The weather was not kind to the organisers of the annual Skegness RNLI Open, Dean Sumner’s and Chas Tibble, the wind and rain arrived with a vengeance. This had a resultant effect on the attendance.
Visiting anglers took all the top places in the event which was fished from two zones at Jackson’s Corner and North Shore Road. Grimsby based England International angler George Smith was top man for the second year on the trot, with thirty-one dabs and whiting for 1018cm. One fish adrift in second place was top Holbeach match angler Adrian Crane, who finished with a level 1000cm. Kettering’s Dave Shorthouse continued his recent run of fine form to finish third, with a twenty-one fish catch measuring 691cm. Danny Finch from Grimsby, with a nice 54cm bass, won the longest round fish prize. Wayne Sumner was the only Skegness local to feature in the prize list, taking the second longest flatfish award with a 32cm dab. The event was hosted by the Lookout Pub and Dean Sumner presented the £203 raised, to the Skegness Lifeboat Coxwain, John Irving.
George Smith did not have time to wait for the results as together with Gary Hutson he was off to Kent to fish a match on the Sunday. George won his zone with only two fish and Gary was a fantastic fourth overall, they also took second in the pairs, and it was definitely worth the long trip and again showed how good this pairing is
The Skegness club were again in action on the Sunday night when Friskney’s Mark Holmes was top man again in the latest Skegness Pier Angling Club (S.P.A.C) match held from Mastins Corner, Ingoldmells. Mark won his second match in a row with a twenty-one fish mixed bag, weighing in at 15lb 8oz. Included in his catch was a specimen 1lb 12oz whiting, which easily won the heaviest round fish prize. Dave Shorthouse from Kettering was the only other angler to break the 10lb barrier, with his fifteen whiting tipping the scales at 11lb 7oz. Croxton’s Dave Burr filled the frame in third, with 12 fish for 6lb 14oz. Skegness local Wayne Sumner took the heaviest flatfish award, with a fine 1lb 4oz flounder.
Next S.P.A.C match will be held on Sunday 13 Dec from 1:30 till 5:30 pm at Jackson’s Corner, with Club members fishing the annual Christmas Fayre event. There is also an open section, which non-S.P.A.C members are welcome to participate in. For further information contact SPAC Secretary Chas Tibble on 07984 967988 or chastibble@hotmail.com.
On the Sunday Humber SAC fished a match at Suggits Lane and despite a late start Adie Cooper blitzed the opposition. Adie was catching from the off when many anglers were struggling to find a bite never mind a fish. There were a lot of small coalies about and this seemed to keep the whiting away. Anglers who managed to find the bonus whiting found themselves in the frame on the new system that the club is operating that gives every one an equal chance. Adie was well in front of everyone else with over 3lb. Next was Mick Smith with two whiting and also the biggest whiting of the night. The junior winner was the fast improving Liam Ainsthorpe.
The Club’s next match is this Sunday 6pm top 10pmand will be fished along Courtaulds Straight.
The Yorkshire federation also fished a match on the Sunday for a change they decided to hold it on the South Bank and the Humber Bank Wall. Local star Karl Nangle took the honours with twelve whiting, next was Bill Sheppard and third Simon Drayton.
Reckitts SAC were in action on the Yorkshire coast and they were greeted with fine conditions which brought out the rays, with three being landed from the Hilston area. There were also plenty of whiting around but the cod still seem to be pretty scarce off the Yorkshire coast. Hopefully this will improve for the Daiwa Open which is being held on the 29th. In the Super league it was Graham turner who had two rays and ten whiting for 8.95kgs, second placed Chris Wray weighed in thirteen whiting for 4.68kg and Carl Matthews in third had a bag of 4.47kgs. Winner in the Premier league was Peter Fenby with sixteen whiting for 5.43kg, next up was Chris Stofhard who had a nice 7lb cod to add to his three whiting for a weight of 4.81kg and third place went to John Barr on 2.28kg.
This weekend it is the next round of the HCA winter league but the weather looks a little bit rough for the weekend and there are doubts if the match will go ahead.
There have been plenty of reports coming of good fish caught of the Humber Bank Wall including several doubles. The favoured locations on the Wall are filled rapidly each day and you have to get there early if you want your preferred peg.
