Reports from Apuldram and Bognor feature in our latest angling round-up.
APULDRAM
IT HAS been an interesting and challenging year for Apuldram Fishing and Boating Club.
Members fish in boats outside Chichester Harbour, on Selsey beach and in the harbour around Dell Quay.
At various locations outside the harbou
r in fair weather, a variety of fish were caught including mackerel, smooth-hounds, dog fish, bass and bream. Preferred baits were squid, mackerel strips and rag worm.
Beach competitions were held at East Beach, Selsey, where bass and whiting were caught. The most successful times were during the evening on rising tides in October and November.
Throughout the year, excluding the times when the bass ban was in force, members caught good-sized specimen bass from 5lb to 6lb 8oz.
A few members landed some small silver eels but generally they were rare and difficult to locate. The biggest concern for the club was the total lack of flounders.
Various theories have been voiced for this scarcity, including seals in the harbour who have been seen catching the flounders, the temperature of the water and possibly nitrates that wash off fields into the sea.
A major success this year with some members has been the number of grey mullet landed from 3lb up to 7lb 8oz.
Techniques to catch them varied considerably but the favoured method involved light line and spinning rods.
For the second year, the club organised an evening master class at Dell Quay about mullet fishing, which proved very popular with a good number taking part.
Every year, the club link up with the Harbour Conservancy, usually in May, when an introduction to fishing event for young people is organised on the quay. This attracted 70 participants who really enjoyed an interesting occasion.
This event will take place again on May 29 next year.
The Christmas event was disappointing in terms of the number of fish caught, but it was very encouraging because three clubs tooik part – Apuldram, Trident and Barn Sea Angling Club.
After the event a record 27 participants gathered at the club hut at Dell Quay for coffee and mince pies.
It was an enjoyable and sociable event. To find out more about the club, visit www.apuldramfishingandboatingclub.org.uk
BOGNOR
Bognor Regis Amateur Angling Society held a club match at Bognor Pier.
Result: 1 Steve Middleton, 7 whiting, 2 pouting, 3lb 11oz; 2 Paul Thomas, 3 whiting, 1lb 12oz; 3 Tom Cline,1 whiting 12ozs. Heaviest fish: Paul Thomas, whiting 13oz. Junior: Tre Hart, 1 whiting 5oz. People fished: 13. People weighed in: 5. Total aggregate weight: 6lb 13oz.
