Good Evans... it’s a weekend to remember
IT was a good weekend to be a Garry Evans Match Team member as they took a lion’s share of the prizes in the final leg of the East Region Shore League.
In a match that attracted 61 anglers and 11 teams, all but 12 of the competitors battling it out at Cold Knap, Porthkerry and Fontygary took fish to the scales with nine different species taking the bait, consisting of blond rays, conger eels, codling, bass, pouting, whiting, dogfish, rockling and poor cod.
Following a closely fought battle between two teams throughout the series, it was past winners Garry Evans Match Team that ended a five year drought, taking the title by one point beating Team Sakuma into second place.
They netted a total 463 fish points on the day to pocket the £355 pool prize. Second spot went to Baits To Go with fish 402.5pts that scooped up £200 in cash.
Gwent Beer Bellies were third on 338.5pts giving them £143 pool money while Team Sakuma were fourth on 336pts and South Wales Matchmen fifth (331pts).
The finale settled the overall team prizes with Garry Evans on 62 points beating Team Sakuma (61pts) by the narrowest of margins.
They had to clear cushion over Baits to Go in third (50pts) with South Wales Matchmen fourth (41pts) and Channel Anglers fifth (41pts) on countback from having a greater number of fish points.
Garry Evans team member Andrew Hutchings also took the individual East Region prize for his catch of two blond rays plus a brace of dogfish for 9.86kg kilos.
He fished at Rhoose Point and trousered £108 pool money for his efforts.
Runner-up was team-mate Ben Davies, who was also at Rhoose Point and caught a dogfish, a ray and conger eel for 7.4kg, giving him £66 pool money.
Third spot went to Sakuma angler Dean Downe with two congers for 6.22kg earning him £55. Baits To Go angler Chris Jones was fourth with a ray for 6.13kg and a £26 payout.
The most fish pool of £61 went to Sakuma member Gerald John 5.58kg consisting of a ray, two rockling and a brace of poor cod.
Best nominated fish was won by Mike Mather fishing for the Gwent Beer Bellies with a whiting of 0.15kg earning him £61.
With a record 585 points Sakuma member Rory Jenkins won the series individual title and received a top of the range AnyFish Anywhere beach caster supplied by Julian Shambrook.
Runner-up fishing with Baits To Go was Porthcawl angler Chris Jones with 537 points.
He won a 12-foot AnyFish AnyWhere bass rod.
In third place also winning a similar bass rod was Holton Road Match team angler Adam Farmer with 532 points. Newport SAC struggled at Goldcliff in their match with just three fish caught.
The winner was Dave Leader for 2.45kg.
Second place went to membership secretary Joe Guscott with a single Dover sole for 0.86kg.
Seaview Lads SAC fished Barry and it was a close run affair with Roger Green taking top spot with a bag of dogfish for 2lb 15oz.
Runner-up was Ada Harris also with dogfish for 2lb 14oz.
Gwent SAC fished in conjunction with the Shore League finale.
In first place was Gerald John with Mike Mather runner-up with four dogfish and his whiting for 3.3kg.
Third spot went to Craig Maddock with an eel and pouting for 2.09kg.
Caerau SAC tried a new venue for them at Beachly for their monthly competition this week without too much success.
Sea debris, weed and undersized fish hampered the 16 anglers who turned up.
Only one in size fish was caught by Dave Pring bringing a flounder to the scales.
Penarth SAC fished their local beach and pier.
In first place was Neil Hatton fishing the Ranny Pool with two eels and a dogfish for 6lb 5oz.
Jim Sexton was runner-up at Dock Beach with a sliver eel and codling for 2lb 12oz.
Third spot went to Ieuan Mardon from the pier with an eel for 2lb.
Dow SAC fish their re-scheduled heaviest bag match at Barry and Porthkerry tomorrow.
Booking in takes place at the Ship Hotel, Barry, by 6.15pm. Fishing is 7-11pm.