Fishy return. Report 9. Dec 13th. ISAC Southern League...last ever match. Browndown Ranges 2pm - 7pm. Total weight to size limits with added Top Ups ( undersized fish given 1/4oz ). Flat calm and sunny...until the sun went down then it was flat calm and dark.... Strange time to fish a match in the Solent with so much daylight, but after the recent aftermath of the tail end of the apparent storm bomb, the water was still dirty so there was the chance of the odd fish in the first couple of hours. There was always going to be quite a few fish after dark, even though high tide was 15:30, but the match would only really start properly about 4:30 ish. I drew end peg 55 so had some room to play around with pyramid weights and could cover more ground. Plan was to give it some welly during the daytime, then drop in closer as the fish moved in. Gave it my impression of a whack and waited for a possible early victim. I had nothing first cast but the bait was battered so whacked out again. A Top Up dab by my neighbour on the next peg, a sizable dab on peg 52, a small whiting on 50 followed by a nice fat flounder of a pound, which turned out to be the biggest fish of the match by Wayne Perret on number 53, showed that my plan was maybe a tad misguided as all fish were caught fairly close in....oh...shows what I know! Joined the masses and decided to have a plop instead for the next few casts. Bites were instant, although very rattly and obviously tiny fish, but a quarter of an ounce is still a quarter of an ounce to the bag weight so had a few more plops as I waited fore the mini onslaught after the sun had buggered off! Two Top Ups were soon followed by a very welcome whiting of 27cm on the nose..managed to keep it alive in a separate bucket for the whole match so it was still big enough at the end and is now back swimming in the Solent for future matches!! The sun dipped away and about 4.15 and the proper fishing started. It wasnt manic, but by 5.30 twenty odd toothy critters, plus a small dab and a couple of pout had hit the beach, a dozen sizable and 17 or 18 Top Ups. The tide had stopped by then and bites were slow, although the tide would be starting to ebb properly with plenty of movement by about 6.15ish, which should have em back on the feed. Obviously SOME of my plans are understood by our piscatorial friends from under the sea and the last 45 minutes were very busy! Had caught a few in the previous 45 minutes, but those last few casts increased the totals to 26 sizable, 23 whiting, 2 pout and a dab, and 27 Top Ups. Apart from my neighbour I had no idea what anyone else had caught so hadnt got a clue how I had done. Loaded up the tackle wagon and ambled back to the weigh in. The high number anglers had walked in from the opposite end to the book in, so I was last back to the scales as I was the last to pack up. Weighed in 9lb 15 3/4ozs...and...oh yes...top bag!! Second was gobby little upstart Dangerous ( a name justifiably earned in Spain! ) Daz Newland with 8lb 7 3/4ozs on peg 1, and third place Dave codman Lane on peg 42 with 8lb 5 1/2oz. Considering the poor tide it was a pretty good match, which was a fine end to Trevor Sutchs last match with ISAC, which had been running for 18 years. Thank you for organising these comps on local beaches. I hope you have fun in your retirement from running matches....thanks again Trevor...you and your league have been greatly appreciated by all of us.... ps. Daz isnt really gobby....oh...actually....then again.... ;)
Posted on: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 18:25:20 +0000
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