6th Leg Summer Accumulator and Sabre Tackle Summer League Match 4 (Report)

Sunday 24th May 2015 - Kelling

It was back to the shingle at Kelling for the club’s 6th match of the Summer campaign. A venue which is renown for its numbers of dabs and flounders at this time of the year and this match certainly lived up to this reputation. For some this was not their “cup of tea” and gave it a miss but there were others who were more than game for a competitive fix. Such is the depth in the club these days when some miss matches there are others who come along ensuring we have a healthy turnout in every match as in this one which this time included two young ladies who promised they’re going to give their best shot this year. For the first time, club members were soon gathering at the Muckleburgh Collection Café for an early morning cuppa and a bite as the club had persuaded Hamad to open slightly early on this Whit Bank Holiday weekend. Many thanks Hamad for your actions and you’ll probably be seeing a lot more of us in the future.   Suitably refreshed pegs were soon drawn and all were off to our “beach head” parking slot.

With it being Bank Holiday there was a mood of relaxation so pegging was east and west of the small cliff and parking area. None of these long hikes as in previous matches and peg spacing was very generous avoiding some of the concerns of previous matches. Fishing 2 hours up and 3 down meant no chasing the tide, all very relaxing. With wind switching from NE overnight to a gentle SW meant a very flat sea with only just a hint of a swell. Some colour inshore but just 80 to 100 yards off it looked clear as a bell. This was ideal flattie conditions and at the whistle the gentle lob was the order of the day for all although some were still adopting their bass tactics. It was soon obvious that the predictions were spot on as rods began to rattle furiously and then single, double and treble shots of dabs started coming ashore. A real mixture of sizes with those finding any over 23cm having good points added to their cards. All knew that this would not last all match, which was the case so there was frenetic action over the first two hours to maximise the numbers being caught.

Although it was a small tide there was a good tide flow a few yards off shore which probably helped to keep the flatties coming. Not to be out done the flounders also had a say in the proceedings, not many but quite a few over 30cm and serious points for those finding them. With everyone focused on flatties the wreck end were surprised when a nice 43cm (1lb 11oz) bass came ashore on one first cast. This was one of just three that were found in the whole match but at least it shows there is still a chance of these serious fish at this venue. To add to the surprises another round fish made an appearance at the Kelling end, a mackeral so where did that come from in May? As the top of the tide arrived and went the clingy fine weed made an appearance and in the tide became a nuisance as lines drifted round to the adjacent peg. At this stage the dabs were still hanging around in numbers but as the ebb began the tide eased and so did the fish coming ashore.

For most the last 1 1/2hours was a bit of a struggle with the early rod rattling a distant memory. However, the reduction in dabs was compensated for by some good flounders with one of 35cm (1lb 1oz) coming from the wreck end. The wreck end certainly performed well in this match with numbers and better quality fish with the winning weight of 9lb from 27 fish coming from this end. The quality issue was certainly demonstrated by the runner-up’s weight from the Kelling end being 7lb 12oz again from 27 fish. In total 246 fish (42 flounders, 201 dabs and 3 bass) were recorded weighing just under 64lb. Kelling once again lived up to its flattie reputation and it was ideal for those that like to see their rod rattling and having points added to their cards with a good reason for catching them.

On the individual performances, peg 1 was situated in front of the infamous radar but no dumb peg this time with “silver fox” Neave on board as he registered a raft of good flatties up to 28cm. Notching up 18 fish in total for 189 points and he of course had to go and get that mackeral which unfortunately did not count. The Carter clan was next door with “cuddly” Carter (peg 2) getting some practice in for next year’s UK Ladies Championships finding 6 nice flatties for 65 points. Hubby “steady” Carter (peg 3) was finding the fish and with his 2nd fish being a 32cm flounder worth 40 points he really did think it was going to be his day particularly as he was on a good hot spot. However, like everyone else fish numbers dwindled and although a late 30cm flounder helped he ended up with 14 fish and 187points. The “boss” Morley had set his stall out from the start and all that was on his mind was bass which did arrive early on but it was small and his only one although his tactics were rewarded with 31cm and 33cm flounders and serious points. A total of 15 fish and 258 points gave him an outside chance of a podium place.

In contrast “taxi” Kendrick was struggling and although he had fish early on could only find 6 dabs for 46 points. Unfortunately, it did not help that he was not feeling too good all match and an early drive the following morning to Harwich prompted him to take a slightly early exit. From the off “yoda” Thomas (peg 6) was finding those double and treble shots of dabs using some refined Welsh tactics but amongst these were a lot of small dabs with equally small points. With 10 fish in the first hour he thought just maybe it was his day for a change but wrong! Trying all his usual techniques he needed that big flounder or bass but his crab and wrigglers just did not do the business. Missing out on those Welsh blacks was his undoing recording 21 fish for just 181 points.   Next peg “pikey” Muirhead (peg 7) was in a real joyful mood as his change of tactics to 1/0s was paying off as he gleefully registered fish at last. Some nice fish came his way topping it off with a 29cm flounder which made his day resulting in 11 fish for 136 points.

