ANGLERS DIG DEEP FOR RNLI
This annual open fundraising event proves to be competitive and as popular as ever
Now in its seventh year, the annual World Dab Championships is still drawing in anglers to help boost funds for the RNLI.
Sponsored by Tronixpro and held on the beaches of Hythe, Dungeness and Dengemarsh in Kent, this dab-only event has now raised more than £35,000 since it began, thanks mainly to the generosity of anglers.
Even though the format is wholly focused on raising money and not serious match fishing, the event still maintains a competitive side. This was proven by the fact that many had decided to arrive at their chosen spot 24 hours before the start.
Match organiser is local angler and guesthouse owner Simon Newman, who also volunteers as a crewman for the Dungeness lifeboat.
“It never fails to impress me the amount of generosity these anglers are prepared to offer,” said Simon. “Even on a cold and blustery day in February, when the fishing isn’t particularly exciting, they turn up, fish and donate money, I can’t thank them enough.”
LOTS OF FISH
The match started at 10am, and it wasn’t long before double and treble-shots of dabs, along with whiting, began to appear on the shingle. The size limit had been increased for the event to promote conservation, and landing a dab of 25cm was proving to be tough.
Nevertheless, word soon started to spread along the shingle that some anglers were catching keepers.
Wayne Jarman had made the journey from his home in Taunton, Somerset, and decided to pitch up close to the famous Dungeness Point. Using lug baits tipped with a small cube of fresh herring, he soon had a 26cm dab in the bucket.
As dark skies gathered overhead and the wind strengthened, much of the field hunkered down under their beach shelters.
The tide was running strong and some anglers struggled to find a bite. Others suffered the frustration of seeing a large flatfish emerge from the surf only to find it was a flounder or a plaice.
Regardless of the weather, the competitors were still in high spirits and hopeful that an influx of 25cm-plus dabs would begin to feed.
Michael Ferrier, from Herne Bay, Kent, suddenly upped the stakes by landing two sizeable fish in quick succession to yellowtail lug baits. Then, news began to filter through that more competitors were landing sizeable fish.
Around the corner from Dungeness Point, close to a mark known as The Boards, local matchman Steve Field, from Lydd-on-Sea, enjoyed a break in the weather and put himself in contention for the title with three chunky dabs to lug and piddock clam cocktails.
Next to Steve was another local matchman, Dorian Partridge, from Hythe, Kent. Using small black lug baits, he beached the biggest dab of the day at a whopping 32cm.
As the match approached its penultimate hour, the surprisingly empty stretch close to the fishing boats at Dungeness was also producing fish. Amid a flurry of dogfish, Becky Lee
Hodges, from New Romney, Kent, quietly bagged four decent dabs that would eventually bring her victory.
A strong field of 165, including several lady and junior anglers, took part and on the day helped to raise £4,100 for the RNLI.
There was a healthy number of fish caught throughout the event that included dogfish, whiting, flounders, rockling, bass and plaice.
For those competitors who caught the all-important 25cm dabs, pools monies were paid down to 19th place.