The August winds continued to blow making for an uncomfortable Peter Collins Competition (Porthleven) and the loss of the second day in the Penzance Open Boat event, none the less these two popular west country events were very much enjoyed There was no Launce Peters Comp this year but it is hoped that it might be back in 2010.

September and time for the Weymouth Challenge a super five day event in which all fish caught are weighed and returned let’s hope more events follow this idea. The competition attracted some great support with some of the country's top international anglers entering. 

Pictured below on day one aboard Tiger Lily is one of Littlehampton's International anglers, Chris Puchard with a smashing Undulate Ray. Also Scotsman, Bill Thornton. Bill's day aboard Tiger Lily was a dream come true...big Bass...big Bream...big Cod and just to put the icing on the cake, Bill finished his day with this cracking Turbot from the Shambles Bank. If only every day was this good...

While on the subject of competitions, the Flamer III v Lady Godiva event that should have been fished over five trips but due to the weather was reduced to three was won by Colin Penny's crew on Flamer III who had a huge haul of species on the last day of the event.

No pictures of that but the cameras were out in the south west for Jack (The Sprat) Hodge and his Blue Shark on Wave Chieftain a massive 2lb 9oz Red Gurnard caught on Bite and Andy Butler finding a Blond near the Lizard on Capriole.

Another event in Weymouth at this time is the Weymouth Conger Festival

This years Conger Festival was fished in two categories

Overall winner on points which went to GARY CARLILE who fished on WILD FRONTIER and won £295.24 the heaviest fish for each of the three days resulted in the following winners          

Wednesday Maurice Wheeler who fished on Als Spirit and won £290 with a 76lb fish on Thursday Steve Nash who fished on Cobra won £310 with an 80lb fish and on the Friday Jules Brown who fished on Als Spirit won £310 with a 74lb fish Congratulations to all who took part.

The organisers would like it know that every effort to minimise the killing fish during the event was achieved by insisting on the use of Radio contact between skippers during the event coupled with the use of barbless hooks by all anglers resulting in a total of  447 fish being landed with just eleven being brought to the scales These fish along with those not returned then going to Brixham market resulting with a sum of £160.80 being raised and this money will be presented to The Fisherman’s Mission which is a local charity that will benefit from the event along with any of the smaller fish that went to the old folks home in Weymouth

The final event around this time was the prestigious Torbay Sea Angling Festival which from the charter boat side of things was hampered by strong easterly winds, never a good sign as was proven in this case.

The event winner was in fact a shore caught fish a Grey Mullet from the Teign, Landed by Alan Sims. 

It weighed 8 lbs 2 ozs 4 dr. (191.54%) and was caught on day 5 of the nine day event. Well done Alan

 

October was to see the onset of a succession of storms that were to keep many boats in harbour for the next six weeks and more Just it seemed as Wild Charters (Hartlepool) owner Alan Jackson laid down a £10,000 challenge to any one able to better the UK Cod or Ling record while fishing on his boat. Cod and Bass were being landed by anglers just about every where around the UK and had it not been for the South Westerly gales this might have been a fantastic autumn.

Tiger Lily skipper Chris Caines posted some interesting pictures at this time of a Monk fish that had been captured by divers

In it's stomach were three, yes three Bass each weighing in at over 1 kilo each and were in near perfect condition! as the pictures show they had only just been consumed when Alan and Carl happened by.

November and The British Cod Championships (Isle of Wight) was fished on the 11th and 12th November 2009. There were 24 boats with 197 anglers fishing the competition. The biggest fish overall went to Len Pyke with a fish of 22lb 11oz. This event to was restricted to the Solent waters on day two due to high SW wind.

While the storms continued the brave made the most of any window in the weather resulting in some nice Plaice like the one Gary Spencer had on the Shambles Bank while fishing on Flamer III (pictured below) the trip also providing Turbot Brill and Bream.

On the Kent coast the Whiting were providing some great sport as well as a nice supper for the lads on Duke IV.

Meanwhile my good friend Nigel Birch had sneaked from his London home down to Looe to capture a new CFSA blue shark record of 140lb 2oz We wont hear the end of that for a while.

The famous IOW winter Cod ground have produced well again and provided the lads from St Mary’s Youth Club in Southampton some fine sport while in Weymouth Squid and Trigger fish have been putting a smile on the anglers faces.

And with that we move into December the wind has at last died down though gone Easterly and the winter sport continues with fish like some good Bass and the odd Cod or two for the Brighton Boys pictured on Great Escape below.

 

Where ever you fish we at Rodbenders whish you well and hope that you enjoy your angling and look forward to reporting on your catches in 2010

Seasons greetings to one and all, and may you have successful New Year

Tight Lines from Bob Shotter