20th anniversary

20th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL THE PENN SEA LEAGUE A celebration of shore match fishing’s greatest event SeaAngler n How it started 51 n Year-by-year insight n All the winners n Why it really matters n Top match angling tips

PENN SEA LEAGUE 20 years of 20thPEANN1N9N9SIV9EEA-2RL0SE1A9ARGYUE the best league in fishing Chartingthefullstoryof Britain’s greatest shore event The sponsor says What’s inside... 58 From 2004 to 2008 The Penn Sea League is 54 From 1999 one of, if not THE best to 2003 Multiple wins organised and prestigious and probably angling leagues in Europe. Welsh ace the greatest dominates and final ever Ask any established an angler with sea angler in the UK and real bottle 66 From 2014 Ireland, and they will know about the to 2019 Penn Sea League and will have been 62 From 2009 involved with it at some point. to 2013 History is made and England It is an honour for our Penn brand to Shared record, man joins the uphold this relationship, and provide Sky TV, an Irish list of legends continued support for the League. So, double…and happy 20th anniversary Penn Sea League why it matters 72 The story Ð and hereÕs to many more! by numbers 70 Secrets of Dave McCartney, match fishing Facts, figures Brand marketing and verdicts manager, Pure How to climb from League’s Fishing (UK) Ltd the ladder to top anglers competitive 52 success SEA ANGLER ISSUE 575

Editor Cliff ALAN YATES Brown with Gav Owen at The man who helped launch the Penn Final the Penn Sea League in 1999 Time really does fly! to show their consistency over The Penn It hardly seems like a full 52 weeks of the Final is 20 years since Sea year, with the added the most Angler magazine incentive of a one-off prestigious launched the match the following event on Penn Sea year for the top anglers. the British League (right) Previous match formats shore match calendar and changed the face of shore match fishing in the seeking to produce an ...because it is an invitation event for the UK and Ireland. overall champion had top anglers in the two divisions of the included the SAMF year-long national Penn Sea League, Back in 1999 I was deputy editor of Sea Masters Final that relied on which is organised by Sea Angler magazine. Angler, working alongside editor Mel Russ organised regional qualifiers for on what is still Britain’s biggest and best members, rather than a full year of opens. Anglers earns points at open saltwater angling magazine. Importantly, the Penn Sea League wanted competitions fished throughout the to show the consistency of anglers over a country, and the League produces its own From those early days of the PSL, I was long period. It had to be open to everyone champion. There’s a second bite of the involved in launching the event, collecting at no charge, so that anyone earning points cherry for most if they qualify for the Final. results, maintaining the league table and at designated matches could be compared attending events, in conjunction with former to other anglers. It was, and still is, a case of My interest in organising sea angling England shore international and contributing simply registering with this magazine to stand events started with the Irish Pairs in 1980. editor Alan Yates. a chance of winning annual or monthly prizes. This event stemmed from the formation of The year-long league results in the leading SAMF and the need for a change in match It was Alan who first suggested the idea of a anglers being invited to fish a prestigious rules. I was the secretary of both and national individual shore league to capitalise one-off final every year to find the champion. spent a lot of time putting together the on a rise in interest in grass roots match It soon became the one to win and, having Pairs format and rules which, at the time, fishing, such as what became the European covered 11 finals, I can confidently assure you included it being a qualifying event. open on the Holderness Coast. It was an that the level of competitiveness is amazing. opportunity to encourage keen match anglers Those reaching the big final really do want to Later I started the SAMF UK Masters, to compete in events to score points towards win. I’ll leave others to tell you why it matters with my priority being the desire to make their annual total, and perhaps earn enough elsewhere in this 20th Anniversary section. events truly national. At this time, I was to get invited to the annual final. In my opinion, it is Britain’s greatest also fishing internationally for England. competitive shore event because it is truly SPONSORSHIP a test of consistency over a year. Yes, some The Penn Sea League came about after anglers do well in the League by being stars I had pressed then Sea Angler magazine With the backing of £10,000 worth of gear on their own patch by collecting points on a editor, Mel Russ, for a national event run each year from international tackle company regular basis, but the best of the best make a through the magazine. It came to fruition Penn, there was £9,000 earmarked for league difference by also competing on venues out of in 1999 after he secured sponsorship positions and £1,000 for the winner of the their local area. An ability to win away is the from Penn, aided by the connection of final. That’s a staggering £200,000 in tackle mark of a great angler. In the casting giant Neil Mackellow, who was a prizes during the 20 years. end, though, the league table consultant for the American company and doesn’t lie. A consistent angler also worked for Sea Angler at that time. Later, when the PSL expanded to two usually wins. divisions the money was split between the Cliff Brown, Editor TRULY NATIONAL Premier Division and Division One. The event quickly gained popularity among From that little acorn of an idea germinated match anglers with its points scoring a new concept for the millennium that format throughout the year, followed by became a massive oak, giving anglers a chance a grand final that was fished around the country. It produced the Penn Sea League HOW IT WORKS monthly prize of a Penn reel to the angler champion and a Penn Final winner, as well scoring the most points in matches featuring as providing a ranking list for sea anglers Points are awarded based on the number of in each issue of Sea Angler. that influenced national squad selection. anglers fishing an open match registered for the Penn Sea League. Generally, points go Currently, only matches at weekends or bank Later it expanded into two divisions, with to the top three anglers, zone winners and holidays can qualify for points, with multi-day promotion to the Premier Division, and heaviest fish in registered open events held events accepted subject to one day falling on the ability to stay there, being coveted by throughout the UK and Ireland. one of the eligible days. match anglers. Now, two divisions are operated throughout A further popular move was Penn Plus The history of the Final venues and the year with promotion and relegation, while status, where points are awarded to the top winners proves it to be a truly national the league winners receive prizes and the top 10 in one match each month. A new rule came event, of which I am proud to have been 40 compete in a prestigious national final. into force in 2019, giving points to the top five part of. It involved lots of hard work by in matches featuring 120 to 399 anglers and to myself and then deputy editor, Cliff Brown There have been several rules changes since the top 10 in all matches of more than 400. (now editor), and, thanks to a dedicated the launch in 1999, including from 2002 a team of event organisers and the magazine, it continues to this day. SEA ANGLER ISSUE 575 I’d say the Penn Sea League is perhaps one of the biggest things I miss since being forced to retire from match fishing due to rheumatoid arthritis. The Penn Sea League is still a true guide to the best match anglers fishing in the UK and Ireland. Getting your name in the leaderboards, published in this magazine each issue, really is a true indicator of how you are performing. Even better is it is free to be in the Penn Sea League. 53

