Holt SAC Sid Ernie Cup (Report)

Sunday 30th September 2018 - Bacton

Holt SAC’s Sid Ernie Cup Club match was held at BACTON on SUNDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER fishing 12:00-5:00 with a big HW of 4.9m at 10:10. Draw for this match was in the Castaways Cliff Top Inn where members were able to partake in the usual morning sustenance of bacon rolls and beverages. Many thanks again to Anna and Richard for allowing us the use of their premises for parking, the draw and presentation at the end, like your new drive and parking facilities!

An excellent turnout of 22 for this one even with some of the regulars missing, demonstrating that they Club is in a strong healthy position. Members from all quarter s of East Anglia, from Holbrook, Ely, the Humber, Terrington St Clements, Clenchwarton, Heacham, Taverham, Swardeston, Gt Yarmouth, Gorleston, Oulton, Diss, Southwold, Hales and just three locals who made their way for this midday start. Such a variety of places, thanks to all for travelling some distance to support the Club.

Forecast for this one was overcast but dry with a cool moderately westerly. They got this right but the wind backed more north westerly and increased in strength making it rather chilly although it eased towards the end. Pegging was 5 pegs east of Pipe 1 and the rest between Pipes 1 and 2. How this beach has changed over the summer, where there was a 4-5ft drop from the top of the revetments there is now just 2ft and you can walk over them. Sand behind the revetments and now sand in front with a new gully just a few yards out leading to the usual flat bank into slightly deeper water.

A good sea with a slight swell rolling in but thankfully no real white water as the tide ebbed. Surprisingly, not much colour in the water as commented by a few but that wouldn’t deter those stonking Bacton Flounders. There was a monster bull seal patrolling close in which surprisingly was a good omen as there must be some fish around for him to be there.

At the whistle even two hours after High the water had not dropped much and everyone was behind the revetments but not a problem as there was only that 2ft showing along most of the stretch. This situation soon changed as tripods started to appear in front of the revetments as everyone started to move forward. Well nearly everyone except those five in the bay east of Pipe 1 who could not move forward until two hours after the start which then exposed a huge deep hole in front of the revetments producing some challenging fishing conditions.

A few options at the start with most opting to get over the bank into slightly deeper water although the topography of the sand had changed over the past few months and no one really knew what they were casting into. Rods remained still for a while at the started, all except Luke Childerhouse’s who suddenly saw his rod smash down with a 40cm Bass on board. It immediately took a direct path towards and around a groyne and line and rig soon parted company. How did he know it was a 30cm Bass? Well at low water he was able to retrieve his rig with the Bass still attached which was safely released, nice one “unlucky” Luke. Mind you he soon found a couple of 28cm Flounders to give him some decent points.

As the tide ebbed a few more Flounders started to show and most match cards had an entry but it was slow. At this stage most were able to get on to the bank in front of that close gully enabling a bit more distance into casts. It also enabled Bev Self on Peg 8 to have a Luke (C) moment as well as he retrieved his lost rig from another groyne complete with a 26cm Flounder attached. Not quite the same as Luke’s experience but being a competitive sole a disappointing loss with fish hard to come by. The ebbing tide did start to throw up some weed which had been absent but nothing too serious and only really affected those with some distance to their casts.

This distance did start to produce some Whiting and Dabs along with a few Schoolie Bass including a few better fish. However, there were still a few of those stonking Flounders being found closer in and it was a test of patience to find these specimens. Not the double and treble shots of these specimens as in the past but at least a good range of the 30+cm to give some healthy points.

To the east of Pipe 1 it was a slightly different match where all the fish had to come from range. For some they did not really start catching until two hours after the start when they got in front of the revetments and then some could not go any further because of this deep hole in front of them. In this stretch it was definitely distance that mattered and some better fish was found producing the top bags of the day.

It was late arrival MIKE TOPPING on effectively end Peg 21 with young Jack Topping on end Peg 22 who did the business in this match to follow his triumph on the Summer Bowling Scene. Four different species made up his catch with 5 Flounders, 4 Dabs, 2 Whiting and one 35cm Bass but the star in his catch was a slinky 43cm Whiting worth 60pts boosting his weight to 5lb 15oz. Runner-up was ADRIAN BORDIANU Peg 19 who was unable to fish properly for 2 hours at the start because of the revetments and the deep hole close in but managed to find 3 Flounders of 30cm and more, 4 Dabs and 2 Bass of 40cm giving him a total of 5lb 9 1/3oz. Final Podium slot went to the inevitable MIKE WATTS Peg 13 where his persistent casting found his usual small Dabs, 14 in total plus 1 nice 31cm Flounder and a Whiting giving him 3lb 9oz.

Heaviest Flat Fish was a 35cm (1lb 1oz) Flounder taken by TONY THOMAS Peg 9 and heaviest Round the 40cm (1lb 5oz) Bass taken by ADRIAN BORDIANU Peg 19. Altogether 105 fish ( 50 Flounders, 31 Dabs, 13 Bass and 11 Whiting) were recorded weighing 43lb 0oz.

An interesting competitive match where everyone apart from two recorded something. Will not mention who these were but surprisingly they were pegged either side of Pipe 1 (Pegs 17 & 18) which normally can be the hot spots, not this time! With the tide reluctant to go at the start it presented everyone with a challenge of where to fish as the whole beach had changed. With our first Sea League here in two weeks on the same tide this could produce some scratching of heads of where to place team members. However, this picture could completely change next year when they are planning to pump thousands of tons of sand from Scrobie in front of the Gas site. This will cover the revetments and the groynes to extent that the planners are suggesting land yacht racing on the resulting sand. We shall see!!!

Next Club Match is for the Nelson Cup and will be combined with the Gorleston Tackle Open at GORLESTON on SUNDAY 7TH OCTOBER fishing 10:00-3:00 LW 2:27 4.7m. Draw from around 8:00 in the Marina Bar Café on Gorleston sea front. Tickets from Gorleston Tackle if you have not already got one but they may now be sold out.

The following week is the 1st Round of the 2018-19 North Norfolk National Sea League at BACTON on SUNDAY 14TH OCTOBER fishing 12:30-5:30 HW 10:25 4.6m. Draw in Castaways Cliff Top Inn from 10:00 where the usual bacon butties and beverages will be available. There are currently 7 teams participating and if anyone wants to enter a team it is not too late, if interested please text or call TT on 07780793141 … Tony T

Top 10 Individuals (on the day) …

1...Mike Topping..........5lb.15oz......(12 Fish) (Peg 21)

2...Adrian Bordianu......5lb.9 1/3oz.( 8 Fish) (Peg 19)

3...Mike Watts.............3lb.9oz.......(16 Fish) (Peg 13)

4...Andy Gallacher......3lb.5 2/3oz..( 6 Fish) (Peg 14)

5...Tony Thomas.........2lb.13oz......( 5 Fish) (Peg 9)

6...Luke Childerhouse.2lb.9 oz........( 5 Fish) (Peg 1)

7...Ian Childerhouse...2lb.8 1/3oz...( 7 Fish) (Peg 7)

8...Bevan Self…………...2lb.8oz.........( 7 Fish) (Peg 8)

9...Dave Burr.............2lb.0oz.........( 4 Fish) (Peg 6)

10.Charlie Needham...1lb.13 1/3oz.( 5.Fish) (Peg 4)

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