ARE YOU AN SWFSA AWARD WINNER?

THE South West Federation of Sea Anglers is holding its AGM and presentation evening on February 19, starting at 7.30pm.

Whether or not you are a fish of the month or annual trophy winner, please go along to this enjoyable occasion at Sidmouth Sea Angling & Sailing Club.

Sample the buffet, buy a few raffle tickets and share your fishy tales in the company of fellow anglers to celebrate the sport you enjoy.

Anglers from local clubs who were successful in 2013 and have awards to collect are Dee Weeding, David Pitman and Jim Bowler (Atlanta Boat Club), Malcolm Brindle, Ben Stockley, Pete Hegg, Jack Homer, Gerald Barnes and James Lane (Weymouth AC), and Steven Patterson and Maurice Pickford (Portland AC).

The postcode for the Sidmouth club is EX10 8BG.

LYME REGIS SEA ANGLING CLUB

THE club held its first shore match of 2014 at Lyme Regis and the target for anglers was to bag the most species, reports Gavin Tyte.

Despite the torrential rain and near gale-force winds, 18 members turned out to fish the competition.

The majority of anglers chose to fish from the more sheltered harbour walls, and although the fishing was hard and the conditions rough, the club still managed to catch more than 20 flounder, lots of five-bearded rockling, plenty of pout, a plaice, bass, eels, whiting, and even a greedy shanny that decided it could swallow a size-four hook.

The match was won by Tony Bessford, who also weighed in the best flounder so far this year, second went to new club member Matt Parsons and Oliver Male took third place.

DORCHESTER SAC

NINE Dorchester members signed on to fish their latest league match at Poole.

Conditions were far from ideal for fishing with strong southerly winds and driving rain.

The target species was flounder and seven were caught despite the crabs being a constant nuisance all night.

Martin Pelling won the match with a flounder weighing 2lb 2oz, which also earned him the pools. Pete Taylor took second place and Andy Ellard was third.

PORTLAND AC

FOURTEEN members of Portland AC fished the first shore match of the new season at Hamworthy Park, and although the weather was in complete contrast to the previous day only four weighed in.

Dave McCune won the match with 13 points for coming first on specimen, species, number of fish and weight.

McCune’s best flounder weighed in at 2lb 4oz 8drms, which was 101.39% of specimen weight.

Jason Daft was runner-up with nine points for placing second on specimen, species, number of fish and weight.

Maurice Pickford was third with five points for coming third in each of the categories. All other competitors scored one point.

EUROPEAN WINNER

TEN-YEAR-OLD Steven Patterson won the junior Fish of the Year Award for 2013 from the European Federation of Sea Anglers (UK) with his 16lb smoothound, which he caught while out fishing aboard his grandad’s boat Spot on Too.

A fine achievement for one so young and grandad Dave McCune had better watch out.

FLAMER IV

ANGLERS have been enjoying some good fishing out with Colin Penny on Flamer IV, setting personal bests and breaking records.

John Billett was fishing at anchor over a reef when he landed a personal best bull huss of 15lb 9oz, beating the previous Flamer IV record by 9oz.

Billett used a 20lb class rod baited with a squid and mackerel cocktail to land his fish.

Andy Collings used the same set up to land his personal best undulate ray of 17lb 5oz, and on the same trip, Collings had a personal best spotted ray of 4lb 2oz and a bull huss of 10lb 12oz.

Denise Youngs from Loders landed a 12lb 8oz undulate ray, which was tempted by a squid and mackerel cocktail. All fish were released alive.