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Festival Diary 2007 Saturday 8th September What an incredible day, one of the best ever early results in the history of Torbay Sea Angling Festival. 44 fish of 100% of specimen weight or better featured amongst the 96 fish in excess of 50% of specimen size which were weighed-in by competitors. The best percentile weight today was achieved by Sean Coulson, a member of Brixham SAC, with a shore caught Grey Mullet of 7 lbs 13 ozs 4 dr, at 184.191%. This is truly the fish of a lifetime for a very dedicated and skilled angler. Well done Sean, we're all green with envy.
A Conger from a privately owned inshore boat, caught by Andy Simpson, a visitor, was next best at 171.094%.
Two Congers from wreck came in at 3rd & 4th best. Bill Harkness, a member of Paignton SAA, caught an Eel which weighed-in at 80 lbs 4 ozs, which narrowly beat his pal, Dave Trevarthen's Conger which weighed 84 lbs. Both were caught aboard Dave Harrison's Dartmouth charter boat "Gemini".
Dean Corbett, a member of Paignton SAC, landed a spectacular wreck caught Pollack from a private boat. Dean's Pollack weighed 19 lbs 4 ozs 12 dr, at 148.438% and lies 5th. I spent a day afloat with a good crowd of lads from Brixham SAC, aboard the Paignton charter boat, "Silver Sea" which was skippered for the day by Mark Criddle, the Coxswain of the RNLI Torbay Lifeboat, who is also a member of Brixham SAC. We enjoyed a really pleasant day at sea in good settled weather conditions. I shot a short video clip which lasts around 6 minutes. I've uploaded it to YouTube. You may like to watch via your "Broadband" Internet connection. It even includes an amusing feature on what not to do to your fishing rod! I took several photographs during my own day afloat. Here are just a few of the better fish we caught. Regrettably, though we all tried very hard, we did not catch any really big specimens likely to feature amongst the prizes. I can promise you that we all thoroughly enjoyed our day together.
Here are some more photographs, taken by Ted Tuckerman, of superb fish weighed in by competitors on day 1 at Torquay Harbour. It's great to see so many people clearly enjoying themselves.
Sunday 9th September On day two, building tidal flow made it correspondingly more difficult for anglers to fish at anchor on the off shore wreck marks. This was reflected in the 69 fish weighed-in today, of which 21 achieved 100 percent of specimen weight or better. Some notable fish included a Small Eyed Ray which weighed-in at 13-10-10 143.832%, caught by Torbay & Babbacombe SAA member Colin Wilden from his private boat. Colin's Wife, Christine Wilden landed her own brace of Small Eyed Ray, also caught from a private inshore boat, which weighed-in at 12-11-0 and 12-8-6. We reckon that's a successful formula for married bliss. Alan Jones from Plympton, caught a top class Ling from wreck which weighed-in at 24-10-14. He hooked it on a Mackerel "flapper" bait aboard Dave Harrison's Dartmouth charter boat "Gemini" over a mid-Channel wreck mark.
Sadly for Alan, it didn't quite equal Paignton SAA member Chris Harris' Ling of day 1 which weighed 26-6-11. Visiting angler Paul Arkell, caught a fine Black Bream which weighed 4-4-5 from a mid-Channel wreck mark. It didn't quite pip the Black Bream caught by another visiting angler, Wayne Hawkin's specimen of 4-7-2 landed on day one, also from a mid-Channel wreck mark. Allyson Thomas, a regular visitor from Wales, caught another excellent Conger Eel which weighed-in at 63-7-0, usurping her own wreck Conger of day 1 which weighed 57 lbs 10 ozs.
Allyson also caught a fine Pollack which weighed-in at 13 lbs 3 ozs. At this rate we will have to change the name of this web site to "Allyson Wonderland", or even "Allyson Waterland". I wonder if I could get a job as a headline writer for the "Sun" newspaper? Seriously though Allyson, keep up the good work, we are all very proud of you.
Richard Baker caught a fine Ballan Wrasse from inshore boat, which weighed 5 lbs 12 ozs 10 dr, 115.781%. What a pretty fish, probably more than 25 years old.
