FIVE GO FISHING IN DORSET – 2016 BOAT FISHING COMPETITION
This is an annual boat fishing event which took place in Lyme Bay the weekend 25th-26th June.
Each competitor is allowed to bring to the scales each day, one fish of the following species; Black Bream, Cod, Plaice, Pollack and Gurnard (Red or Tub – but not both). The competition is based on the aggregate specimen percentage of the five fish caught and not the total weight.
It was obvious from the outset that Plaice and Gurnard were going to be targeted by all the skippers because of their specimen weights. If these could be supplemented by an additional Bream or a decent Cod or Pollack these would greatly assist the anglers in winning the top prizes. A total of £600 was on offer to the potential winners.
Fishing conditions were difficult with constant rain squalls and it soon became obvious that every fish caught (no matter how small) was going to be important as far as the scores were concerned. Three charter boats (Amaretto IV, Alice Rose and Pegasus) took to the water with over 20 competitors taking part over the two day event.
At the end of the first day Roy Shipway fishing on Alice Rose had a healthy lead having caught a 1lb 12oz Plaice and a Red Gurnard of 11ozs. This gave Roy a score of 97.16%. In second place was Chay Thomas on Pegasus with a 1lb 12 oz Plaice and an 11oz Tub Gurnard. Chay’s first day total was 67.49%. In third place was Josh Chestney on Pegasus with a Plaice of 1lb and a 3lb 8oz Pollack. This gave Josh a first day total of 32.99%.
Other notable catches caught on the first day were Vernon Allen’s Best Plaice of the day at 1lb 13ozs caught on Alice Rose.
For the second day fishing conditions were little better, although at least the rain had stopped!
Again three boats took to the water and 20 competitors experienced the same difficulty in catching the required fish. Andy Sheader fishing on Pegasus managed the only Bream of the match in the last 10 minutes of fishing with a 2lb 1oz fish. Chay Thomas caught the only Cod of the match which weighed in at 1lb 6oz. Around 15.00hrs. Mike Hansell, fishing on Amaretto IV, caught a season’s best Tub Gurnard of 3lb 14ozs and on the same drift 5 minutes later, Barry Moore fishing next to him, caught a season’s best Red Gurnard of 15ozs. These fish elevated Mike and Barry into first and second places respectively.
Other notable catches were Brian Moss, fishing on Pegasus, with a (calculated measured) Bass of 7lb that was returned alive to the water. Pegasus (skipper Phil Hodder) was the only charter boat to catch all designated five species of fish.
The winner of the best fish awards (£60 each) were as follows: Andy Sheader – Best Bream of 2lb 1oz, Chay Thomas – Best Cod of 1lb 6ozs. Vernon Allen – Best Plaice of 1lbs 13ozs, Brian Moss – Best Pollack of 4lb 6ozs, Mike Hansell – Best Tub Gurnard of 3lb 14ozs.
The winners of the aggregate specimen competition were as follows:
First Prize £150 – Mike Hansell on Amaretto IV with 165.22%
Second Prize £100 – Barry Moore on Amaretto IV with 114.52%
Third Prize £50 – Roy Shipway on Alice Rose with 110.97%
Mike Hansell won a day’s charter boat fishing with Lyme Bay Charters for Best Specimen in Competition
Barry Moore won a day’s charter boat fishing with Amaretto Sport Fishing for coming second in the Best Specimen in competition
The committee would like to thank Amaretto Sports Fishing, Lyme Bay Charters and The Tackle Box for their continued support in sponsoring some of the prizes.
The full scores and pictures of the presentation are already available on the LRSAC website.