PENN SEA LEAGUE 1999 to 2003 1999: NARROWEST two zone wins and two zone seconds in the OF MARGINS IN event’s four matches. That put him second FIRST SEASON in the league with 29 points behind England angler Alec, who had increased his total to 38. Launched in 1999, the first Penn Sea League results appeared in the March issue of Sea It was going to be a close finish because Angler, with reports collated by Alan Yates a month later Alec had 42 points and Alan and Cliff Brown (now editor of Sea Angler). 34, thanks to five points for a third place at a Holyhead & District SAC open on the By the September issue, the league leader town’s breakwater. A month later Alec had with 31 points was Geordie matchman stalled and Alan took advantage by winning Alec Harvey, from Cramlington, who would the Ultima open at Seabrook, Kent, taking finish third. 12 points. This put him on 49 points, seven ahead of Alec. Eventual winner Alan Price (above), the Welsh international from Kinmel Bay, was in In the last few weeks, both Alan and Alec a mid-table position with 13 points – thanks failed to gain extra points, but a late flourish to a win at the Tioxide Jubilee open on the by Hastings angler Rex Palmer, including Humber and victory at a Deganwy mini open. a win at the Eastbourne Festival and a third His willingness to travel to fish would set the at the South Coast Beach Championships standard for future winners. at Hastings, saw him snatch second with 48 points, only one behind winner Alan. By October, Alan had notched up another What a close finish in the first year! It was 16 points by winning the Ramsey Angling first blood to the Welsh and a £5,000 Penn Week on the Isle of Man, turning in a superb tackle prize for Alan. The top 25 anglers, in what was then one division, were invited to fish the first Penn Final, which would be held at Humberston Creek, North East Lincs. January 1999 saw the launch A simple of the Penn Sea League idea that took match angling by storm 54 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 575

2000: FIRST FINAL 2001: GOLDS GOES TO MADDERSON HAS THE BOTTLE As the second As Ian Golds set the pace in the League, Ian Golds remembers… season started, it was the rugged conditions of Portland planning was Breakwater at Weymouth where the top “I won the Final on Portland underway for the 25 anglers from the previous year would do Breakwater in 2001 and that was a first Penn Final, battle in the second Penn Final. great final, although I would say that which would be held wouldn’t I? The day out with the boat in summer on the Ian, who had been dropped from the trip to a private breakwater was an south bank of the England squad, had a point to prove. The pre- experience for the competitors.” Humber Estuary. match favourite, from Bedhampton, Hants, got the luck of the draw by pulling out end margin pegged back to only nine points by Battling it out for peg 1 and went on to win, but was pushed all Alan Price. But five points in two matches, the £1,000 Penn the way by George Smith, of Grimsby, on the including the Newhaven open, in the closing tackle prize at Humberston Creek were next peg. It was a superb demonstration of stages of the year resulted in Ian finishing on a mixture of experienced international speed fishing skill, with Ian fishing close in 135 points and Alan on 119. anglers, up-and-coming stars and throughout with either float or leger tactics. regional hotshots. His float was a 1.5 litre plastic bottle! With most of the action expected in Ian caught 35 fish for 890cm, his best a 36cm the last 90 minutes, Dave Madderson ballan wrasse. George ended up in fourth (above), from Blyth, on peg 3, had a place, but we’d hear more from him in future. double shot of flatties after 35 minutes, by fishing close in over the shelf with a Once again Roy Tapper, from Cardiff, light bass rod, a 2oz lead weight and crab showed his class. After finishing second at baits tipped with sardine. Humberston Creek the previous year, he was second again in the final. After a barren 45 minutes, he caught three fish in 20 minutes. Late in the It was a match dominated by small fish on match on the ebb, he made it count by the inside of the wall in Portland Harbour, switching to standard beach gear and a but fewer and usually bigger specimens 4oz sinker to cast further, taking three outside in the bay. No-one had predicted a fish in four casts in 13 minutes of the last smoothhound, but once again Scarborough’s half-an-hour. Under pressure from Welsh Monty Burton conjured up a surprise. angler Roy Tapper, who caught two fish Knowing he couldn’t compete against the on his last cast, it was Geordie surveyor speed-fishers, he used his trademark big crab Dave, who hung on to take the big prize baits to catch four hounds and a wrasse, as with nine fish for 283cm, with Roy on well as losing one hound. He’d finish ninth nine for 277cm. and included a best hound of 91cm. Meanwhile, in the League it Going into the latter stages of the League, was another great year for Welsh long-time leader Ian Golds had his huge early international Alan Price. He again proved his consistency of a variety of venues 55 in pegged and roving events to score 103 points by framing in 15 matches. It put him a comfortable 15 points clear in what had quickly become Britain’s most prestigious individual league event. Runner-up this time was Trevor Rooney, of Eastbourne, whose 87 points came from 12 events, mostly in Kent and Dorset. The roving rock skills of cod angler Monty Burton, of Scarborough, who featured in the first final too, had produced 79 points in six matches for third place. Thousands of anglers had taken part in the designated Penn Sea League matches, with more than 800 collecting Penn points. SEA ANGLER ISSUE 575