Steve Ainsworth a member of Paignton SAA caught an early Bass from shore which tipped the scales at 5 lbs 4 ozs 10 dr, 88.151%. Nice fish Steve.
Positions continue to change. As from tomorrow we hope to bring you more detailed weigh-in data which should make the daily lists far easier to interpret. Monday 10th September Day 3 provided another interesting day where building tides and a northerly stiff breeze combined to make angling conditions less than perfect. 32 fish were weighed-in this evening, of which 13 were 100 percent of specimen weight or above. The overall size of the fish weighed-in clearly demonstrates that competitors are not weighing-in their smaller fish, preferring in many instances to return them alive to grow, breed, and fight again another day. The minimum size which relates to 50% of specimen size for each specie on the list significantly contributes to that endeavour. Trevor Millman a member of Paignton SAA caught a super Thornback Ray from his own private inshore boat. Trevor's "Thornie" weighed 13 lbs 15 ozs which equates to 139.375% of specimen weight. Nice one Trevor.
Fred Hayward, another Paignton SAA member weighed-in a Black Bream, 4 lbs 5 ozs 4 dr, caught from a wreck mark in mid-Channel. Not the biggest Black Bream landed to date, but an excellent fish. Gary Messenger, a member of Torbay and Babbacombe ASA, caught a Conger Eel from his own private small boat, on an inshore reef mark. It weighed 41 lbs 4 ozs, 128.906%. We would all be very to catch an inshore reef Conger of that size, though it is still a little smaller than those weighed-in last Saturday, on Day 1 of he event.
Mark Satterley, a member of Paignton SAA, weighed-in a shore caught Conger of 25 lbs 1 oz 1 dr, from a local mark. That's one heck of an Eel on beach fishing gear. Tony Phillips weighed-in a fine Bass caught from a wreck mark in Start Bay. It's the best Bass to date this year, and weighed 9 lbs 14 ozs 14 dr, 124.121%.
Alan Noble, a member of Paignton SAC, caught a Small Eyed Ray in Start Bay, which weighed 11 lbs 10 ozs 14 dr, 122.944%. Alan was fishing aboard Dave Baker's private boat out of Dartmouth.
Allyson Thomas was out again aboard Dave Harrison's Dartmouth charter boat "Gemini", when she caught a Cod which when later weighed-in was exactly 9 lbs, just 50% of specimen size which is our minimum size permitted in Torbay Fishing Festival. It did not quite beat the previous largest Cod to date during the Festival, which weighed 9 lbs 2 ozs 6 dr caught on day 1 by Gary Sims on a mid-Channel wreck mark.
Several Trigger Fish were caught from Boat and Shore marks, which is pleasing to see. Another great day in paradise for everyone concerned. Tuesday 11th September Day 4 saw 51 fish weighed-in of which 18 achieved 100% of specimen weight or more. In the first four days of the 2007 Festival we have already exceeded the number of fish weighed-in which are in excess of 100% in last year's event. This is truly a quality event. It is pleasing to see that competitors are not generally choosing to weigh-in small fish which have no chance of making the Trophy list. It's also good to see so many fish being returned alive after weighing. Sean Coulson, who caught the big Grey Mullet from shore on day 1 has done it again. Sean weighed-in a Bull Huss, caught from shore of 12 lbs 4 ozs, 153.125%. Nice one Sean. Dean Corbett weighed-in a Small Eyed Ray, caught from inshore boat. It weighed 12 lbs 7 ozs 8 dr, 131.250%. Another good fish but not quite matching Colin Wilden's 13-10-10 example of day 2. But for most of us lesser mortals, this would truly be the fish of a lifetime.
Steve Underwood and Dean were fishing together. Dean's Small Eyed Ray just pipped Steve's, which weighed-in at 12 lbs 0 ozs 7 dr. Close, but not quite close enough for comfort. Paul Henden, weighed-in a Bass from a mid-Channel wreck mark, which tipped the scales at 9 lbs 15 ozs 10 dr. It just pipped Tony Phillip's wreck caught Bass of 9-14-14 which was weighed-in on day 3. Paignton SAA member, Rebecca Wherlock fishing with her Husband, Colin, from their inshore boat caught a fine Thornback Ray of 12 lbs 4 ozs 10 dr, 122.891%.
