We could not have asked for better conditions for the 2016 Spring Boat Festival, fished over two days on the 7th & 8th of May.
Saturday was the marginally better weather, the light southerly breeze meant the inshore Herne Bay waters were flat calm and sun cream was highly advisable!
Sixteen anglers set out on day one in seven boats and although a little slow going, all but one weighed in a catch.
Rays were the main target with the obligatory dogfish and whiting also showing. A few smoothhounds were also landed although none of notable size were brought to the scales.
Day one ended with T. Morris taking the lead, his weight of 24lbs 13.6oz was closely followed by junior angler, L. Perry-French who bagged 24lbs 3oz. With 3rd place, joint 4th and 6th spots only a couple of lbs behind all was to play for on the Sunday.
Day two came and the wind had picked up a little and swung round more Easterly. Catch rates were similar to Saturday although the hounds appeared more elusive with just a couple landed.
Only thirteen fished Sunday and D. Neiles returned with a decent haul of 18 fish, comprising largely dogs and a ray, to manage 3rd spot for the day, whilst leader T. Morris finished in second place and his partner B. Morris first with 26lbs 12.4oz including four rays of his own.
Full individual day results, aggregate and class winners (by elimination) as follows;
Saturday;
1st- T. Morris, 9 fish, 24lbs 13.6oz
2nd- L. Perry-French, 11 fish, 24lbs 3oz
3rd- L. Simpson, 11 fish, 21lbs 9.6oz
4th- B. Morris, 10 fish, 21lbs 2.2oz
4th- M. Morris, 5 fish, 21lbs 2.2oz
6th- B. Perry-French, 5 fish, 18lbs 14.2oz
7th- D. Neiles, 7 fish, 16lbs 0.8oz
8th- J. Simpson, 5 fish, 15lbs 5.4oz
9th- I. Morris, 4 fish, 12lbs 4.6oz
10th- P. Gower, 2 fish, 6lbs 9.8oz
11th- R. Gower, 1 fish, 5lbs 2.8oz
12th- C. Zacharia, 3 fish, 4lbs 0.4oz
13th- D. Morris, 3 fish, 2lbs 14oz
14th- K. Wilton, 1 fish, 1lbs 15.8oz
15th- A. Wood, 2 fish, 1lbs 2.8oz
Sunday;
1st- B. Morris, 8 fish, 26lbs 12.4oz
2nd- T. Morris, 7 fish, 25lbs 13oz
3rd- D. Neiles, 18 fish, 25lbs 10.6oz
4th- B. Perry-French, 5 fish, 19lbs 6.6oz
5th- D. Morris, 4 fish, 15lbs 5.2oz
6th- L. Perry-French, 5 fish, 14lbs 15.6oz
7th- M. Morris, 3 fish, 14lbs 7.6oz
8th- A. Wood, 6 fish, 10lbs 15.6oz
9th- I. Morris, 3 fish 10lbs 7oz
10th- K. Wilton, 4 fish, 5lbs 0.6oz
11th- C. Zacharia, 2 fish, 4lbs 3.6oz
12th- R. Gower, 3 fish, 2lbs 13.8oz
13th- P. Gower, 2 fish, 2lbs 13oz
Class 1; Aggregate
1st (£50)- T. Morris, 50lbs 10.6oz
2nd (£30)- B. Morris, 47lbs 14.6oz
3rd (£20)- L. Perry-French, 39lbs 12.6oz
4th- B. Perry-French, 38lbs 4.8oz
6th- D. Neiles, 31lbs 11.4oz5th- M. Morris, 35lbs 9.8oz
7th- I. Morris, 22lbs 11.6oz
8th- D. Morris, 18lbs 3.2oz
9th- A. Wood, 12lbs 2.4oz
10th- P. Gower, 9lbs 6.8oz
11th- C. Zacharia, 8lbs 4oz
12th- R. Gower, 8lbs 0.6oz
13th- K. Wilton, 7lbs 0.4oz
Class 2; Greatest no. (1 day)
D. Neiles, 18 fish
Class 3; Heaviest fish
M. Morris, 9lbs 12.6oz
Class 4; Heaviest 1-day catch of skate
T. Morris, 22lbs 4.8oz
Class 5; Heaviest catch flat fish (1 day)
Not won
Class 6; Heaviest catch round fish (1 day)
B. Morris, 15lbs 4.2oz
Class 7; Aggregate weight by a junior
L. Perry-French, 39lbs 12.6oz
Class 8; Heaviest catch by a senior (1 day)
C. Zacharia, 4lbs 3.6oz
Class 9; Greatest no. varieties (1 day)
L. Simpson, 4 varieties