PENN SEA LEAGUE Holyhead Breakwater hosted the Penn Final 2002: TREBLE TOP League and Final FOR WELSH ACE PRICE winners Alan Price and Shane Russell Holyhead Breakwater on Anglesey, in North Wales, was the venue for the third Penn Final, where the £1,000 tackle prize stayed in Wales in the hands of bait digger Shane Russell, from Colwyn Bay. Having struggled in the previous year’s final at Portland, he took advantage of the penultimate peg at the seaward end of the wall to take seven dogfish in the first hour to lead the field, but Alan Gilbert, of Worthing, and Joe Arch, of Cardiff, kept the contest alive until the latter stages. However, Shane, winner of the SAMF Masters in 2000, managed to catch his only wrasse of the day, and add four dogfish in the last 15 minutes to finish with 12 fish for 469cm, leaving Joe Arch second with nine for 322cm. Having finished 10th in the Final, it was that man Alan Price who would take the League honours again. Having won the League for the first two years and lost out to Ian Golds in 2001, he bounced back to regain his crown. Not only that, he’d already won individual gold in the World Shore Championship. What a year! Despite, by his standards, a poor winter featuring no points in December, he’d won the UK Masters in November, and finished with 139 points, earned at 16 matches. That left Ian Golds in second with 109 points from 18 events and Shane Russell in third with 106 from 14. Again, the top 25 would contest the following year’s final. 56 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 575

2003: LAST DAY DECIDER This was the year when West Country peg 53 and failed to add to his score. Joe match anglers began to make their Arch had caught six fish at peg 41 before presence felt, with the likes of John Lintern, his move to peg 9 looked set to overhaul Rob Marshall, Julian Shambrook and Josh Rob. However, he had to wait 45 minutes Simmonds all doing well in events along from the end to add a flounder before the Bristol Channel and South Coast. losing a dab. It left him with seven fish for 172cm and second place. It was Rob who won the Penn Final, held this time at Tynemouth Pier, east In the League it went down to the wire, of Newcastle. This time the competitors with Wales internationals Shane Russell drew two pegs (one black and one red) and Alan Price battling it out for top spot and would fish the first from 10am- on the final day of the season in a North 12.30pm and the second from 12.45pm to West ASAC match on the River Mersey. 3.15pm to give everyone a chance to fish Going into the match with a one-point both ends of the pier. advantage, Shane won the event, with Alan second. It meant Shane, who had Rob caught five flatfish for 190cm in finished third in 2001 and 2002, had the first 90 minutes from peg 3, one of finally won the League. the favoured low-number pegs, using three-hook rigs with short snoods to keep Shane collected 131 points at 18 events, the baits on the bottom, and size 2 hooks while Alan had 129 from 21. baited with either rag or lug. One of his plaice edged over the 40cm size and was What about those West Country boys? worth a double score of 80cm. John Lintern, of Axbridge, was third with 114 points from 15 events and After the changeover, Rob was on Rob Marshall, of Taunton, fifth with 78. Rob Marshall SHANE RUSSELL won the Final at Tynemouth League winner in close finish “It’s amazing how it came down to me and Alan. We’d known each other for 15 years then and we drove to competitions together. In our last two matches we had adjacent pegs at Chesil and were in adjoining zones at Liverpool, so we always knew how each other was getting on. “I hadn’t done anything different, I’d just managed to be more consistent, but, even then, I thought I had no chance of first place earlier on. “The turning point was at Cardiff in November. Alan had just got back from the World Championships and fished a Welsh qualifier in Cardiff the day before and he was knackered, so he decided to go home. I took 17 points from the Cardiff event in his absence and that pulled me right up.” SEA ANGLER ISSUE 575 57

PENN SEA LEAGUE 2004 to 2008 2004: HARVEY’S Joe Arch casting Alec Harvey received GREAT YEAR, AS JOE his way to the Penn Final trophy ARCH WINS LEAGUE League victory from Neil Mackellow Tension, lots of species and the closest advantage, but Neville, who had 23 fish, caught ALEC HARVEY finish ever made the fifth Penn Final a great two more for 64cm, so the last 15 minutes occasion. The drama at Dover Breakwater in would be crucial. Both failed to catch and Alec Penn Final winner in 2004 Kent unfolded between two northern anglers, won by 19cm, less than one sizeable fish. Alec Harvey and Neville Charlesworth. “I’d had a month of drawing poor pegs, The annual league continued the Welsh so I said to Jim Dobie, my travelling For the first time, the final was opened up dominance, this time the top spot going to companion, that I would get someone to the top 40 from the previous year’s league. former world shore champ Joe Arch, from else to draw my peg. At the final This time Alec, from Cramlington, needed his Cardiff. He led the league almost all year as Alan Yates, who ended up winning vast experience as an England international to he amassed 98 Penn points from 16 matches zone B, drew for me and it was peg 49, hold off the challenge of Neville, an England in South Wales, the South Coast and Essex. which was a good draw, being the third shore squad member, from Withernsea. peg in the first zone.” Second place went to the year’s Penn Final Fishing at peg 49, he used ragworm baits winner Alec Harvey, thanks to picking up tipped with either crab or white rag. Fishing 86 points from only eight events, with 2003 the outside of the wall, he caught four dogfish champ Shane Russell sharing third with and a smoothhound in the first two hours. Chris Stringer, from Whitley Bay, who both A switch inside resulted in 10 pouting, three scored 77 points from 12 events. dogfish and a plaice. Alec felt he had wasted three or four casts trying to catch a smoothhound on the outside in the middle of the match, while Nev started to catch inside, so he had to switch to the same to stop him taking the lead. With half-an-hour to go, Alec had a 100cm 2005: FINAL flounders and two codling for 565cm. He’d Neville Charlesworth remembers… FAVOURITE made a late charge in zone A on the ebb WINS LEAGUE to overhaul Gordon Thornes, of nearby “It’s not about the money, this match. Connah’s Quay, who finished with 12 fish You want to win the Final because you Skills honed on the Humber Estuary proved for 451cm. know you’re up against the cream.” vital for Neville Charlesworth to secure victory in the Penn Final by less than one While Pete Corker, from Bagillt, had not There was double reason to celebrate too sizeable fish. lived up to his billing as favourite for the because he also secured a place in the Wales Penn Final on his local River Dee venue, he team for the World Championships in After finishing second in the previous had the last laugh in the League. His 2005 2006. He’d only broken into the top 40 in year’s final, the angler, from Withernsea, season saw him secure 91 points in 21 events, the Penn Sea League in 2004 and qualified made the most of an end-peg draw at Bagillt spread from North Wales, Merseyside, for the final on his home turf. Cob, on the Dee Estuary in Flintshire. Humberside and the South Coast. While Wales had claimed the bragging On peg 50 in zone B, close to the gutter The final underway rights again, the runner-up was England where the working boats are moored, he on the Dee Estuary stalwart Chris Clark, from Hampshire, caught 17 fish for 584cm, but that was only who set the early pace in 2005. He bagged 19cm ahead of Neil Cutler, of Gateshead, 88 points from 14 events. Third went to who was on end peg 3 in zone A. It was the former winner Joe Arch with 74 points same margin of victory that had seen Nev from 11 matches. Only two points behind lose out the previous year. were County Durham ace Jim Dobie and three times league winner Alan Price. Neil, well used to estuary fishing on his local River Tyne, caught eight eels, four Such had been the popularity of the Penn Sea League that it was decided to create two divisions for the following year. 58 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 575

