Recent catches mark the arrival of codling

Angling

The result of the latest Folkestone SA competition should provide some encouragement for sea anglers. Fishing from Folkestone pier, Mick Tapsell landed one of the first officially recorded and weighed codling of the autumn. The fish weighed in at 1.720kg (approx 3lb 8oz), which is somewhat less than the year-class expected but like all the whiting in the English Channel at present, the codling are a bit thin. Tapsell won the event with his codling plus three dogfish and pout for 5.430kg. Second was John Wells, of Hythe, with 4.940kg and third Martyn Reid, of Folkestone, with 4.280kg. Paul Gunner landed the best flatfish – a sole of 220g. Staying with sole, which are usually inshore this month, the result of the Dungeness Sole match proved they are thin on the ground with just one landed. That was by Dave Fuller and weighed just 12oz. Second was Darren Brooks with a 3lb 8oz thornback ray and third Ben Trudgill with a 2lb 0.5oz codling. Deal pier has also reported codling, with Brian Smith landing a 3lb 8oz fish that was in good condition. Other catches included the recent pier board winner which was a bass of 4.150kg for Don Halpin, of Northbourne. Fred Leach landed a couple of smoothhounds to 4lb on crab bait from the pier end, while a codling of 4lb was also reported from Walmer beach. Reports from the coarse fisheries around the region reflect the arrival of autumn and a cooler morning on Sunday saw mixed results from the local events with the fish starting to gather in shoals which is a sign of the impending season. Folkestone’s Russell Roberts won the latest Folkestone & Shepway AC match at Radnor Park, netting 67lb of carp. Second was Dave Dyer with 22lb 8oz and third was Tom Dale (19lb). At the latest Cinque Ports Angling Society event fished in the small lake at Beachborough on the Lyminge road, the fish were harder to tempt, especially the carp and the match was won by Grant Turner, of Hythe, with 5.810kg of mostly bream. Colin Dowsett and son Jason, of Folkestone, fished at Charlie’s Lake at Ashford midweek and found the catfish feeding. Jason’s best was 15lb while dad Colin topped it with a 28lb specimen.