Fifteen members took to the charter boats Amaretto IV and Pegasus to fish the first of the new style species competition on Sunday 9th April.

For this year the rules have been changed so that all the fish have to be a minimum of 250mm to be recorded and different species were awarded a grading from 1 to 5 pts. Once three fish were caught of a particular species then bonus points were awarded. Also anglers were issued with a set amount of bait that they could fish with.

Fishing proved quite difficult during the day despite favourable weather conditions.

The following species of fish were caught during the day: L.S.Dogfish, Ling, Mackerel, Plaice, Pollack, Pouting, Ray (Thornback),  Smoothhound, and Wrasse (Ballan and Cuckoo).

In first place was Nigel Bell who scored 26pts, in second place was Adam Morris with 26pts and in third place was Andy Sheader with 25pts. (Nigel won the competition as he had four species with three fish whilst Adam had three species with three fish.)

A special mention to Keir Tweedale (Junior) who scored 24pts with new junior boat records with his Cuckoo Wrasse of 487gms and his Thornback Ray of 1,515gms.

After three matches its all very tight at the top of the leader board: in first place with 8pts are Barry Moore and Adam Morris. With 7pts we have Darren Herbert, Keir Tweedale, Roy Shipway, Mike Hansell and Andy Sheader.

The next boat match is on Sunday 7th May from 09.00-17.00 and is for best pair of Plaice.