Holt SAC North Norfolk National Sea League Round 1 (Report)

Saturday 15th October 2016 - Bacton

WARNING! … This is a STORY not a REPORT … Back by popular demand …

The first round of the 2016 North Norfolk National Sea league kicked off as usual at Bacton on Saturday 15th October. A Saturday ‘cause a few were going to take their chances at the Aldeburgh Blind on the Sunday although in hind sight should have stuck with Sunday but it was all for a good cause. A planned early 9:00 start but even so all were soon tucking in bacon sarnies at Castaways and not brekky due to a soggy kitchen curtesy of a leaky or should I say no roof. Thanks again Anna and Richard for your hospitality.

Before we get started, congratulations are at hand for Norfolk Police Sea Angling team who took on the might of the rest of the UK Forces over in Northern Ireland in the Police National Championships and did more than do the business. The team of Kevin Green (capt.), Ivan Allison, Tom Gibbs and Willy Groombridge took top honours under some very scratchy conditions but of course they’re all used to this. In addition to team victory, Kevin was also top individual so well done to Kevin and his team and the best thing about all this is that they are all Holt SAC members. They’ve now got something to prove as the event is in North Norfolk in 2017.

Anyway better mention about this match which had been in doubt at Bacton with fresh North Easterlies pounding in mid-week but the gods for once were with us by switching it to Southerly overnight and dropping it a few notches. Even so the low pressure out in the North Sea had done its duty creating a significant swell which was breaking on the banks off shore at high water and pounding the revetments. This was a very big tide and even 3 hours after top it was still poking those revetments so start time was delayed by half an hour. Apologies again Andy but not much difference leaving at 3:30 than 4:00, still damn early! Given all this it was a perfect sea and the optimists could be heard murmuring Bass and big Flounders, well they were sort of right.

After years of experience at this venue the pipes are where the fish can be found so pegging was two sections either side of the first and second pipes and one to the west (Mundesley side) of the third pipe. A long walk for some but the results justified all the effort with the long walkers finding the most fish. This was a really big tide and even at the off the water was forcing members to fish from behind the revetments around the first pipe. However, all were soon able to get onto the flat beach but this was a strange tide and it was initially reluctant to ebb at any pace. There was a lot of water to shift and once it did get started it went out like a train.

It was a slow start with a few fish coming ashore particularly around the pipes but once the water started to move so did the fish. Not shingle sized fish we are used to but the proper stonking Bacton flounders. Great slabs of fish well over 30cm contributing significant points on match cards. This was happening in Zone A on the 3rd pipe where after a slow start John Bower (Avenue Angling Norwich) on peg 1 found a cracking 34cm Flounder at his usual range worth 48 points. An excellent start and with a further three 30+cm flounders and others he ended with 289 points from 10 fish and runner up in the Zone. Paul Harvey (JC’s Boys) on next peg 2 was struggling and then after a wander came back to land a double shot of a 42cm bass and 34cm flounder, putting 122 points on his card. This put him back in contention but he needed a lot more which did not materialise finishing on 196 points from 5 fish. Jack Akester (Individual) on peg 3 was rewarded for the long walk with his missus with four 30+ flounders but needed a few more like that to do any damage, ending up with 205 points from 7 fish.

Young Henry Randell (Team Maver) on peg 5 had a relatively quiet start for him and although he found four flounders over 30+cm he needed a few more quality fish to do the business. His attempts to choke them into submission with clumps of wrigglers did work to some extent attracting the small stuff finishing with 258 points from 10 fish. Back in match mode again was Clyde Leggett (Gorleston Tackle) on peg 7 (good to see you back Clyde!) and he showed he had not lost the knack finding a 30 and 34cm flounder double shot worth 80 points and then a treble of 32 and 33cm flounders plus a 26cm bass for another 102points. Unfortunately, that was the last of his big fish probably due lack of wrigglers ending up with 237 points 8 fish. Tony Thomas (North Norfolk Lads) was on the final zone peg 8 , a renowned hot spot and it did not disappoint but it took a while to get going. A treble shot of big flounders saw him take off with six 30+cm flounders and putting his big bunches of wrigglers to good use to find further healthy specimens ending up with 373 points from 13 fish and taking the zone.

