EFSA England Shore Report
The 2026 EFSA England Shore Championships took place at Hurst Shingle Bank in Hampshire on 26th and 27th September, with anglers competing over the two days in challenging but rewarding conditions.
In the lead-up to the event, there had been some uncertainty surrounding the weather, but thankfully the conditions proved favourable for the championship, setting the stage for two days of competitive shore fishing.
Day One
Day one greeted the competitors with near-perfect conditions, including a light onshore breeze and exceptionally clear water. With the conditions looking promising, the majority of anglers opted to target bream and garfish, with many expecting these species to dominate the catches.
The competitors were split into two zones, A and B, with nine anglers in each zone. Pegs were drawn on the beach, and there was considerable interest in securing a place in Zone B, which had been reported as the more productive section of the venue. However, as the match unfolded, the fishing proved that expectations do not always reflect the reality on the beach.
Once the starting signal was given, most anglers adopted similar tactics, casting approximately 40 yards to target the garfish and bream.
It was not long before the first garfish came ashore in Zone A, landed by Angus Stevenson. This was quickly followed by an impressive bass caught by Andy Smith, providing an early highlight to the day’s proceedings.
Throughout the six-hour match, Zone A produced a steady stream of fish, with anglers regularly adding bream and garfish to their catches. In contrast, Zone B struggled to match the productivity of its neighbouring zone, with only occasional fish being landed during the early stages. However, Matt Osborne began to find the garfish and worked his way up the zone standings as the match progressed.
At the end of the first day’s fishing, Zone A had clearly proved the more productive area. Matt Osborne topped Zone A, while Gary Geoghegan led the way in Zone B. Angus Stevenson and Stuart also put in strong performances in Zone A, while Pete and Danny featured prominently in Zone B.
Day Two
Day two brought a noticeable change in conditions, with a stronger onshore breeze making its presence felt. Despite the wind, the fishing got off to a positive start, with both garfish and bream being landed from the opening stages.
In Zone B, Angus Stevenson quickly found the garfish, putting together a strong performance as the match developed. Meanwhile, Zone A proved less productive for garfish, prompting anglers to explore alternative tactics.
Danny Panter made the most of the conditions by targeting bream at longer range. His approach paid dividends, allowing him to establish a commanding lead over the rest of his zone.
As the match progressed, the bream began to arrive in greater numbers in Zone B. Gary Galbraith capitalised on the improving sport, finding shoals of fish and landing impressive triple shots to strengthen his position.
One of the most entertaining battles of the day developed between young Wilbur Wilcocks and Angus Stevenson on pegs seven and eight in Zone B. Both anglers enjoyed a productive spell, regularly bringing in garfish and keeping the pressure on each other throughout the session.
By the end of the match, a very respectable number of fish had been landed across the two zones, reflecting the skill, adaptability and determination of the competitors. The anglers were rewarded for their efforts with an enjoyable and competitive championship.
Final Results and Presentation
Following the conclusion of the fishing, competitors made their way to the local pub in Hurst village for the presentation, where the top performers were recognised for their achievements.
Congratulations go to the overall top three:
- Angus Stevenson – 1st place
- Danny Panter – 2nd place
- Gary Geoghegan – 3rd place
A special mention goes to all the anglers who competed across the two days, contributing to a thoroughly enjoyable championship and demonstrating the competitive spirit that makes events like this so successful.
Acknowledgements
A huge thank you to all the competitors who attended and helped make the 2026 EFSA England Shore Championships such a great event.
I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to Danny Panter for his assistance with the bait preparation and for helping to assess the beach ahead of the competition. Thanks must also go to Shorecast for supplying all the frozen bait and supporting the event.
Congratulations once again to our top three anglers and thank you to everyone who helped make the championship a success. We look forward to seeing everyone back on the beach at the next event!
Results
Gallery
