WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

Organisations that influenced UK angling.

Fishing with a rod in saltwater was popular as early as the 19th century. While Britannia ruled the waves with its seafaring tradition, the industrious Victorians also kick-started one of seven organisations that had the greatest influence on sea angling. Let’s delve into their history...

THE BRITISH SEA ANGLERS’ SOCIETY

Men of note and wealth were founders of the British Sea Anglers’ Society, which had the objective of popularising sea fishing as a sport.

With aristocrats among its leading lights and supporters, it also attracted early sea angling authors, notably F G Aflalo, John Bickerdyke and C O Minchin.

Founded in 1893, its headquarters were at Fetter Lane off London’s Fleet Street. Its agents based in the main fishing towns provided members with information on catches, recommended reliable boatmen and hotels that welcomed anglers, and even arranged special fares with railway companies.

The Society was keen to report catches of note, and over time this made up a semi-official record list. By 1930 its membership had risen to 300, and but for the advent of the Second World War, when its premises and much of the contents were destroyed in the London Blitz, it would probably still be running today.

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF SEA ANGLERS

The Edwardian era saw the birth of the NFSA, which came into being in 1904. It organised a wide range of competitions that were well supported. After the Second World War, it relied heavily on club affiliations that grew steadily.

Gold, silver and bronze medals were offered for specimen-rated fish, the heaviest of each species annually gaining its captor a special certificate. In the early 1960s, regional divisions were introduced, the South West’s ‘Wyvern’ being the first.

In 2005, after a century of existence, the NFSA gave up its personal identity and became part of the newly established Angling Trust. The name ‘Division’ was subsequently dropped and they became regions of the Marine section of the Angling Trust. Now the Angling Trust is taking up the fight on behalf of anglers, and its place in history will be for others to judge. Website: www.anglingtrust.net

TUNNY CLUB

In the 1920s it became known that bluefin tuna averaging 500lb in weight were to be found congregating in the vicinity of the English and Dutch North

Sea herring drifters.

The first North Sea capture was a 560lb fish brought back to Scarborough. The success drew other participants to a game that was truly for men of steel, as they fished from small boats called cobbles, set adrift from a drifter rarely less than 60 miles offshore.

The second capture was a fish of 630lb, but the year’s heaviest, in 1929, weighed 735lb. These successes led to the formation of the British Tunny Club in 1930, followed by a British record of 851lb caught in 1933.

The Second World War brought tunny fishing to a close, but it resumed in 1947.

Two years later, in what was judged to be the best year ever,

with at least 40 fish recorded, John Hedley-Lewis took a fish of 852lb, a mere eight miles north-east of the Whitby light.

In the post-war years H E Wetherley caught 32 tunny and is credited with the final two – both 600-pounders – caught in 1954.

Higher costs and the demise of the North Sea herring sounded the death knell, and a year later the tunny club disbanded, its memorabilia being donated to Scarborough Museum.

SHARK ANGLING CLUB OF GREAT BRITAIN

The SACGB opened its books at Looe in 1953, proved to be a massive hit and gained an ever-increasing membership. Thousands of blue sharks were caught, and the small Cornish town was dubbed the shark angling capital of the world.

In 1960, by which time 829 members were active, a total of 6,330 fish, mostly blues, were recorded. The 1960s and 1970s were mako decades. Ten weighed in excess of 400lb, with fish of 498lb 8oz and 500lb taken off Looe being the heaviest, but Falmouth boats caught the greatest number. Members caught a far greater number of porbeagles though – most off the north coast of Cornwall, where a UK record of 465lb was established in 1976, but the current BRFC best was caught off the north of Scotland.

Like the mako, the porbeagle is now scarce, and only the occasional fish is taken by rod and line in Cornish waters.

Today, the Shark Club operates at a muchreduced level and has a strict policy of catch and release. Its collection of superb major trophies, which includes the fabulous Mitchell Hedges, is now awarded on the basis of measurement derived from a laid-down length and breadth formula. Visit the website at: www.sharkanglingclubofgreatbritain.org.uk

BRITISH RECORD (ROD CAUGHT) FISH COMMITTEE

A much-needed organisation, it was set up in 1957 under the aegis of the then National Anglers Council and operated from offices in Peterborough. Over the decades, the committee has adjudicated on many hundreds of saltwater record claims, and the list has grown steadily. In 1976 the decision was taken to create separate lists for boat and shore records and, where necessary, retrospective claims were permitted. Some of the older records thought to be of dubious origin were deleted. Today, it operates under the banner of the Angling Trust. The committee’s secretary is Nick Simmonds. Claimants should contact Nick by telephone (01568 620447) or email brfc@anglingtrust. net, or by post to BRFC, Eastwood House, Rainbow Street, Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 8DQ. The claims procedure can be found here: www.anglingtrust.net/page.asp?section=41

EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF SEA ANGLERS

Formed during an annual Looe Angling Festival in 1961 by competitors representing seven countries, EFSA rapidly grew in stature, and today has 22 affiliated countries and a great constitution, of which it is justly proud.

A standing committee is made up of senior officers plus two delegates from each of the member countries, who meet twice yearly in different Continental countries.

Boat, line-class, shore and European Champs are held each year at a different venue, while a Game Championship takes place where there is blue water. South Africa, Kenya, USA, Thailand and Mexico are among those that have hosted what has become a main event in the EFSA calendar. It is the keeper of European records, and its handbook lists more than 150 species in all tackle and line classes. Website: efsafishing.org

BRITISH CONGER CLUB

The conger club was founded in 1962. Membership is, by qualification, a minimum 30lb fish from rough ground and 40lb in the wreck category.

A British Conger Champs began in 1963 and was open to all comers, but before membership reached four figures it was decided to make it a closed competition for members only. To win the coveted Solitaire Trophy, the angler has to hook, play and boat the eel without assistance. Specimen fish medals are offered – gold for a fish of 75lb and over, silver 65lb and bronze 55lb.

The club has recorded six British record eels, headed by Vic Evans with a specimen of 133lb 4oz taken off Brixham in 1995. Today, the BCC is a promoter of catch and release and allows its trophies to be won with fish weighed at sea within set rules, the exception being for the Championship, for which the fish has to be weighed on land-bound scales.

The cost of charter angling has inevitably reduced membership from its maximum of 2,000, but it remains one of the largest specialist clubs devoted to a single species. Visit the website at: www.britishcongerclub.org.uk ■