Flounders love them or hate them they are annualy the first thought for nearly every club and leagues first fixture of the season, the funny thing is how we always look forward to this fixture but within an hour in we all wish we were some where else. Hythe was are chosen flounder spot and with talk of a bit of a drought of the species in recent weeks it was nice to see a few fish returned at the weigh in, with even an elusive two pounder putting in an appearance for angler Andy Rogers. you couldn't of asked for better conditions with a lovely settled day and early morning frost.
The aforementioned Andy Rogers took the days honours with a bag of five
flats for 4lb 12oz coming back after blanking for over half the match well
done mate.
Ben Phillips took runner up with 4lb 2oz finding all his fish in the first
half of the match funny how Andy was but a few yards away.
Third place was Dave Stenson who used light tackle to get more sport from
his four fish weighing in at 3lb 13oz.
A big thanks to all who attended hope to see you at the next fixture where
hopefuly parking will be less of an issue.
Round 1 Hythe Reclaimed Land
A calm but breezy evening were the conditions set out before the leagues second fixture of the season. With the water coloured through the weeks winds fishing was certainly expected to be action packed and did not disappoint ,although finding size able fish was no easy task. Pout and whiting kept the rod tips moving for most of the evening but most were rewarded with a large number of undersize fish.
The evenings first place honours were taken by Paul Thomas who took a mixed bag of the aforementioned species for 2lb 5oz.
Paul Dorey finished in the second place slot with 1lb 11oz.
Third place on the fixture was Shaun Bowditch with a bag of six Pout for 1lb 4oz.
Thanks to all who attended the match and bared with it despite the fixture clash with other clubs, look forward to seeing you all at the next fixture.
With a cold north wind forecast it was set to be a chilly evening with most members seeking sanctuary by fishing the deep water section. With slight sea conditions and a frost, pout dogfish and the outside chance of a ray were on the cards. The dogfish failed to show but pout were available and Paul Thomas managed to land a solitary Thornback ray of 7lb 7oz.
Paul Thomas finished the event in first place with a total weight of 10lb 6oz. Ben Phillips came in second with 4lb 2oz followed by Jay Bowditch and Simon Cook both finishing with 2lb 9oz.
Thanks to all who braved the cold conditions.
April showers were certainly apparent at the forth league fixture of the year although the rainfall was only sporadic giving way to reasonably calm evening. The fixture was the trial run for the groups new five dog limit which is hoped to allow among other things ,other species to be fished for and allow more fish to be returned alive and kicking. As can be expected Dogfish were ever present and quota’s filled quickly ,the shame was that other species were at a premium, Pout ,Poor Cod and the odd Dab were the only other species returned to the scales.
Jay Bowditch took the prime place taking Dogs and Pout weighing ten pound
in total.
Mark Plowman came in runner up with the nights only Dab together with Dogs
and Pout for a weight of eight pound eight ounces.
Paul Dorey closely followed with eight pound exactly.
Shaun Bowditch took the evenings heaviest fish a Dog of two pound four ounces.
Round five saw members arrive at the former army firing ranges at Browndown and with fair conditions and all hoped the dreaded Solent weed would not be present. As it turned out the weed failed to show in any significant amounts but the spider crabs did make there presence felt. The expected small smooth hounds showed during daylight and dusk as the weather conditions changed to a very still smooth evening, calm enough to hear anglers joking on a small boat a fair distance from the shore. Once darkness fell members continued to catch the odd smooth hound and pout and the weed remained manageable.
Mark Plowman landed himself a sizeable bass and a silver eel just short of two pounds to add to his catch of smooth hounds for a respectable weight of 11lb 4oz.
Andy Rodgers also found a couple of smooth hounds and pout for a total of 9lb 13oz
Jay Bowditch landed the nights heaviest fish
in the form of 4lb 4oz smooth hound to add to his bag for a total weight
of 9lb 11oz.