In glorious conditions that had persuaded every angler in the world to fish Brighton marina, another fourteen souls gathered to fish what we believe to have been the first Cephalod only competition.
The sky TV crews had kept away, but it was their loss as a fantastic day was to be had by all.
It all got off to a great start with news that a local rod had scored heavily the day previously, in an area that we hoped wouldnt be too busy. After a delay caused by last minute technical hitches, (me struggling to wake up after returning from a four day full on session in the channel islands) we headed up the arm, and began our challenge. By this time, the main prize had already been won, £70 which George will be sending to Cascars for the RLNI appeal. So, alhough tempted to head off back to bed, I thought it might be deemed rude, and hung around to partake in this prestigious competition.
So prestigeous in fact, it had attracted the attention of local tackle distributer TRONIX, and the eye of Brightons sole remaining tackle shop by the end of this month, "The Tackle Box". From Tronix was a squid jig of your choice, and a sticker, just for entering! And the prize for the final winner, a TRONIX goodie bag, and the very sought after "LAdy Luck" spinning rod, in fetching Barbie Pink, suppplied by the tackle box.
With such an amazing prize table, everybody was soon very serious about the result. I saw peeler tipped jigs, jigs with white ragworm, DViced jigs made of glass....... Actually, I am lying. Everybody started to float fish jigs deep across the bottom. Some, like me, baited the jigs by lashing chunks of mackerel to them, and fishing a baited flyer above. Others, like Mesito, just fished little tronix Jigs. Didnt take long for Steve to dive into the action either, as he was first away, followed seconds behind by Jaccil. This rather set the trend for the event. Things started off very well for Steve. I think he had three in before anyone else caught another. Then things were, well, a little slow to be honest, but there were the odd squid being taken along the wall. As the tide flooded and flowed strongly, there were less. As the tide began to ebb, and the water leaving the mouth of the marina collided with the main flow, leaving us in a gentle flow, the bites increased again, and more squid were taken. Of the fourteen entrants, I think myself and maybe two others were the only ones squidless, so mission acomplished with the other part of the challenge, getting people catching squid. But, at the final whistle, it was actually quite neck and nexk. The final winner, with 6lb 9oz of squid, composed of five squid, was Mesito. Crowned All England Squid Champion 2008, except we didnt have a crown, so he just got the pink rod and goodie bag. Second, quietly working away at the squid at the end, was Jaccil, with four squid for 6lb 1oz, including the biggest individual squid of 2lb 9oz, for which he won absolutely nothing other than admiration for a cracking specimen, on account of the fact there was only one prize, to add to the relaxed format of the event. Not sure if that really fair or not, but looking around at all the smiling faces, many with their first squid to look forward to doing battle with on the kitchen table, I think it worked. Other notable catches were a 2lb 4oz Cuttlefish to Tronix boss BAdger2 himelf, a very thin flounder caught on the float on a flyer above a jig, the flyer baited with ragworm, of 1lb 8oz. The same fish thickened up in late December would be nearer 2lb, as i was a fair kipper. There were also Garfish (two saved the blank for me) Tompot Blenny and wrasse caught. A couple of times the gulls worked on a shoal of something in front of us, but running the feathers through pulled up blanks.
I will get round to updating the diary but here are some shots from the day. I would like to say a big big thankyou to all the guys who humoured me by turning up, for raising an excellent amount on a day which I hope you all enjoyed. And a big round of applause to George, for sponsoring an event which with the wrong timing would have backfired a treat. Also, special thanks goes to Dave Grinham at the Tackle Box, for his sarcasm in donating a rod that Steve will never be able to use except on very dark and lonely nights, especially around the Brighton area. Classic, and I think Steve will not be living it down. Especially when everybody see's the photo down the bottom of the pictures here assembled for you. If anyone sees photos they want, e-mail me
Robin@fishyrob.co.uk and I will send you the hi def originals.
Thanks again guys, you made my day.......
First ink to Mesito
Jaccils first UK squid and biggest squid of the day, at 2lb 9oz
Mesito's biggest at 2lb 4oz
Squid change to deep angry red when threatened or annoyed.
The Bexhill boys do everything together.....
Here's looking at you, Squid.....
Mr Tronix himself, Badger2, likes to do things differently with 2lb 4oz Cuttlefish
That fantastic flounder.........
Starfish still showing, although not in the numbers of late winter.
And a Tompot Blenny to boot......
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