Holt SAC 9th Leg Winter Accumulator (Report)

Sunday 26th February 2017 - Bacton

It was back to Bacton for the penultimate 9th Leg of the Winter Accumulator on Sunday 26th February. Even with many of the regulars either on passage to India or trying to catch “A” fish on the Holdingness coast a good Club turn out was soon gathering at Castaways for an early 9:00 start. Although heavily in refurbishment of the Jolly Roger Bar or should we now call it Cliff Top Inn Ana & Richard opened up for the draw and hot beverages, many many thanks for this. Also congratulations on doing a grand job on the rebuild which probably would not have been possibly if you hadn’t have funded yourselves the rock armouring of your cliff a few years back. Your site now stands out like a peninsular whilst all the rest of the cliff around you is crumbling and been washed away. Amazingly this includes that in front of Bacton Gas Site where they are attempting to protect it with pathetic metal flint filled metal cages which will join the rest of the attempts to protect after the next couple of tidal surges. Government funded of course unlike Castaways cliff protection and they can’t do something serious to protect a complex that brings in a third of the country’s gas, crazy! Enough of the politics but just got to have a say.

With “Doris” now history although Mr Medler was still spending the day cutting up trees and “Ewan” was about to lash Ireland it was a bright warmish morning with a fresh south westerly that greeted that good turnout. The sea was an almost flat calm with just a hint of a swell and there was good colour as commented by Bev Self. Fishing this beach down seems to be the best and only real practical way to run a match here. It was a good tide (4.7m Cromer) with HW 6:28 and even at 8:30 it was surprisingly still lapping through the revetments but it was quick to go. Pegging was in the two bays west of the 1st pipe which seems to be the closest most productive stretch. By the start the water had receded enough for all to be seaward side of the revetments and there was no need for buddies on this day. Before the off the pessimist were soon moaning that it would be tough with no fish but they always say this and this time they were almost proven wrong.

At the whistle it was the usual tactics for Bacton and for those that hadn’t fished this beach before just do what you normally do and whack it to the horizon. It was soon apparent that the pessimists were wrong as the odd small Dab and even smaller whiting came ashore but it wasn’t hectic. It was time to follow the tide as the receding of the water gained momentum and at this stage just a little fluffy weed to deal with. A few small fish for the first hour and then Jack Topping and Neil Smart on the pipe and short groyne started to pick up yards of weed, this was not looking good. This then passed on to everyone else and for the next 2 hours the heavy stuff plagued everyone but the fish were still there if you could persevere. As the tide ebbed further the weed seemed to confine itself to the gully and close in and most were able to fish properly again for the last couple of hours.

Although there were a number of fish carded the majority were very small and at the end it was those who found the odd quality fish that did the business. However, surprise package of the day was JACK TOPPING who after his confrontation with the weed let out screams of delight as the Club’s first Bass of the year came ashore even though it was just 22cms it kick started his challenge. This was followed by a decent Dab and then a 27cm Sole, yes Sole in February followed by 4 quality Flounders securing him victory on the day with 2lb 7oz from 7 fish. Much to the embarrassment of dad MIKE TOPPING who was way ahead in the first half who stuttered and saw his youngster push him down to runners up slot by just 1oz with 2lb 6oz from 14 fish. Seeing his lead being eroded he did threatened to cut off Jack’s bait supply, not very fatherly! Final podium slot went to new boy at this venue BEVAN SELF who found fish but none of real quality ending up with 1lb 14oz from 13 fish. Heaviest flat was a 28cm (8oz) Flounder to JACK TOPPING and heaviest round a 26cm (4oz) Whiting to TONY THOMAS. Altogether 69 fish (36 Whiting, 27 Dabs, 11 Flounders, 1 Bass, 1 Coalie, 1 Plaice, 1 Rockling and 1 Sole) were recorded weighing 13lb 5oz.

On the pegs, on end peg 3 in the 2nd bay was John Neave who was having a shocking day and just managed to find a small whiting late on to save his embarrassment for 8 points and 10th place. Faring slightly better was his partner in that bay in Jake Cooper (peg 4) and although his mutt was barking instructions to him all match could only find 5 fish for 50 points and 6th place but he did get the Coalie (24cm). After his fight with the weed Neil Smart (peg 5) did find 7 fish including a nice 26cm Dab for 60 points and 5th place. Not a day for Paul Tovell (peg 6) who only found fish when he came off his distant comfort zone (just enjoys casting) with 6 fish for 34 points and 9th place. A consistent performance throughout the match gave Bevan Self (peg 7) 3rd place with 91 points from 13 fish.

Not such a good day for Tony Thomas (peg 8) who struggled to find fish at the start and all his effort close in and out with a bucketful of wrigglers could only result in 4 fish for 39 points and 8th place. Finding a couple of nice Flounders early on sparked John Carter’s (peg 9) into life and with a small Plaice and a good Flounder towards the end gave him 88 points from 7 fish for 4th place. However, his final result could have been better had he not gone back for his phone midway, you won’t forget it next time John! The man finding the whiting albeit small was Mike Topping (peg 10) who was well in the lead half way but he hiccupped and lost the fish and only started finding them again towards the end finishing with 14 fish for 113 points and 2nd place. Struggling with the weed for most of the match was Paul Kendrick (peg 11) who although in range of the pipe could not capitalise on his position ending up with just 5 fish for 40 points and 7th place. After enduring weed at the beginning Jack Topping (peg 12) was certainly young man of the match and took full advantage of his peg next to the pipe. He certainly did take full advantage of his peg finding 4 species including points earning Sole (27cm) and Flounder (28cm) demonstrating quality can do the business with just 7 fish for 116 points and that top spot.

An interesting match where typical Bacton conditions including the weed tested everyone’s skills and patience. A Bacton venue where the beach is continually changing and one or two may have noticed the new gully just a few yards out just down from high water. A match that one of our young members will never forget and probably his dad also. Surprised that there were so many Flounders around as they normally don’t appear back for another month. With just 4 whiting 25cm or more this could make the final Sea League match here in two weeks more of a flattie bash.

Next Club match is the final 10th Leg of the Winter Accumulator at KELLING via Muckleburgh Collection on SUNDAY 5TH MARCH fishing 10:00 to 3:00 HW 11:14 4.2m. Draw will be at the Muckleburgh Collection main gate from 8:30 … Tony T

Top 5 Individuals (on the day) …

1…Jack Topping.……..2lb..6 2/3oz…..( 7 fish)

2…Mike Topping..….…2lb..5 2/3oz…..(14 fish)

3…Bevan Self…………..1lb..14 1/3oz…(13 fish)

4…John Carter….……..1lb..13 1/3oz..( 7 fish)

5…Neil Smart…………...1lb..4………......( 7 fish)

Current Top 5 Winter Accumulator …

1…John Carter………19lb 3 1/3oz

2…Gary Medler……..19lb 4oz

3…Mike Watts………..18lb 5oz

4…Andy Gallacher….17lb 11 1/3oz

5…John Neave…………17lb 10 1/3

Current Top 5 Overall League Leaders …

1…John Carter……665 points

2…Henry Randell…637 points

3…Paul Kendrick…618 points

4…Mike Watts……..546 points

5…Tony Thomas….526 points

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