Just what makes a match angler tick? Simple, it’s all in the mind. This is a light-hearted synopsis into our sport and all of the emotions that make it enjoyable.
It is obvious that we all have a passion for angling; however, anticipation plays a great part in the angler’s psyche. It has been known for some anglers not to be able to sleep the night before a session as their excitement grows. In some cases the anticipation is almost fifty percent of the pleasure.
Along with the anticipation is the preparation. Days prior to the competition will be spent on contemplation where to gather bait, checking tackle and finding out information on what has been caught (an excuse to visit the tackle shop or the web sites). New methods and easy ways of catching are always in the forefront of our mind. Will that new rod and reel get you those extra yards to where the main shoals of fish are? Will the new rig give you the edge on your fellow competitors – you become exited and impatient to try it out? Nevertheless, under normal conditions it will be the bait and how it is presented that will be more successful – and not the number or colour of the beads that festoon your rigs. However, if that makes you confident then so be it, more on that subject later.
At the signing in before the comp there is normally an atmosphere of camaraderie (or bonding) and sussing out the opposition. As you make the first cast you have that feeling of confidence that this will be your comp – the fish are lining-up to jump on your hook. Having a negative attitude normally only produces negative results; therefore confidence is the most important aspect of winning.
Now it is only halfway through the match and you know that the angler at the next peg is beating you – it is then when anxiety and paranoia starts to creep in. And in the last half hour if the situation has not changed – then panic rears its ugly head.
As the weigh-in commences you are curious to know what the other anglers have caught. This knowledge will either bring you disappointment or elation. If you have won, then the feeling of smugness fills your head and you know that your competitive spirit has paid off and you have beaten the others (sort of being top dog for five minutes – or as the younger members would say ‘a major buzz’). As you collect the pool monies you get that sense of pre-eminence (lets face it, unless you win the big one, your winnings normally only cover bait, entrance fees and transport, therefore you’ve got to get something out of it – even if it is only in the mind).
However, if you lose then outwardly you become the good loser and congratulate the winners. Inwardly it is the bad losers who have that emotion of disenchantment and will think and consider where they went wrong. They will try to improve on the next comp and eventually become winners.
When you pack-up and go home, it is then that the whole session becomes an anti-climax in your mind. Mentally you have joined up the full circle of all the angling emotions – and then start to begin another one as you anticipate and plan the next competition.
So now Dr CELOCANT Freud will just recount some of the emotions that a match angler will come across:
Passion
Pleasure
Knowledge
Anticipation
Excitement
Contemplation
Curiosity
Confidence
Dedication
Commonsense
Camaraderie
Negative attitude
Jealousy
Anxiety
Panic
Pride
Disappointment
Discipline
Paranoia
Disenchantment
Satisfaction
Anti-climax
There you have it! it’s all in the mind. Ah, I hear you say, what about the physical side of angling like casting. Well, if you don’t think what you’re doing when you go through those actions – then look out! Thankfully we all have slightly more brain matter than the fish – but not always. Consider, if a salmon can migrate from a river in Scotland, go on a sabbatical for a few years, thousands of miles away, and then find their way back to the same river – underwater – then they’ve got more knowledge than Dr CELOCANT Freud.
Monday, 9 March 2009
Sunday, 22 February 2009
Local Urban Myths
How many times do anglers blame the lack of fish on other reasons? These whinges become quasi facts and are passed on for ever. In this post I hope to address some of these urban myths – and yet again the CELOCANT will put his head above the parapet, so feel free to shoot at it.
Myth: Angling used to be better before the war.
Fact: Looking back at the club competition results there is no proof that the catches were better then, than they are now. Catches have improved with added species such as thornback ray and bass caught in vast amounts.
Myth: We used to catch bigger fish in the old days.
Fact: In the past, the record cod was a mere 32lb and this weight was only bettered in the late 60s and early 70s. The British Record Fish list has been improved on since the ‘good old days’ owing to modern technology and better angling skills and equipment.
Myth: We used to catch plenty of plaice before the beam trawlers destroyed the mussel beds.
