
=9th John Neave 1 fish for 0.4 2/3oz
11th Henry Randell 2 fish for 0.4 1/3oz
12th Tim Hunt 1 fish for 0.2 1/3oz
13th Sam Attew 1 fish for 0.2oz
2 members blanked