The Final at Cefn Sidan is widely considered the best ever Colin Carey (left) at Cefn Sidan with Cliff Brown 2006: GREATEST a treble shot of flounders on his first cast, he finished five points ahead of young EVER PENN FINAL later had six consecutive treble shots and Irishman Stephen Brennan, from Dublin. caught three fish on his last cast to finish with However, Jim’s success had included 10 open Widely acclaimed as the greatest Penn Final 34 flounders and a 45cm bass for 1,079cm. match wins during 2006 and he finished with ever, the match on the long surf beach at The amazing match had produced 713 fish 105 points from 15 matches. Jim was only the Cefn Sidan in South Wales saw Colin Carey, for 39 anglers. second Englishman to win the league. from Worthing, turn in a superb display of speed fishing. This year was the first when there were Stephen, a 23-year-old economics graduate, two divisions in the Penn Sea League – the finished with 100 points from 14 open A regular in a highly competitive southern Premier Division and Division One. It would matches, while third went to 21-year-old match circuit, Colin, fishing his second produce a win on the last day of the year to Lee Cullen, of Netley, an England Youth consecutive final, was on peg 35 where give victory to 63-year-old England stalwart International, with 99 points. Three-times he caught 31 flounders and three bass for Jim Dobie, from Peterlee. winner Alan Price was a comfortable fourth 1,107cm. He only failed to catch on one cast. with 95 points. A New Year’s Eve haul of six points meant It was a third bass of 57cm that proved First winner of the new Division One was crucial because he caught one less fish than League Gareth Griffiths, of Barrow, Cumbria, with runner-up Keith Warren, of Clevedon, who winner was 76 points, who has remained in the Premier was in his first Penn Final. Division ever since. Jim Dobie For much of the match, however, it was COLIN CAREY John Lintern, of Axbridge, who was Colin’s closest rival. Unfortunately for John, his last WINNER OF THE BEST FINAL three casts produced nothing, after previously catching on every chuck. “I’d been reasonably confident before the final because my form had been In contrast, Keith on peg 1, who caught pretty good. I’d done this kind of fast and furious fishing before in Ireland, Jim Dobie reminisces… but I’d never fished a surf beach with so many fish. “I didn’t know of anyone else in the country who has had 10 open wins in a “My peg, and being in the slightly season. It’s unbelievalble; in the North better zone, were obviously big factors. East two open wins is a good season.” I was pleased to keep an eye on John Lintern nearby because I always prefer to be able to see the guy who is closest to me in the zone.” SEA ANGLER ISSUE 575 59

PENN SEA LEAGUE Joe Arch fishing the final at Holland-on-Sea 2007: JOE ARCH came from Clacton rod Richard Burt on peg Twelve points behind in second was Ray DOES THE DOUBLE 15, who was confident he would catch plenty Maddison, of Scarborough, whose 78-point of fish on the favoured ebb tide. The catch total came from nine events, including 28 This was the year when the Joe Arch won rate hastened on the ebb, and Arch caught points from the big Newbiggin open. It was both the Penn Final and the annual League. steadily enough to finish with 17 fish for 484 former England angler Alec Harvey who points. Richard did indeed catch more fish on finished third with 72 points from nine events, Codling were on the cards for the Penn the ebb, with his 13 fish for 463 points leaving rounded off by second in the South Shields Final at Holland-on-Sea, near Clacton, Essex, him very close in second. open and first in the Ryhope Big Fish match. and it was a flying start for former world champion and 2004 League winner Joe that In the 2007 League, Joe was the clear Winner of Division One was Andrew gave him enough breathing space to hold off winner with 90 points from 12 events, Hooper, of Birtley, with 59 points, which the challengers. including a great start by winning the Irish included victory in the Amble open and a Winter Beach Championships. second in the Newbiggin open. The angler, from Cardiff, who at that point was leading the 2007 Penn Sea League, drew peg 12 near the sailing club and caught a 44cm codling on his first cast, and added four more to take an early lead in section A. Others made a slower start in the length-to- points system match, but the big challenge Codling were Bill Lindfield the target fish signs Saul Page’s in the final catch card 60 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 575