Zone B was strategically placed identical to Zone A on the 2nd pipe and the results were remarkably similar. Richard Jacobs (Avenue Angling Norwich) on peg 9 could not match his Zone A colleague but his second fish was a monster 36cm worth 56 points but he only found a 29 and 31cm flounders to go with this ending up with 120 points from 3 fish. John Carter (JC’s Boys) on peg 10 was taking his new captain’s role in his stride and leading by example putting four 30+cm flounders on his card with a beauty of 35cm at the end giving him a total of 216 points from 6 fish. On his first trip to the Norfolk sand Paul Marshall (Team Maver) on peg 13 showed his Skeggie flatty bashing prowess by finding a hat trick of 33cm flounders plus another of 32cm along with a couple of smaller ones for 220 points from 6 fish and runner up in the zone by just 4 points. Fish were hard to come by for Tom Gibbs (Holt Crack Offs) on peg 14 and only found three but they were quality all 30cm or more with one a cracking specimen of 34cm. Likewise, Jeff Stannard (Gorleston Tackle) on adjacent peg 15 could only find 3 flounders but when one is 35cm and another 34cm, they were serious fish giving him 135 points. As in Zone A Kevin Green (North Norfolk Lads) on peg 16 was on the right spot next to the pipe and did not waste the opportunity to score points finding NINE 30+cm flounders including a hat trick of 33cm specimens along with a 40cm bass. Amassing a total of 456 points from 12 fish with just 2 flounders under 30cm and an easy winner of the zone.

In contrast to the other two zones Zone C was east of the pipe and there were certainly some smaller flounders here. However, Dave Read (Avenue Angling Norwich) on peg 17 next to the pipe tried to contradict this statement by finding a monster 38cm flounder half way through giving him 64 points on his card. To this he added four more 30+cm flounders to give him 284 points at the end and an easy zone win. Ken Durrant (Holt Crack Offs) on peg 22 thought he had joined the pack when a 31cm flounder came up the beach but it was downhill from then with just 3 more smaller versions being added to his card by the end for 72 points. Phil Read (Team Maver) on peg 21 was taking a leaf out of bruv’s book by finding four 30+cm flounders including one of 34cm and another of 33cm to give him a total of 190 points from 6 fish. Mike Topping (Gorleston Tackle) kicked off his campaign in grand style with a 40cm bass followed by a hat trick of 30cm flounders and one of 31cm to give him 219 points from 7 fish and runner ups slot in the zone. Willy Groombridge (North Norfolk Lads) on peg 24 was still recovering from his Police NI experience and could only find two 32cm flounders and a small bass for 94 points.

There always seems to be a pattern to when and where the fish feed at Bacton which can get exaggerated on big tides. The beach changes so much these days as sand gets moved around with Zones A and B having sand way up the revetments giving a nice deep gully on the ebb. Whereas in the other zones there was less sand at the back giving a flatter beach profile and a shallower gully and the results sort of reflected this. As the tide ebbed action was relatively slow for most but as the fish got pushed back into the gully they came on strong and were there for most. This coincided with about half way through the match. However, this was a really big tide so even the gullies would start to lose water and as was seen the fished moved off leaving one or two small specimens with the odd exception. The gullies near the pipe continued to fish later than elsewhere but even there they disappeared towards the end. This seemed to be the pattern in this match with the last 1-2 hours being very quiet.

At the start of Zone D Andy Gallacher (Avenue Angling Norwich) on peg 25 was showing off his continental skills finding five 30+cm flounders including one of 36cm along with a 40cm bass. A total of 355 points from 11 fish secured him runner up in the zone. Peter Loke (JC’s Boys) on peg 26 was struggling in this one (hope your leg/hip gets better soon) and probably wished he’d taken the carvery option. A 32cm flounder at the start brightened his day but the clouds soon rolled in as he could only find two more flounders for 74 points. Another new Norfolk sandman was Dave Burr (Team Maver) on peg 29 who was also using his Skeggie skills like Mr Marshall and found five 30+cm flounders for 292 points from 10. However, he did comment that now he knows where the fish are he’ll crack it next time, we shall see! Luke Pearson (Holt Crack Offs) on peg 30 had a poor day by his standards with just 4 fish although two were 32cm flounders and the other two were bass with one of 34cm giving him a total of 134 points. Young Jack Topping (Gorleston Tackle) on peg 31 was having his first real taste of this team event resulting in three 30+cm flounders which I believe was a treble shot after an extended walk . He has a lot to learn but he has kicked off with a creditable 112 points from those 3 fish. Final Zone D peg 32 had Mike Watts (North Norfolk Lads) on board and being adjacent to the pipe it was inevitable that he would do the business. This was certainly the case as he notched up seven 30+cm flounders including one of 36cm along with a 35cm bass giving him 391 points from 12 fish and winner of the zone.

