Neame nabs title with beast of a bass

Angling

Herne Bay Angling Association held their National Bass Championships over the weekend with three beautiful days of sunshine and calm seas.

The town is regarded as the top venue in the country for catching large bass and boasts the British boat record for a bass weighing 19.72lb caught by Paul Mcewan in 1987.

Two fish of 13lb plus were caught in the competition which is exceptional and there are unlikely to be many larger fish caught anywhere in the UK this year.

Keith Neame narrowly won the trophy with an impressive fish weighing 13.68lb, closely followed by Andy Croft with a bass of 13.58lb.

Friday saw eight fish brought to the scales, the first being a 2.505lb fish off the beach by Michael Chalk.

The boat anglers managed to land seven fish over the 4lb qualifying weight, the biggest going to local and previous festival winner, Swervey Bobbit with a fish of 6.845 lb. Saturday saw only five fish weighed in but the quality had increased a lot topped by Neame’s cracking 13.68lb.

Second on the day was local bass expert Barry Seabrook with a 9.490lb fish, followed by John Luke with 8.735lb.

Sunday again saw only five fish weighed but another off the beach went to Nick Marsh with 1.775lb.

The boats had four fish on Sunday with the biggest going to Andy Croft, just short of the leader at 13.58lb. Second on the day was Adam Young with 7.26lb and third was Ian Gammon with 6.720lb. Results: 1st Keith Neame 13.68lb; 2nd Andy Croft 13.58lb; 3rd Barry Seabrook 9.49lb; 4th John Luke 8.735lb; 5th Adam Young 7.26lb; 6th Swervey Bobbit 6.845lb; 7th Ian Gammon 6.72lb; 8th Mick Clayden 5.14lb; 9th John Hards 4.80lb; 10th Wink Weller 4.445lb. Beach winners: 1st Michael Chalk 2.505lb; 2nd Nick Marsh 1.775lb. Top junior: Charlie Turner 2.93lb.

Keith Neame with his championship winning bass of 13.68lb and from left, above, Andy Croft and Barry Seabrook