TIGHT LINES
All the latest news and views from the South Wales sea angling scene
AFTER four weeks of major opens building up to the Seamaster final, anglers have been back concentrating on club matches and pleasure sessions.
Good-sized conger eels and an early showing of codling shows promise for the coming winter months along the South Wales coast.
For the young, up-and-coming Welsh anglers there was an opportunity to qualify for the youth international squad to represent Wales in the World Sea Angling Championships in Ireland next year.
The competitors travelled to the Mid Wales beaches of Llanrhystud and Borth. Llanrhystad saw the anglers contend with strong onshore winds, torrential showers and a large amount of weed which, on times, proved too heavy to retrieve, resulting in lost lines.
All anglers battled through these conditions to return small-eyed ray, cod, whiting and dogfish to the measuring board.
Borth saw unusually low numbers of fish recorded to what was previously thought possible, but, on a brighter note, the weather and weed situation was a little kinder to the competitors.
Only three species were recorded on the beach those being small-eyed ray, turbot and silver eel.
Welsh youth team manager Dewi Parry praised all the anglers for their skill and determination to not give up even though the weather and fish numbers didn’t do justice to the amount of time and effort afforded to each one recorded.
The team to represent Wales at the World Championships in Ireland is as follows: Jack Boxhall (Cardiff), Tyler Brimfield (Newport, Gwent), Callum Campion (Swansea), Dion Gunter (Bridgend), Oliver Kucyj (Milford Haven) and Deian Parry (Holyhead).
SWSA SAC fished Barry this week in their monthly points-based match. Although the weather played ball, fish were hard to find with a selection of conger eels, codling, pouting, whiting and dogs being brought to the measuring board.
In first place, with two conger eels and a pouting, was Nigel Putbrace with a total length of 201cm, winning him 20 club points. Second place went to Clive Boxhall with a pouting and a codling for 58cm, winning him 15 club points. Third place was taken by Alex Jamison with a single codling measuring 42cm, giving him 10 club points.
Seaview Lads SAC fished their local Barry marks this week, with Ada Harris winning comfortably with six conger eels and a pouting for 24lb 3ozs.
In second spot was Nathan Warner, also with six conger eels for 16lb 5ozs. Third spot went to Joe Gallivan with three conger eels, a thornback ray and codling for 13lb 5ozs.
This week’s offering is the club’s annual bus trip match to Llangennith.
Newport SAC fished their rover and in first place was Allan Clarke, with three codling and a conger eel for 4.78kg.
Second spot went to Gareth Mutlow, with three conger eels and a codling for 4.4 kg, and third was Dave Leader, with two conger eels and a codling for 3.92kg.
Top junior was Andrew Boardman, with a conger eel of 1.76.kg.
Gwent SAC travelled to Weymouth for their match. In first place was club chairman Ivor Smith with three garfish, two whiting and a black bream for 1.62kgs. Runner-up was Neil Evans, with three whiting, two garfish and two pouting for 1.44kgs.
Third spot went to Neil Owen with two whiting and two pouting for 1.06kgs.
This week’s match will be fished at the beaches in Barry, with fishing 9.30am until 2.30pm.
Penarth SAC fished their local pier and beach. In first place was Joe De Andrade, with two thornback rays on the pier for 11lb 14ozs.
Runner-up was Lee Williams with a conger eel and a codling for 5lb 9ozs. Third place went to Colin Boagey from the pier with a conger eel of 3lb 3.3ozs. Junior winner was Finnan Williams with a 2lb 11oz conger eel.
Penarth will be back at their local venue in a week’s time.
Caerau SAC fish their annual trip to Chesil Beach on Saturday, meeting at Abbotsbury car park at 2.15pm. Walking distance only from the car park, with fishing times 3pm-9pm. Two rods are allowed.
Holton Road Angling Centre, Barry, are again holding their annual biggest shore-caught cod competition throughout November through to the end of March 2020. Entry is £10 per angler. Books close the end of October for this popular event.
More than 70 anglers have already registered. All money will be paid out to the heaviest cod caught throughout the period. Anglers must visit the shop in Holton Road, Barry. More than £1,000 in prizes were won in last year’s event.