Holt SAC Nelson Shield (Report)

Sunday 1st December 2019 - Kelling

Holt SAC’s Nelson Shield match was held at KELLING via Muckleburgh Collection on SUNDAY 1ST DECEMBER. Originally scheduled for SALTHOUSE, members decided on arrival to switch to KELLING to try and replicate the previous week’s experience as well as avoiding hiking across that Salthouse shingle and avoid some pleasurers on the match stretch. A small turn out this week probably the slightly chilly northerly putting off others. Thanks to Mike Watts and the redoubtable Richard Hipperson for standing in for Mr Organiser.

A good sea for this one prepared by a few days of moderate northerlies and a low pressure rolling into the North Sea. Fishing from just after high water down gave a nice swell at the start although you needed to be pretty careful where you positioned your buddy with a few rogue swells coming in from time to time. Forecast for the day was cool, slightly overcast, light to moderate northerly which was spot on with the odd bit of dampness thrown in. Pegging was from straight down from our beach access gate towards the wreck.

Fishing from the top of the bank is a pleasure here when the water is right up and it soon became apparent that this was going to be a reasonable session as fish were being recorded from the off. Unfortunately, the initial pleasure was soon taken out of Mike Watts (P6) sails as he realised that the positioning of his buddy on top of the bank was a bit too ambitious. With 5 fish already on his card a rogue surge decided to smash his buddy and scatter his bait along the beach. Not a good start but at least his match card remained dry for the ink to come.

At the start there were Dabs and Whiting a plenty but with a dropping tide after 4 casts the Whiting seemed to get disinterested leaving generally small Dabs to share out the bait. This was in total contrast to the previous week when there were Whiting throughout. Also in contrast was the total non-appearance of those energetic Pouts which were in numbers at the previous match. Unfortunately, they were cosily tucked away in the wreck and not one was recorded. As the match drifted the swell eased a bit and all that was around for most were these small Dabs and the odd bigger fish.

In the end, it was the man with the disastrous start MIKE WATTS (Peg 6) who prevailed with an army of those small Dabs to take victory with 6lb 10oz from 32 fish ( 23 Dabs and 9 Whiting ).Runner-up was GARY MEDLER (Peg 4) with 5lb 0oz from 22 fish ( 11 Dabs and 11 Whiting). Final podium slot went to JOHN CARTER (Peg 1) with 4lb 9oz from 12 fish( 10 Dabs, 1 Whiting &1 Bass) who snatched the position away from Bev Self (Peg 3) on his very last cast with a nice 51cm (2lb 11oz) Bass.

Heaviest Flat fish was a 30cm (11oz) Flounder taken by BEV SELF (Peg 3) and heaviest Round that 51cm (2lb 11oz) Bass to JOHN CARTER (Peg 1). Altogether 114 fish (67 Dabs, 35 Whiting, 2 Flounders and 1 Bass) were recorded weighing 26lb 2oz.

As usual a competitive match on the Norfolk shingle that really didn’t meet the expectations of the small turn out and for the winner a small consolation for his broken buddy. A typical match for this time of the year at Kelling, let’s hope the big Whiting start appearing soon in daylight encouraged by the cooling water.

The Club’s next match is for the J. Long Shield and is Round 3 of the North Norfolk National Sea League at CLEY on SUNDAY 8TH DECEMBER fishing 10:00-3:00 LW 10:24 HW 4:15 4.2m with the draw in the Cley Beach Car Park from 8:15. It is an Open registered for Penn Points and Individuals are welcomed who should text 07780793141 if they want to fish. This is followed by the Club’s Annual Xmas Fayre and Town Team Challenge Open at KELLING via Muckleburgh Collection on SUNDAY 22ND DECEMBER fishing 10:00-3:00 LW 9:48 HW 2:52 4.3m. This is also a Penn Points match so anyone interested in fishing should make a comment or text 07780793141. There will be a raffle and raffle prizes are always welcome … Tony T

Top 10 Individuals (on the day) …

1...Mike Watts……..……6lb.10 1/3oz..(32.Fish).(Peg 6)

2…Gary Medler..........5lb.1/3oz......(22.Fish).(Peg 4)

3...John Carter..........4lb.9oz.........(12.Fish).(Peg 1)

4...Bevan Self……………3lb.9 2/3oz….(15.Fish).(Peg 3)

5...Richard Hipperson.3lb.9oz…………(18.Fish).(Peg 5)

6...Neil Smart............2lb.12oz……….(15.Fish).(Peg 2)

( NO OTHER WEIGHERS)

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