Posted on May 31, 2021 by Simon Bottomley

NAC Match Report Kelling 31^st May 2021  

A pack of Hounds hit Kelling

It certainly felt like a holiday with the sun making a pleasant appearance for this bank holiday. Everyone was in holiday mood especially with the suggestion, agreed at Yarmouth, to fish Kelling as a pairs match. (Thanks for the suggestion Nathan Drewery). What would be the rules, how would we score, who was to be paired with whom, what if we had odd numbers?

15 anglers had flagged ‘going’ on the Facebook page and arrived to fish, so John Spalton elected to fish with 2 rods (thanks John), meaning that we then had 7 pairs. 2 pairs were a given with Pete and Dad Simmonds (Dad keen to show Pete how it should be done) and Tony Holmes with his partner Kim West. We welcomed Glen Cox to his first match for a long time, hope it would live up to expectations.

Russell set up 15 peg positions on the beach, with peg 15 nearer to the wreck pegging back towards Salthouse. Pegs flagged, pairs drawn, it was time to hit the beach. What about the scoring I hear you cry? Simply each card to be marked up individually so we could assign individual league points, however for this match each pairs individual score to be totalled for this match (see statistics easy to see when you have the numbers). With an expectation of a good haul, we elected to fish to size limits.

With the sun still high, the tide coming in (High Tide 23:49pm), and with an easterly breeze each pair took their place on the beach. The whistle sounded for “cast off”. It wasn’t long until we saw up and down the beach the sight of Smooth Hounds being carefully brought in through the surf. It was a case of who would catch the biggest one, quite a feat given they could not be carded until larger after 51cm (size limit).

Glen Cox fishing with Leo Smith (pegs 11/12) quickly picked up a 69cm Smooth Hound a first and personal best. Followed by Russell Taylor paired with Simon Bottomley (pegs 13/14) then picking up 82cm and 87cm Smooth Hounds. Richard Hipperson paired with Barry Iseton (pegs 7/8) seemed to have a sweet mark catching 6 hounds ranging from 60cm to 75cm. Ian Childerhouse fishing with partner Andy Turk (pegs 5/6) picked up a 76cm Smooth Hound. But Leon Smith picked up an 89cm Smooth Hound taking the honours for biggest round. With fish these sizes the points total at the end of the match would be pretty exceptional!. What of team Spalton fishing unpaired but fishing with two rods, 3 dogs (the 4 legged variety) from peg 15?  John started slow but then hit his stride picking up a creditable 63cm and 75cm Smooth Hounds. Dad Simmonds of team Simmonds did show Peter what it was all about by picking up a 77cm Smooth Hound

It wasn’t just Smooth Hounds, a few Bass made an appearance with Simon Bottomley and Nathan Drewery both picking up 46cm Bass. So we have covered Smooth Hounds, Bass what other species caught in this fish fest. Further down the beach Andy Turk fishing with Ian Childerhouse (pegs 5/6) seemed to be focussing on picking up Pouting with 9 caught, beating Simon Bottomley with his own Pouting battle of 8 (but it did include a 32cm specimen). Dabs were the size of large dinner plates with Russell picking up the largest flat with a 30cm Dab, good news for the Bottomley/Taylor pairing. The pairing of Nathan Drewery and John Catchpole (pegs 9/10) were consistent through the night capturing 3^rd overall, behind 2^nd pair of Richard Hipperson and Barry Iseton (pegs 7/8). But both could not catch 1^st pairing of Simon Bottomley and Russell Taylor (thanks for the tips/rod demo etc ….Simon) ….see match results

In total 99 fish caught weighing 102lbs 14/16oz (4907 weight points). 35/99 Pouts, 26/99 Dabs, 24/99 Smooth Hounds, 10/99 Whiting, with 3/99 Bass, 1/99 Coal Fish. And yes, Pete Simmond’s Dad achieved a creditable 308 points including a 77cm Smooth Hound. Glen Cox caught his first Smoothie, and Tony and Kim picked up Whiting and Dabs. What a haul, what a match!

I am sure there were a few personal bests of species, points, weight but any club records broken please advise.

