Foreman Cup

Saturday 29th November 2014 - Kelling

As we were fishing into dark and around the wreck the committee decided to switch this match from Weybourne to Kelling and take advantage of the club’s Muckleburgh Collection access.  With the strain of the previous weekend’s highly successful National Sea League Final being felt by some it was suspected that the number for this match would be down.  This was proven to be the case as the usual hard core of members met at the Muckleburgh Collection main gate with the majority wanting to prove that the previous weekend was merely a blip in their performance and wanted to catch at least bucketful’s of whiting.

An overcast sky and good colour in the water helped to raise everyone’s optimism.  A comfortable light ENE with a good swell brought thoughts of maybe one or two codling but fishing the ebb on a small tide really dashed hopes of this but we were fishing into dark so you never know.  Pegging was from the wreck west so in theory we had one of the best stretches on the beach.  Pegs were soon drawn and everyone could be seen scurrying along the track although at this time of life scurry is probably the wrong description.  All except “young” Henry who was on summer time -2 and arriving an hour late seeing the gate shut decided to save his bait for Sabre Tackle’s session the following day at the same venue which subsequently added to his current catching woes but we won’t go there.

With a nice warmish evening and night promised, all were soon perched on the bank with a gentle shingle slope to the water’s edge. Not bad stuff this Kelling shingle, just the right size to be easily scooped up to fix ones buddy, brollie or whatever.  No real urgency before the start as all could be seen away from their pegs in banter mode as the whistle went.  With a real good swell there was the dilemma of where to place the bait, in the gully or with a bit of range. In fact everyone had opted for their usual distances at this venue and were in casual laid back mode.  With the vermin rife the previous weekend everyone had opted for 10 minute casts to start off with and it was soon apparent that these damn crabs were still there even though temperatures had dropped and there was a good swell.

Undeterred, big baits were being launched to try and pick up the fish and “big baits” Ellis (peg 9) at the wreck end soon found one, a sad small dab that got his campaign underway. Everyone then started to get through the vermin only to find undersize 25cm whiting grabbing the bait. Things started to improve as “silver fox” Neave (peg 3) had a dab whiting double shot although the whiting was only just in. However, near peg 1 with “inspector” Morse on board found more serious 28cm whiting which was the size that seemed to dominate his card all match.  “yoda” Thomas (peg 4) was struggling to get through the vermin and undersize whiting but at last managed to find a slinky version just in size.   “the consultant” Allison (peg 7) was after better fish as he carded a 29cm whiting followed by a couple of small flatties and then a good points earning 31cm whiting. At this early stage it was “ex-captain” Ellis (peg 5) and “pee pee” Loke (peg 6) who were having a slow start as all they could find was undersized whiting and vermin.

It was crafty “silverfox” who started bucking the trend finding a 29cm whiting and monster 36cm flounder giving him a whopping 56 points.  Then as the light started to fade he latched into a 36cm whiting adding a further 36 serious points to his card. At the other end “big baits” was having an unlucky day as he had found one of those rare codling creatures only to see it turn over in the breakers, wave to him and disappear into the briny deep. However, his disappointment was short lived as the wreck end started to throw up its usual big pout for himself and “the consultant” which seems to be the pattern for that stretch of the beach near the bottom of the tide at night.  Darkness had arrived and the fortunes of “pee pee” started to improve as dabs and whiting appeared on his card although not big which seemed to describe his match, lots of rushing about with plenty of undersize fish. “ex-captain” was in a similar situation but at last managed to find a good 25cm dab and then a cracking 37cm whiting which kick started his evening as more and more sizeable whiting appeared on his card. “yoda” was having a dismal evening with 25cm whiting coming ashore in droves and only occasionally being compensated by the odd 30cm version.

“Inspector” was plodding away finding recordable whiting but nothing of serious size.  “the consultant” kept topping up his card with decent whiting and “yoda” made a late charge for the podium 2 casts from the end with a treble shot of sizeable whiting.  All really a bit too late as “ex-captain” and “silverfox” continued to find sizeable whiting cast after cast as they vied for the top spot.  In the end it was that early big flounder and whiting that gave John “silverfox” Neave the honours with 5lb 3oz from 13 fish followed very closely by Richard “ex-captain” Ellis with 5lb 1oz from 12 fish who was also helped by his big whiting.  Final podium place went to Ivan “the consultant” Allison whose steady performance gave him 4lb 6oz from 13 fish.  Heaviest flat was John’s 1lb 3oz (36cm) flounder and heaviest round Richard’s 12oz (37cm) whiting.

A pleasant comfortable match where darkness as usual brought on the bigger whiting and helped to switch off the vermin slightly. With fish numbers similar for the majority it was down to the quality of fish caught that put one on the podium.  Another excellent competition for all helping to dampening the memories of the NSL Final performances.

The next club match at Gorleston on Sunday 6th December has been postponed due to clashes with other events.  The next club match is the 3rd Round of the North Norfolk National Sea League at Cley on Sunday 13th December fishing 10:00 - 3:00. There are still places in the club’s team for this event if any club members are interested.

Club Result Top 5

1st   John Neave          5lb 3oz   (13 Fish)
2nd  Richard Ellis         5lb 1oz   (12 Fish)
3rd   Ivan Allison         4lb 6oz   (13 Fish)
4th   Dick Ellis             4lb 4oz   (13 Fish)
5th   Tony Thomas       4lb 1oz   (12 Fish)

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