Herne Bay Angling Association. 59 Central Parade, Herne Bay, Kent. CT6 5JG Tel: 01227 362 127
Email: info@hernebayangling.co.uk Web Master: Terry Kale
Latest Press Reports
January Proves ‘Snow Joke’ for Anglers.
By Michael Chalk (The Herne Bay Angling Association)
Snow and icy conditions proved the most decisive factor in the month of January for members of The Herne Bay Angling Association. With two open boat competitions and one beach event held at Dungeness, catches proved at best patchy. Even the pleasure anglers found the windows of ‘fishable weather’ limited and ultimately didn’t fair much better with only one Cod of 11lb caught by Andy Savage proving noteworthy.
So it was left to the competition anglers to prove that fish don’t just disappear. On January 3rd, through blizzards and heavy snow, 22 intrepid boat anglers ventured out in search of Cod and Dogfish. In the end, two of the furthest explorers hit the jackpot at the North West Shingles Bank. However, there was less than one pound between them – Robert Bates eventually triumphing with a bag of 10 fish consisting mainly of Codling and Whiting for an overall weight of 21.66lbs. In second place with 13 fish and the top number, was boat partner Jim Pressley (21.08lbs) while third went to Steve whiting with five Cod for 19.88lbs. The heaviest fish was another Cod caught by Jolyon Ifill weighing 8.15lbs (see photo) – a real challenge to land when your boat is a foot deep in snow!
By the time of the second open boat on the 31st however, the snow had gone but so had the Cod and not a single one was landed. Instead, 15 anglers found the going really difficult with only three managing to bring fish to the scales. Winning his first boat competition of the year was last years’ runner-up, Chris King with 9 dabs for a weight of 4.19lbs. After spending most of the day fishing for skate, Chris eventually changed tactics, putting smaller hooks on to target this tasty flatfish. This is the first time for many years that a Herne Bay Angling Association competition has been won with Dabs. In second place with 5 Dabs for 2.48lbs was Steve Whiting, with Jim Pressley in third on 1.83lbs (2 Dabs and a Whiting).
On the beach though, it was a different story. Dungeness at this time of year is usually a very prolific area and so it proved again. Although there were no Codling caught this year, the 24 club members fishing did find some monster Whiting and pan-sized Dabs more than enough to keep them very busy. Top area was again around ‘the point’ and this was where Steve Whiting put together a mixed bag of 30 fish for a total weight of 13.85lbs. In second was Ricky Joyce with 8lbs, while in third was another skilled performance by one of our junior members Joe Monk with 6.5lbs. Heaviest fish was a Whiting of over 1lb 4oz by Ricky Joyce – one of a number of ‘channel-sized’ Whiting over a pound to be caught.
In February The Herne Bay Angling Association has two competitions planned – one in the boats on 28th February (09.30-14.30pm) and an open at Hythe on the 14 th (8.30-13.30). In the clubhouse we also have a Valentines Disco on Feb 13 th with all members welcome. Full details on all upcoming events can be obtained by visiting our clubhouse or at www.herne-bay-angling.com.
By Michael Chalk (The Herne Bay Angling Association)
Snow and icy conditions proved the most decisive factor in the month of January for members of The Herne Bay Angling Association. With two open boat competitions and one beach event held at Dungeness, catches proved at best patchy. Even the pleasure anglers found the windows of ‘fishable weather’ limited and ultimately didn’t fair much better with only one Cod of 11lb caught by Andy Savage proving noteworthy.
So it was left to the competition anglers to prove that fish don’t just disappear. On January 3rd, through blizzards and heavy snow, 22 intrepid boat anglers ventured out in search of Cod and Dogfish. In the end, two of the furthest explorers hit the jackpot at the North West Shingles Bank. However, there was less than one pound between them – Robert Bates eventually triumphing with a bag of 10 fish consisting mainly of Codling and Whiting for an overall weight of 21.66lbs. In second place with 13 fish and the top number, was boat partner Jim Pressley (21.08lbs) while third went to Steve whiting with five Cod for 19.88lbs. The heaviest fish was another Cod caught by Jolyon Ifill weighing 8.15lbs (see photo) – a real challenge to land when your boat is a foot deep in snow!