Fact: The mussel beds that plaice feed upon are small seed mussels. These mussels are migratory. Therefore, they will not be in the same place year in year out. As for beam trawlers – they have to keep to limits of at least 6 miles from shore. Plaice have been a targeted fish for many years – especially by the Dutch – and they are on strict quotas. The reason why we don’t catch many is simply because most of them have been already caught.
Myth: Beam trawlers work close in shore, because I’ve seen them.
Fact: Beamers have to work from a 6 mile limit and when caught just inside this limit they are heavily fined. The vessels most anglers see are the ones on passage to and from their fishing grounds. Occasionally one will come close inshore and can be seen with their outriggers outstretched – the reason is to shelter from bad weather and with the outriggers in this position it stabilises the boat, and brings the masts centre of gravity lower.
Myth: Trawlers with no lights come close in and trawl along the shore line because I’ve heard them.
Facts: When has shore fishing been better than going out in a boat? Trawlermen would not waste their time or diesel trying to catch what we do – there’s much more fish offshore. Also along this coast, being so near to the continent, HM customs would investigate any such goings on. The possible sighting of commercials would more than likely be gill netters – and if they are that close in then they would be liable for chunks of 6oz lead being propelled at them with force. Sound travels for miles over water and boat engine noises, which could be 2 miles out to sea, sound as if they are on shore.
Myth: The French and Spanish trawlers have caught all the fish.
Facts: Again the foreign vessels have to stick to their own territorial waters and would be stupid to risk a heavy fine for the meagre catches off Deal. I have never seen a French boat working inside the limits in my forty plus years of being afloat, and I have never seen a Spanish trawler, apart from in Spain. It is a myth that the French have no fish in their own waters. A few years back I was invited on a French gill netter from Calais and they hauled in two ton of prime cod and the occasional bass up to 10lb. At the time, I was concerned that the boat would become unstable and capsize – and this was only about a mile off Calais beach. Later the French fisherman told me of his fears that the English boats would plunder their stocks. French cuisine demands some very small fish to make bouillabaisse, however, the rest of the French fish market displays better size and quality than England. The only Spanish boats that fish around our coast are the ones that have bought the licences from the British fishermen. Isn’t it strange that the foreigners never sell their licences to the British fishermen!
Myth: The sea is not cold enough for the cod.
Fact: When cold snaps affect sudden drops in sea temperatures not only the cod but most other forms of sea life vacate that area, and go to deeper water where there is less of a fluctuation of sea temperature. There are more cod caught in the summer off the wrecks – in clear water – than there are in winter. The reason the cod come inshore is because the winter gales stir up the bottom and feed becomes more available.
Myth: I cannot catch any cod because the sprats are in.
Fact: Cod can become glutted with sprats, however, for them to see and catch sprats they need clear water – not the best time for anglers. Also remember it is January and February that the sprats come inshore – which are the times of sudden temperature drops which also causes the lack of fish (see my post ‘Cold Fish’.)
Myth: I can not catch any fish because the trawlers have already caught them.
Fact: Around the 1980s the government introduced a scheme for the trawlers to decommission for large amounts of money. This incentive was to conserve fish stocks. Many of the trawler owners took up the governments offer and converted the cash into a new smaller but more efficient gill netting boat. Therefore, there is only one trawler to every twenty gill netters in this area. Now you know who to blame.
Myth: There are a load of nets a couple of hundred yards off the beach.
Fact: Don’t panic! Most times on the end of those marker buoys are, whelk and lobster pots.
Personally, I will continue to blame the French, Spanish and sprats when I have a blank days sport.
Myth: Angling used to be better before the war.
Fact: Looking back at the club competition results there is no proof that the catches were better then, than they are now. Catches have improved with added species such as thornback ray and bass caught in vast amounts.
Myth: We used to catch bigger fish in the old days.
Fact: In the past, the record cod was a mere 32lb and this weight was only bettered in the late 60s and early 70s. The British Record Fish list has been improved on since the ‘good old days’ owing to modern technology and better angling skills and equipment.
Myth: We used to catch plenty of plaice before the beam trawlers destroyed the mussel beds.
