RCSL Sea Boat Fishing Competition 2008 - Weymouth.
I had been drawn on Wild Frontier skippered by Clem Carter, for the above event - a species hunt competition. We set off at 8 am, and bagged up on mackerel for bait, then steamed off to a reef mark that Clem had planned to fish.
Within minutes of dropping the anchor, and starting fishing - pout and poor cod were hitting the surface. These were soon followed by bream to 3lb, and a goldsinny wrasse - which unfortunately did not score as was unclassified and was under 9 inches. Once I had reached my limit of 10 each of poor cod and pout, I changed over to larger hooks, and pulled in a cuckoo wrasse, and a pollack of around 4lb+. Still being plagued by pout and poor cod (which no longer counted) - dropped a few bream and a nice huss on the surface, and without boating these fish - they too didn't count.
As the tide eased Barry Davies (who was an honourary Welshman for today - making up the 3rd member of our team!), hooked a huge fish, that he could do nothing with. After 4 or 5 runs and a near 10 minute fight - the fish bit through his leader. He was completely gutted - and not having seen the fish, made it worse! Minutes later I landed a conger of around 15lb.
The tide turned and pushed the boat off the reef and onto a patch of sand, and I managed to latch on to a doggie. The fishing slowed, and we headed off to Clems 2nd mark - approx 50 yards off Portland - for an assault at the wrasse.
First drop - ballan wrasse. Second drop - ballan wrasse. Soon I had my 10 ballan wrasse limit, and another pollack, along with another goldsinny, some corkwing wrasse, and tompot blennies - all of which were unclassified and under 9 inches! A quick change of tactics and a spot of groundbaiting, resulted in a garfish on the 1st drop.
Another move put us over slightly deeper water, which resulted in a pb undulate ray for me - 15lb 15oz. I also managed to get my huss on this mark and another few doggies for good measure.
Undulate 15lb 15oz
All too quickly the 6 hour competition was over and we steamed back to Weymouth harbour.
Somehow - I ended up winning the overall competition with 289pts, and winning the shield for most qualifying fish with 47.
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