Holt SAC North Norfolk National Sea League 2018-19 Round 3 (Report)
Sunday 9th December 2018 - Gt Yarmouth
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Holt SAC’s Round 3 of the North Norfolk National Sea League was held at GT YARMOUTH (North Beach) on SUNDAY 9TH DECEMBER fishing 10:00-3:00 HW 9:37 4.5m. The weather had contrived with predicted serious North Westerlies and big swells to have us shift the match to the more sheltered north Beach round the corner. Draw for this match was at the north end of the match stretch at Beaconsfield Road next to “The Coffee Shack”. Six teams participated although some were a man short due to work commitments and the shear distance of coming from the West Midlands. In any case the majority of the team regulars made it in rather blustery conditions travelling from as far afield as the East Midlands, South Suffolk, Essex and the regular Humber man. Well done all for being loyal to the cause!
Pegging for this one was pretty simple starting from the end of Beaconsfield Road access down to just past the Sandown Road access and just short of the Britannia Pier. Many thanks again to Bev Self for helping with the pegging and avoiding a lot of walking by the old man. However, local knowledge would have been particular useful with this decision as the high order pegs in Zone E were very hefty and many apologies to those that lost a lot of gear.
Forecast for the day was thankfully dry with initially strong westerlies switching to very strong north westerlies later on which was just about right although the strong was not as strong as predicted. A big tide fishing just before top down meant everyone was way up the beach at the start. Some had camped very close to the tide line and were caught out as the tide seemed to be reluctant to start ebbing producing the odd rogue surge which came way up the beach. The sea had very little swell but a perfect “chocolate” colour which raised optimism that there would be fish there coupled with the army of bull seals patrolling up and down, they weren’t there for nothing!
A new venue for most and the Sea League so a bit of a learning curve although it wouldn’t be too different from the previous League and Club match on the South and Central beaches. So at the whistle the optimum cast was a 40 to 60 yard lob although some were trying a bit of distance. It was soon apparent that at least the Whiting were there particularly in Zone A with the low order pegs as rods start to vibrate and nod. Fish started to be recorded mainly Whiting with odd Dab, small ones from the vibrations and bigger Whiting from a good nod. A few good Whiting were found closer in but more bigger Whiting were found at little range but not serious stuff.
As top of the tide arrived more Whiting and Dabs were being found from the higher pegs but not as many at this stage as in Zone A. Slack water came and went quickly as it does here and the reluctant ebb started to give some tide which livened up the fish. This increased the numbers recorded in the other zones but also increased the number of hefts with a few losing many sets of gear. In this case, some could only fish very close in reducing the numbers appearing on their cards. Many apologies again for the pegging, we should not have been on this stretch as stated by the Jubilee Club and if we have to fish here again will peg north and south from Beaconsfield Road.
However, this didn’t prevent fish being recorded but their numbers did start to ease at this stage probably due to bait being stripped and hooks coming in clean, the vermin were active particularly at distance. As the tide increased fish numbers picked up but ihen the weed started to appear. Not serious stuff, nice and fine and easy to get off, just a nuisance. This did not stop the fish from feeding and singles, doubles and trebles were coming ashore complete with their consignment of weed. A situation that led to rod bending and reel grinding experiences along the whole stretch.
Talking about rod and reel experience, there was one such bit of excitement towards the end. This was when Mr Lokie and Mr Stannard were sorting something out with backs to sea when a freak wave swallowed Mr Lokie’s rod, reel and tripod without them noticing. When they turned round everything had gone, no sign of rod or tripod but a quick look in the gutter and the tripod was retrieved but no sign of the rod which looked like being confined to a watery grave and a sad Mr Lokie. However, as Jeff was reeling in his last cast he felt something very heavy on and at first thought it to be a branch or debris but then out of the mirk came Peter’s rod. A hug and few “kisses” followed as Jeff is now Peter’s friend for life. As for the rod and reel, a quick trip down to Jason’s Monday morning to get the reel stripped and he’ll be back in business before Christmas.
Enough of that excitement as the fish continued to be recorded in good numbers right up to the whistle. In the end it was the performance in that Zone A that did the business with DAVE BURR (Big Catch Tackle) (Peg 8) finding some form in contrast to previous matches taking the honours with 10lb 14oz from 41 fish. Runner-up was a man who can view his peg from his pad just 400 yards away in BEV SELF (Gorleston Tackle) (Peg 10) with 9lb 14oz from 38 fish who you could say had Home advantage. Final podium slot went to the old contemptable TONY THOMAS (North Norfolk Lads) (Peg 4) with 9lb 8oz from 37 fish repeating his position of round 2.