In the past Zone E position east of the 1st pipe has been a struggle for most and this match was no different. We have repeatedly vowed to leave it out but it’s handy for those having difficulty walking, maybe next time. Anyway, Gary Medler (Avenue Angling Norwich) was on peg 33 next to the pipe and did find 5 fish including a 41cm bass and 32cm flounder to give him 160 and top man in the zone. It’s good to see Peter Morse (JC’s Boys) on peg 34 back after his much delayed op. He has to take it easy but come on Peter not this easy, you’d better find a fish next time. It was not a good day also for Richard Ling (Pete’s Baits) on peg 36 who repeatedly kept cracking off and then called it a day. Probably need to check out your gear before the next match Richard. Looks like Billy Temple (Team Maver) on peg 7 had brought some of Sizewell potion to this one or was it Rotherham magic finding a couple of 30+cm flounders for a total of 156 points from 6 fish and runner up in the zone. Looks like the Police NI trip also took its toll on Ivan Allison who could only find four relatively small flatties for 41points, not good Mr Allison. Final peg 39 had Alan Doy (Gorleston Tackle) on board and although he was still recovering from his Irish Pairs experience he did manage to find a 32cm flounder and a 33cm whiting and the only one recorded for 104 points.

In the end it was team consistency that won the day with AVENUE ANGLING NORWICH top team with 6 points from two zone wins and two zone seconds. Second was NORTH NORFOLK LADS with 7 points from three zone wins and a zone fourth with TEAM MAVER third with 10 points from two zone seconds and two zone thirds. In the Individuals competition it was a clean sweep for North Norfolk Lads with KEVIN GREEN continuing his Police NI success with 9lb 8oz from 12 fish, followed by MIKE WATTS with 8lb 2 1/3oz from 12 fish and TONY THOMAS with 7lb 13oz from 13 fish. Heaviest flat fish on the day was DAVE READ’s 38cm (1lb 5oz) Flounder and heaviest round PAUL HARVEY’s 42cm (1lb 9oz) Bass. Club results are the same as the Individual and heaviest fish results. Total fish recorded was 175 (154 flounders, 17 bass, 3 dabs and 1 whiting) weighing a total of nearly 115lb.

This was a typical Bacton match and it was good to see that those cracking Flounders are still there and that the Bass are still hovering around. This all bodes well for the club’s Annual Open at this venue on Sunday 6th November fishing 11:00-4:00 HW 10:01 4.2m and with a smaller tide hopefully the fish will hang around all match. The next Club match is on Sunday 23rd October for the Cockaday Cup at Cley fishing 11:00-4:00 HW 1:16 4.2m. This is followed by the Club’s rare excursion south to fish Gt. Yarmouth North Beach for the Woodward Cup on Sunday 30th October fishing 9:00-2:00 HW 8:25 4.8m.

Top 5 Individuals (on the day) …

1   Kevin Green …….. 9lb 8oz ………. (12 Fish)..(North Norfolk Lads)
2   Mike Watts ………. 8lb 2 1/3oz .. (12 fish)..(North Norfolk Lads)
3   Tony Thomas ……. 7lb 13oz ……. (13 fish)..(North Norfolk Lads)
4   Andy Gallacher …. 7lb 6 1/3oz .. (11 fish)..(Avenue Angling Norwich)
5   Dave Burr …………. 6lb 1 1/3oz .. (10 fish)..(Team Maver)

Top 5 Teams (on the day) …

1   Avenue Angling Norwich…6 penalty points
2   North Norfolk Lads………….7 penalty points
3   Team Maver………………….10 penalty points
4   Gorleston Tackle……………13 penalty points
5   Holt Crack Offs………………18 penalty points

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