You can never underestimate “super sub” Brown (peg 8) as he continued to bring fish ashore throughout the match. Not a lot of fish but nice chunky ones helped by a 32cm flounder giving him 242 points from 17 fish. Our sole youngster on this day was “young Sam” Bulch (peg 9) who for once was concentrating on his casting and getting to grips with his ‘cotton’ ending up with 1 fish for 14 points. In contrast, dad “blacks” Bulch (peg 10) was really in catching mode as he was into fish from the off with a few serious fish at the start helped by a 33cm flounder early on. His juicy Welsh blacks were certainly finding the quality fish late on cumulating in a 31cm flounder giving him 27 fish for 371 points and a certain shot at top spot. With a gap under the cliff, peg 11 was first peg at the wreck end with “diver” Gedney on board. He was into dabs from the off and a nice 28cm flounder early on helped his cause ending up with 14 fish for 162 points. “short walk” Borley (peg 13) was straight into his flounder mode with a 26cm version as his first fish and then all he could find was small dabs. That was until the last hour when he found a monster 35cm flounder which bumped his score up to 220 points from 21 fish.

Part of the regular Gorleston contingent these days, “take it easy” Tovell (peg 14) was struggling to find any decent dabs and for once his range tactic was not paying off. However, a 30cm flounder towards the end gave him a respectable score of 140 points from 14 fish. Then there was the second of our young ladies in “biblical” Watts (peg 15) who had taken a leaf out of hubby’s book for catching fish. A number of reasonable flatties including a nice dab of 28cm helped her to 100 points from 11 fish and we did hear that she had decided to rest once she had 100 points. The competitive spirit has bitten her and Rachael is determine to fish more matches this summer and like Pam prepare herself for the 2016 UK Ladies Championships, watch this space! Next door was the person we all have to beat in “last cast” Watts (peg 16) and this match was to be no different. Like everyone else he was straight into fish but when he kicked off with 29cm and 31cm flounders followed by a raft of good sized flatties you knew it was going to be his day again. Although he slowed down in the last hour his lug, crab and squid combination was doing the trick and with more flounders at the end his resulting 27 fish amassed a total of 433 points giving a certain shot at top spot.

Nice to see “kipper” (peg 17) making a trip up here again and as before he was into some good fish. A bass of 38cm as his third fish followed by a 31cm flounder propelled him to the top of the leader board in the early stages and with flounders of 30cm, 31cm and 34cm gave him a healthy score. His 19 fish gave him a total of 338 points and a certain shot at top spot. Then there was that lucky “consultant” Allison (peg 18) with a 43cm bass on his very first cast and he was over 100 points with just 3 fish on his card. Unfortunately, he couldn’t find any more decent fish until his very last fish, a 33cm flounder which shoved his score up to 248 points from 15 fish. Finally, there was end peg man “hokey pokey” Loke (peg 20) and retired ‘cleethorpes warrior’ who really had wished he had taken the carvery option. After seeing the bass on the nearest peg all his drifting techniques failed to find numbers of fish with his biggest being just a 25cm dab giving him 73 points from 7 fish. With his other failure of not being able to enter the UK Ladies Championships he has now sent off his application form to join the local nunnery.

In the end, it was apparent from the quality of fish Mike “last cast” Watts was finding that he was going to do the business on this day with 9lb from 27 fish. Runner up with the same number of fish with more than a 1lb less with 7lb 12oz was Christian “blacks” Bulch. Final podium slot went to “kipper” from Gt. Yarmouth way who managed 7lb 1oz from 19 fish. Heaviest flat of the day was the 35cm (1lb 1oz) flounder to Mark Borley and heaviest round the 43cm (1lb 11oz) bass that went to Ivan Allison. Another excellent competitive match with plenty of fish on the cards and for once it was good to see the rods really rattling. Next club match is at Cley on Sunday 31st May fishing 10:00 – 3:00 which is one hour later than advertised in the fixture list.

Club Match Result Top 5

1st Mike Watts        9lb 0 1/3oz       (27 Fish)

2nd Christian Bulch  7lb 11 2/3oz     (27 Fish)

3rd “kipper”             7lb 0 2/3oz      (19 Fish)

4th Keith Morley       5lb 6oz            (15 Fish)

5th Ivan Allison        5lb 2 2/3oz      (15 Fish)

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