Holt SAC 3rd Leg Summer Accumulator (Report)

Sunday 24th April 2016 - Cley

With just 2 weeks to go to the Club’s prestigious North Norfolk Bass Festival this was an ideal opportunity to check out one the match stretches at Cley on an almost identical tide and identical match times. Unfortunately, nobody told the key holder to the Artic gates as these had been flung wide open allowing a strong NNW wind to batter our match stretch. Even more disconcerting whilst driving along the coast road , even with still an hour going to top was seeing the surf eerily rising high above the shingle bank demonstrating how vulnerable the old village of Salthouse is these days. That bank in its previous state had lasted 60 years without a hitch so why not rebuild it, managed retreat they call it or are there other forces in action here like those preventing the beach car park being reinstated at Salthouse. Sorry about that, nothing to do with the match but worth a mention. Anyway it was a bright chilly morning that greeted us with the prospect of some serious squalls and they duly arrived during the match. First glance at the sea and even the match was going to be doubtful but a closer inspection reversed this opinion and it was more and more looking like a real Bass sea with 4-6ft swell rolling in with just a hint of white water, just perfect!

We knew that turn out for this one was going be low with a few having opted for a Saturday evening at Kessingland instead as well as being put off by the chilly blast. A few even made it to Cley only to abandon their involvement after “sniffing” the wind at the top of the shingle bank and decamping to a lack lustre session in Wells Harbour. This left the usual hardy band of Club stalwarts to make their way to the match stretch which was west from the boats towards Blakeney Point. This pegging was to be a useful checkout for the Bass Festival as the 50 pegs in Zones A & B are to be along this part of the beach with tide height and times similar. Fishing top down meant all could easily perch at the top of the low shingle bank although fighting the wind during buddy erection was not quite as easy. With the strong NNW all were concerned about casting into the wind and then about whether or not they could hold bottom. None of these problems actually materialised and it was soon apparent we were in for an interesting session.

Most were pessimistic about there being fish around and their plan B was to disappear for an early carvery if the fish were not forthcoming. For most this thankfully did not happen particularly “asian ace” Loke who had first strike with a small 31cm bass. Not large but it was a bass and that is what we were here for so even at this early stage it was boding well for the Festival. He wasn’t done there as shortly afterwards a nice slab was seen coming not out of his bucket but out of the gully in the form of a 32cm flounder. Unfortunately, he fell foul of the Humberston Creek syndrome as he couldn’t find another fish. Unlike “garfish” Smith who was in specimen flounder mode finding a serious 35cm version along with one of 32cm and 26cm early on but his challenge stalled as the tide bottomed. Uncharacteristically, the other half of the Smith duo struggled today and could only find a couple of flounders although one was 28cm.

Unfortunately, the frustration got to “small hooks” Stannard who opted for plan B and could not stand another Club match in a row with no fish. Even an end peg could not light “last cast” Watts fire as his usual bucketful of dabs was reduced to 4 scrawny specimens with one that looked as though it had come from Sizewell (B) but he did get a bass, a small bass … 18cm. It was a slow start for “yoda” Thomas with a small dab and then a small 21cm turbot followed by a double shot of flounders. Then in sync with “last cast’s” bass he found a 39cm bass to bump his score up seriously. However, none of this action could compete with that of “off duty” Gibbs who started off with a 29cm whiting (in late April?) followed by a 33cm flounder and then the ‘coup de grace’ near the end a 52cm bass and whilst this was still hot on the stick another one of 53cm.

These bass were enough to give Tom Gibbs the honours on the day with 7lb 6oz from 4 fish. Runner-up was Ipswich man John Smith with 3lb 0oz from 6 fish. Final podium slot went to Tony Thomas with 2lb 7oz from 5 fish. Heaviest Flat fish was John’s 35cm (1lb 1oz) flounder and heaviest Round Tom’s 53cm (3lb 0z) bass. In total 24 fish (8 Dabs, 9 Flounders, 5 Bass, 1 Whiting and 1 Turbot) were recorded weighing 15lb 6oz.

An interesting match which bodes well for the Bass Festival providing we lose the chill and some of that NNW wind. Final bookings are coming in fast now and we are up to 70 so final total should be 90-100. Closing date for bookings is Friday 29th April so anyone still to book in please do so now and don’t forget the “Shannock Quads” teams of 4 event.

Top 5 results …

1st Tom Gibbs       7lb 1 2/3oz     (4 Fish)

2nd John Smith      3lb 0oz          (6 Fish)

3rd Tony Thomas   2lb 6 2/3oz    (5 Fish)

4th Peter Loke       1lb 5oz          (2 Fish)

5th Mike Watts       0lb 14 1/3oz  (5 Fish)

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