Match Result:

Pegs                   Pair                                                              Weight Points/weight

13/14                 Simon Bottomley / Russell Taylor                           1256     26lb 3/16oz

7/8                     Richard Hipperson / Barry Iseton                           880       18lb 5/16oz

9/10                   John Catchpole / Nathan Drewey                           788       16lb 7/16oz

11/12                 Glen Cox / Leon Smith                                            627       13lb 1/16oz

5/6                     Ian Childerhouse / Andy Turk                                570       11lb 14/16oz

15                       Team Spalton                                                          432       9lb

3/4                     Team Simmonds                                                      308       6lb 7/16oz

1/2                     Tony Holmes / Kim West                                       46         15/16oz

For full individual points results see image:

Next match Monday 7^th June @ Overstrand – see Facebook for details. Remember to continue to monitor WhatsApp for any last minute changes.

Click => Norfolk Angling Club | Norfolk’s Premier Angling Club for all match reports, and NAC information

Posted on May 24, 2021 by Simon Bottomley

NAC Match Report Great Yarmouth (South Beach) 24^th May 2021  

Catchpole does it again at Yarmouth

With only 8 carded fish last week at Sea Palling there was anticipation in the air as 8 anglers parked up to fish Great Yarmouth South Beach (always an interesting mark with easy access to the beach and a consistent tide). With Mr Early (John Spalton) providing an early view of beach conditions through a Facebook post a good start to Monday afternoon, it planned to be a good night. It was a welcome back to Neil Rowe and Chris Beare. Fishing Great Yarmouth doesn’t attract a larger number of NAC anglers, but its always a venue that throws up a healthy number of good size fish. So, would Great Yarmouth South Beach live up to it’s reputation?

Within everyone gathered, weather closing in, pegs selected, free starter pack gift issued, it was time to hit the beach for an early start. Pegging from Travel Inn end (Peg 8) to opposite the roller coaster (Peg 1) everyone then prepared to bring in the fish, and hunker down as the rain clouds gathered. In anticipation of good sized fish it was agreed to fish size limits. Within minutes of cast off the ‘ping’ whiting and ‘nursery’ dog fish/smooth hounds started to be caught, with a few being carded. The Travel Inn end of the Pegs started to card, match on.

John Catchpole (Peg 7), in good form from last weeks win at Sea Palling, started to card with a 58cm Dog and 27cm Whitings, clearly setting the pace for the rest of us. Fishing either side Ian Childerhouse (Peg 8) and Nathan Drewer (Peg 6) kept the pressure on, with John Spalton (Peg 4) also competing with Whiting and Dogs. Nathan (Peg 6) then caught a magnificent 41cm Ray (118 weight points) see picture putting the largest round out of reach for those just catching 50cm+ Dog fish.

In total 47 fish carded, with a total weight of 24lbs 14/16oz. Included 47 Whiting, 7 Dabs, 5 Dog, 1 each of Eel, Ray, Pout. A good haul, good sport, Great Yarmouth still a ‘great’ venue holding onto its reputation. Biggest flat was a 28cm Dab caught by Simon Bottomley (Peg 2). John Catchpole kept the pressure all night picking up a total haul of 15 fish, seeing him number 1 for the second week running. Can he make it a third week in a row…..watch this space.

(thanks for the photos Neil, Nathan, John)

Match Result:

1^st  John Catchpole         (Peg 7) with 15 fish achieving 310 weight points        (6lb 7/16oz)

2^nd Nathan Drewery       (Peg 5) with 5 fish achieving 267 weight points           (5lb 9/16oz)

3^rd John Spalton              (Peg 4) with 8 fish weighting 210 weight points    (4lb 6/16oz)

For full points results see image:

Next match Monday 31^th May @ Kelling – see Facebook for details but is planned to be a ‘pairs’ match depending on numbers. Remember to continue to monitor WhatsApp for any last minute changes.

Click => Norfolk Angling Club | Norfolk’s Premier Angling Club for all match reports, and NAC information

Posted on May 17, 2021 by Simon Bottomley

NAC Match Report Sea Palling 17^th May 2021  

Catchpole dominates the Sea Palling Match!

