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BOAT ANGLING

2012 Report - Thursday 12th July, Milford Haven. 

Report from competitor Mike Patten (South West region) -

The fishing and the weather are sadly beyond the control of the organisers, however the hotel is not. This year we took up temporary residence at the Cleddau Bridge Hotel and it proved to be ideal for our needs so credit to their planning and preparation. The impending arrival of a cruise liner brought about a swift revision of the loading point for the anglers. In keeping with the rest of the event the organising committee sorted this out and everything ran like clockwork.

As to the fishing, sadly for the second time in succession at Milford the weather was not good; perhaps dire would describe it more aptly. We managed to chase out to a small group of islands a couple of miles outside the Haven entrance just as the South Westerly rain started, some four hours earlier than the good old BBC predicted. The boat skipper's initial plan for the fishing through the day had to change immediately and we went to anchor for flatfish, dogfish, gurnards and whatever else was available. The fishing was not fast and furious but steady so all managed to get their score sheets ticking over. As the tide dropped off so did the fishing. This directed the boats to move inshore, drifting for pollack and wrasse in the main but with important high scoring additional species such as codling, coalfish and cuckoo wrasse available in the margins. 

These fish were to prove critical at the end of the day as things turned out. By now 'mother nature' had decided to provide horizontal torrential rain and gale force winds just to spice things up. The lead skipper's (Nick O'Sullivan) choice of venue was well calculated as despite the conditions we were able to continue with short drifts from the relatively shallow, rocky, very tackle grabbing reef onto sand. The wrasse fishing was superb with a very large number of good size ballan wrasse up to 5lbs caught and returned. Some were taking baits six feet or so off the bottom and two fish on at once were not uncommon. Above these lay mainly the pollack which again were reasonably plentiful. Watching people hook into a wrasse then have a two pound pollack take the top hook as well was very enjoyable. 

Any considerations for a move to St Bride's Bay for tope, smoothound and huss were swiftly dismissed due to the weather conditions. Indeed at one time when contemplating a return to the Haven the skipper on our boat said 'no chance at this moment'! 

Never the less, Milford as a venue was a very good option. In all despite the adverse weather everyone caught fish and toughed it out so the day was success.

Lastly, it would be inappropriate not to praise Aled Daniels for his excellent individual win on home soil (water?), so well done him.

The organisers would like to apologise to the Eastern and Yorkshire team for a slight oversight during score calculations puting Eastern 4th with Yorkshire 5th when it should have been the other way round.  

The 2013 final is at Weymouth on the 4th July. 

Please note that accommodation for these finals is booked at least a year in advance and numbers are based on the regional teams that we know will be taking part. If you want to bring your partner or make the event a family holiday you must contact the angling council first, do not approach the hotel.

Whilst competing in the national finals on special leave you are deemed to be at work and are governed by normal Civil Service rules, as such you are expected to turn up at the boats to compete, occupy the room allocated to you and attend the presentation meal. Failure to comply with this timetable could cause you to be charged for unoccupancy of rooms, charged for an evening meal and may lead to disciplinary action by the Civil Service Sports Council or your employer. 

Team Results

Predator

Volsung

Atlantic Blue

Celtic Wildcat

Individual Results

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