Holt SAC North Norfolk National Sea League Round 6 and 10th Leg Winter Accumulator (Report)

Sunday 8th March 2020 - Bacton

Holt SAC’s Final Round 6 of the North Norfolk National Sea League & 10th Leg Winter Accumulator match was held at BACTON via Castaways on SUNDAY 9TH MARCH fishing 9:00-2:00 LW 12:08 4.6m. An early start for most but Country Cars FC members were there well before the crack of dawn waiting for breakfasts to kick off at 7:00. Many thanks to Roger for collecting entry monies etc. big help. A turnout for this one just below par with two teams 2 members short either Sri Lanka-ing or looking for that big fish on the Holderness or on birthing duty. Even so, enough to test ones competitive skills and all were soon getting their cards and discussing tactics in Castaways Cliff Top Inn.

Forecast for the day was a breezy south to south westerly but nothing of the likes of the recent storms and bright sunshine through out which it duly was. Apart from the odd bout of sand blasting and tackle boxes and rods being blown over which were more than acceptable given our recent experiences. Fishing the last 3 hours of the ebb and start of the flood on a smallish large tide meant plenty of flat sand to play with on the new beach.   After poor experiences at recent Bacton matches it was decided to peg traditionally as in the past, Zone A west of the old pipe 3 groyne, Zone B west of old pipe 2 groyne, Zones C & D between old pipes 1 & 2 groynes and Zone E to the East of old pipe 1 groyne. A lot of walking for some but plenty of space between pegs and zones, was this a mistake?

At the whistle the expectation of most were the stonking Bacton Flounders if they were back and maybe the odd Schoolie Bass or something a bit bigger. There were a few who had se t their stall out for targeting just these species fed up with relentlessly catching small whiting. Unfortunately, a few of them came unstuck as these species were just not there in any numbers. It soon became apparent that we would have to be satisfied with catching these pesky Whiting and even a lot of these were under 15cm particularly in Zone A. It is amazing they were even able to get on the hook.

Those from top end of Zone B through to and including Zone E were catching these small whiting but Zone A and B were struggling to find any fish . All techniques, bait sizes and distances were tried as the match progressed and as the tide picked up slightly over bottom the weed stated to appear. Thankfully nothing like we have had at Bacton but any distance did take lines around creating problems with ones neighbour but nothing serious.

As the tide turned and flood started towards the end everyone was hoping for that bonus fish and Gorleston Tackle’s NEIL SMART’s (Peg 25) luck changed as he locked into a 61cm (1lb 14oz)Dog putting 89 points on his card raising his score to a match winning 3lb 11oz (178 points) from 15 fish. Comprising that Dog, 12 Whiting and 2 Dabs. Runner-up was Big Catch Tackle’s PAUL MARSHALL (Peg 44) with 3lb 5oz (159 points) from 14 fish comprising 12 Whiting and 2 Dabs which included a few good Whiting. Final podium slot went to another Big Catch Tackle member DAVE BURR (Peg 37) from 15 fish (14 Whiting and 1 Dab) seriously helped by a 33cm Whiting early on.

Heaviest Flat was a 28cm (8oz) Flounder taken by North Norfolk Lads’ WILLY GROOMBRIDGE (Peg 29)and Heaviest Round the 61cm (1lb 14oz) Dog taken by Gorleston Tackle’s NEIL SMART’s (Peg 25). Altogether 216 fish (177 Whiting, 31 Dabs, 4 Flounders, 2 Rockling, 1 Bass and 1 Dog) were recorded weighing 42lb 15oz.

On the team front, last year’s champion team BIG CATCH TACKLE at last found some form to take this final round with 7 penalty points from 3 zone wins and a zone 4th. Runners-up were GORLESTON TACKLE with 8 penalty points from a zone win, 2 zone 2nds and a zone 3rd. Final team podium slot went to ANGLING DIRECT NORWICH with 11 penalty points from a zone win, zone 2nd, zone 3rd and zone 5th.

