BACK TO THE FUTURE
Event hopes to bring back glory days.
Something that seems to have all but disappeared, especially in my own area, are the big open boat matches that would draw in anglers from all corners of the country. Obviously, you still have the occasional smaller ones that happen year on year, but they don’t quite compare to the atmosphere of those big matches, where everyone gathered for the booking in and reassembled in the evening, retelling their tales of the day’s angling afloat.
As anyone who knows me will testify, I love a match. Nowadays, they tend to be mainly carp or coarse fishing, but I have enjoyed many sea angling matches in my time.
A chance to fish the first Northney Marina Cod Competition got me understandably excited. Upon arrival, discovering the sheer scale of the event, it reminded me of those bygone days I remember so fondly – there were 17 charter boats catering for more than 140 anglers. That, by anyone’s standards, shows the need for these kinds of events.
After a long journey to Hayling Island from Essex, I was really impressed by the organisation of the event, mostly taken on by Bex Florence, skipper of the charter boat Kelley’s Hero III. Every angler had been assigned their boat for the day during a draw earlier in the week, and given a neat little goodie bag, including a printed mug (with the dates of some of the competitions organised for next year - more on that later), assorted paraphernalia from the different sponsors, and a handy fish bag to retain any fish caught ready for the weigh-in later in the evening.
I had been drawn on Kelley’s Hero, and was really looking forward to the day ahead. As well as you can organise a big event like this, you cannot arrange the presence of the desired fish. Cod fishing had been a little patchy, to put it mildly, leading up to the event.
Nobody really expected any huge hauls, but to say the fishing was underwhelming would be an understatement.
FIRST FISH
When we arrived at our mark, nine keen anglers on the boat were ready to throw everything they had at the water – we were all fairly optimistic and fished with real intent.
With all the boats within a fairly close distance of each other, the plan was for everyone to keep in touch via radio, and any fish captures were to be reported and recorded. With relative radio silence, it wasn’t looking good.
Eventually, the first fish was reported, and that implanted the idea that perhaps it was a case of waiting for the right state of tide to entice the cod into feeding. Fresh bait was being sent down all around, but that feeling of invigoration only lasts for so long when watching motionless rod tips. It wasn’t for the want of trying, but it really didn’t look like the cod were in the mood.
Yes, a few fish were being reported, but, in reality, when you are putting your all into the fishing, and getting zero results, it’s very difficult to stay positive. With only pouting and whiting being caught on our boat, there really wasn’t much happening in the way of excitement, but it was the same on all the boats.
Those fish that were being caught weren’t huge, so it would potentially take only one or two fish to win the match. In some matches you need to fish quickly and efficiently, landing as many fish as possible, and in others you need to make sure you take your opportunities when they come, as they could be the difference between winning and losing.
You can imagine my disgust when I failed to connect with what looked like a full-on cod bite… I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a blue tinge to the air for a short while afterwards.
Eventually, the engine was switched on and time was called, and, as seems to happen fairly often, there was a call from the back of the boat “fish on!”
We looked on as the fish was retrieved with little resistance, and to much surprise it was a codling of 2lb. It didn’t look like there was going to be a winner from our crew.
HAPPY FEW
Back at the weigh-in, it was heart-warming to speak to so many of the anglers, who despite the slow fishing, really enjoyed the event. For the first time in as long as I can remember I blanked, but it didn’t matter. Surrounded by like-minded anglers, all enjoying their day’s fishing and the ethos of the event itself, it levelled out the fact that the fishing was somewhat below par.
Witnessing the happy few coming in to weigh their fish, it was a nice reminder that it really only would have taken one fish to have made your day’s fishing, and possibly won you a decent bit of cash. The biggest cod, a very respectable fish of 16lb 10oz, was caught by Dave Harper and won him £500. Close behind was Ray Barron with one of 14lb 12oz, and third was Phil Jones with a fish of 10lb 6oz. There was also a prize for top boat on the day, which was taken by Shaw Thing II, skippered by Matt Towgood.
The prize-giving was an event all of its own because so many of the anglers stayed behind to sample the food and drink put on by the organisers, as well as a raffle with lots of prizes. It really was a great chance to mingle, chat and dissect the day’s angling.
To see the support offered by the sponsors of the competition just goes to show that the demand for these big events hasn’t disappeared. If things like this carry on, I can only see them growing and maybe reaching the heights of the glory days.
The organisers have lots of events planned, so check out the Northney Marina Fishing Competitions Facebook page. Events include a two-day pollack event, species hunt, conger comp, and then a two-day cod match for the back end of the year. I’ll be attending all these as they are an enjoyable day out, so I might see you there. ■