Sport continues to be consistent with bass, hounds, and a few codling amongst catch reports this week. Across the Wash in Lincolnshire and there has been some tremendous thornback ray fishing. Rob Allen had a couple of big old girls in a couple of trips, both over 15lb and the biggest clear of 16lb, it’s not been unusual for anglers to manage 10 or 12 in a session with a sprinkling of hounds to double figures too, awesome sport. Closer to home and the shingle continues to produce some nice bass with fish to 5lb not uncommon, it’s great to see good numbers of schoolies in the 8-12oz bracket too. On the eastern beaches sport has been dominated by the bass along with good numbers of hound pups to 5lb, I think it’s reasonable to expect some better hounds when conditions improve. Holt SAC and Sabre tackle fished their latest match last Sunday at Bacton. Keith Morley took the honours with 19 fish for 8lb 9oz. Mike Watts had one more in his catch for 7lb 7oz with England youth international, Henry Randell clearly fishing for the better stamp in third with three fish for 5lb 10oz including heaviest round with a hound of 3lb 13oz.
Further south and the beaches around Lowestoft continue to produce a few codling and school bass, the further south you go the better your chances of rays amongst the dogfish, school bass, and codling. All in a great late spring so far, high hopes for the summer too. The week ahead looks to have a little northwest which will put a bit of a surf on and I would think the bass will respond, the hounds are worth targeting with crab as soon as it flattens off again, get some bait and get out there whilst the fishing is good!
EDP report 13/05/15
Good quality sport again through this week, I probably said the same last May and before, but it really is a good month to be out and about on our beaches. The rays, dogfish and codling have been joined by a few bass in the far south, and it will only be a matter of time before the first soles of the summer start to show down there. The east and north Norfolk beaches have produced bass and smoothounds with fish of both species up to about 8lb, crab is the top bait by a country mile. Outlook for the week ahead will be more of the same I think, and hopefully some more of the larger hounds will show.
Holt SAC hosted the third North Norfolk Bass Festival last weekend, excellently organised and supported, most competitors found a few fish with 47 bass carded between the 100 competitors. Rob Tuck had a brilliant weekend winning the biggest Bass both days, 4th overall on day one and top spot on day two earning him the honours in the festival, a great cash pay out and a free holiday, not bad for a weekends angling with the family! Ian Lambert was second overall with Mark Sharman third. For the ladies the podium was dominated by England internationals. Lorraine Perry took the top sport from Adele Smith in second and Kimberley Lawn in third. Becky Bulch caught the heaviest flat with a super flounder of over a pound, beating hubby in the process! Interesting stat from the match, there were 1536 caught and recorded over the weekend for a converted weight of over 400lbs, consistent fishing that demonstrates that the shingle is definitely a fair match venue.
EDP report 06/05/15
Good sport continued this week despite a drop in temperatures with most beaches in the region having fish worth trying for. In the South the codling, dogfish, rays, and a few bass are showing at the Ness and upwards. Beaches just below these heading down to Essex are producing some lovely ray fishing to fish baits. Above Yarmouth and the sandy beaches are producing plenty of bass with some crackers up to around 8lb, some nice smoothounds amongst them too with several fish I've seen in the 5-6lb bracket, crab us a must if you want to give yourself the best chances. On the shingle it's a similar story of bass, hounds, and flats. Holt SAC and Sabre Tackle's latest match was a good one. Mike Watts took top spot with 12lb 5oz, Tony Thomas second with 8lb 10oz, and Alan Doy third with 7lb 4oz. 21 bass were recorded in the match, all boding well for the clubs' North Norfolk Bass Festival next weekend at Cley and Kelling. The club are pegging a 100 and already have 95 registered, promises to be a cracker with the fishing as it is!