In the Teams top team was BIG CATCH TACKLE on 7 penalty points from 2 Zone wins, a Zone 2nd and a Zone 3rd. Runner-up was GORLESTON TACKLE with 8 penalty points from 1 Zone wins, two Zone 2nd and a Zone 3rd. Final podium slot went to NORTH NORFOLK LADS with 11 penalty points from a Zone win, a Zone 2nd, a Zone 3rd and Zone 5th.
The Heaviest Flat fish was a 28cm (8oz) to SIMON BONE (Angling Direct Norwich) (Peg 14). Heaviest Round was a monster 46cm (1lb 8oz) Whiting to ALAN DOY (Gorleston Tackle) (Peg 27). Altogether there were 752 fish (670 Whiting and 82 Dabs) recorded weighing 189lb 4oz.
In the Zones, DAVE BURR (Peg 8) of Big Catch Tackle took Zone A with 523 points from 41 fish followed by BEV SELF (Peg 10) of Gorleston Tackle with 473 points from 38 fish. Zone B was taken by KEVIN GREEN (Peg 12) of North Norfolk Lads with 444 points from 40 fish followed by NEIL SMART (Peg 19) of Gorleston Tackle with 370 points from 31 fish.
Zone C went to PHIL READ (peg 25) of Big Catch Tackle with 426 points from 36 fish followed by JOHN CARTER (Peg 26) of Angling Addicts with 386 points from 27 fish. Zone D was taken by PETER LOKE of Angling Addicts with 264 points from 23 fish followed by BILLY TEMPLE (Peg 40) of Big Catch Tackle with 258 points from 23 fish. Zone E was taken by MIKE TOPPING (Peg 43) of Gorleston Tackle with 434 points from 32 fish followed by MIKE WATTS (Peg 45) of North Norfolk Lads with 334 points from 30 fish.
Another good league match with a lot of fish for the majority. Unfortunately, marred by the hefts, again many apologies. The forecast determined a move from Cley although we could have fished there as the wind was not as bad as predicted but it would have been uncomfortable. Next round is at SALTHOUSE on SUNDAY 13TH JANUARY fishing 10:00-3:00 over High Water for a change which is 11:03 4.0m.
The few Club matches which are also Opens over the holiday period as follows …
SUNDAY 23RD DECEMBER … KELLING … XMAS FAYRE & TOWN TEAM CHALLENGE … 0:00-3:00 LW 1:18 5.0m.
SUNDAY 30TH DECEMBER … SALTHOUSE … ROCKET HOUSE OPEN … 10:00-3:00 HW 12:58 4.1m.
TUESDAY 1ST JANUARY… KELLING … NEW YEAR OPEN … 10:00- 3:00 LW 9:30 4.1m.
The December Opens will also be Penn Points for end of year points top up.
In the meantime Seasons Greetings to all Club and Team members … Tony T
Top 10 Individuals (on the day) …
1...Dave Burr……..........10lb.14 1/3oz..(41 Fish) (Peg 8)
2...Bev Self………….........9lb.13 2/3oz...(38 Fish) (Peg 10)
3...Tony Thomas...........9lb.7 2/3oz…..(37 Fish) (Peg 4)
4...Kevin Green............9lb.4oz………….(40 Fish) (Peg 12)
5...Mike Topping...........9lb.1/3oz.......(32 Fish) (Peg 43)
6...Phil Read……………......8lb.14oz……...(36 Fish) (Peg 25)
7...John Carter..............8lb.2/3oz......(27 Fish) (Peg 26)
8...Neil Smart................7lb.11 1/3oz.(31 Fish) (Peg 19)
9...Ian Childerhouse......7lb.9 2/3oz...(29 Fish) (Peg 20)
10.Alan Doy…..……………….7lb.6 1/3oz..(22 Fish) (Peg 27)
Teams on the Day …
1... BIG CATCH TACKLE ………………..7 Points
2...GORLESTON TACKLE………………..8 Points
3...NORTH NORFOLK LADS ………….11 Points
4...ANGLING ADDICTS ………………..13 Points
5...CHARLIES ANGELS……………….….17 Points
6...ANGLING DIRECT NORWICH.….19 Points
Teams to date …
1...BIG CATCH TACKLE………………..24 Points
2...NORTH NORFOLK LADS……………31 Points
3...GORLESTON TACKLE……………….31 Points
4...ANGLING ADDICTS………………….42 Points
5...ANGLING DIRECT NORWICH…..44 Points
6...CHARLIES ANGELS…………………..47 Points
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