Dave Roe caught flounders and dabs to win the final at Silloth 2008: THE IRISH Dave EYES ARE SMILING Roe Having had an angler finish second in the Dave Roe remembers… Penn receives League in 2006, the Irish eyes were smiling Finals his prize in 2008 when Dave Roe won the prestigious “To compete against the top are Penn Final and topped the League. match anglers in Britain and win fished from convincingly was awesome. I was measure Paul The courier from Blackrock, who fished for very proud to be the first Irish angler and Fenech South Shore SAC, not only won the Final, to win the Penn, and glad to have release and held at Silloth in Cumbria, but was top in the put Irish match fishing on the map.” Alan Silloth open the following day. Fishing mainly Yates the Irish match circuit, he travelled to the UK up to half-a-dozen times a year for matches. 61 In the Final he fished three-hook flappers with fresh peeler crab baits, initially in search of flounders at peg 4. Later, he cast out further to 30-50 yards band, where, instead of catching single flounders, he caught multiples of dabs. Again, his catches slowed, so he chopped and changed his range. Second place went to former winner Shane Russell with 551cm. It was an increase in Penn points matches in Ireland that helped Dave Roe win the 2008 League too. After that Penn Final win, he added a further eight lots of points, including second in the Daiwa Pairs, to finish the year with 83 points. Second, due to a last-gasp win on December 27 at the Easington Colliery rover, went to dairyman Steve Coverdale, of Darlington. Third was filled by the consistent Chris Stringer, of Whitley Bay, with 73 points. Division One winner was Steve Smythe, of Pentwyn, with 49 points, including victory at the Tenby Festival. SEA ANGLER ISSUE 575

PENN SEA LEAGUE 2009 to 2013 2009: VICTORY FOR ENGLAND STALWART Chris Clark on his ALAN YATES way to victory at The draw can be so important in match Samphire Hoe Former England international fishing, especially in a field of top-class anglers, and so it proved in the 2009 final at two-times winner Joe Arch take third with “Having won two club matches on Samphire Hoe in Kent. 59 points. Just out of the top three was Samphire Hoe just before the 2009 three-times League champion Alan Price Final, it was apparent to me that the Wily campaigner and England angler Chris with 52 points. dogfish could make a difference and Clark, from Hampshire, drew favoured end that crab baits were the best choice. peg 40, and many felt the match was over. All Division One’s top spot went to Darren Yet many competitors chose to fish the 60-year-old angler had to do was catch Newland, from the Isle of Wight, with with small ragworm baits because of and carry on catching. 44 points. His best score was 18 points for the presence of small pout and wrasse. second in the Fountain open in Kent. Was it a crucial mistake? He finished with a winning 14 fish for 362cm, while second went to Merseyside star “Welsh ace Joe Arch was pegged in Bill Lindfield, of Greasby, with the middle of a poor section but landed 310cm from peg 3. Third was England two dogfish in the last hour. Had some international Darren Phillips, from other anglers done the same, then Lee-on-Solent, with 354cm, which included several dogfish could have crowned the biggest fish, a 42cm pollack, from peg 21. them the Penn champion.” Another new name graced the roll of honour of the Penn Sea League in 2009 when the annual honours went to Rob Marshall, of Taunton. He collected the maximum 12 Penn scores for 73 points, including top spot in the Chesil Championships. Second was consistent East Anglian match ace, Rob Tuck, with 59 points from 12 matches, with his biggest tally coming with 16 points for winning the Aldeburgh Blind charity open. It was an end-of-year win at the Mersey two-day open, worth 20 points, that helped Is it a snag or Top of the League is it a fish? in 2009 was Clarky in Penn Rob Marshall final action 62 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 575

2010: STORMY FINAL Gordon Thornes DAVE LEWIS AND A SHARED RECORD fishing the 2010 Final at Pwllheli Sea Angler contributing editor When the finalists huddled in the bar at the Victoria Hotel at Pwllheli and drew their including victory and 19 points in the “I’ve fished with or watched many of pegs, they knew the fishing would be hell… SAMF Masters. the greats and all have been extremely and, as Sea Angler’s Paul Fenech wrote, it was! dedicated, skillful, committed and Having won Division One in the previous hugely experienced. It would appear The reason was the wind had swung south year, Darren Newland finished a close they could catch fish from a roadside and conditions were atrocious. Instead of runner-up to Joe in the Premier Division with puddle. Joe Arch is such an angler. plenty of bites from black bream, it turned 71 points, thanks mainly to big scores in the into a struggle to land a few dogfish. Daiwa Pairs and SAMF Masters. “Watch him fishing and it soon becomes obvious why he is such a Nathan Elliott, of Dover, who had been Victories in the British Championships at successful match angler. Every move promoted from Division One, seized the Deal and the three-day Dover Pier Festival he makes on the beach is done with a day, taking a black bream and a thornback in the same month helped Martyn Reid, polished, practised fluidity. Such is his ray early on. The groundworker’s powerful of Folkestone, finish third overall with a familiarity with his fishing tackle and casting ability was putting his loop rig further creditable 64 points. the beach environment I am certain out than nearby anglers. With England he would be able to perform equally angler Chris Clark on the next peg, Nathan, a Division One winner was Stephen Harper, impressively were he blindfolded. former England junior, added three more fish of Whitley Bay, with 40 points thanks to two – a dogfish, a bream and a ray – for 248cm. It 20-point victories, including the big Whitley “Away from the match arena, I’ve got was a comfortable victory. Bay Festival. to know a different Joe Arch, one who is relaxed, chatty and always willing to Fished on the Continental system, second pass on a tip or two. He’s happy being went to the winner of the other zone, Simon out on the beach with his Drayton, of Gainsborough, who caught four friends, catching a few good dogfish for 180cm. Third was Bill Lindfield, of fish. Quite simply, Joe Arch Greasby, with 185cm. is one of the very best shore anglers in the world.” In the 2010 League, Joe Arch secured his place in match fishing history by winning for the third time, which had only been done before by Alan Price. With Joe’s best 10 results counting, he scored 73 points Nathan Elliott says… “I had dreamed of making the final and nothing was going to shake me. I just got on with the job, despite the foul weather, and won” 2011: HESSLE AND HASSLE Steve Smith, the Sellafield The 2011 League ended with hassle and a The Humber Bridge worker from Whitehaven, sour note after the winner, who scored 80 was the backdrop Cumbria, secured the first points was later disqualified from fishing the to the final of his two Penn Final wins in following year’s Penn Final. 2011. Having drawn end peg Steve’s Roe and Grimsby matchman George Smith. 40 for the match at Hessle winning Second was Martyn Reid, of Folkestone, Dave had 65 points from seven events, on the Humber Estuary, he match card with 66 points from 12 mostly winter events, led from start to finish. He’d including the Dover SAA Pier Festival and including big scores in the All Ireland kicked off with two 50cm-plus eels in the first second in the British Open Championships Championships and Irish Winter Beach hour and finished with 409cm. at Deal. Championships, while George left it late to make the top three by grabbing two big The secret in this match, featuring few fish, Third was a tie between former winner Dave winter scores. was to fish close in for eels, often no more than 20 yards from the bank. Those who In Division One, top spot was taken by fished at distance caught only a cold. Andrew Dawkins, of Lymington, with 63 points. A late eel and a sole gave Pete Corker on peg 19 second place with 19 points, while pre-match favourite Joe Arch was third with 174cm thanks to a late run of eels at peg 34. SEA ANGLER ISSUE 575 63