By the time of the second open boat on the 31st however, the snow had gone but so had the Cod and not a single one was landed. Instead, 15 anglers found the going really difficult with only three managing to bring fish to the scales. Winning his first boat competition of the year was last years’ runner-
On the beach though, it was a different story. Dungeness at this time of year is usually a very prolific area and so it proved again. Although there were no Codling caught this year, the 24 club members fishing did find some monster Whiting and pan-
In February The Herne Bay Angling Association has two competitions planned – one in the boats on 28th February (09.30-
Dour Month Still Has Silver Lining.
Michael Chalk
February is traditionally a slow month for all anglers, and this year it proved to be particularly slow for most of the members of The Herne Bay Angling Association. In past years, with slightly higher temperatures, February has sometimes sustained the winter run of Codling, giving at least the boat anglers some good sport. However, with January being very cold and most of the Cod only to be found now in much deeper waters, the snow and freezing temperatures throughout February only ensured this lack of activity continued. Indeed, of the few days when boat fishing was feasible, just a smattering of the occasional Codling and Dabs were landed with some complete blanks even being reported. So it was perhaps a blessing in disguise when the months’ only boat competition had to be cancelled due to gale force north easterly winds. We can only hope that the Skate and spring Codling arrive in time for the next boat competition – the Harlow Cup on March 14th from 9am-2pm.
However, on the bright side, it was nonetheless a busy month for other members of the Association. The beach anglers had a great day out at Hythe, a venue specifically selected at this time of year as it often produces better catches when Herne Bay beach is still ‘frozen’. A good turnout of nearly 30 anglers found slightly surreal weather conditions – sunny and warm after 10am, despite standing in over a foot of snow on the top of the beach! However, the fish were biting so nobody was complaining as double and treble shots of small Dabs provided great sport for most anglers. The only shame was that there weren’t more of the larger ones on offer. In the end, it was actually the only angler not fishing for Dabs that won the open competition – Dave Andrews fished specifically for Rockling and managed to land 13 sizeable for a total of 1lb 15.2oz. In second, just 0.2oz behind was S.Harrison with 6 Dabs (1lb 15oz) and in third with 5 Dabs was Alan Underdown (1lb 11oz). Heaviest fish was a big Dab of just over 0.75lbs landed by John Chalk. The next event takes place at Deal on the 14th March from 8am – 2pm.
There was also a full calendar of social events in the clubhouse with a good crowd attending the Valentines bash as well as a very successful angling awards evening on the 26th. Presenting a fantastic array of trophies was the Chairman and President of the club, while all cup winners received a commemorative HBAA cap as well as having their photo taken with the prize. The undoubted highlights of the evening were the presentations of ‘The Shield’ to Shaun Quinlan for winning the Autumn Boat Festival (photo attached) and extra plaques to the 2009 Boat Champion Barry Palmer, Beach Champion Michael Chalk and overall Club Champion Steve Whiting. A big congratulations to all winners for 2009. In March, there will be both a ‘Donkey Derby Day (6th) and a ‘crazy quiz’ (20th) both starting at 8pm in the clubhouse.
For further information on any of our events please check out our NEW website at hernebayangling.co.uk or call in at the clubhouse. This report also should be appearing around the first Thursday of every month, so please check back regularly for future updates of angling in Herne Bay.
Michael Chalk
February is traditionally a slow month for all anglers, and this year it proved to be particularly slow for most of the members of The Herne Bay Angling Association. In past years, with slightly higher temperatures, February has sometimes sustained the winter run of Codling, giving at least the boat anglers some good sport. However, with January being very cold and most of the Cod only to be found now in much deeper waters, the snow and freezing temperatures throughout February only ensured this lack of activity continued. Indeed, of the few days when boat fishing was feasible, just a smattering of the occasional Codling and Dabs were landed with some complete blanks even being reported. So it was perhaps a blessing in disguise when the months’ only boat competition had to be cancelled due to gale force north easterly winds. We can only hope that the Skate and spring Codling arrive in time for the next boat competition – the Harlow Cup on March 14th from 9am-
However, on the bright side, it was nonetheless a busy month for other members of the Association. The beach anglers had a great day out at Hythe, a venue specifically selected at this time of year as it often produces better catches when Herne Bay beach is still ‘frozen’. A good turnout of nearly 30 anglers found slightly surreal weather conditions – sunny and warm after 10am, despite standing in over a foot of snow on the top of the beach! However, the fish were biting so nobody was complaining as double and treble shots of small Dabs provided great sport for most anglers. The only shame was that there weren’t more of the larger ones on offer. In the end, it was actually the only angler not fishing for Dabs that won the open competition – Dave Andrews fished specifically for Rockling and managed to land 13 sizeable for a total of 1lb 15.2oz. In second, just 0.2oz behind was S.Harrison with 6 Dabs (1lb 15oz) and in third with 5 Dabs was Alan Underdown (1lb 11oz). Heaviest fish was a big Dab of just over 0.75lbs landed by John Chalk. The next event takes place at Deal on the 14th March from 8am – 2pm.
