Wind of change

Angling

The recent gales are what sea anglers have been waiting for, They will stir up the sea and improve sport on the local beaches at Seabrook, Hythe and Dungeness, and it’s hoped, bring the codling closer. Before the wind arrived, Hythe’s Barry Malcolm, among others, reported thornback ray from the Hythe Marine Parade, with fish of a 1lb up to 6lb. Small whiting and a few dogfish have dominated catches, especially after dark. The competition results usually give a good guide to what’s around and the latest Madagascar League competition, fished at Seabrook by 17 anglers, saw a top weight of 11lb 7oz for Stuart Joy, of Ashford, who landed 15 fish including dogfish and whiting. Second was Dave Wood Brignall, of St Mary’s Bay, with 8lb 11oz. Deal’s Saul Page was third with 8lb 6oz. The biggest fish was a codling for Canterbury’s Mike Cox weighing 4lb 6oz. The Fountain sea anglers fished the beaches between Folkestone to Hythe and the winner there was Gary Chantler with 2.090kg, mostly whiting. Second was Martin Swinyard with 2.002kg and third Herbie Tyler with 1.492kg. The Southern Circuit Sea Anglers fished at Galloways east of Dungeness and they landed codling, ray and whiting. Matchwinner was Keith Johnson, of Medway, with four fish including a 4lb 1oz ray for a total weight of 5lb 3.5oz. Dave Sales, of Herne Bay, was second on 5lb 1oz. The latest Dungeness SAA rover was won by Stuart Joy with 13 fish for 11lb 11oz. Second was Nathan Elliott, of Dover, with 11lb 10oz and third Simon Newman, of Dungeness, with 9lb 10oz including the event’s heaviest fish – a codling of 2lb 2oz. The Folkestone SAA Veterans’ day match fished on Folkestone pier was won by Mick Howland with 19lb 6oz of pouting and wrasse from alongside the wall of peg 16. I was second on 6lb 4oz from peg 5 and Herbie Tyler third with 6lb 2oz, including a 2lb 1oz bass from peg 2.

October 8, fishing 10am until 2pm; November 9, 11am until 3pm; December 7, 10am until 3pm; and December 22, 10am until 2pm. All dates are subject to the pier being available. Freshwater results include the latest competition at Radnor Park where the Steve Backshall quiver only memorial match was won by myself with 42lb of mostly carp. The catch included the most species, at six. Second was Folkestone’s Dave Dyer with 34lb 9oz and third John Williams, of Cheriton, with 21lb 6oz.

Sea anglers note that the British Open Shore Championships take place at Deal on Sunday, November 1. For more information, contact Saul Page on 07971172427. To book a peg, call Peter Owen at Folkestone Angling on 01303 253881.