PENN SEA LEAGUE Day two of the Final was at the Admiralty Pier 2012: THE SAUL Dai Davies in third on 11 fish for 312cm. Roles were reversed in the League. Having AND GEORGE SHOW The second day on the Admiralty was fished finished second in the year’s Penn Final, George went one better in the League. The For the first time, the Penn Final was fished in a powerful swell, with the front-runners fish filleter, from Grimsby, scored 100 points, over two days, this time at Samphire Hoe and from Day 1 all in the less-favoured middle pegs. including success in the Kent Classic at Dover’s Admiralty Pier. Naturally, all eyes Herne Bay. were on local qualifiers, the England anglers Winning the day was England angler Saul Page, Richard Yates and Martyn Reid. George Smith on peg 1, who caught 12 fish for Second in the League was Penn Final winner 452cm, while Pete Corker was second with 12 Saul with 95 points, including victory in the At Samphire Hoe, Saul drew peg 3 and for 447cm from the penultimate peg at the three-day Dover Festival. The 2009 winner soon blazed into the lead, with only former other end of the venue. Rob Marshall, of Taunton, was third with world champion Joe Arch on peg 25 staying 94 points, with the consistent Martyn Reid, with the pace. Saul won Day 1 with 12 fish Despite his middle draw, civil engineer Saul of Folkestone, in fourth with 90. for 385cm, while Joe had 13 for 366cm, with finished the day in sixth place to finish with seven points over the two days to secure Having been relegated from the Premier victory in the final. Division in 2011, Joe Perry, of Bootle, bounced straight back by winning Division George Smith, who was eighth on Day 1, One with 40 points from 10 results. finished second overall with nine points, while Irishman Alan Mulcahy was third on 13 points. Deadly duo Alan Yates says… – George Smith “I reckon the pegging for the Final and Saul Page at Dover worked very well. It is normal for anglers on the end pegs to catch and those in the middle to struggle. But the standard Dover SAA multi-day draw system spread competitors more fairly over the zones. An end peg on Day 1 put you in the middle of zone two on Day 2. This made for a very close contest” 64 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 575

2013: DAVE ROE BAGS Joe Arch (right) talks rigs SEcOnD lEAGuE win with Sky TV Weed hampered the Penn Final at Milford Pairs, worth 36 points, was a crucial part of Dave Roe shingle bank in Hampshire where the hopes Dave’s second League win. made it two had been for a black-bream bonanza. Instead, League wins the field of top anglers was forced to adapt to Winner the year before, it was second for the conditions and show their mettle. Grimsby’s George Smith with 62 points, with his main successes coming in the Gravesend With fishing taking place in front of Sky open, Filey Festival and North West ASAC TV’s Tight Lines cameras, the first fish came two-day open. after 20 minutes when 2011 final winner Steve Smith landed a golden grey mullet by In third was Colchester’s backcasting fishing ultra-close. ace Craig Buy with 60 points. His total Soon a pattern emerged as a few bream included wins in the came from medium range over rough areas, Clacton spring open and and pollack, garfish and mackerel were caught Aldeburgh Blind charity on float tactics. open, and he was third in the Ramsey Festival on In the middle of the venue at peg 21, Welsh the Isle of Man. international Pete Corker, who won the League in 2005, landed two double shots of Top of Division wrasse and added a 43cm ballan late in the One was Mark Taylor, match on ragworms fished off the bottom. of Grimsby, with His 11 fish for 287cm secured the win. 63 points, consisting mostly of 48 points for Shane Russell, from Colwyn Bay, who had third in the European won both the League and Final before, was Championship on the second with five fish for 131cm. Holderness Coast early in the year. Having won both the Final and then the League in 2008, Dublin’s Dave Roe was back at the top with victory in the 2013 Penn Sea League. The Irish international had been ninth the previous year, but this time bagged 68 points for top spot. Winning the Daiwa Sun and Sky on the Milford shingle bank CHRIS CLARK “Apart from fishing alongside the best Junior Talent Pathway programme held the country has to offer, which can be during August. What a great opportunity Top England administrator a huge learning curve for those new to for the lad to get some top coaching with the sport, the eyes of the match angling like-minded youngsters and opening the “Unlike many other sports, the sea match world, including England selectors, are door to the International junior arena, all angling world offers the opportunity for always very much on the Penn Sea League thanks to the Penn Sea League. anyone to lock horns with the very best Final. This is one event that I follow very in their discipline because you can fish closely. Apart from keeping an eye on “As a former winner of the Penn Final alongside the titans of the sea angling accomplished and well-known anglers (in 2009), I can vouch that it will certainly fraternity, including internationals and I am also watching out for inspirational enhance your profile by opening doors to world champions. rising young stars who, in a few years’ sponsorship deals, if this is the road you time, will have the ability to take on the want to take. It can also open a pathway “While there are numerous events very best the world has to offer. to the International scene to represent throughout the country offering this type your country at the very highest level. of opportunity, in my opinion the hotly “For the first time the 2019 final contested Penn Sea League matches included a junior angler, which is great for “Of all the leagues throughout really top the list. the sport. As a direct result, this youngster the country, I believe the Penn Sea was offered a place on the Angling Trust League tops the list, offering countless opportunities for all match anglers.” sea angler issue 575 65

