English Boat Championship Penzance 29/30th October 2016
East vs West!
It seems an awful long time since we originally planned to fish this event (almost as long as the drive to the end of the country a little further and I’m sure we would have dropped off the end) the weather back in May had once again put paid to our well placed plans however with a light south westerly wind forecast for the practice day sea conditions were almost perfect.
The practice day showed us just how superb a venue this could be with 26-28 species per boat and many anglers catching species that they had never caught before, cream of the crop would go to Matt Osborn’s 7lb 10oz Couch’s Bream, other notable fish were the near 2lb Red Gurnard, 1lb + Greater Weaver and although none were hooked the massive Bluefin tuna that breached several times near one of the boats, I’m sure that we’ve not seen the last of these spectacular Thunnus Thynnus, the scenery is just as spectacular as the fishing, anchored up under the Minack Theatre we could almost have seen the play then just around the rocky outcrop you could see Land’s end, look the other way and St Michael’s Mount could be seen.
Saturday morning and the wind had changed direction to the predicted and dreaded south easterly, this change in direction added weight to the old saying “when the wind blows east” with both numbers of fish and species boated, the huss, dogfish and Cuckoo wrasse didn’t seem to mind though. Day one over and the boat winners were – Mike Smith (Bite Adventures) Mike Patten (Mermaid 11) Gary Galbraith (Celtic Fox) Vernon Allen (Bluefin) Mark Smith (Capriole)with Vernon taking the days honours.
Day two’s boat draw had unwittingly placed 3 boat winners on Celtic Fox (Mark, Mike smith and Vernon) Gary Galbraith and Mike Patten were both on Bluefin. This draw certainly opened the competition as there were no double boat winners. Day two boat winners were; Richard Russell (Bite Adventures) John Fisell (Mermaid 11) Ray Barron (Celtic Fox) Tony Swain (Bluefin) and Ken Smith (Capriole)
Ray Barron proved his credentials yet again by adding this event to his recent win at the WIBAC, Mike Smith gave him a good run for his money as both were on the same boat and kept neck and neck all day, Mike Patten came in a respectful 3rd, and there was only 10% between the top seven anglers, 39 anglers fished.
Ray Barron – Gold pin
Mike Smith – Silver Pin
Mike Patten – Bronze
Species caught over the 3 days
Bream = Black, Red & Couches. Rays = Smalleyed & Blonde. Flatfish = Turbot, Plaice, Dab, Megrim, Scaldfish. Wrasse = Corkwing, Goldsinney, Ballan & Cuckoo. Round fish = Whiting, Haddock, Cod, Ling, Pout, Poor cod, Bass, Coalfish, Pollock, John Dory, Lesser weaver, Greater Weaver & 3 bearded rockling. Baitfish = Pilchard, Herring, Mackerel, Scad & Launce. Gurnard = Red, Grey & Tub. Lesser Spotted Dogfish & Bullhuss, Conger (tell me if I’ve missed any)
Report by Martin Bobbett
