Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
COARSE ANGLING: NEAR PERFECT CONDITIONS HELP BRING OUT THE BIG CARP, WRITES JAKE STANGER
Near perfect autumnal conditions for fishing with warm days and mild nights has led to some superb captures.
At Fordwich there has been an unprecedented number of 30lb fish, around 15 to 20 in the last fortnight.
Nigel Lemon, from Hersden, caught a 24lb mirror, and Andy Tappenden, from Thanet, caught his first two carp from Fordwich, which were very respectable – a 28lb 7oz and a 33lb 10oz common. Terry Culley managed six carp, including a 34lb mirror and a 30lb common.
Another Thanet angler, Darren Drew, used long range boilies to net his 30lb common.
Gary Hills, of Broad Oak, used similar tactics to catch himself a comparable 30lb common.
The smaller catches of the week, although still very rea- sonably sized, included Richard Bacchus from Calcot, with a 25lb 14oz and 19lb common. Nathan Hogbin, from Sturry, and fishing alongside Richard, had similar results with a 25lb 8oz common and a 19lb mirror.
John Collins, of Hersden, reeled in an 18lb and a 26lb, again using long range boilies.
Two sessions definitely came out on top however.
The first was Brian Gaymer, from Dover, who landed mirrors of 31lb and 36lb 4oz, and commons of 33lb and 35lb, as well as a 28lb and 25lb.
Perhaps more impressive than the size of these is the fact that three of the 30-pounders were caught within two hours of each other.
The second was Stuart Warren, who managed to haul in the largest catch of the season so far, a common at a whopping 40lb 2oz.
Meanwhile at Stonar, there was a good number of catches.
Notably, Kate and Andy Cox together netted a very impressive total of 41 carp, up to a 18lb 9oz mirror.
Steve and Reece Payne caught a mixture of bream and carp, with bream up to 4lb, and carp up to a 26lb mirror.
Steve Maxstead landed a respectable 33lb 12oz mirror, setting a new personal best.
Several pike have been reported from the river around the Grove Ferry area, mainly caught on dead baits, up to 19lb.
Please remember that the threat of KHV is still present and you should be using the dips provided. A keep net ban is also still in place.
The Canterbury and District Angling Association’s annual Match Group Cup (which is open to all Association members) is being fished at Grove Ferry on Sunday, November 12, upstream and ‘E’ section between 9.30am and 3pm. The draw will be made at the north bank car park at 8am.