Once again yet another season gets under way and we would like to take this opportunity to thank all our members for there support through the 07 season and also welcome the new arrivals for 2008. This year you will notice a few changes in fixture venues and a new scoring system to make the shore league more competitive and also aid those who miss a fixture or dare I say it, blank. A five dog limit may also be imposed on Chesil fixtures in an effort to reduce the number of dogfish caught and allow anglers to concentrate on other species. Changes to the scoring system and other rules are outlined in the 08 rule book.
Thanks for your continuing support and good luck with this season.
Nigel Bowditch has put himself in the news again with his recent catch of a brace of double figure bullhuss.
Braving the cold weather Nigel fished large sand eel baits over a rough ground Dorset mark to tempt the pair. Both fish were photographed and released and weighed in at 11lb 5oz and 12lb 9oz.
Not to be outdone Jay Bowditch recently landed himself a trio of bullys with the largest weighing at 9lb 13oz
January is historically a poor month for weather conditions so when two wsg members headed off to the channel isle of Alderney for a seven day sortie they knew they had there work cut out.
Battling sometimes atrocious conditions the pair(Andy Rogers/Nigel Bowditch) accumulated some quality fish and even managed to set a new club record for Pollack. Sometimes having to change venue twice in an evening to avoid rough seas certainly tested there knowledge of the Island. Having good local advice is always key to a successful trip and the Island locals are often full of good advice.
During the week long period Nigel landed himself Bullhuss to over 10lb, congers to over 30lb, a good number of red mullet and a cracking Pollack of 10lb 1oz. The Pollack was one of a number of bigger fish hooked but lost during landing. This trip proves why Alderney is such a good Island to visit at almost any time of year.
Eleven sea anglers lost their lives while sea angling in 2007, up from seven in 2006.
Reporting the more than 50 per cent rise, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said that all the fatal accidents in 2007 took place between May and October, seven during fishing from a boat and four whilst angling from the shore.
Richard Jackson, the MCAs Prevention Team Manager says that given the number of anglers who participate in their sport, the rate of fatal accidents is still relatively low, but anglers do not appear to appreciate the need to wear lifejackets, particularly when angling from hostile coastal areas.
Before setting off, ask yourself if you have done everything to ensure that you would survive if you fell in the water or your craft sank, says Richard. The primary need is to wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid at all times, even while fishing from the shore. When something goes wrong there is simply no time to get into a jacket.
Two of the four shore anglers who died in 2007 slipped into the water from the shore and were drowned. Another fell from a bridge and the circumstances of one is unknown. Unfortunately none were wearing lifejackets.
The seven boat anglers all died after issues with their vessels left them stranded in the water. In most cases the casualties were not wearing lifejackets. In one incident involving a group of five anglers whose vessel sank, three were wearing lifejackets and were able to be recovered, the other two did not have lifejackets on and drowned.
This year the Maritime and Coastguard Agency will be working to persuade everyone who uses the sea to wear a lifejacket at all times.
Better preparation is a key factor
says Richard Jackson. Wearing a lifejacket or buoyancy aid will aid your survival
in our cold seas, and angling in company with others will ensure that there
will be someone on hand to raise the alarm.
ANGLERS URGED TO WEAR LIFEJACKETS
COASTGUARD REPORTS INCREASE IN FATAL ANGLING INCIDENTS
.So next time your wondering what to do and the weather doesn’t look good, grab yourself a loaf of bread and go explore your local estuaries and rivers, you never know what you may find…
Despite a disappointing year as regards the poor weather members have been keeping themselves busy even if they have been restricted to the winding inlets of Southampton water. Group member Dave Stenson has had some fine mullet fishing logging up over twenty nine fish with three fish weighing in over 6lbs which buy anyone’s standards is a great accomplishment. Andy Rogers has also been targeting the thick lips and just missed the 7lb barrier with a fine fish of 6lb 15oz taken from the Hamble river.
Our very own match reporter Ben Phillips has also been receiving some coaching on the thick lips from his very experienced father Jerry. Jerry is locally known as a bit of a mullet specialist and has won large open competitions along Weston shore by targeting mullet rather than the obligatory flounder. Some of Jerry’s experience must be rubbing off as Ben has managed to land himself some notable catches from Southampton water.