There was also a full calendar of social events in the clubhouse with a good crowd attending the Valentines bash as well as a very successful angling awards evening on the 26th. Presenting a fantastic array of trophies was the Chairman and President of the club, while all cup winners received a commemorative HBAA cap as well as having their photo taken with the prize. The undoubted highlights of the evening were the presentations of ‘The Shield’ to Shaun Quinlan for winning the Autumn Boat Festival (photo attached) and extra plaques to the 2009 Boat Champion Barry Palmer, Beach Champion Michael Chalk and overall Club Champion Steve Whiting. A big congratulations to all winners for 2009. In March, there will be both a ‘Donkey Derby Day (6th) and a ‘crazy quiz’ (20th) both starting at 8pm in the clubhouse.
For further information on any of our events please check out our NEW website at hernebayangling.co.uk or call in at the clubhouse. This report also should be appearing around the first Thursday of every month, so please check back regularly for future updates of angling in Herne Bay.
HBAA March Report
Fish Finally Return As Weather Starts to Warm Up.
Michael Chalk
Much as expected most of March proved to be extremely difficult for members of The Herne Bay Angling Association, but at least as April dawns, the prospects for both beach and boat disciplines look promising again.
In the boats, March got off to the worst of possible starts, with only three members managing to weigh-in for the Harlow Cup held on the 14 th. Indeed, fishing at the Shingles, Robert Bates was the only angler to find a decent catch, landing two Cod for a total weight of 13.62lbs (including the days’ heaviest fish of 7.21lbs). In second was Jolyon Ifill with 4.52lbs (2 Codling) and in third with one dab was Mark Kennett (0.29lbs).
On the beach things were not much better as 25 anglers headed off to Walmer beach, also on the 14th. Despite pleasant offshore winds and a lot of colour in the water, catches were again very slow. Although there were plenty of fish caught, most of these were small Whiting with a few undersize Dabs and Rockling thrown in. The overall winner was Neil Scott who landed one large, albeit out of condition, Whiting and two Pouting for a total of 14.4oz. In second with a Dab and two Rockling was Brian Smith (9.8oz) and in third with one Flounder and two Rockling was Sam Hudson (9oz).
However, as the end of March approached, there were finally some reports of fish being landed. Skate were taken from both the boats and then the beach from the Isle of Sheppey. Lots of small Bass and dogfish arrived at the beaches in Hythe and Herne Bay began to see the arrival of the crabs – always a sign that life is returning, although they are not peeling just yet! Meanwhile, Mark Kennett landed several double figure Cod form the Pan Sands area and there were even reports of one over 20lb being landed!
All this meant that hopes were high for the Open boat on the 28th. Most of the 22 competitors chose to target Cod, but this proved a mistake as last years’ boat champion Barry Palmer opted for the inside marks and landed six Skate and a Whiting for a total weight of 39.99lbs (photo attached). Fishing in the Copperas Channel, his boat partner Ken Royden was also second with two skate for 20.52lbs. Mick Carpenter was third his single specimen Skate of 15.12lbs. This was also the worthy winner of the heaviest fish prize. Besides Skate, there were a number of Cod caught, although nobody managed more than two, the heaviest being taken by Mark Kennett at 9.73lbs.
As April dawns, the crab will eventually start to peel and the Bass will soon be the main target for most anglers. The Herne Bay Angling Association’s next two competitions are on the 11th in the boats (Edwards Cup 9.30-14.30) and on the 18 th for beach anglers (Weniger Cup 14.00-19.00). More details can obtained by visiting our website at www.herenbayangling.co.uk or by visiting the clubhouse.
Fish Finally Return As Weather Starts to Warm Up.
Michael Chalk
Much as expected most of March proved to be extremely difficult for members of The Herne Bay Angling Association, but at least as April dawns, the prospects for both beach and boat disciplines look promising again.
In the boats, March got off to the worst of possible starts, with only three members managing to weigh-
On the beach things were not much better as 25 anglers headed off to Walmer beach, also on the 14th. Despite pleasant offshore winds and a lot of colour in the water, catches were again very slow. Although there were plenty of fish caught, most of these were small Whiting with a few undersize Dabs and Rockling thrown in. The overall winner was Neil Scott who landed one large, albeit out of condition, Whiting and two Pouting for a total of 14.4oz. In second with a Dab and two Rockling was Brian Smith (9.8oz) and in third with one Flounder and two Rockling was Sam Hudson (9oz).