Fact: The mussel beds that plaice feed upon are small seed mussels. These mussels are migratory. Therefore, they will not be in the same place year in year out. As for beam trawlers – they have to keep to limits of at least 6 miles from shore. Plaice have been a targeted fish for many years – especially by the Dutch – and they are on strict quotas. The reason why we don’t catch many is simply because most of them have been already caught.
Myth: Beam trawlers work close in shore, because I’ve seen them.
Fact: Beamers have to work from a 6 mile limit and when caught just inside this limit they are heavily fined. The vessels most anglers see are the ones on passage to and from their fishing grounds. Occasionally one will come close inshore and can be seen with their outriggers outstretched – the reason is to shelter from bad weather and with the outriggers in this position it stabilises the boat, and brings the masts centre of gravity lower.
Myth: Trawlers with no lights come close in and trawl along the shore line because I’ve heard them.
Facts: When has shore fishing been better than going out in a boat? Trawlermen would not waste their time or diesel trying to catch what we do – there’s much more fish offshore. Also along this coast, being so near to the continent, HM customs would investigate any such goings on. The possible sighting of commercials would more than likely be gill netters – and if they are that close in then they would be liable for chunks of 6oz lead being propelled at them with force. Sound travels for miles over water and boat engine noises, which could be 2 miles out to sea, sound as if they are on shore.
Myth: The French and Spanish trawlers have caught all the fish.
Facts: Again the foreign vessels have to stick to their own territorial waters and would be stupid to risk a heavy fine for the meagre catches off Deal. I have never seen a French boat working inside the limits in my forty plus years of being afloat, and I have never seen a Spanish trawler, apart from in Spain. It is a myth that the French have no fish in their own waters. A few years back I was invited on a French gill netter from Calais and they hauled in two ton of prime cod and the occasional bass up to 10lb. At the time, I was concerned that the boat would become unstable and capsize – and this was only about a mile off Calais beach. Later the French fisherman told me of his fears that the English boats would plunder their stocks. French cuisine demands some very small fish to make bouillabaisse, however, the rest of the French fish market displays better size and quality than England. The only Spanish boats that fish around our coast are the ones that have bought the licences from the British fishermen. Isn’t it strange that the foreigners never sell their licences to the British fishermen!
Myth: The sea is not cold enough for the cod.
Fact: When cold snaps affect sudden drops in sea temperatures not only the cod but most other forms of sea life vacate that area, and go to deeper water where there is less of a fluctuation of sea temperature. There are more cod caught in the summer off the wrecks – in clear water – than there are in winter. The reason the cod come inshore is because the winter gales stir up the bottom and feed becomes more available.
Myth: I cannot catch any cod because the sprats are in.
Fact: Cod can become glutted with sprats, however, for them to see and catch sprats they need clear water – not the best time for anglers. Also remember it is January and February that the sprats come inshore – which are the times of sudden temperature drops which also causes the lack of fish (see my post ‘Cold Fish’.)
Myth: I can not catch any fish because the trawlers have already caught them.
Fact: Around the 1980s the government introduced a scheme for the trawlers to decommission for large amounts of money. This incentive was to conserve fish stocks. Many of the trawler owners took up the governments offer and converted the cash into a new smaller but more efficient gill netting boat. Therefore, there is only one trawler to every twenty gill netters in this area. Now you know who to blame.
Myth: There are a load of nets a couple of hundred yards off the beach.
Fact: Don’t panic! Most times on the end of those marker buoys are, whelk and lobster pots.
Personally, I will continue to blame the French, Spanish and sprats when I have a blank days sport.
Thursday, 22 January 2009
Cold fish
No matter how much you think you know about angling, nature and the fish will at times always prove you wrong. Saying that, the CELOCANT will stick his head above the parapet and no doubt be shot at, however, here goes.
Why do we not catch decent fish from the beach in the extreme cold weather? The reason is because the sea temperature drops. ‘Hang on’ I hear you say ‘they catch plenty of big fish in Norway and the Artic waters’. That is true, nevertheless, those fish live in deep water and the sea temperature alters very little over a period of time at those depths.
