Holt SAC Annual Mackeral Bash 2016

Friday 22nd July 2016 - Cley

As traditional determines Holt SAC’s 6th Annual Mackeral Bash was held at Cley on Friday evening 22nd July. In common with previous years the turnout was pretty low as was the number of mackeral although better than previous years but still low. This a summer Friday evening match and it has to be an evening high water tide and with this being a 9:25 p.m. big tide we thought we had got it spot on. The previous nights at this venue had produced bucketfuls of mackeral and parking along with beach space had been a premium. In the event we should get caught out by this, contingencies were in place to move either to the Iron Road at Salthouse or Kelling. However, on arrival at a paltry 5:00 p.m. there was plenty of parking space and not a single rod on the beach, so it really was plan A.

A rather early 6:00p.m. start for this one which meant not much water at the beginning but at least we were all able to pile on to our preferred slot on the beach just west of the boats. A brisk ENE gave a bit of a chop to the top but nothing much and almost ideal conditions for herding the whitebait inshore although surprisingly there was rather a lack of tern activity out to sea, was this an omen? Rules of engagement were simply numbers of fish with a maximum of 3 cast to avoid removing feathers from traces. All allowable fish over 18cm counted which meant schoolie bass could be recorded but notweavers.  

With in theory 3½ hours of continuous casting in prospect a variety of techniques were adopted at the off. Conventional feathers kicked off “last cast”, “dabber” and “pints” sessions with solid casting. Whereas, “the dog” and “yoda” opted for a more leisurely approach with baited pop ups with 10/15 minute casts instead of every 5 mins. In contrast to all this “comfy van” was putting more finesse to his session with a Dexter wedge.   Unfortunately, for the first 2½ hours of this relentless casting there was nothing to show for it, well not quite! Pop up man “the dog” did manage a weaver but after protesting vigorously that all fish counted did not manage it get recorded on his card. Throughout this hectic activity there was the “the lady” having a brief respite from balmy Ely with a refreshing sea breeze calmly kindling away and keeping her Facebook page up to date with pictures of hubby.

The sun was now beginning to dip towards the horizon and when the weed and tide startied to pick up near the top this snookered the pop up merchants who also had to resort to the feathers technique. Unfortunately, the day was spent for “comfy van” as he saw his favourite Dexter wedge disappear into the clear blue briney for a new life. It was back to the farm for him as a see you in the Autumn came across. Time was running out as the clocked ticked towards 9:00 p.m. but we were all still optimistic as we were told no fish until the gloom starts. Comments repeated by other club members who came sauntering across the shingle in “silver fox”, “sizewell ace” ,”samphire man” and “ex-bag lady” to test the banter.

Then, as if on cue “the dog”’s RG supplied replacement Yuki tip bent over as two good sized mackeral came ashore which certainly made up for the weaver. That was it for a short while then “last cast” was seen twisting and turning with his egg whisks as 4 mackeral came up the beach. A couple of sizeable ones for his cool box but the rest joeys which had to be left to ‘mother nature’. This then was followed by a few more multiple shots although most were joeys but still got on to his card. The mackeral had certainly come in at last as “the dog” and young “dabber” found a few singles and multiple shots. All of this action was much to the disconsolate “yoda” whose favourite Irish mackeral gear was just not producing although he did manage to find a very small joey as the light began to fade. This was the same for “pints” who did manage one decent one for his freezer in Newark.

In the end it was “last cast” who did the business with 12 mackeral with just enough sizeable ones for his BBQ the following night. Joint second was “the dog” and “dabber” who managed to find 9 mackeral with the majority of “dabber’s” being sizeable. Altogether 32 mackeral were recorded although a few more were caught and not recorded due to the 3 fish per cast rule.   A night as predicted although could have been better if high water had been earlier but there we don’t control that. Nothing really serious in this match apart from the ever competitive “last cast” and at least we can say we were putting the fun back into fishing.

There are now no Club matches for the rest of July and August. The next Club match (Final Leg of Summer Accumulator) and Charity Open is on SUNDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER at KELLING fishing 10:30-3:30 HW 8:54 5.0m (big tide). As last year it is expected that this will be in aid of Mundesley Lifeboat with the draw at the Muckleburgh Collection Café and breakfasts will probably be served from 7:30. Like last year this could be a good match to kick off the Club’s Autumn Season. More information will be available shortly.  

Club Mackeral Bash Match Result Top 5  ...

1……”last cast”…………..(12 Fish)

2=…”dabber”…………...( 9 Fish)

2=…”the dog”……………( 9 Fish)

4=…”pints”……….……...( 1 Fish)

4=.…”yoda”……………...( 1 Fish)

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