A poor day for NORTH NORFOLK LADS with 18 penalty points not helped with being two members short placing them 5th= on the day with ANGLING ADDICTS who were also two members short. However, this was a score they could drop which with their victories in all previous rounds enabled them with 30 penalty points to be declared North Norfolk NSL 2019-20 Champions. A team comprising of KEVIN GREEN, WILLY GROOMBRIDGE, TONY THOMAS (capt.), MIKE WATTS, DAVE WRIGHT and BILL BEETON (Reserve). Overall Runners-up were ANGLING DIRECT NORWICH with 48 penalty points and third place GORLESTON TACKLE with 61 penalty points.

During the season there was a Heavy Flat and Round competition for just team members and the result highlighted the lack of real quality fish during the season. Winning Flat was a 1lb 4oz Flounder taken by Angling Addicts PAUL HARVEY at Cley in December. Runner up was Angling Direct Norwich’s RICHARD HIPPERSON with a 1lb 1oz Flounder taken at Bacton in October. Third place went to Angling Direct Norwich’s KIMBERLEY LAWN with a 1lb Flounder also taken at Bacton in October. Heaviest Round was the Dog of 1lb 14oz taken by NEIL SMART of Gorleston Tackle at this match. Runner up was Angling Direct Norwich’s ADRIAN BORDIANU with a 1lb Whiting at Kelling in March. Third place went to Gorleston Tackle’s ALAN DOY with a 12oz Whiting at Cley in December.

After the match team members enjoyed a Castaways buffet. Many thanks again to Anna & Richard for allowing us to use their facilities and their staff for looking after us. This was followed by a raffle and many thanks to everyone for bringing raffle prizes. There was a short review of the season and presentation of all the prize money for the season. Many thanks also to John Carter for doing the raffle and to Kevin Green, Willy Groombridge and Tom Gibbs for helping with the results.

Another competitive match with numbers of fish well down on previous rounds. This match highlighted that they have ruined Bacton as a low water match venue with all their sand scaping. All the lovely gullies have gone particularly around the old pipe groynes. Now we have acres of flat soggy sand up to a few metres deep so it looks as though we will be checking Bacton out as a high water venue now that the revetments are currently buried.   Many thanks to all the teams who have made this a very friendly league this year and all have qualified to fish the Final at Skegness in November. First round of the 2020/21 season will be in early October at Bacton over high water and new teams will be welcomed … Tony T

Top 10 Individuals (on the day) …

1...Neil Smart.............3lb.11 1/3oz...(15 Fish)(Peg245)
2...Paul Marshall.........3lb.5oz…………..(14 Fish)(Peg 44)
3...Dave Burr.............3lb.2oz……..…...(15 Fish)(Peg 37)
4...Richard Hipperson..2lb.12 1/3oz....(13 Fish)(Peg 34)
5...Dylan Morgan……….2lb.12oz………....(13 Fish)(Peg 19)
6...Alan Doy….............2lb.11 2/3oz....(12 Fish)(Peg 42)
7...Roger Cunnington…2lb.4 2/3oz......(12 Fish)(Peg 49)
8...Mike Topping.........1lb.15 2/3oz…..(14 Fish)(Peg 31)
9...Henry Randell……….1lb.15oz..........(10 Fish)(Peg 3)
10..Willy Groombridge.1lb.13 1/3oz....(11 Fish)(Peg 29)

Teams on the Day …

1...BIG CATCH TACKLE ………………...7 Points
2...GORLESTON TACKLE ………………..8 Points
3…..ANGLING DIRECT NORWICH ..11 Points
4…..CCFC…………………..…………………..16 Points
5=..NORTH NORFOLK LADS ………….18 Points
5=..ANGLING ADDICTS………………...18 Points

Final Team Leader Board…
(Worst round score deducted)
1...NORTH NORFOLK LADS…………..30 Points
2...ANGLING DIRECT NORWICH……48 Points
3...GORLESTON TACKLE………………61 Points
4...BIG CATCH TACKLE………………..........62 Points
5...CCFC…………………..…………………...........71 Points
6...ANGLING ADDICTS………………….........73 Points

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