The shallow water from the beach is the first to drop in temperature after a cold snap. When this happens the worms tend to burrow deeper and become dormant. By not moving, they show less casts on the sand and the bait diggers find it increasingly difficult to provide for the anglers requirements (ask any tackle dealer). Also the cold affects the crustaceans; they either move to the deeper water or become inactive and go into semi-hibernation; generally hiding away out of the predators reach. With the lack of food the mature fish vacate the area in search of pastures new – normally deeper water.
As the larger predators move away this gives licence for the pesky tiddlers to compete for the food that is still showing. When the decent fish disappear there always seems to be an abundance of pin whiting. These juveniles are making the most of the situation without having to look over their shoulder or being eaten by their big brothers. Dabs, although part of the predators’ food chain, have the advantage of being able to lie flat on the bottom and are well camouflaged. They also do not seem to be overly influenced by the cold. Rockling, or slugs, are a different matter; they seem to thrive on cold weather; and with the lack of feeding competition from other fish, normally oblige the beach angler from getting a blank.
What causes the extra cold weather? High pressures that hang over Britain in the winter months will circulate the wind in a clockwise direction around them. This wind will touch the artic and Scandinavian countries bringing in their coldness. Its journey across the North Sea does little to warm it up. When it hits our coast it is from the north or east and as the saying goes ‘when the winds in the east, the fish bite least’ (not always!). These high pressures tend, if they are stable and strong enough, to stop other weather fronts from moving them. With the prolonged cold wind the inshore sea temperature drops and the decent fish go. Most humans do not feel the pressure change (yet the mercury in a barometer rises), however, that does not mean to say that the fish underwater cannot – and maybe it changes their feeding habits. Needless to say when we get a low pressure the wind circulates in an anti-clockwise direction and normally comes from the south or west. Coming off the land, the wind warms up, and fishing will start to improve (eventually).
The severe winter of 1963 (see my post ‘January 1963’) created cold northerly/easterly winds that started to freeze the sea along the shoreline at Sandwich and Pegwell Bay. This wind carried on for at least two months and the fish became impossible to catch. The probable reason for this was they had the sense to vacate the area completely. Those that didn’t were washed up frozen along the shore line. From the beginning of January 63 there was not a single fish caught from the beach until March.
So what can we conclude from all of this:
Fish do not like the sudden cold temperature change in shallow water.
Their natural feed also suffers from the cold and is not available.
High pressures could have some influence on the fishes metabolism.
As I said at the beginning of this post, the fish and nature will always prove you wrong and this is only my theory, however, what do you think?
Why do we not catch decent fish from the beach in the extreme cold weather? The reason is because the sea temperature drops. ‘Hang on’ I hear you say ‘they catch plenty of big fish in Norway and the Artic waters’. That is true, nevertheless, those fish live in deep water and the sea temperature alters very little over a period of time at those depths.
The shallow water from the beach is the first to drop in temperature after a cold snap. When this happens the worms tend to burrow deeper and become dormant. By not moving, they show less casts on the sand and the bait diggers find it increasingly difficult to provide for the anglers requirements (ask any tackle dealer). Also the cold affects the crustaceans; they either move to the deeper water or become inactive and go into semi-hibernation; generally hiding away out of the predators reach. With the lack of food the mature fish vacate the area in search of pastures new – normally deeper water.
As the larger predators move away this gives licence for the pesky tiddlers to compete for the food that is still showing. When the decent fish disappear there always seems to be an abundance of pin whiting. These juveniles are making the most of the situation without having to look over their shoulder or being eaten by their big brothers. Dabs, although part of the predators’ food chain, have the advantage of being able to lie flat on the bottom and are well camouflaged. They also do not seem to be overly influenced by the cold. Rockling, or slugs, are a different matter; they seem to thrive on cold weather; and with the lack of feeding competition from other fish, normally oblige the beach angler from getting a blank.
