Sunday 13th December saw the return of the Herons' Charsley beach competition.
The competition was started many years ago by the late Doug Charsley, a huge contributor and benefactor of the society. The event is held along the West beaches of Herne Bay, outside the clubhouse. Mr Charsley used to walk along giving drinks and snacks to entrants but as he grew older and was unable to walk the beach, he decided a sit down meal would be laid on. This is now the tradition and all 35 competitors in this years event were treated to pie and mash.
So to the fishing; notoriously catches for this event are sparse. As a result any size fish can be weighed and released during the competition. However, the last few years have seen whiting flourish to near plague proportions, therefore next years event will permit sizeable fish only.
Most anglers caught fish on their first cast and this was the tone for the duration, keeping the scalesman very busy indeed. Dabs and a dogfish were also landed but the highlight of the event came an hour in when B. Morris landed a personal best shore skate of 9lbs 6.4oz, an uncommon catch for this stretch of beach.
The ray, along with his whiting, won the event with a total weight of 19lbs 0.6oz. Closely following in 2nd spot was Ben's dad, T. Morris with a total weight of 17lbs 8.2oz and keeping it in the family, M. Morris was 3rd with 16lbs 6.2oz.
Unfortunately, due to the weighing process, fish numbers weren't accurately recorded and have been omitted.
Top ten results as follows;
1st- B. Morris, 19lbs 0.6oz
2nd- T. Morris, 17lbs 8.2oz
3rd- M. Morris, 16lbs 6.2oz
4th- S. Stephenson, 13lbs 10.2oz
5th- J. Bagget, 13lbs 3.3oz
6th- B. Perry-French, 11lbs 12.6oz
7th- L. Perry-French, 8lbs 15.6oz
8th- P. Morris, 8lbs 12.6oz
9th- D. Murray, 8lbs 8.5oz
10th- D. Foreman, 8lbs 8.1oz
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busy beach this year |
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B. Morris 9lbs 6.4oz Thornback |
