Brian Harland leads the way in Whitby Sea Anglers Association League
On Wednesday evening, Whitby Sea Anglers Association League members recorded the worst weigh-in of the season, only 10 lb 3 oz.
The catch forecast for the Wednesday evening’s three-hour match was low, a definite scratching match. But where to go?
Fishing was severely hampered by the 40mph+ gusting SSWesterly winds, so shelter was crucial for casting, and bite detection. The off-land winds had killed off any swell that had been evident in the morning.
Bang on-time, match start, the forecasted 0.7mm of rain fell, and coupled with the wind chill effect, it was not pleasant!
At the scales six of the 10 entered had a very meagre catch 4 codlings, 3 rocklings, 3 bleggs, and 2 whitings for 10 lb 3 oz.
Man of the Match was Whitby’s Dave Perrett with six fish, 3 lb 10 oz, and Brian Harland, also from Whitby, recorded his first Heaviest Fish win with a codling 2 lb 7½ oz which he landed within 10mins of match start, on his first cast.
On Sunday there was an 8-10ft Northerly sea-state, thick with colour, SWesterly winds 14mph, gusting 26mph.
The four-hour evening match started 20 minutes after LWater (2.3m) on a neap tide. Favourite low water marks were well out of reach.
By match start, marks were looking good, and favourable for a (wishful) decent catch.
Once fishing the tide was very slow to flood, but when it did, the surges came thick and fast, and had to kept an eye on.
The conditions just did not live up to the expectations, but there again November, traditionally a good month for anglers has been a real let-up.
Conditions and sea-state, admittedly have not been ideal on match nights.
October’s weigh-in 316 lb 8 oz compared to November’s 264 lb 5 oz, both months nine matches.
At the scales just nine of the 13 fishing had a weigh-in, all codlings with a few better fish.
Man of the Match was Harland with 9 lb 12 oz (6) while Davey Turnbull, Darlington, took Heaviest Fish 4 lb 13½ oz.
November’s catch:
238 assorted fish - 264 lb 05 oz, Av 1 lb 2 oz.
106 cod, 76 whiting, 22 rockling, 21 blegg, 4 flounder, 3 haddock, 3 billet, 2 dab, & 1 LSD.
Monthly Sweepstake:
Davey Turnbull - HBoFish - 13 lb 10½ oz (3) - Sun 16th.
Davey Turnbull - HFish - 6 lb 13 oz - Sun 16th.
Top Five Leaderboard:
1st - Brian Harland - 115 fish 92 lb 15 oz
2nd - Dave Perrett - 65 fish 66 lb 5 oz
3rd - Dave Ward - 90 fish 63 lb 7 oz
4th - Peter Horbury - 36 fish 50 lb 15 oz
5th - Davey Turnbull - 13 fish 42 lb 15 oz