Fresh from last week’s match on Bacton, it was with great expectations that we all met at the Sea Palling car park, 10 anglers met on time and already for an early start. Sea Palling with its lagoons and parallel groynes See Palling is always and interesting venue and match. Weather whilst dry and cloudy with only a slight breeze it looked to be very favourable conditions. We would be fishing the tide up; High Tide was to be 11:09pm. Having seen Ant’s Bass (48cm) in the back of the car from an earlier fishing that day (Happisburgh) the thought of lots of Bass, made the decision for fishing to size limit seem most appropriate.

We pegged around the first lagoon (sounds very exotic) with Nathan (Peg 10) taking end point, opposite the car park steps spreading clockwise with Barry (Peg 1) completing the opposite end. With only 10 fishing and conditions clear it was easy to see how everyone was catching. Seeing Russell (Peg 8) catching a ‘schoolie’ bass after about 30 seconds after ‘cast off’ and John Spalton (Peg 3) catching 27cm Flounder it looked to be a bumper night.

But that’s were the night failed to deliver. Along the pegs everyone was looking for that tell-tale bite, changing bait, distances, traces …. anything to find fish. John Catchpole (Peg 9) pulled in a 38cm Bass, then a decent 26cm Flounder, followed quickly by a 34cm Flounder. Did he have some magic bait? Either side of him Nathan (Peg 10) and Russell (Peg 8) tried every trick in their armoury to catch him. All in all, a very quiet night with very few sizeable fish caught, other that JC’s. It looked to be a clean sweep for John…. but with his last cast of the night Barry (Peg 1) also picked up a 38cm Bass.

With John Catchpole (Peg 9) picking up the winner’s position, biggest flat a 34cm Flounder, and the biggest round 38cm Bass sharing with Barry Iseton (Peg 1) …. see catches below. All in all, a testing evening. Congratulations John a great performance.

(thanks for the photos Ant/Nathan/Andy)

Match Result:

1^st  John Catchpole         (Peg 9) with 4 fish achieving 139 weight points (2lb 14/16oz)

2^nd Barry Iseton               (Peg 1) with 1 fish achieving 55 weight points (1lb 2/16oz)

3^rd John Spalton              (Peg 3) with 1 fish weighting 21 weight points (7/16oz)

For full points results see image

Next match Monday 24^th May @ Gt Yarmouth (South Beach) Sea Palling – see Facebook for details. Remember to continue to monitor WhatsApp for any last minute changes.

Click => Norfolk Angling Club | Norfolk’s Premier Angling Club for all match reports, and NAC information

Posted on May 10, 2021 by Simon Bottomley

NAC Match Report Bacton 10^th May 2021  

Bacton Barks!

Having finally dried out from last weeks soaking at Kelling and the lack of fish it was a bumper group of 15 anglers who met in Bacton car park with thoughts of some decent fishing. Weather good, clear skies, sunny, warm, dry with the tide high at 18:51pm. We welcomed back Dene (founder of the NAC Fishing Club) and Nicole Conway of Rite Gear from sheltering due to the lockdown and welcomed new member Ant Jarosius. Whilst the press were talking about coming out of lockdown step 3 and the thoughts of lots of hugging all NAC anglers wanted to do was hit the beach in search of hugging a few decent Dogs, Hounds, Bass, in fact hugging anything of size (decision taken to fish to size limits in anticipation).

Thanks, Russell, for pegging the beach. Pegs 5/6 directly opposite the car park with Peg 2 towards the gas works and Peg 16 heading towards Walcott. Given high tide was 18:51pm we marshalled quickly on dry sand and elected to have an early kick off at 6:30pm, which meant a quick walk through the gully to cast. Soon found out whose waders were waterproof (looks like I will need some vinyl weld on mine!). The whistle went and we were on. Some early undersized dog fish, whiting, dabs caught up and down the beach. Then we started to have some fun with the Hounds making their presence felt up/down the beach. Looked like Dene and Nicole were clearly back on form with early hits, especially Nicole!