PENN SEA LEAGUE 2014 to 2019 2014: SECOND FINAL WIN FOR STEVE SMITH flounder and three plaice for 123cm. collected 48 more points at six other events. In the League, it was a runaway victory for Runner-up was England international Saul As sea angling venues go, Morecambe’s West End Beach (right) has a reputation as a plaice Scarborough’s Paul Medd (right), the bulk Page, with 99 points from the maximum 10 hotspot, making it a sensible choice for the of his 250 points coming from the European events, including wins in the popular British Penn Final. Open on the Holderness Coast, but he Open at Deal and the Weymouth open at Chesil Beach. Victory went to Whitehaven matchman Steve Smith, who had won the Final at Hessle Coming in third with 77 points was Rory in 2011. He landed four plaice from unfancied Jenkins, of Tonyrefail, thanks to victories in peg 33, with his best fish measuring 37cm, by the Loughor flounder open and several wins fishing a mix of worm and crab baits at range. in the Welsh FSA East Region Shore League. Close behind, thanks to a last-cast double In Division One, the top prize went of plaice, was Saul Page, from Deal, who won to Phil Harrison, of Hatfield, with 204 the Final held at Dover in 2012. This time he points collected at the finished with 112cm from peg 4. European open. Third place went to Neville Charlesworth, The dominance in both of Withernsea, who had won the Final the Premier Division at Bagillt Cob in 2005. Here he landed a and Division One of just one event in 2014 caused a rule change for the following year, when the maximum Penn points score was reduced to 50. STEVE SMITH move to opens. Tactics, rigs, casting and chuffed about his hobby, I was more than the best baits become more important. pleased. It was then that the full enormity Winner of two Penn Finals of the task dawned on me. A quick flick “Sea Angler magazine and local tackle through Sea Angler to the final league “Before the Penn Sea League started, dealers can provide you with a lot of this results reads like the Who’s Who of Home most people might fish their own area info, but the best advice comes from the International sea anglers, with a few with a nearby club within a local league, experts. If you find yourself fishing next world champions thrown in. These guys and the occasional local open. to the likes of George Smith or Joe Arch know their stuff. They aren’t going to just and others who are constantly at the top roll over. It was time to up my game again. “The PSL allows you to look nationwide. of the League, then watch, look and learn. The list of fixtures posted every month Ask them what they’re doing, they don’t “I remember fishing a Silloth open made me aware of the matches occurring bite. However, it is annoying having to held before the Final on the Humber and outside my patch and within travelling sign their catch card constantly. talking to Jim Dobie, who readily told distance. This increased the variety of me about the venue and rig and bait venues fished and even wider range “Keep a log of your fishing, times, requirements. It is a source of great pride of knowledge (gear, bait and tactics) tides and weather, and, importantly in to have qualified for some of the Finals, required to fish them, and that’s before matches, where they were won from, baits but to actually win it in such company you draw a peg or find the mark. and tactics and casting distances so you was a dream come true. There was an know for another time.” overwhelming sense of achievement and “With only a limited number of matches satisfaction that all my efforts had been in my local area, travelling becomes a HITTING THE BIG TIME rewarded. To do it again a few years later big part of getting points. Like-minded proved it was no fluke. Every dog has its mates help share the costs and gather the “I have the greatest respect for the day… even the mongrels.” necessary knowledge. anglers who are constantly at the top of the League. The amount of time and “Over the last 15 years I’ve been lucky effort, not to mention miles travelled in an enough to make the Final several times, effort to accrue points, is to be admired. fishing venues from the North East to the South Coast, and Norfolk to Somerset. “Everybody has different commitments, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the experiences and, for mere mortals, acquiring a few and learned a lot… I got battered points and seeing our names in the sometimes, but I found out why. magazine is reward enough for our efforts. Gather enough points to be in the top 35 “The first time you see your name in the of the Premier Division and the postman points list and match reports makes you brings you an invite to fish the Final. want to aim higher. Sea fishing requires preparation, even if it’s a club match, but “The first time it happened I was the attention to detail increases as you absolutely gobsmacked because I was one of the top anglers in the nation for that year. For a 50-year-old man to be that 66 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 575