What causes the extra cold weather? High pressures that hang over Britain in the winter months will circulate the wind in a clockwise direction around them. This wind will touch the artic and Scandinavian countries bringing in their coldness. Its journey across the North Sea does little to warm it up. When it hits our coast it is from the north or east and as the saying goes ‘when the winds in the east, the fish bite least’ (not always!). These high pressures tend, if they are stable and strong enough, to stop other weather fronts from moving them. With the prolonged cold wind the inshore sea temperature drops and the decent fish go. Most humans do not feel the pressure change (yet the mercury in a barometer rises), however, that does not mean to say that the fish underwater cannot – and maybe it changes their feeding habits. Needless to say when we get a low pressure the wind circulates in an anti-clockwise direction and normally comes from the south or west. Coming off the land, the wind warms up, and fishing will start to improve (eventually).
The severe winter of 1963 (see my post ‘January 1963’) created cold northerly/easterly winds that started to freeze the sea along the shoreline at Sandwich and Pegwell Bay. This wind carried on for at least two months and the fish became impossible to catch. The probable reason for this was they had the sense to vacate the area completely. Those that didn’t were washed up frozen along the shore line. From the beginning of January 63 there was not a single fish caught from the beach until March.
So what can we conclude from all of this:
Fish do not like the sudden cold temperature change in shallow water.
Their natural feed also suffers from the cold and is not available.
High pressures could have some influence on the fishes metabolism.
As I said at the beginning of this post, the fish and nature will always prove you wrong and this is only my theory, however, what do you think?
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
WILL MY HOBBY LAND ME IN JAIL
Whilst fishing last Sunday’s D&WAA beach and pier festival in an attempt to win a turkey (well Mrs Boatman expects at least one hot meal a year), I was approached by a Kent and Essex sea fishery officer. On enquiring what his business was, he stated that he was educating the anglers about the short comings of retaining undersized fish. I explained to him that this was an angling match and none of the anglers would want to keep undersize fish. Also all the fish they had was of NFSA sizes, which is above the DEFRA size limits. What’s more, these match men knew the size limits off by heart!
I challenged him on the damage that the fishing fleet has done to the stocks. He then informed me that he was once a commercial fisherman and the commercials are having a tough time of it at the moment. I suggested that they have earned lots of money in the past; sometimes as much as £2,000 a day. His answer to that was ‘you cannot catch them twice’. Exactly says I, that’s the whole anglers v commercial argument.
He quickly changed the subject and informed me if I had any peeler crabs (what’s my name ‘Rothschild’ I’m only a poor pensioner) then they have to be of legal size. Velvet’s and edible crabs must not be gathered in peeler form unless they conform to DEFRA size. Again I enquired did he know where any of these crabs are shedding at this time of year as it would be of great interest to us all. His reply was that he would sooner educate us to the rules as opposed to prosecuting us.
As we discussed quotas and days at sea as the only solution to the commercials lack of fish (or finance), he was joined by three more of his fellow officers. I enquired why they were mob handed and the reply was ‘It’s quite a dangerous job as a couple of Kosovans had knifed each other over a dispute about mackerel on Dover Pier recently’.
So there you have it. Is this a look into the future, when we all have to have licences? These guys in their navy blue trousers and jumpers with Kent and Essex Fishery Officer on them (possibly earning double time on Sunday) prosecuting us anglers with the gusto of traffic wardens. Surly if they want to educate fishermen, it would be a lot more helpful if they kept a better look out on the commercial fish landings, to help conserve the stocks – as opposed to monitoring the paltry catches we get.
See you all in Jail.
I challenged him on the damage that the fishing fleet has done to the stocks. He then informed me that he was once a commercial fisherman and the commercials are having a tough time of it at the moment. I suggested that they have earned lots of money in the past; sometimes as much as £2,000 a day. His answer to that was ‘you cannot catch them twice’. Exactly says I, that’s the whole anglers v commercial argument.
He quickly changed the subject and informed me if I had any peeler crabs (what’s my name ‘Rothschild’ I’m only a poor pensioner) then they have to be of legal size. Velvet’s and edible crabs must not be gathered in peeler form unless they conform to DEFRA size. Again I enquired did he know where any of these crabs are shedding at this time of year as it would be of great interest to us all. His reply was that he would sooner educate us to the rules as opposed to prosecuting us.
