The Tackle Box                    

Marine Parade, Lyme Regis, Dorset, DT7 3JF                                                                   6a Holyrood Street, Chard, Somerset, TA20 2AH
01297 443373                                                                                                                                                                              01460 261111

The Tackle Box                    

Marine Parade, Lyme Regis, Dorset, DT7 3JF                                                                   6a Holyrood Street, Chard, Somerset, TA20 2AH
01297 443373                                                                                                                                                                              01460 261111

THE BIG FISH WEEKEND 2011 REPORT

The BIG FISH WEEKEND event took place in Lyme Regis and began at 19.00 hrs on Friday 2nd September and ended at 19.00hrs on Sunday 4th September. For a £10 entry fee, competitors were able to fish whenever they wished within that 48 hour period.

We are pleased to announce a new sponsor, Baillie Gifford, who kindly donated the majority of the prize money and therefore, all entry fees went to the Help for Heroes charity. In addition, a number of shops in and around Lyme Regis, kindly agreed to 'donation' buckets being left on the premises.

At 18.00hrs on Friday night 26 people signed on to fish the event and by 19.30 hrs the first specimen fish appeared at the scales. By early Saturday morning, seven of the 'Individual Species' categories (Ballan Wrasse,
Bass, Bull Huss, Garfish, L. S .Dogfish, Grey Mullet and Pouting) all had decent catches against their name. The one exception being the Mackerel, which appeared difficult to catch.

Saturday morning saw another nine people signing on but the major fishing activity was in the harbour where several golden grey mullet had appeared. It was around this period that the major winning catches were made. However, once the tide went out, the lull in proceedings provided an opportunity for some to catch up on much needed sleep.

Saturday night's catches on a rising tide were significant and the best fish of the weekend was caught around 20.15. At long last the final space on the specimen board was filled when Ryan Turner caught a mackerel that was just in size. A very nice Dover Sole of just under 2lbs was the final fish to be weighed in for the evening.

Sunday morning saw two more fishermen enter the competition and there were further catches of Golden Grey Mullet and their Grey Mullet "cousins" but nothing changed the leader board standings. As the tide ran out, more people were trying their luck on North Wall, The Cobb, Monmouth Beach and the harbour but no more fish were bought to the scales.

A total of 39 people fished the event and two of the most successful (John Hansford and Ryan Turner) fished specified periods of time proving that selective targeting pays off!

Presentations were made by the Harbourmaster, Grahame Forshaw, at The Power Boat Club and the winners were as follows: