At the beginning of the year I mentioned I planned to fish my first competition. Now I think I’ve mentioned before that competitive angling just isn’t my thing. I see nothing wrong with competitive angling, it’s just that I don’t have a competitive streak - perhaps I’m too laid back. My favourite angling is usually about socialising, getting outdoors and kicking back with hopefully a fish or two thrown in for good measure. Strangely that last line sounds just like the Herne Bay Angling Associations’ Bass festival!

Six or seven years ago I joined a friendly competition aboard a charter boat and it was here that I worked out some of my strengths and weaknesses; I am good at Pollack fishing and I had my quota; Ballan fishing, I was pretty good at too; And when it came to doggy bashing, I held my own. But when the skipper took us in close, over some rough ground, looking for Cuckoo Wrasse and other mini species, I may as well have stayed at home. Whilst the others around me clocked up ten, maybe thirteen, Cuckoo Wrasse apiece, I spent two hours loosing lead after lead and rig after rig. It’s not that I’m not into competitive angling, the truth is I’m crap at catching small fish. So this year’s Herne Bay Bass Festival was to be my first competition and I’m happy to say there were no mini species! For those who have never heard of the Herne Bay Angling Association or their bass festival, here’s a little bit of info...

The Herne Bay Angling Association was born in 1903 and today has to be one of the largest, if not the largest, angling club in the country with up to 1000 members including families. Initially the club centred on small boat angling and although it still does today, the club now has shore and coarse fishing sections as well. The Herne Bay Angling Association has produced some of the finest anglers from its ranks and not only does it attract local anglers but also anglers from other locations.

The impressive Herne Bay Angling Association HQ.

A big club like this has to have big premises to meet in and this is where the H.B.A.A comes into a league of their own. The H.B.A.A headquarters/clubhouse is massive and is situated right on the central parade opposite the harbour, boat-park and slipway. Over three floors and a cellar, you will find bars, snooker & pool tables, a beer garden and a purpose weighing-in room and this is all owned by the club and open 24/7 to anglers and guests. As you enter the town of Herne Bay, the road sign says “Coastal Leisure Town” and the H.B.A.A take their town’s motto seriously... their club is about fishing and having a laugh while you do so. Even though this club runs many competitions, including their Bass Festival, the emphasis is always on good old family orientated fun. I have to say I have yet to come across any club, yet alone one with so many members, that are as welcoming, helpful and friendly as the guys you will meet when you visit the H.B.A.A, so it’s not surprising their club competitions pull as many competing anglers as some of the biggest open competitions held elsewhere around the UK.

This year a total of 85 anglers signed up for the H.B.A.A’s 20th Annual Bass Festival and over the three days, a total of over 30 qualifying bass were brought to the scales. Conditions for the three day event weren’t the greatest and as the bass have been late to show this year, no double figure fish were weighed in over the duration of the event. For some club members this was slightly disappointing because most years at least ten, up to fifteen, double figure bass are usually landed and the competition is often won by an angler with a bass often over 14lbs – now that’s a big bass. However, there are talks that next year the festival may be run later in the year, to encapsulate better fishing, as our bass seem to be arriving later and later in recent times. If thirty big bass is a poor year for the H.B.A.A bass festival - I’d love to compete in one of the festival’s better years.

On the Friday, biggest bass went to M Baddely with a fish of 8.7lbs. On Saturday, the biggest bass fell to P Moss, with what would end up being the festival’s winning fish of 9.9lbs. On the final day Sunday, biggest bass went to D Hancock with another bass of 8.7lbs. The presentation and prizes were given out on the Sunday evening and this year’s event and BBQ was kindly sponsored by Marine Communication giants ICOM, with the top three biggest fish of the weekend taking both Icom electronics and good cash prizes. The winners were as follows... Paul Moss with his big bass of 9.9lbs, Mick Carpenter came a close second with a nice bass of 9.6lbs, and in third place was local tackle shop owner, Chris King, with a bass of 9.4lbs

Paul Moss, 1st place with a bass of 9.9lbs.

Mick Carpenter, 2nd with a bass of 9.6lbs

Chris King, 3rd with a bass of 9.4lbs

But the big question is how did I do? Due to other commitments I couldn’t fish the first day of the festival and on the second day, Saturday, I blanked. However, on the Sunday, I did manage one decent bass which put me on the score board in 20th position. Out of 85 anglers and with tough conditions, I’m pretty chuffed that fishing my first competition, I didn’t blank!

My thanks go to the Herne Bay Angling Association for being a great bunch of anglers with a great attitude towards fishing. As I’ve said, I’m no competitive angler and I have no aspirations to enter or win any competitions but, you know what, I am going to enter the Herne Bay Open Bass Festival again next year. The fishing, the beer and the banter means that this weekend is too good to be missed!    

More information about the Herne Bay Angling Association and their competitions can be found at www.herne-bay-angling.com