As we discussed quotas and days at sea as the only solution to the commercials lack of fish (or finance), he was joined by three more of his fellow officers. I enquired why they were mob handed and the reply was ‘It’s quite a dangerous job as a couple of Kosovans had knifed each other over a dispute about mackerel on Dover Pier recently’.
So there you have it. Is this a look into the future, when we all have to have licences? These guys in their navy blue trousers and jumpers with Kent and Essex Fishery Officer on them (possibly earning double time on Sunday) prosecuting us anglers with the gusto of traffic wardens. Surly if they want to educate fishermen, it would be a lot more helpful if they kept a better look out on the commercial fish landings, to help conserve the stocks – as opposed to monitoring the paltry catches we get.
See you all in Jail.
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
BASS HOTSPOT
The Deal Boatman was spending yesterday evening in Hastings with Mrs and Miss Deal Boatman (don’t ask why, but it was expensive). We went to the White Rock Hotel, on the seafront and next to Hastings Pier. As we had booked two rooms, and one had been upgraded to a seafront view, it was agreed that Mr and Mrs DB should have this room (or the diminishing inheritance of Miss DB’s would no longer be viable and could end up in a cats home). We moved to the Hotel’s restaurant and bar where three bottles of house wine and dinner was served (those who know me, know that I’m TT, or just call me Pinocchio). On retiring I looked out of the third floor window at the beach; all was calm and high tide was up against the promenade. I suggested to Mrs DB that perhaps if we left the window slightly ajar it would bring some romance back to our ageing souls with the gentle sound of the sea lapping against the shore. As I climbed into bed humming ‘I’m in the mood for love’, snores greeted me from the duvet (well I recon she did at least 2½ bottles of that wine. Although thinking about it she always has her eyes tightly shut when I sing that song).
However, after a good nights sleep I awoke early with severe dehydration; must have been something I ate (Pinocchio’s nose has just lengthened). As an early riser (another foot on Pinocchio’s nose) I decided to make a cup of tea and look out of the window from our upgraded room. First thing I did was to close it, as the calm seas had turned into a mass of white and a very cold easterly wind sent shivers through the old Deal Boatman. As my eyes tried to focused on the incoming tide and beach (again must have been something I ate; the nose is over balancing me now) I noticed a lone angler.
Mesmerised I watched him as he cast into the surf and reclaimed beach as the tide rose. For two hours I watched in my PJ’s, slightly jealous that I was not that man (hang on, the nose is so big now it’s almost in the next room). By this time the window had misted up and vision was impaired. I considered the appeal of going back to bed, however, Mrs DB’s snores told me it was not worth trying to listen or watch ‘Morning TV’ from the set that was mounted on the opposite wall of our king-size bed – that she had now claimed the full length and breadth.
My attention was once more drawn to this lone angler who defiantly was on a mission as he waded, cast and then walked up the beach as the tide flowed up over the sand (low tide up at Hastings has a range of around three hundred yards). By this time I had turned up the Hotel’s radiator, therefore I had some consolation glued to the window in my PJ’s (possibly becoming a new tourist attraction for Hastings)
My vigil was not unrewarded, as at two hours before high tide he caught a bass. Initially it looked like a ten pounder, but perhaps it was a 6 pounder, my bloodshot eyes were still trying to evacuate my face. Either way, by now this man had got my respect as I doubt if I have ever caught a bass that large from the beach. He packed up five minutes later and left the foreshore.
Eventually I managed to persuade Mrs DB to get up as the Filipino cleaners wanted to reclaim the room for the next guests. On leaving the Hotel at 11 A.M., I noticed two more anglers converge on the very same spot. Not wanting to discourage them by saying that the fish of the week had already been caught, I considered: … has news travelled that fast, or have I accidentally discovered Hastings’s beach hotspot?
The sights you see when you have not got your rod in your hand!!!!!!!!!!!
However, after a good nights sleep I awoke early with severe dehydration; must have been something I ate (Pinocchio’s nose has just lengthened). As an early riser (another foot on Pinocchio’s nose) I decided to make a cup of tea and look out of the window from our upgraded room. First thing I did was to close it, as the calm seas had turned into a mass of white and a very cold easterly wind sent shivers through the old Deal Boatman. As my eyes tried to focused on the incoming tide and beach (again must have been something I ate; the nose is over balancing me now) I noticed a lone angler.