Rebecca also caught a fine Blonde Ray of 19 lbs 4 ozs. Carol Rice, from Derbyshire, a member of Paignton SAA, and a regular visitor, was fishing with her Husband, Mick, from their private boat, "Stallouca" when she showed the guys how to do it. Carol caught a Black Bream of 3 lbs 0 ozs 10 dr, 121.563%, from an inshore mark.
Mark Randle, a visiting angler caught a Conger from wreck which weighed 48 lbs 8 ozs 2 dr, 97.016%. Mike Johnson, a member of Paignton SAA, caught a reef Conger from his own small inshore boat, which weighed 31 lbs 4 ozs 7 dr, 97.742%.
This really is turning into the best Torbay Fishing Festival in recent memory. We are seeing lots of happy competitors with a significant number of visiting anglers swelling the ranks. Why can't sea angling always be this good and this friendly. Wednesday 12th September Day 5 saw stronger tidal flow set a particularly stiff examination for many anglers, particularly those who fished from boat on the deepest mid-Channel marks. Nevertheless, of 60 fish weighed in today, 33 were 100% of specimen weight or better. It is very clear that very few anglers are weighing-in small fish which do not stand a snowball's chance in a bonfire of getting amongst the prizes. They clearly do this with a view to conservation of our valuable marine resources. We all want there to be fish tomorrow. There is never any good reason to needlessly kill a fish, except for the occasional weigh-in and preferably if is destined for your own table. Recreational Sea Anglers generally abhor wantonly discarded fish. Many fish weighed-in during Torbay Sea Angling Festival are returned alive to the sea. Paignton SAA member Paul Arkell, who lives outside the 50 mile area and therefore also qualifies as a visitor, caught a superb Conger of 82 lbs 15 ozs 3 dr 165.898% from a wreck mark. That's the biggest Eel caught so far during this year's event.
Andy Simpson, another visiting angler, and member of Paignton SAA, caught his own Conger from a wreck mark. It weighed 76 lbs 14 ozs, 153.75%.
Paignton SAA member, Steve Underwood, fishing a wreck mark from his own small boat, "Predator", caught a superb Bass, which weighed 11 lbs 11 ozs 15 dr, 146.826%. Steve's is the best Bass caught so far in this year's Festival. Mark Barnett from Chillington, a member of the Kingsbridge SAC, caught a pair of Small Eyed Ray from Simon Putt's private boat. His best fish weighed 13 lbs 6 ozs 11 dr, 141.242%. It is a great fish, the fish of a lifetime for most people, but it has still not overtaken Colin Wilden's Small Eyed Ray of Day 2.
Brixham SAC member, Lee Piddington caught a fine Bull Huss from shore which weighed 11 lbs 4 ozs, 140.625%.
Keith Grady, a visiting angler from Basildon, caught a brace of very special Bass from wreck. Keith's best Bass weighed 10 lbs 15 ozs, 136.719%, while his second best Bass weighed a tad less at 9 lbs 7 ozs 10 dr. That demonstrates consistency and top quality.
The best Plaice so far, a fish which weighed 3 lbs 15 ozs 2 dr, 131.51%, was caught from boat in Start Bay, by Gary Pointon, a member of Paignton SAA. It was also good to see a Dab weighed in by Dave Shobbrook, a member of Torbay & Babbacombe ASA. It weighed just 12 ozs, but was a welcome sight. Dabs used to be commonplace, but in recent years, anglers have noted a sharp decline in their presence. We have yet to see a Flounder caught in this year's event. This year's competition is really hotting up. I can't wait to see what the remaining 4 days produce. You are most welcome to sign-on and join in for the last few days. There is still plenty of time to catch your own really top notch fish. Thursday 13th September Day 6 provided another good day in the 40th Torbay Sea Angling Festival. 43 fish were weighed-in, of which 23 were 100% of specimen size or greater. Dean Corbett, a member of Paignton SAA, found another excellent Pollack from a mid-Channel wreck mark. It weighed 17 lbs 5 ozs 12 dr, 133.534%. It was smaller than his specimen of 19-4-12 caught on day 1, but still a particularly fine fish. Visiting angler Andy Simpson caught yet another big Conger Eel from wreck. It weighed 66 lbs 12 ozs, 133.5%. It was smaller than his big 76 lb 14 oz Eeel of day 5. Simon Putt from Slapton caught a superb Small Eyed ray from his own private inshore boat. It weighed 12 lbs 9 ozs, 132.237%. That's a very good Small Eyed ray, though not the biggest to date. We received a query from another competitor who thought he had caught two Spotted Rays and a Blonde Ray, which were weighed-in at Brixham. There was some doubt as to the species of the suspected Spotted Rays, which would have been particularly large examples, with the bigger of the two weighing 6 lbs 13 ozs against a specimen size for this event of 4 lbs. An identification committee was convened, consisting of an expert from each of three of the four clubs which organise Torbay Festival. They scrutinised the fish, which the captor brought to Paignton SAA clubhouse straight away. Sadly, all three fish were Blonde Rays. There was no Spotted Ray. In case you are wondering about the difference. The spots on the back of a Blonde Ray go right to the edge of the wing. On a "Spotted" Ray, there is a fringe, largely devoid of spots around the outside edge of the wing. They can be very easily confused by an inexperienced eye. I should know, I've mixed the up myself in the past.
