The stir up many of us had hoped for came with a vengeance last weekend. In the north and east, matches were cancelled and seas were dangerous at times with fears of another storm surge. Thankfully there was hardly any flooding or storm damage, though fishing was hampered in the top of the region by the wind first followed by the onset of red weed in the heavy seas. Holt SAC’s match was cancelled, I hope they have better look at Eastbourne this coming weekend. The national sea league teams of five finals is there this weekend with representation from around a dozen teams from the Anglia region, good luck to them all.
Back on patch though and I haven’t seen or heard of too much to write home about. Ahead of the blow I think the fish had been on the sprats and whiting. Boaters certainly seem to be faring better than shore anglers and those fishing off Orford have had some nice fish. Not too much in reports for boats of Lowestoft but I would imagine there’s some in the Corton area when they can get on them. A return to a slightly milder though unsettled weather for the rest of the week. If the weed has cleared in the north and east it would be interesting to see if the whiting have thinned out here, further south I think the chances are better but you’ll have to work your way through the whiting.
EDP report 18/11/15
It’s sad to start this weeks’ report with the untimely passing of well-known Aldeburgh match angler Dave “Cookie” Cook. Dave was fatally injured in a car crash last Thursday, he was extremely popular on the local match scene, a top angler and a thoroughly nice guy that will be sorely missed by all that knew him, deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends. I managed to get out fishing a couple of times this week, to Aldeburgh on the fateful night where all I managed were whiting and dogfish. I used the bait up at my local Bacton beach where I managed a couple of “roach” bass and dabs, and surprisingly none of the whiting showed during daylight. Holt SAC fished for the Woodrow cup at Great Yarmouth where they found the whiting feeding well during the day. Over 300 whiting were carded in the match, Luke Pearson winning with a very creditable 17lb 6oz. Sheringham veteran Tony Thomas was second with 14lb 7oz and Trev Elliot was third with 13lb 8oz.
Codling sport has slowed considerably which often happens around this time of the year. We’ve had relatively settled and mild conditions and my guess is the codling are munching their way through sprats and whiting rather than grubbing about in the sand. A good rough up will not do any harm and we might just see some surf this weekend, particularly along the eastern beaches. Hopefully a bit of surf will split the bait fish shoals up a bit and refocus the codling’s feeding along the beaches, we should also see some temperatures closer to seasonal norms which again can’t hurt. In fact with building tides this weekend it looks promising for a return of some better quality fish.
EDP report 11/11/15
A much quieter week on the regions beaches, the fish are still around as the boaters are managing a few but I think shore anglers are struggling as they're finding easier food a little offshore. We are desperate for a decent rough up, the current air flow and mild temperatures aren't helping, I'm looking forward to a return to more seasonal weather. England international George Smith had a good win in the teams of 5 match at Hopton, helped in no small part by a double shot of a codling and thornback ray. Team Breakaway claiming top spot on the day, the south still proving more consistent than the rest of the region.
Holt SAC fished the latest round of the Nationals sea league and the J Long shield at Kelling last Sunday. Andy Gallacher took top spot with 6lb 10oz, with Avenue Angling team mate Gary Medler in second with 4lb 3oz. Paul Carter was third for Team Kipper with 4lb 1oz. Team results had Avenue Angling Beccles and Avenue Angling Norwich tied for top spot with Team Kipper third.