Mesmerised I watched him as he cast into the surf and reclaimed beach as the tide rose. For two hours I watched in my PJ’s, slightly jealous that I was not that man (hang on, the nose is so big now it’s almost in the next room). By this time the window had misted up and vision was impaired. I considered the appeal of going back to bed, however, Mrs DB’s snores told me it was not worth trying to listen or watch ‘Morning TV’ from the set that was mounted on the opposite wall of our king-size bed – that she had now claimed the full length and breadth.
My attention was once more drawn to this lone angler who defiantly was on a mission as he waded, cast and then walked up the beach as the tide flowed up over the sand (low tide up at Hastings has a range of around three hundred yards). By this time I had turned up the Hotel’s radiator, therefore I had some consolation glued to the window in my PJ’s (possibly becoming a new tourist attraction for Hastings)
My vigil was not unrewarded, as at two hours before high tide he caught a bass. Initially it looked like a ten pounder, but perhaps it was a 6 pounder, my bloodshot eyes were still trying to evacuate my face. Either way, by now this man had got my respect as I doubt if I have ever caught a bass that large from the beach. He packed up five minutes later and left the foreshore.
Eventually I managed to persuade Mrs DB to get up as the Filipino cleaners wanted to reclaim the room for the next guests. On leaving the Hotel at 11 A.M., I noticed two more anglers converge on the very same spot. Not wanting to discourage them by saying that the fish of the week had already been caught, I considered: … has news travelled that fast, or have I accidentally discovered Hastings’s beach hotspot?
The sights you see when you have not got your rod in your hand!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, 1 October 2008
Deal, Mecca of sea angling
Throughout the 1950s and 60s boat fishing festivals and competitions were always popular and well attended. Deal was well known as the ‘Mecca of Angling’ and people from all over the country entered such events. At times, prospective competitors had their entrance fee refunded as there were not enough places for them in the many charter boats that plied for hire on the beach.
The festivals were always held in winter, as it was considered that this was the best time to exploit the vast shoals of cod that frequented the area. Cod did make up the majority of the catch, however, whiting, pouting and dogfish also filled the anglers bags. The event would be run over a three day period, which included the weekend and Monday, although this was later cut down to just the Saturday and Sunday. Unfortunately the weather often took a turn for the worse in those months of October and November and it was hard pushed to get the full amount of fishing days in.
For the officers and committees of the two main angling clubs – Deal (1919) AC and Deal & Walmer AC – it was a busy time to cater for all those wishing to participate. Firstly, the clubs’ vast amount of silver cups had to be retrieved from the year before winners. These, along with the prizes, were then placed in a local shop which had a large enough window space to display the trophies. The main prize was for the greatest aggregate of sizable fish with different classes for separate species. Second and third prizes were also awarded for each class. It seemed a never ending job for the committee to get everything just right, and very few anglers realised how much work went on behind the scenes.
On the day of the boat festival, it was up to the clubs officials to consult with the boatmen on the weather prospects. If it was deemed fit, then the rowing boats would be allowed to go afloat half an hour earlier than the motor vessels. At the end of the six hour competition the anglers were allowed thirty minutes to get their catches to the weigh-in; which was usually held in the Royal or Queens’s hotel car park just off the sea-front. All the fish had to be measured and then weighed and recorded. This procedure would take hours if a large catch was encountered; in an early 1960s boat festival over two tons of fish were caught by anglers.
The evening’s prize giving was always a grand affair. Normally the Mayor of Deal, after a speech, would have presented the trophies to the winners. Each cup won then had to be signed for and the angler’s address noted for collection the following year. Hopefully, for the angling club, everything had gone smoothly and a small profit had been attained – although the hard work that had been put in by the committee could never be evaluated financially.
