3rd Leg Summer Accumulator
Sunday 27th April 2014 - Bacton
It was back to one of the club’s favourite stretches at Bacton for the 3rd Leg of this year’s Summer Accumulator. Just the mention of Bacton conjures up thoughts of those big bass we used get from near the pipe along with quality sizeable codling, the surf gliding smoothies and bucketful’s of stonking flounders. Such sap rising experiences was enough to get a healthy turn out of sound regulars gathering at Castaways for an early 9:00 start. Many thanks to Anna and Richard for allowing us once again to use their premises as a base, cracking job you’ve done to the road and your cliff protection, putting others around to shame. Joining the merry band of back slapping regulars was new boy Kevin “whites” Green, well not quite so new and no-longer a boy although after last year’s op he probably feels like one, welcome aboard Kevin and we all know what your objective was on this day, bass! Unfortunately, others could not make it with “the boss” on shifting duty, he’ll be back once all the DIY’s done and then of course “the protégée” who was not quite doing all the business at Dunwich, you need to catch eels Henry.
An overcast sky with a coolish brisk easterly met the early risers and thankfully no rain was forecast, rain and sand just do not mix. With a 12:20 p.m. low water a 9:00 start would give us a good chunk of last of the ebb with a small slice of the flood which would have pleased old mate “umbrella man”. With no one contemplating long hikes pegging was in the two bays either side of the first pipe. With the tide well into the ebb there was plenty of beach in front of the revetments for everyone to set up and for once and throughout the match not a buddy or brolly in sight. Not really knowing what the quarry was going to be everyone had stocked up on fresh drain dug lug, live Morston peelers, a couple of mad fools with a handful of wrigglers and the Cambridge connection with “Waitrose” squid although it may not have been quite Waitrose but so what it looked the same. With tripods and odd wheeled contraptions moving to the water’s edge everyone was more than ready for the whistle.
With a small swell and plenty of colour there was lots of dilemma as action commenced of exactly where to place their first bait. Most opted for a good chuck with the odd one or two in the gutter if you can call it that at Bacton. At venues like this first cast activity can be a good indicator for the rest of the match and everyone was willing their rods to start twitching and nod. For most this was just wishful thinking but for a few the action had started with “last cast” Watts (peg 10) scurrying around if that’s what you call it and a small rockling was soon on his card from a good cast to the horizon but not as he would say at extreme range. Likewise “the consultant” Allison was into an even better 28cm flounder which he held up intimidatingly for all around to see but this time from one of his normal close range casts. Even at this stage this was a clue to where the good fish were lurking. Probably so, as “yoda” (peg 8) Thomas was soon on to a nice plump 31cm Bacton flounder followed by a similar specimen to “bigger baits” Ellis on next peg 7 at the same distance.
Back on the high order pegs in the east bay things were very quiet although “take it easy” Tovell (peg 15) managed a small whiting at his usual extreme range although he kept saying he would have preferred a low order peg. Others in the bay were following suit with a small whiting to “ex-captain” Ellis (peg 14), “sparks” Harvey (peg 13) and “off duty” Gibbs (peg 9) all of which also managed a small dab or rockling. However, it was “lucky” Loke who headed this bay at this stage with a plump 31cm codlette and guess what he had remembered we were on Summer size limits. Most in the lower order pegs in the west bay were also quiet with “squids” Camilleri (peg 6), “silver fox” Neave (peg 4), “steady” Carter (peg 2) and “whites” Green (peg 1) all struggling to even find a single fish. Not so for the “the consultant” who was now into the big flounders as he carded a couple of nice ones upto 34cm. Likewise a change of tactics to light long snoods by “yoda” soon brought results with a flounder double shot upto 33cm and then a 29cm codlette. There was then a few expletives from next peg as “bigger baits” line and leader parted company to land just 5 yards out. ‘Never mind’ said “bigger baits” I’ll pick it up later when the tide had ebbed more; remember this statement!