It became obvious that the match would be won by the biggest Dog/Hound but who would be the lucky angler. A total of 46 sized fish caught weighing 50lb 4/16oz. Of which 14 were Smooth Hounds, 7 Dog Fish, 21 Whiting, and 2 each of Bass and Dabs. The largest rounds were Smooth Hounds with Russell Taylor (Peg 12) bagging a 78cm with Roger Cunnington’s (Peg 9) bagging a 71cm Hound. Nicole Conway (Peg 5) picked up a 64cm Hound, with John Catchpole picking up a 63cm Dog fish.  Dave Mathers (Peg 13) bagged a 62 cm Hound, along with a 57cm Hound and a 58cm Dog. Dene (Peg 6) was back to his old ways picking up not only a sizeable Hound but a decent 48cm Bass. This was closely followed by Nathan Drewery (Peg 10) with a creditable 43cm Bass.  The largest Flat went to Barry Iseton (Peg 4) with 25cm Dab. Newcomer Ant Jarosius (Peg 15) opened his NAC account with a 57 Dog Fish, congratulations and welcome to the club. See picture for “who caught what”.

“Woof woof” (to quote Donald Sutherlands character in Kelly’s Heroes – oddball) ……Bacton was barking!

(thanks for the photos Roger/Dene/Ant)

Match Result:

1^st Russell Taylor             (Peg 12) with 3 fish achieving 312 weight points                        (6lb 8/16oz)

2^nd Roger Cunnington    (Peg 9) with 4 fish achieving 310 weight points                         (6lb 7/16oz) 

3^rd John Catchpole          (Peg 2) with 6 fish achieving 294 weigh points                         (6lb 2/16oz)

For full points results see image

Next match Monday 17^th May @ Sea Palling – see Facebook for details. Remember to continue to monitor WhatsApp for any last minute changes.

Click => Norfolk Angling Club | Norfolk’s Premier Angling Club for all match reports, and NAC information

Posted on May 3, 2021 by Simon Bottomley

NAC Match Report Kelling 3^rd May 2021  

Back to Kelling for the 2^nd time this summer league.

With a yellow weather warning in place for 45 – 50+ mph winds and rain, 8 hardy souls gathered at Kelling for the 6^th match of this summer league. The plan was to use Kelling to avoid the tourist rush over the bank holiday, but surprisingly given conditions not a single tourist visible up/down the beach. Pre match banter centred around how wet we would get and who had decided to bring their bivvy with them. We were confident enough to make it a size limit match as conditions looked right for a good haul of Bass/Dog fish a few if us had invested in some fresh peeler crabs for the occasion (contact Dene at RITEGEAR), would it help?

In addition to the very inclement weather, we also had the none to favourable tide of LT 19:00, so we would be fishing up the tide with a SW wind coming over our shoulder. Nice to see the wreck stack pipe clearly visible. We pegged to the right, heading towards the wreck. As we hit the beach the rain came down, and did not stop till 10:30pm. All the bivvys came out, first priority.

Leon Smith (Peg 1) started well with a couple of Dabs, and likewise at the other end of the draw Barry Ineson (Peg 8) and Ian Childerhouse (Peg 7) seemed to be doing likewise. The middle pegs were the ones having the problems with no sizeable fish. The weather continued to miss behave with only a few fish of size caught. In total 32 fish with a weight of 8lb 6/16oz caught with the prize of biggest flat fish of 24cm shared between Leon (Peg 1), Barry (Peg 8) and Ian (Peg 7). Apologies missed Ian off his share of the flat prize due to soggy match card obscuring his Dab size. However, Ians 31cm Pout clearly took the prize for the biggest round.

Well done all for braving the weather, no one blanked, I guess it will take a few days to dry out (match cards tell their story of the night)

Match Result:

1^st Leon Smith                  (Peg 1) with 9 fish achieving 117 weight points                        (2lb 7/16oz)

2^nd Barry Ineson              (Peg 8) with 8 fish achieving 91 weight points                  (1lb 14/16oz) 

3^rd Ian Childerhouse       (Peg 7) with 5 fish achieving 87 weigh points                   (1lb 13/16oz)

Next match Monday 10^th May @ Bacton – see Facebook for details. Remember to continue to monitor WhatsApp for any last minute changes.

Click => Norfolk Angling Club | Norfolk’s Premier Angling Club for all match reports, and NAC information

Full results:                                   Points

Leon Smith                                    30         +5 (flat)

Barry Iseton                                  29         +5 (flat)

Ian Childerhouse                           28         +5 (flat) + 5 (round)

John Spalton                                 27

Simon Bottomley                          26

Russell Taylor                                25

David Matters                               24

Nathan Drewery                           23