Report on CSSC Sea Angling Boat Competition.

Saturday 29 May 2010

Penarth, Wales.

This year's sea angling boat qualifier was held in the tidal waters of the Bristol Channel and at 08-30 on a bright but slightly chilly day, the competitors took to the water aboard Nik-I-Lou, a 38foot catamaran skippered by Steve Jones out of Penarth. Having negotiated the huge sea locks at the mouth of the docks, we turned towards open water and an hour later the competition commenced.

The scoring for this event is based on both total fish caught and the number of different species, with all fish being returned to the water. Mitch Johnson struck first with several Dogfish and a Smoothound, with Dave Hutchings and Bob Poole keeping pace. Maggie Kelly added a small Conger Eel to her tally, whilst John Agnew and Steve Cash both picked up Thornback Rays from the back of the boat. After a slow start Roger Lovell, started to pick up single fish of different species and as the tide dropped, scores were fairly even.

We then moved into deeper water and again it was Dave, with a 3lb Spotted Ray and John, with a 12lb Smoothound, who caught fish first. Bob Poole then hooked into a small Skate, but when it came to the surface 30 meters behind the boat, a seal came up from below and took it! Landing a 5lb Skate is one thing, but fighting a 150lb seal is something else and Bob was loosing line rapidly! Eventually, the hook pulled out and the seal got his lunch!

As the wind turned cooler and the tide slowed down, we headed to port where the scores were carefully added up. Though Mitch and Roger both ended up with 5 species each, it was a couple of late Bull Huss that won it for Roger, with Dave Hutchings just pipping John for the third qualifying spot. Unfortunately for Bob, his tussle with the seal not only cost him his fish, but also the match!

Mitch Johnson

Organiser