However, as the end of March approached, there were finally some reports of fish being landed. Skate were taken from both the boats and then the beach from the Isle of Sheppey. Lots of small Bass and dogfish arrived at the beaches in Hythe and Herne Bay began to see the arrival of the crabs – always a sign that life is returning, although they are not peeling just yet! Meanwhile, Mark Kennett landed several double figure Cod form the Pan Sands area and there were even reports of one over 20lb being landed!
All this meant that hopes were high for the Open boat on the 28th. Most of the 22 competitors chose to target Cod, but this proved a mistake as last years’ boat champion Barry Palmer opted for the inside marks and landed six Skate and a Whiting for a total weight of 39.99lbs (photo attached). Fishing in the Copperas Channel, his boat partner Ken Royden was also second with two skate for 20.52lbs. Mick Carpenter was third his single specimen Skate of 15.12lbs. This was also the worthy winner of the heaviest fish prize. Besides Skate, there were a number of Cod caught, although nobody managed more than two, the heaviest being taken by Mark Kennett at 9.73lbs.
As April dawns, the crab will eventually start to peel and the Bass will soon be the main target for most anglers. The Herne Bay Angling Association’s next two competitions are on the 11th in the boats (Edwards Cup 9.30-
Bass Herald The Onset of Spring.
Michael Chalk
Monsoon conditions resulted in just one hundred and one anglers turning out for The Herne Bay Angling Association’s premier beach open – the ‘Beach Classic’. While this may seem a good attendance, with 165 pegs available split in to three zones, this number was well down on previous years, but was not too surprising as torrential rain and gale force north easterly winds put many people off entering on the day. Even more unusual were the scenes of empty beaches with two hours of the competition left – with 90% of anglers giving up long before the end as the conditions proved almost unfishable. However, a competition of this size carries considerable prize money and the guaranteed £1000 for the winner ensured that those with a chance braved everything until the end. This proved the case for last years’ winner and England International Saul Page who ended as the only person left in his zone, and with two Bass and five Eels for a total weight of 6.85lbs, he retained the title for the first time in its history (see photo). Saul was fishing on the beaches below Beltinge and even had time to cast out, hook and retrieve a fellow competitors’ rod that had been dragged in by the surf! In second place was Wally Eisinger (also a previous winner) who fished zone C at Reculver to land the days’ heaviest fish – another Bass this time weighing 2.62lbs, while in third was Matthew Church with another Bass for 2.57lbs from zone B. Full zone results can be obtained from hernebayangling.com.
Overall, April has proved to be a patchy month for beach anglers throughout – with Skate coming from the beaches at Minnis bay, Sandwich and occasionally at Reculver, but only when the conditions are perfect with coloured water and just a little breeze. However, now that the peeler crab are available in quantities, the Bass should be become a permanent fixture as well as Dogfish when the wind has a couple of days blowing from the north. Just a week ago, three skate were taken by four anglers fishing at Reculver on the night tide, with the biggest at 7.5lb.
In the boats, it has been much the same story with some big catches of Skate recorded, but only when the conditions were favourable. When the Herne Bay Angling Association held its boat competition for the Edwards Cup on April 11th, anglers again faced north easterly gales and opted to fish commodore for safety around the Margate Hook. The result was a competition dominated by Dogfish with the occasional Skate during which Billy Hards proved to be top rod, landing 15 dogfish for a total weight of 19.90lbs. In second with seven fish (including one skate), was current championship leader Robert Bates, while in third was Sean Quinlan with 11.16lbs (9 fish).
However, on the pleasure angling scene, the boat anglers have had a much better time selecting the best weather and landing some cracking specimens. These were headlined by the first double figure Bass of the year, caught by Peter Revell weighing in at 10.79lbs caught from a secret mark of skipper Mick Carpenter. This was closely followed by a specimen skate of 15.60lbs for Colin Goldsmith.
In the clubhouse, April has seen the finish of the new Trophy cabinet, enabling all members to see some of the magnificent cups competed for throughout the year, as well as the full refurbishment of the old ‘RAF room’, available now for anybody looking for a venue to hold various meetings/ group gatherings. In May, the main event passes to the boat anglers with National Dingy Festival taking place on the 22nd and 23rd May. With a BBQ after the Sunday, even if you can’t fish, you can always come down and watch the weigh-in with a burger in hand! Entry forms as always are available on the website or from the clubhouse. The next beach event is the Charlsley Cup on the 29 th May, fishing at low tide from the Studd Hill area.
