Holt SAC 10th Leg Winter Accumulator (Report)

Sunday 5th March 2017 - Kelling

 

 

 

The Final and 10th Leg of the Winter Accumulator was played out at KELLING on Sunday 5TH March fishing from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with HW 11:14 a.m. and a small 4.2m tide. Forecast for the day was bright in the morning with rain at the end with a fresh off shore wind. Well they got the bright start and wind right but not the rain as this all started within ½ hour of the start and lashed down for the majority of the rest. However, this was compensated by an almost flat sea with just a slight swell with good colour, ideal fishing conditions for a relaxing fishing session on the shingle. A small flooding tide fishing over the top meant no chasing the tide, even better!

 

With this being the penultimate match of the season a good turnout gathered nice and early for the draw at the Muckleburgh Collection main gate although a few distant members (from far away, of course!) took the leisurely approach and one local International just “crawling” along. After the results of the Sea League Match 2 weeks earlier at this venue on a similar tide pegging for this one was west from the end of the small cliff towards Kelling block house as this was by far the most productive stretch in that match. Once pegs were drawn there is no messing around these days and everyone soon scooted off to their slot on the shingle bank.

 

With the “crawler” just making it with his bounty of lug and gar all were soon into action as the whistle went in ideal dry conditions. The majority these days seem to go for the short 40yd cast here from the off with a few opting for slightly further and the odd (not really that odd!) addicted caster doing his usual business. It was expected that there would be a lot of very small Dabs with a few small Whiting as there were 2 weeks previous. It was soon apparent from the start that the fish were there as rods began to rattle and buckets began to be filled. A slow start for some and more hectic for others as cards started to fill up with small whiting at the beginning with just the odd dab. This was a role reversal from the last match with Whiting being the predominant species and the poor old Dab just playing a supporting role.

 

As the tide pushed closer to the top the rain started as did the weed, not a lot but just a nuisance when reeling in a treble shot with the odd Whiting just clinging on. This was more than compensated by the size of the Whiting suddenly going up a gear and some excellent points earning specimens started to be carded as the tide approached HW. Many in the high 20cms range and a lot over 30cm which was in total contrast to that match 2 weeks ago. This action continued for some for most of the match with treble shots routinely being carded and if two of them were quality Whiting then there was always that small one on the 3rd hook. Even though it was a small tide there was a good tidal flow and is probably why the Whiting were coming through. As slack water came the Whiting eased off and gave the Dabs a shot at the bait and these were better than that previous match with many in the mid-20cms or just less.

 

Slack water seemed to encourage the vermin as bait started to be stripped and the odd shore crab coming ashore along with a lot of edibles. Not big ones but just demonstrates how warm the water is at the moment. As the tide picked up again the Whiting came back but not in big numbers this time with the majority being small with just the odd decent one. As the match end the rain attempted to continue to disrupt action but thankfully cleared up at the whistle.

 

In the end it was the exceptional start which continued throughout most of the match with a succession of big Whiting that gave TONY THOMAS victory by a healthy margin ending up with 12lb 9oz from 51 fish. Runner up and keeping up his performance from the last match at Bacton was MIKE TOPPING with 9lb 15oz from 42 fish and for once kept Jack in his place. Final podium place went to youngster LUKE BRIERLEY who was probably here to consolidate his position for the Junior’s title and did it in style with 9lb 13oz also from 42 fish. In the heaviest flat fish category young JACK TOPPING continued his Bacton Flounder experience with one of 27cm (7oz) and the heaviest round went to KEITH MORLEY with a slinky Whiting of 37cm (12oz) which looked more like a dog fish but still worth 37 points. Altogether 419 fish (348 Whiting, 66 Dabs, 2 Flounders, 2 Rockling and 1 Pout) were recorded weighing 96½lb.

 

On the pegs, end peg 1 man was John Carter who got off to a flyer with a 25cm Flounder followed by a raft of good whiting including 2 of 32cm giving him 328 points from 28 fish for 6th place. Mike Topping (peg 2) was emulating his Bacton performance and with a Whiting of 34cm along with some good ones ended up with 477 points from 42 fish finishing 2nd overall. Young Jack Topping (peg 3) thought he was going to turn over dad yet again when his first fish was that big Flounder but then struggled to keep up ending with 249 points from 21 fish for 12th place. The enthusiastic Neil Smart (peg 4) was into the fish from the off albeit small but he did find some bigger ones including a whiting of 32cm to end up with 280 points from 24 fish and 11th place.