Steve Underwood caught another fine wreck Pollack from his private boat Predator, out of Dartmouth. It weighed 17 lbs 3 ozs, 132.212%. Nice one Steve for a Summer Pollack, but not quite large enough. Gary Pointon of Paignton SAA caught a fine Black Bream from an offshore wreck mark. It weighed 4 lbs 2 ozs 6 dr, 127.644%. Again not quite big enough, but very close. Helena Webb, a lady member of Paignton SAA caught a Bull Huss from shore which weighed 9 lbs 7 ozs, 117.969%. It's good to see a lady angler catching top quality fish from shore. Rob Thomas was fishing aboard Dave Harrison's Dartmouth charter boat "Gemini" when he caught the best Cod to date in this year's Festival. It weighed13 lbs 7 ozs 3 dr, trouncing the previous best which was a tad over 9 lbs.
On the next drift, his Wife, Allyson Thomas caught a bigger Cod, which weighed 14 lbs 4 ozs 7 dr.
Just to restore marital harmony, Kingsbridge angler Colin Davies, fishing on the same boat, caught his own Cod which weighed 19 lbs 0 ozs 2 dr, 105.599%.
Paul Tocknell, loves his Bass fishing and caught a fine specimen from shore which weighed 6 lbs 3 ozs 14 dr, 104.036%. Nice fish. Paul would like to dedicate this fish to his Dad, Michael Tocknell, who lived for fishing.
Three days remain and the forecast is for still more calm weather with the tides moderating a little. Everything is still to be fished for. There's many a slip twixt hook and fish. Friday 14th September Day 7 provided 37 fish weighed-in of which 16 were 100% of specimen weight or better. Best fish on the day was a Blonde Ray caught in Start Bay from Boat. It weighed 33 lbs 4 ozs, 158.333% and made its captor Pete Davies, a member of Paignton SAA a very happy man.
It was kept alive in clean salt water and after being refreshed in the aerated tank at Paignton SAA weigh-in room was released alive and well. Pete also caught another Blonde Ray, 27 lbs 3 ozs, which was also released alive and well to fight again another day.
Steve Underwood caught another Small Eyed Ray of 13 lbs 3 ozs, 139.145%, from his own inshore boat "predator", in Start Bay. Several of the lads from Brixham SAC caught Black Bream from a mid-Channel wreck mark, in excess of 100%. Best fish from shore today was a Bull Huss, 8 lbs 7 ozs 2 dr 105.566%, caught by Simon Kingshott. So "Where are the pictures?" I hear you ask. I took my camera across to the weigh-in at Paignton. Unfortunately, I left the battery charging on my desk at home in my office. Oops! Saturday 15th September Nothing is ever over until it is finished. 52 fish were weighed-in today, of which 18 were 100% of specimen weight or better. John Heather, a member of Brixham SAC, who broke his rod, while fishing for Congers earlier in the week certainly got it right today, aboard the Paignton based charter boat, "Silver Sea", Skippered by another Brixham member, Mark Criddle, who is also Coxswain of the RNLI Torbay Lifeboat. On the first drop of the day on a mid-Channel wreck, John hooked and landed a superb Conger Eel which weighed in at 93 lbs 14 ozs, 187.75%. This is a larger percentage of specimen weight than Sean Coulson's huge shore caught Grey Mullet of day 1, which has been leading throughout the past 7 days.