Michael Chalk
Monsoon conditions resulted in just one hundred and one anglers turning out for The Herne Bay Angling Association’s premier beach open – the ‘Beach Classic’. While this may seem a good attendance, with 165 pegs available split in to three zones, this number was well down on previous years, but was not too surprising as torrential rain and gale force north easterly winds put many people off entering on the day. Even more unusual were the scenes of empty beaches with two hours of the competition left – with 90% of anglers giving up long before the end as the conditions proved almost unfishable. However, a competition of this size carries considerable prize money and the guaranteed £1000 for the winner ensured that those with a chance braved everything until the end. This proved the case for last years’ winner and England International Saul Page who ended as the only person left in his zone, and with two Bass and five Eels for a total weight of 6.85lbs, he retained the title for the first time in its history (see photo). Saul was fishing on the beaches below Beltinge and even had time to cast out, hook and retrieve a fellow competitors’ rod that had been dragged in by the surf! In second place was Wally Eisinger (also a previous winner) who fished zone C at Reculver to land the days’ heaviest fish – another Bass this time weighing 2.62lbs, while in third was Matthew Church with another Bass for 2.57lbs from zone B. Full zone results can be obtained from hernebayangling.com.
Overall, April has proved to be a patchy month for beach anglers throughout – with Skate coming from the beaches at Minnis bay, Sandwich and occasionally at Reculver, but only when the conditions are perfect with coloured water and just a little breeze. However, now that the peeler crab are available in quantities, the Bass should be become a permanent fixture as well as Dogfish when the wind has a couple of days blowing from the north. Just a week ago, three skate were taken by four anglers fishing at Reculver on the night tide, with the biggest at 7.5lb.
In the boats, it has been much the same story with some big catches of Skate recorded, but only when the conditions were favourable. When the Herne Bay Angling Association held its boat competition for the Edwards Cup on April 11th, anglers again faced north easterly gales and opted to fish commodore for safety around the Margate Hook. The result was a competition dominated by Dogfish with the occasional Skate during which Billy Hards proved to be top rod, landing 15 dogfish for a total weight of 19.90lbs. In second with seven fish (including one skate), was current championship leader Robert Bates, while in third was Sean Quinlan with 11.16lbs (9 fish).
However, on the pleasure angling scene, the boat anglers have had a much better time selecting the best weather and landing some cracking specimens. These were headlined by the first double figure Bass of the year, caught by Peter Revell weighing in at 10.79lbs caught from a secret mark of skipper Mick Carpenter. This was closely followed by a specimen skate of 15.60lbs for Colin Goldsmith.
In the clubhouse, April has seen the finish of the new Trophy cabinet, enabling all members to see some of the magnificent cups competed for throughout the year, as well as the full refurbishment of the old ‘RAF room’, available now for anybody looking for a venue to hold various meetings/ group gatherings. In May, the main event passes to the boat anglers with National Dingy Festival taking place on the 22nd and 23rd May. With a BBQ after the Sunday, even if you can’t fish, you can always come down and watch the weigh-
Amos Steams to Win With Huge Catch of Hounds.
Michael Chalk
With the sea gradually starting to warm, crabs at last in full peeling mode and even the dreaded ‘May Weed’ clouding the water, the spring is well and truly here. And for boat anglers in particular, the spring means one thing – the opportunity to get amongst some big Smoothhound. For while the larger Bass will not be in for at least another month, the Smoothhound offers some incredible sport, being probably the hardest fighting fish in our waters.
So with forecasts reasonable and bait easy to collect, 50 small boat anglers headed for The Herne Bay Association in the hope of being crowned ‘National Dinghy Festival’ champion and landing some specimen fish in to the bargain. Expectations were for a mixture of Smoothhounds, Bass, Skate, Dogfish and some smaller species to dominate the prize list.
In the end, it was Smoothhounds’ that made all the difference and what a difference! This years’ winner, Dean Amos, led from the front catching a massive 158lbs (25 fish) on the Saturday and following this up a further 75lbs (10 fish) on Sunday (Photo attached). Fishing outside the East Last beacon, Dean’s heaviest Smoothhound on each day was over 13.5lbs and his total bag of 233.77lbs took the title by a massive 61lbs from second placed Michael Ferrier. Michael’s two day bag of 171.99lbs included the heaviest catch on the Sunday (125lbs) and also had a number of double figure fish in it.
