World Fishing News

FOX POLLACK CHALLENGE
Brighton Marina 6th April 09
The Fox sponsored Pollack Challenge was loosely based around the American boat bass fishing events with each angler allowed to landed five pollack, although it was the biggest fish that took the prizes. The event was organised by the Skipper of Brighton Charter boat, Brighton Diver, Paul Dyer and Brighton Marina tackle Shop owner, Dave Grinham. 15 boats took part including charters and privateers with Keith Arthur of Sky’s Tight Lines in attendance along with Fox Consultant Alan Yates who awarded the prizes. The anglers could fish anywhere they wished with an 8 hour duration times with all boats back on the dock by 4pm.

Winner with a 15lb 12oz specimen pollack (14lb is the national specimen size) was Brighton rod, Nick Davies who fished aboard Channel Diver. His prizes included a Fox Tri Tip and a Fox 12-20lb boat rod, plus trophy and a bottle of Champagne. Second was a tie with fish of 15lb 2oz between John Mickleham on Starwalker and Frank Scott on Great escape. Fourth was Chris East on Morning Breeze with 13lb 10oz and fifth was Frank Humprey on his private boat Tailwalker, sixth was Perry Barclay on Great Escape. Best junior was Connor Boxnick with a fish of 10lb.

Top charter skipper was Steve Johnson of Channel Diver and best private boat Frank Humprey on Tailwalker.

Top lures proved to be a mix of jelly worms and shads with the winning boat, Channel Diver catching on the new Blue Tempest shads – Steve Johnson the skipper reckoned the trick was to change the drift regular to keep in contact with unspooked fish.

Tactics play a vital – part in match fishing from the shore and at this time of year fishing for the small fish in close at gutter range is a favoured tactic . However, plopping for rockling is not every angler’s favourite tactic and that was the case in my latest beach match at Hythe. I was determined to catch better quality fish and not lower my sights to rockling so I persisted in blasting bigger baits as far as I could throw it. Including a couple of fresh out yellowtail I pumped an hour before the match start. With a few minutes to go and only a whiting and dab in the bucket I realised I was on the wrong tactic when my short casting neighbour reported 11 small pout, rockling and dabs. But then the rod tip dipped and the line slackened and on the whistle a plump 2lb plus codling stole the show. The moral of this tale is that when it comes to tactics its better to make you mind up and stick with one than keep chopping and changing – A mistake many match anglers make!

If you want to know more about pumping lugworm then check out the next issue of Sea Angler magazine (439) The Masterclass feature goes into detail and better still tells you where to get one of the latest state of the art bait pumps. The new narrow bore stainless steel pumps are the bees knees and my current best single effort after four sessions is 120 worms – OK so its not a British record but I tell you what 120 worms for a fishing trip for me is plenty.

Alan Yates