The North East Marine Division of the Angling Trust are holding the first North East Kayak Angling Championships on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th June 2013. Fishing times on both days are 10 am to 3 pm with weigh in between 3 pm to 4.30 pm. Registration and weigh in is at the Fort House Education Resource Centre, Links Road, South Beach, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 3PQ. Entry is £10 each day for all classes. Competitors must register at Fort House. This is a Heaviest Single Fish Competition and there will be a good prize list each day. The heaviest single fish taken on the Saturday will win a Typhoon Angler Kayak, donated by Moonfleet Angling, Felling and on the Sunday the first prize is a Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 Kayak donated by North East Kayaks and Paddles, Amble. There will also be a prize for the heaviest flatfish and a Junior prize each day. There will be an excellent Prize List each day, with sponsors by Lewis Tackle, Whitley Bay ; Vass; Boat Fishing Monthly ; Shimano ; Tronix Pro ; Fladen ; Kayak Shack, Hornsea ; Simon Everett, and others, yet to be confirmed.
Competitors can launch and fish from the Boat House, Whitley Bay, Blyth Beach and Church Point, Newbiggin. No competitor will be allowed to launch until after the safety talk at 9.30 am each day at the three launch points.
All kayaks will be inspected for safety equipment before launching and any not deemed to be properly equipped will be refused entry to the competition. Any competitor not having ship-to-shore radio will be asked to “buddy up” with someone who has.
Safety boats will be in attendance throughout the two days. The R.N.L.I. will be carrying out free safety checks on life jackets and bouyancy aids. Competitors may use two rods – one for artificials, i.e. shads etc. and the other for bait fishing limited to two hooks.
Free camping and caravan facilities can be booked by contacting the Coastal Warden, Arthur Cranson on 01670-797323 or email arthur.cranson@northumberland.gov.uk. Showers and toilets will be available on site. There is also a fish-and-chip shop and restaurant next to the regisistration point.
Trade stands will be on site, which should bring added interest from the general public. Moonfleet Angling, Felling (0191-4381555) will have items of fishing tackle on sale and also a selection of their boats. The Kayak Shack, Hornsea (01964-562203) will also have a stand with kayaks and equipment available. North East Kayaks & Paddles, Amble (01665-714039) will have a large selection of kayaks and equipment and will also have some of their instructors and demonstration kayaks available for anyone wishing to try these craft out. Snowbee (UK) Limited will be displaying all of their latest rods, reels and artificial lures and equipment.
There is plenty of free parking at the registration point, with easy access to the beaches. There is a charge for parking at Whitley Bay. For anyone who is camping and caravanning, there will be free Bar-B-Ques available for you to use.
For further details, please contact Sam Harris on 0191-5184561, email samharris01@aol.com or Peter Mantle on 0191-4887421.