In third place was Mark Baddeley with 163lb, while the heaviest fish of the festival was an enormous Smoothhound of 17.96lbs for Robert Bates. For the full results table, please check out our website at www.hernebayangling.co.uk.
In other boat news, Dennis Tregaskes landed a massive Tub Gurnard of 3.53lbs to more the double the current club record and leave the eventual fish of the month winner in little doubt for May, despite competition from Robert Bates’ Smoothhound and a good Bass of 8.515lbs by Barry Seabrook. The next boat competition is a species competition ‘the Cartwright Pairs’ in which Smoothhounds are banned to give them chance to breed and fishing takes place from 11am – 5pm.
On the beach, it has also been a good month. Steve Richards and Dave Sales fishing from ‘the point’ late at night and frequently at low tide, have landed a number of good sized Bass up to 5lbs, while the odd Skate has also continued to show up.
Indeed, when The Herne Bay Angling association hosted the Charlsley Cup, fished over low tide between ‘Whitstable Street and Hampton Pier’, nobody knew quite what to expect. In the end, it was the surprise capture of an 8lb Skate by Dave Andrews fishing by ‘the pipe’ at Swalecliffe that took the honours. Despite almost straightening his finewire hooks, Dave took his time to land the specimen that is now the heaviest fish from the beach so far this year. In second place with one Bass and an Eel for 2lb 12oz was Ricky Joyce, while in third was Michael Chalk with one Bass for 2lb 1oz.
The next beach competition is an inter-club match for the Patternoster Trophy on June 20 th from 12noon – 5pm. Booking in is from 10.30am at the Red Shelter, so please turn out to support your club as Herne Bay look to defend their title.
Michael Chalk
With the sea gradually starting to warm, crabs at last in full peeling mode and even the dreaded ‘May Weed’ clouding the water, the spring is well and truly here. And for boat anglers in particular, the spring means one thing – the opportunity to get amongst some big Smoothhound. For while the larger Bass will not be in for at least another month, the Smoothhound offers some incredible sport, being probably the hardest fighting fish in our waters.
So with forecasts reasonable and bait easy to collect, 50 small boat anglers headed for The Herne Bay Association in the hope of being crowned ‘National Dinghy Festival’ champion and landing some specimen fish in to the bargain. Expectations were for a mixture of Smoothhounds, Bass, Skate, Dogfish and some smaller species to dominate the prize list.
In the end, it was Smoothhounds’ that made all the difference and what a difference! This years’ winner, Dean Amos, led from the front catching a massive 158lbs (25 fish) on the Saturday and following this up a further 75lbs (10 fish) on Sunday (Photo attached). Fishing outside the East Last beacon, Dean’s heaviest Smoothhound on each day was over 13.5lbs and his total bag of 233.77lbs took the title by a massive 61lbs from second placed Michael Ferrier. Michael’s two day bag of 171.99lbs included the heaviest catch on the Sunday (125lbs) and also had a number of double figure fish in it.
In third place was Mark Baddeley with 163lb, while the heaviest fish of the festival was an enormous Smoothhound of 17.96lbs for Robert Bates. For the full results table, please check out our website at www.hernebayangling.co.uk.
In other boat news, Dennis Tregaskes landed a massive Tub Gurnard of 3.53lbs to more the double the current club record and leave the eventual fish of the month winner in little doubt for May, despite competition from Robert Bates’ Smoothhound and a good Bass of 8.515lbs by Barry Seabrook. The next boat competition is a species competition ‘the Cartwright Pairs’ in which Smoothhounds are banned to give them chance to breed and fishing takes place from 11am – 5pm.
On the beach, it has also been a good month. Steve Richards and Dave Sales fishing from ‘the point’ late at night and frequently at low tide, have landed a number of good sized Bass up to 5lbs, while the odd Skate has also continued to show up.
Indeed, when The Herne Bay Angling association hosted the Charlsley Cup, fished over low tide between ‘Whitstable Street and Hampton Pier’, nobody knew quite what to expect. In the end, it was the surprise capture of an 8lb Skate by Dave Andrews fishing by ‘the pipe’ at Swalecliffe that took the honours. Despite almost straightening his finewire hooks, Dave took his time to land the specimen that is now the heaviest fish from the beach so far this year. In second place with one Bass and an Eel for 2lb 12oz was Ricky Joyce, while in third was Michael Chalk with one Bass for 2lb 1oz.
