The final match of the 2025 season for Skegness Pier Angling Club took place at Trunch Lane on Sunday, 28th December. Anglers were greeted with cold and dry weather, accompanied by a light to moderate north-easterly breeze. The challenging conditions included a rough sea, where a large surf and a small tide created difficulties for most competitors. Waves were frequently cresting more than 100 metres offshore in the shallow water and the moderate headwind made it hard for many to cast their baited rigs beyond the last breaking wave.
The match stretch looking North
As a result, most anglers blanked during the match. Nevertheless, those anglers with superior casting skills and the good fortune to draw pegs positioned closer to the narrowest point of the sand bar, managed to find some fish in the calmer waters beyond the surf. A handful of whiting, along with a dab and a rockling, were caught providing reward for those able to overcome the tough conditions.
Match winner Adie Cooper with one of his whiting from a 333cm total length in hard conditions
In first place was Adie Cooper who was able to clear the surf with his casting ability and fished one week old black lug tipped with squid to catch ten whiting and a dab for a winning length of 333cm and first place. Adie used modified 6oz Breakaway leads with thicker wires to hold his terminal gear still in the strong drift caused by the surf to improve bait presentation. Adie started off with triple and double shots of whiting but had had to cut one snood off to increase his casting distance to the max around high water to keep in contact with the fish as he was pushed up the beach to the high water mark. All bites dried up in the last hour with the beach becoming too shallow and the fish moved off well out of casting range.
Garry Hutson in second with 153cm of whiting
In second place was Grimsby Match Ace Gary Hutson who was able to cast past the surf table and fished week old black lug tipped with mackerel to catch five whiting on three hook clipped down rigs for a total length of 152cm. Gary was neck and neck with Ian Nelson on 123cm each until their last cast when Gary pipped him into third on their last fish which was a decent whiting of 34cm, which also won Garry the longest round fish prize.
Ian Nelson in third with total length of 146cm
Ian Nelson came in third with four whiting and a rockling all caught on the ebb. Ian was able to reach the fish once the level dropped on the ebb and cleared the sand bar to find the fish in the last hour of the match. Similarly to Adie he upgraded his lead to a nose wired fix grip lead to pin his gear down in the strong tow which constantly pulled to the right. Best bait was week-old wrapped yellowtails tipped with fish.
The top three right to left Adie Cooper 1st, Garry Hutson 2nd and Ian Nelson 3rd
The remaining nine anglers blanked as they were unable to reach the fish in the rough sea which had caused them to back off into the flat water being the breaking waves. Or found their rigs where being swept to the right, unable to hold bottom and tangle with each other’s lines or become washed into the shallow turbulent and fishless water on top of the sand bar.
Highlight of the day was Tracey Cooper-Adams returning to fishing matches with the club after several months off due to her recent Op. welcome back Tracey. Many thanks to Adie for pegging out the beach and to Russ Parsons for running the match thanks to Chas for the great pictures and to all those travelling from as far as Grimsby, Lincoln and Spalding to fish with the club today.
We would like to thank you everyone who has fished with the club this year for their support and wish you all a very happy New Year. The first match of 2026 is just round the corner and is next Saturday 3rd January at Sandilands and we look forward to seeing you all then.