 

Demonstrating his skill yet again was young Luke Brierley (peg 5) who was picking up some good Whiting including one of 36cm and his card of Whiting and one solitary Dab gave him 471 points and 3rd place. Continuing his improving experience on the match scene was Paul Kendrick (peg 6), the only one to find Rockling along with a 31cm to record 301 points from 25 fish for 9th place. John Smith (peg 7) was out to repeat his previous success at this venue but his lug tipped gar only tempted smallish Whiting apart for one of 33cm to give him 368 points from 37 fish and 5th place. The evergreen John Neave (peg 8) was enjoying catching fish but needed more serious fish to add to his 31cm and couple of 30cm Whiting to do any damage finishing with 310 points from 30 fish and 8th place.

 

Then there was “Crawler man” Henry Randell (peg8) who was summonsed to fix the beast after just one cast but did record 18 points from 2 fish and 14th place but more importantly league points that could guarantee him overall league winner after the next and final match. Adele Smith (peg 10) like hubby was trying to emulate previous successes here but even a rare entry into the Super Pool did not help as she could only find small fish ending up with 294 fish from 30 fish for 10th place. Paul Tovell (peg 11) was straight into his favourite casting modeat the start but although finding some reasonable Whiting they were not coming quick enough but resorting to a closer range gave him a couple at 30cm and one of 36cm to give him a final total of 321 points from 25 fish and 7th place.

 

For once with carvery off his mind Peter Loke (peg 12) was scurrying around to find fish but his efforts could only find the small ones with just the odd good Whiting giving him 220 points from 21 fish and 13th place. Back in business (fishing!) again was Keith Morley (peg 13) who had forgotten his big fish hat and was plagued with small Whiting throughout but eventually found one of 32cm and then that slinky one of 37cm to give him 393 points from 41 fish and 4th place. In contrast, Tony Thomas was finding big Whiting almost every cast nearly the whole match and with 3 of them 31cm accumulated 603 points from 51 fish and overall winner on the day.

 

This match ensured that JOHN CARTER took the Winter Accumulator Cup, well done John! It also means that he still leads the Overall League by 36 point from HENRY RANDELL but as he will miss that last match and Henry will not means the positions could be reversed. Did Henry therefor have a plan with his just two fish, we shall see!

 

A match that defied all predictions that there would be no big Whiting and we would be plagued by small Dabs which actually turned out to be the complete opposite. How long these Whiting will hang around is anyone’s guess but the larger ones were full of roe and there appeared to be a lot of scrimp that could have brought them in. Apart from the rain it was a thoroughly enjoyable hectic match.

 

Next Club match is the final match of the season is the final Round 6 of the North Norfolk National Sea League at BACTON via Castaways on SUNDAY 12TH MARCH fishing 9:30 – 2:30 ( ½ hr later than advertised) HW 6:29 4.7m. Draw will be from 8:00 and there will be a Buffet, League Meeting, Presentation and Raffle afterwards. Please bring Raffle prize if participating. Please note the weather does not look too good at the moment for Bacton so all will be informed if we have to switch venue or date … Tony T

 

Top 5 Individuals (on the day) …

1…Tony Thomas.…….12lb..9oz………(51 fish)

2…Mike Topping..……..9lb..15oz…...(42 fish)

3…Luke Brierley.……….9lb..13oz……(42 fish)

4…Keith Morley.………..8lb..3oz……..(41 fish)

5…John Smith.……………7lb..10 2/3..(37 fish)

 

Final Top 5 Winter Accumulator …

1…John Carter……….26lb 10 2/3oz

2…Tony Thomas…….24lb 13 2/3oz

3…John Neave………..24lb 1 2/3oz

4…Keith Morley…….…23lb 9 1/3oz

5…Paul Tovell.…………21lb 11 1/3

 

Current Top 5 Overall League Leaders …

1…John Carter……710 points

2…Henry Randell…674 points

3…Paul Kendrick….660 points

4…Tony Thomas ...576 points

5…Mike Watts ……..546 points

 

------..------