The next beach competition is an inter-
Wrecking The Right Choice For Chloe’s Monster Bass.
By Michael Chalk
The month of July reached a crescendo for all anglers of The Herne Bay Angling Association with the 21st National Bass Festival attracting over 90 beach and boat anglers all aiming for the first prize of £500. The target was to catch the largest single Bass, the limits were the normal East/West boundaries with no northerly limit and the times were extended this year to give anglers the maximum chance of landing that prized specimen. For boat anglers, this meant fishing anytime from 5am on Friday to 5pm Sunday, with the exception of a 10pm-4am exclusion each night for safety reasons. Beach anglers had no such restrictions.
In the lead-up to the competition, frequent catches of good-sized Bass had been reported from the boats, but most of these had been from wrecks, with Jason Young, son Adam, Steve Crimmins and Kevin McCully all recording large catches of fish in the 4-9lb bracket. Meanwhile a single record-braking 22lb Bass was landed off of Minnis bay, though as this fell to a commercial netter, Herne Bay’s British Bass Record remained intact. This left most boat anglers with a real decision – head to the open ground inside ‘The Ridge’ where historically the best fish has often come from or look at the wrecks that often produce good fish, but don’t often bring the actual winner.
In the final shake-up, it was the wrecks that won this year, with another double figure fish required to win. After weeks of catching large Bass from the boat, it was Kevin McCully’s partner Chloe Gardener who triumphed with a specimen of 10.88lbs to earn the much-coveted £500 cash and a boat rod kindly donated by this years’ sponsors Bay Angling and Aquatics. Chloe landed her fish on the Saturday and also collected special prizes for heaviest fish on that day and heaviest Bass by a lady (see photo).
In second place, was Jolyon Ifill with a Bass of 8.20lbs, landed on the Friday, which also won him Friday’s heaviest fish pool. In third and also having the heaviest fish on Sunday was Ian Gammon with a fish of 7.645lbs.
On the beach meanwhile, the calm seas and small tides meant anglers struggled to compete with their boat counterparts and it was left to Michael Chalk to take the prize with a Bass of 3.35lbs. For a full set of results and more photos, please check out our website on www.hernebayangling.co.uk.
At the presentation there was a free bbq, while the prizes were kindly handed out by Chris King, representing Bay Angling and Aquatics.
The other main event this month concerned the new freshwater division with a fun ‘competition’ taking place at Longshaw Lakes. With all fish counting, a mixed bag of Tench, Carp, Bream and Roach made up the winning weight of 27lb 10oz for Wayne Mills. In second place and just four ounces behind was Roger Greenin with 27lb 6oz, while in third with 24lb 11oz was Brian Goddard.
Looking forward to August, most sea anglers will be hoping to see more of the Mackeral that have just started to show up on local beaches, while perhaps a few more double-figure Bass can be expected from the boats. The freshwater division also has another event planned at Longshaw, this time for the heaviest Carp, from 8am – 4pm on 1 st August.
August is also a massive month for the social side of the club, with a BBQ after the Herne Bay Carnival (14th), a kiddies competition to make a medieval shield (20th August), the monster Crab Competition (22nd) and culminating in our main event – a medieval themed BBQ on Sunday 29th. All members and friends are welcome, so please feel free to come down and join in the fun. Further information on all of our events can again be obtained from either the clubhouse or website.
By Michael Chalk
The month of July reached a crescendo for all anglers of The Herne Bay Angling Association with the 21st National Bass Festival attracting over 90 beach and boat anglers all aiming for the first prize of £500. The target was to catch the largest single Bass, the limits were the normal East/West boundaries with no northerly limit and the times were extended this year to give anglers the maximum chance of landing that prized specimen. For boat anglers, this meant fishing anytime from 5am on Friday to 5pm Sunday, with the exception of a 10pm-
In the lead-
In the final shake-
In second place, was Jolyon Ifill with a Bass of 8.20lbs, landed on the Friday, which also won him Friday’s heaviest fish pool. In third and also having the heaviest fish on Sunday was Ian Gammon with a fish of 7.645lbs.
On the beach meanwhile, the calm seas and small tides meant anglers struggled to compete with their boat counterparts and it was left to Michael Chalk to take the prize with a Bass of 3.35lbs. For a full set of results and more photos, please check out our website on www.hernebayangling.co.uk.
