Strong SW winds on Saturday 26th October meant a limit to stay inside the pier head was imposed on the eight anglers heading out for day one of the Heron’s 3-day Autumn boat festival.
Spreading out along the east side of the bay, there were enough whiting, dabs and dogfish to keep the entrants busy enough but none could find the anticipated rays.
Tony Morris was leading the way after the first day with 41 fish for 24lbs 7oz.
Meanwhile, Chris Zacharia and Simon Stephenson encountered engine trouble which ended up in them having to be recovered by the coast guard and they missed the weigh-in.
Day two came and the wind had switched round to NE but had dramatically dropped. With no limits enforced, 9 anglers set out and ventured a bit further, finding much better numbers of fish. Still with just whiting, dogfish and dabs to show, Tony Morris extended his lead with a great haul of 130 fish for 59lbs 3.2oz. Dave Neiles found the heaviest fish of the day, a dogfish of 1lbs 11.4oz whilst Murray Brett lead the way for the flatfish trophy with dabs weighing 1lbs 6.2oz.
On Monday, the wind had dropped even more but catch rates were slightly lower overall. The only ray of the event was landed however at 6lbs 3.2oz and fell for Ben Morris who finally bested his father, Tony, winning the day with 97 fish for 54lbs 11.8oz.
A fifth species for the competition was also brought to the scales from Kevin Morris who unusually landed a herring!
Full results (including class winners by elimination rules) as follows:
Saturday 26th;
1st- T. Morris, 43 fish, 24lbs 7oz
2nd- A. Wood, 30 fish, 14lbs 6oz
3rd- B. Morris, 24 fish, 11lbs 13.2oz
4th- D. Neiles, 21 fish, 10lbs 5.6oz
5th- D. Morris, 19 fish, 8lbs 7.8oz
6th- K. Morris, 13 fish, 6lbs 13.2oz
Sunday 27th;
1st- T. Morris, 130 fish, 59lbs 3.2oz
2nd- B. Morris, 114 fish, 55lbs 8.4oz
3rd- D. Perry, 65 fish, 30lbs 15.8oz
4th- K. Morris, 59 fish, 27lbs 14.8oz
5th- M.C. Brett, 56 fish, 27lbs 3.3oz
6th- C. Brett, 49 fish, 21lbs 14.8oz
7th- M. Brett, 24 fish, 11lbs 0.4oz
8th- D. Neiles, 19 fish, 10lbs 11.4oz
9th- A. Wood, 9 fish, 3lbs 14.2oz
Monday 28th;
1st- B. Morris, 97 fish, 54lbs 11.8oz
2nd- T. Morris, 114 fish, 53lbs 6.4oz
3rd- K. Morris, 76 fish, 35lbs, 1.4oz
4th- L. Perry-French, 58 fish, 28lbs 1.2oz
5th- B. Perry-French, 55 fish, 26lbs 4.6oz
6th- D. Morris, 47 fish, 23lbs 13oz
7th- D. Neiles, 28 fish, 16lbs 3.6oz
8th- A. Wood, 26 fish, 15lbs 3.6oz
Class 1: Aggregate
1st- T. Morris, 137lbs 0.6oz (£50)
2nd- B. Morris, 122lbs 1.4oz (£30)
3rd- K. Morris, 69lbs 13.4oz (£20)
4th- D. Neiles, 37lbs 4.4oz
5th- A. Wood, 33lbs 7.8oz
6th- D. Morris, 32lbs 4.8oz
7th- D. Perry, 30lbs 15.8oz
8th- L. Perry-French, 28lbs 1.2oz
9th- M.C. Brett, 27lbs 3.3oz
10th- B. Perry-French, 26lbs 4.6oz
11th- C. Brett, 21lbs 14.8oz
12th- M. Brett, 11lbs 0.4oz
Class 2: Heaviest 1-day Catch;
T. Morris, 59lbs 3.2oz
Class 3: Greatest No. (1-day)
B. Morris, 114 fish
Class 4: Heaviest Catch Round fish (1-day)
K. Morris, 35lbs 1.4oz
Class 5: Greatest No. Round fish (1-day)
D. Perry, 65 fish
Class 6: Heaviest Catch Flat fish (1-day)
M.C. Brett, 1lbs 6.2oz
Class 7: Heaviest fish
D. Neiles, 1lbs 11.4oz
Class 8: No. Varieties
M. Brett, 3 Varieties
Class 9: Heaviest 1-day Catch by a Lady
Not Won
Class 10: Heaviest 1-day Catch by a Junior
L. Perry-French, 28lbs 1.2oz
Class 11: Heaviest 1-day Catch by a Senior
T. Morris, 59lbs 3.2oz
Class 12: Heaviest Catch on Monday
B. Perry-French, 26lbs 4.6oz