Michael Roberts, a member of Brixham SAC, caught his own superb Black Bream from a wreck mark. It weighed-in at 5 lbs 2 ozs 10 dr, 158.894% which is the best example of this specie to date during this year's event.
Junior angler Latimer Corbett, who lives in Torquay, was fishing with his Dad, aboard Steve Underwood's private small boat "Predator" on an inshore mark, when he hooked and landed a Blonde Ray of 25 lbs 10 ozs 6 dr, 122.135%. Nice one Lats. Thank you Deano for the photo..
Steve Underwood Emailed a photo of Dean Corbett, top Pollack angler this week, which clearly reveals the secret of his success. The poor lad's had a hard week. That's what friends are for, to reveal your moments of compromise!
I spoke yesterday evening to Dave Harrison, who charters his Blyth 33 catamaran, "Gemini" out of Dartmouth. Dave told me that his anglers have enjoyed a superb Torbay Festival again. They have continued to catch top quality fish, with plenty of Pollack and Ling.
Paul Bradford caught a Conger which
weighed 69 lbs 14 ozs, 139.75%, from a mid-Channel wreck mark.
Today, Brian Coles caught a
Pollack of 15 lbs 2 ozs 8 dr on a "Storm Shad" while at anchor.
Brian also had a Ling
of 21 lbs 7 ozs 3 dr.
Dave added that during the past few days, his anglers had boated well in excess of 4,000 lbs of Conger Eels, the best of which was Bill Harkness' Conger of 80 lbs 4 ozs on day 1. All but a very few of these Eels, which had been retained for weighing-in, had been returned to the water alive to grow and do battle on another day.
Here's another special fish caught
close inshore from a very small boat, it's a Grey Mullet caught by Dave
Fortune, a member of Brixham SAC. Dave's Mullet weighed 4 lbs 13
ozs, 106.944% 0f specimen weight.
Carolina Vottero Emailed a photo of
Paul Tocknell holding his shore caught Pollack 2 lbs 8 ozs 10 dr.
Tomorrow is the last day. There
is still time for changes. Everything is still to play for. Sunday 16th September It's never over until the fat lady sings, or so it is said. She delayed her aria today, just long enough for some final changes. 49 fish were weighed-in on day 9, of which 12 exceeded 100% of specimen weight or better. Paul Henden caught a superb Bass from a mid-Channel wreck mark, while aboard Dave Shimmell's charter boat "Atlantis II" out of Teignmouth. Paul's Bass weighed in at 13 lbs 3 ozs 10 dr, 165.332% of specimen size. It bettered the Bass from wreck, caught by Steve Underwood earlier this week. That's life. Sorry Steve. Nice one Paul.
Allyson Thomas, from Wales, fishing aboard Dave Harrison's Dartmouth charter boat "Gemini", on an inshore reef caught a prime example of a Bull Huss which weighed-in at 14 lbs 4 ozs 10 dr, 142.891%. Allyson has enjoyed a very successful week, rounded off by this fabulous fish. Well done Allyson.
Today saw the only Flounder landed during the entire Festival. It was caught from shore in the River Teign. Sadly at 13 ozs 12 dr, it was way below the minimum 50% of specimen size. Tomorrow evening the Festival Committee will convene to sort out the 104 prize categories. The provisional results will be published after that for 48 hours to enable any errors, which we hope we have avoided in 2007, to be amended. After that Mike Concannon will send individual letters to every winner, notifying them of their success. We will include tickets to the Civic Reception at the Hoburne Torbay, Grange Court, Grange Road, Goodrington, Paignton, which commences at 7.30 pm sharp on Saturday 13th October, 2007. If you did not manage to win a Trophy or Tackle Prize, but would still like to be there, you can easily Email info@torbayfishingfestival.co.uk and include your name and address. We will be very pleased to send you free tickets. You only have to let us know. Now did I hear the sound of a fat lady starting her song?
FINAL RESULTS
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