At the presentation there was a free bbq, while the prizes were kindly handed out by Chris King, representing Bay Angling and Aquatics.
The other main event this month concerned the new freshwater division with a fun ‘competition’ taking place at Longshaw Lakes. With all fish counting, a mixed bag of Tench, Carp, Bream and Roach made up the winning weight of 27lb 10oz for Wayne Mills. In second place and just four ounces behind was Roger Greenin with 27lb 6oz, while in third with 24lb 11oz was Brian Goddard.
Looking forward to August, most sea anglers will be hoping to see more of the Mackeral that have just started to show up on local beaches, while perhaps a few more double-
August is also a massive month for the social side of the club, with a BBQ after the Herne Bay Carnival (14th), a kiddies competition to make a medieval shield (20th August), the monster Crab Competition (22nd) and culminating in our main event – a medieval themed BBQ on Sunday 29th. All members and friends are welcome, so please feel free to come down and join in the fun. Further information on all of our events can again be obtained from either the clubhouse or website.
Perfect June Brings Great Catches All-Round. By Michael Chalk
With near perfect weather and large stocks of fish, June proved to be a most fruitful month for all members of The Herne Bay Angling Association in all disciplines. For beach anglers, it has almost been harder not to catch fish. A number of anglers have been engaging in some sport on a beautiful summers’ evening and many have been rewarded. The heaviest Bass by a member was set by Gary Miller with a fish of 6.5lbs, but a number of other fish between 3 and 5lbs have also been landed. The favourite method has still proved to be bait fishing for the bigger specimens, although a number of smaller fish has been taken on lures, small dexters’ proving the favourite.
There have also been some big eels landed, the largest falling to Mathew Church weighing 1.65lbs and some very large Mullet. These hard-
On the competitive front, it was the turn of the inter club match known locally as the ‘Patternoster Trophy’ to steal the attention. In loose terms this is Herne Bay vs Whitstable vs Greenhill and with the Herne Bay Angling Association having won for the past two years, their fierce rivals were desperate to break the trend. It was not to be though, as Michael Chalk landed 2 Bass and 3 Eels to win for Herne Bay with an overall weight of 7.45lbs. In second and also fishing for Herne Bay was Dave Andrews with 2 Bass and 1 Eel for 6.06lb. In third was Greenhills’ Andy Coffin with 4.70lbs. This meant that with together with contributions from Steve Crimmins, Mathew Church and Jim Pressley, Herne Bay retained the Cup with a combined team weight of 18.58lbs. Greenhill AC finished with 9.09lbs and Whitstable were third with 1.90lbs. Please see photo for a selection of ‘Team Herne Bay’, Michael Chalk (left), Dave Andrews (centre) and Steve Crimmins (right) with some of the winning Bass.
In the boats, June is very much a case of hunting down lots of different species. With plenty of large Smoothhounds, Skate and Bass still showing, bags are limited to 3 of each species, with points per species and then per fish being awarded. Traditional beach specialists seem to have an advantage in such an event with their experience of targeting smaller fish historically proving invaluable and this proved the case again. Former beach champion Gary Miller and Steve Whiting landing 5 different species for a total of 82pts. In second were the team of Jim Pressley and Robert Bates with 61pts, while in third was Patch Packham and Nick Whitton with 57pts. Among the species landed were Mackeral, Herring, Wrasse, Bass, Skate, Dabs, Garfish, Pouting and Dogfish. On the specimen fish front, Ken Royden deserves a mention with a fine Smoothhound of 18.66lbs, while lots of reasonable size 4-
Meanwhile, a busy month was beautifully complemented by resumption of activities for the freshwater section of the club. As a new area for The Herne Bay Angling Association, it is rapidly gaining in popularity and is always open to new members. Last month, they were competing for the Macari Cup, fished over 24hrs at Marshside Lakes for the heaviest Carp. The winner of this friendly competition with a fine Carp of 18lb 11oz was Matt Parker. In second was Andy Savage with 14lb. Both fish were taken during the early hours of the morning, but a good time was had by all and future events are already planned. For further details, please pop in to the clubhouse or visit www.hernebayangling.com.
In July, thoughts turn to one of our premier events for beach and boat anglers alike – the 3 day national Bass festival. Fished from 4am on 23rd July, well over 100 anglers descend on Herne Bay from around the coast to compete for the largest single Bass. Entries forms can be obtained in the normal ways and there is always a cracking BBQ afterwards for those who need to relax after 3 hard days’ fishing!