The festivals were always held in winter, as it was considered that this was the best time to exploit the vast shoals of cod that frequented the area. Cod did make up the majority of the catch, however, whiting, pouting and dogfish also filled the anglers bags. The event would be run over a three day period, which included the weekend and Monday, although this was later cut down to just the Saturday and Sunday. Unfortunately the weather often took a turn for the worse in those months of October and November and it was hard pushed to get the full amount of fishing days in.
For the officers and committees of the two main angling clubs – Deal (1919) AC and Deal & Walmer AC – it was a busy time to cater for all those wishing to participate. Firstly, the clubs’ vast amount of silver cups had to be retrieved from the year before winners. These, along with the prizes, were then placed in a local shop which had a large enough window space to display the trophies. The main prize was for the greatest aggregate of sizable fish with different classes for separate species. Second and third prizes were also awarded for each class. It seemed a never ending job for the committee to get everything just right, and very few anglers realised how much work went on behind the scenes.
On the day of the boat festival, it was up to the clubs officials to consult with the boatmen on the weather prospects. If it was deemed fit, then the rowing boats would be allowed to go afloat half an hour earlier than the motor vessels. At the end of the six hour competition the anglers were allowed thirty minutes to get their catches to the weigh-in; which was usually held in the Royal or Queens’s hotel car park just off the sea-front. All the fish had to be measured and then weighed and recorded. This procedure would take hours if a large catch was encountered; in an early 1960s boat festival over two tons of fish were caught by anglers.
The evening’s prize giving was always a grand affair. Normally the Mayor of Deal, after a speech, would have presented the trophies to the winners. Each cup won then had to be signed for and the angler’s address noted for collection the following year. Hopefully, for the angling club, everything had gone smoothly and a small profit had been attained – although the hard work that had been put in by the committee could never be evaluated financially.
Monday, 15 September 2008
LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE
Way back in 1961 I acquired my first boat and beach plot. In those days the annual fee was 30/- (£1.50) a year and my boat, Sea Hawk, was situated on Central Parade (north of the Royal Hotel). The old salts on that patch were: John (nutty) Revell, Frank Preston, Terry Harris, Bill Bailey, Tommy Upton, Bert Tookey and others. I can even remember a young Dave Skardon!
Boats lined the beach and there was a waiting list to hire a plot. Almost every day the charter fleet would be out with anglers – and bookings for the boats had to be done a year, or even two, in advance. All of the boats were made from wood; and Hilary Able’s boat building business in Middle Street, did a roaring trade. He specialised in 18 to 24 ft craft constructed from mahogany on oak – nice little beach boats and always popular with the locals.
It was this year that I retired from the beach and also as the Deal & Walmer Inshore Fishermen Association’s president. After 47 years I have seen a lot of changes. Needless to say all the ‘old fellas’ have long gone (apart from young Dave Skardon), and I wonder what they would have made of the present situation. Knowing them, they would have somehow exploited it to their own benefit! However, even in their wildest dreams, or nightmares, they would never have expected the lack of boating activity that has occurred.
Nevertheless, if this is progress, then so be it!
I have taken pleasure, in my time trying to make a living from the beach and have no regrets. From the many people, that I have met and worked with, I have enjoyed the banter and camaraderie.
Boats lined the beach and there was a waiting list to hire a plot. Almost every day the charter fleet would be out with anglers – and bookings for the boats had to be done a year, or even two, in advance. All of the boats were made from wood; and Hilary Able’s boat building business in Middle Street, did a roaring trade. He specialised in 18 to 24 ft craft constructed from mahogany on oak – nice little beach boats and always popular with the locals.
It was this year that I retired from the beach and also as the Deal & Walmer Inshore Fishermen Association’s president. After 47 years I have seen a lot of changes. Needless to say all the ‘old fellas’ have long gone (apart from young Dave Skardon), and I wonder what they would have made of the present situation. Knowing them, they would have somehow exploited it to their own benefit! However, even in their wildest dreams, or nightmares, they would never have expected the lack of boating activity that has occurred.
Nevertheless, if this is progress, then so be it!
I have taken pleasure, in my time trying to make a living from the beach and have no regrets. From the many people, that I have met and worked with, I have enjoyed the banter and camaraderie.
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