For most activity was slow and this was obvious by the Ellis’s have regular constitutionals for a natter at the pipe. They were probably discussing “ex-captain’s” new creation a 4 wheel (Ellis drive) trolley which had successfully negotiated the slope and revetment’s steps and was proudly stationed at the water’s edge next to his tripod. He was in business, well not quite yet as a few tweeks were needed and maybe a Mk2 version, along with a patent and a contract with some far eastern Asian company but with those wheels, maybe not. However, he was still in the fishing business and still had the knack of finding those big flounders as a 34cm version went on his card. Things started to improve slightly in the other bay as “whites”, “steady” and “squids” started to pick up the odd dab or flounder but the old club stalwart “silver fox” could not find a fish. Unlike “the consultant” who was hauling in dab after dab along with some cracking flounders. Not to be outdone “yoda” was also finding the stonking flounders with 2x32cm and a 35cm specimen on his card to keep in touch with “the consultant”.
The tide was now getting to the bottom which was leaving plenty of flat sand between revetments and sea. It was at this stage that “bigger baits” decided to do his search, remember that lost trace and next minute he was holding it up from at least 10 yards behind his tripod. Yes he had found it complete with a nice 25cm flounder which soon flipped off into the briny when released, so that was where all the fish were! The tide was about to turn and the fortunes of those in the east bay started to change but only slightly as “sparks” and “last cast” found 31cm flounders. Not so for the others as “off duty” and “lucky” could only find small flatties and whiting along with “ex-captain” who had totally lost his flounder touch. Then there was poor old “take it easy” who was having a dire day and too right he was too far east as far as he was concerned he could have been fishing better in the bar at Castaways. Back at the other end “whites” was finding a few small flatties but knew his chances of a podium slot were rapidly receding so it was back to plan ‘a’, big baits for a big bass. “steady” was also into these small flatties and so was “squids” who did his cause no harm by finding a 35cm flounder to add to his earlier 30cm version.
At last “silver fox” found a fish a nice 31cm version to at least mark his card and then “whites” was suddenly seen putting his chesties to good use in the water as he played something in through the surf. Plan ‘a’ had worked with a nice 47cm bass on the beach worth 104 points projecting him into a potential podium slot, original objective met, well done Kevin! The duel further down the stretch was still going strong when “the consultant” hauled in a monster 36cm flounder only to be matched by one of 34cm from “yoda”. Not to be out done “silver fox” at last realised he was in a match and soon had a double shot of flatties which included a 35cm flounder and in the final minutes of the match he found a real stonker of 41cm and a good contender for specimen fish of the year. By the last cast “the consultant” and “yoda” were still locked in battle with “yoda” marginally ahead and then “the consultant” hauls in a 25cm flounder with “yoda” retrieving a rather empty trace and game over; that is match fishing for you Henry!
It was therefore Ivan “the consultant” Allison who took the honours with 6lb 19 1/3oz from 14 fish followed by Tony “yoda” Thomas with 6lb 7 2/3oz from 10 fish. Rookie Kevin “whites” Green did is initiation no harm by taking the final podium slot with 3lb 15oz from 6 fish. Heaviest fish points went to John(N) for his 41cm (1lb 11oz) Flounder and Kevin for his 47cm (2lb 3oz) bass. The super pool result was the same as the club match.
A most interesting match where the good old stonking flounders of the past at last made a show. Unfortunately, the bass did not turn up in numbers and Kevin’s success demonstrated that if you do seriously fish for them then they are there. This continues to be a really peggy beach where west of the pipe far out fishes the east side. We are back here again in June so let’s hope the bass are seriously back along with maybe a few smoothies and those stonking flounders.
An early start meant an early finish so plenty of time for members to debate the woes of our Kelling access but if we abide by the license rules we will have the access to at least 2016. The Bass Festival venues were also discussed and because of the tidal surge damage to Salthouse beach car park it was unanimously agreed to fish both days soley at Kelling unless numbers are such that we have to have a section at Cley and Salthouse on both days.
Next club match is at CLEY on SUNDAY 4TH MAY fishing 11:00-4:00.
Club Match Result Top 5
1st Ivan Allison 6lb 9 1/3 (14 fish)
2nd Tony Thomas 6lb 7 2/3 (10 fish)
3rd Kevin Green 3lb 15 (6 fish)
4th John Neave 3lb 10 2/3 (4 fish)
5th Ramon Camilleri 2lb 10 2/3 (6 fish)