2015: INJURY FAILS of Hastings, with 160cm at peg 16, and Kirk in 2012, this time he scooped 120 points from TO STOP WINNER eight matches, kicking off with third and Watson, of Rainham, on 298cm at peg 31. 48 points in the big European open on East Choosing Warkworth beach (above right) in Yorkshire’s Holderness Coast. Northumberland for the Penn Final meant Despite several months sidelined from the competitors would get a chance to show Second was Chris Stephens, of Bridgend, their Continental fishing skills in the search match fishing with a broken shoulder, it who made a big impact by jumping from 17th for flatfish. place the previous year. He collected nine lots didn’t stop of Penn points for his total of 82. From the first cast, Cardiff angler Chris ‘Bugsy’ Read slipped into a slick routine and, the consistent After finishing second in 2014, England’s like a well-oiled machine, he caught single and Saul Page, of Deal, came third with 70 points double shots of fish to take a convincing lead. George Smith from seven matches. The scaffolder ran away with the match (left), of Grimsby, Division One went to the experienced John from peg 30, demolishing a top-class field Byrne, of Hull, who did enough by collecting with his accurate close-range casting to the becoming only 50 points for winning the European Open. first few wave tables. His 30-fish total for 555cm, including a 34cm turbot, was well the fourth person ahead of that of second-placed Nick May, to win the League more than once. Having won the Premier Division 2016: HISTORY BOY top shore angler, the England ace finally CHRIS READ achieved another ambition – winning the History was made at the Penn Final held at Penn Sea League. Twice winner of the Penn Final Chapel St Leonards, Lincolnshire, when Chris ‘Bugsy’ Read (below) became the first With his best 10 results counting, the “At Warkworth in 2015, I thought angler to win the event two years running. 38-year-old civil engineer, who had been the it was similar to Borth, near nearly man three times, finished with 94 Aberystwyth, and the style of It was hoped it would be a smoothhound points, with his key win being the British fishing was right up my street. I got event, but the dull and wet conditions turned Open, held in Kent. a comfortable lead, but then the fish the big match into a flattie bash, and Chris, on disappeared. I tried fishing close in, peg 7, adapted well and caught nine flounders Having finished second in 2012 and 2014 and as soon as I put the rod down the for 208 points to secure back-to-back wins. and third in 2015, the former England junior, tip hammered around. I wound in a who had stepped up to the senior shore team treble shot of flounders and I knew Reducing the length of his hook snoods to in 2006, finally topped the year-long event. I’d cracked it. I was amazed nobody cut down the movement of his spotted what I was doing. crab baits in the tide paid off Leading the chase was Gareth Griffiths, as he became only the second of Barrow. The Cumbrian “I qualified for the following year’s angler to win the Final on two secured 72 points from the final too, which was at Skegness. occasions. Steve Smith, of maximum 10 matches, having When I won it, I was in total shock. Whitehaven, had done it before been 11th the previous year. I remember sending a few texts and my but not in consecutive years. Once again, no-one could phone went into meltdown with all the ignore the consistency of messages of congratulations. Winning Second place went to twice winner George Smith, the final is a great feeling, but winning Grimsby’s Karl Nangle, with who finished third with 68 in consecutive years has to be up there six fish for 180cm, including the points from 10 events. with my greatest achievements.” only hound, a mere 44cm long. There was a tie at the top In third was a Final regular, of Division One between SAUL PAGE Neil Cutler, of Gateshead, with Tomos Wyn Hughes, of five fish for 156cm. Bangor, and Jeff Walker, of League and Final winner Middlesbrough, who both Soon after Saul Page, of Deal, secured 42 points from only “The Penn Sea League is one of the had been ranked as the world’s three events. big draws to the match circuit because anglers can see how others are faring sea angler issue 575 throughout the year. It has been a great bonus to fishing competitions. “Seeing people I have looked up to over the years win the League and the Final has always kept my flame burning, and I was fortunate enough to achieve success in both. Anyone will tell you how hard it is to earn Penn points to make the Final as there are so many good anglers competing. It involves travelling, preparation and support from your family. I have really loved being part of the Penn ‘club’.” 67

PENN SEA LEAGUE 2017: FINALLY… IT’S GEORGE SMITH After a second, two thirds and a fourth in the George Smith remembers… annual Penn Final, the fishing machine that is “I’d been second and third several times in the Final, Grimsby’s George Smith used all his guile to and wanted to win against the 40 best anglers” secure victory on the North Norfolk shingle bank at Kelling (below). Steve Williams, from Jarrow, finished second with 66 points from seven matches, His never-say-die attitude and a hint of while another Geordie, Neil Cutler, was only gamesmanship saw him overhaul his rivals in a point behind in third. Neil’s consistency a very consistent match. had produced 13 batches of Penn points, and dropping his three lowest scores gave him 65 As Darren Bond and Nathan Elliott set the points from the maximum 10 matches. pace in zone B, it was George on peg 33 who did well to stay in touch. With 90 minutes of In Division One, the winner was former the match remaining, Darren, from Lancing, England junior Chris Westgarth, of Saltburn, was leading. Gradually, George pegged him with 50 points, thanks to winning the big back and seemed to gain a psychological Amble open. advantage in a nail-biting finish. There was only one fish in it, 23 worth 338 points for George and 22 worth 315 points for Darren. However, Darren had to settle for third because zone A winner, Andrew Dugdale, from the Isle of Man, overtook him with 25 fish for 328 points. In the annual league, a superb last three months of the year ensured a comfortable victory for Ged Stevens (right) with 109 points. The 47-year-old angler, from Barrow, kicked off his year with second in the Irish Winter Shore Festival, but his season stalled for a few months until he gathered points consistently throughout North West and North Wales. Ireland proved lucky for Ged again when he was third in the Daiwa Irish Pairs, and that propelled him to sharing top spot with 2016 champ Saul Page. It proved the turning point as he bagged seven more batches of points in the last few months, including second in the South Shields open. Ged Stevens says… “Winning the Penn Premier League has to be one of the greatest achievements in my match fishing life” 68 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 575

2018: ENGLISH TREBLE two months of 2018 to finish with 89 points 2019: BOND ON from a new maximum allowable 12 matches. A fINAL MISSION The boulder beach at Bossington (below), in Somerset, hosted the Penn Final, but A highlight of his season was victory in Rounding off this trip down memory conditions were far from ideal and, once the SAMF Masters for the second time, lane, we come right up to date with the again, fish were hard to find. Competitors had which lifted him to fourth place by May. most recent Penn Final, featuring the to demonstrate an attitude of never giving up In November, he was still fourth, but with best anglers from 2018. and even hoping for a solitary big fish to make 60 points. He then surged to the top with all the difference. Even with a few early fish another 29 points from three events. Fished at the Rock Channel, New caught, anyone could have won it with only 45 Brighton, the match coincided with minutes remaining. Runner-up was 25-year-old Ben Arnold, of local team Liverpool winning the Worthing, with 84 points from 10 batches of Champions League Final later in the It was the 2017 Penn League runner-up Penn points. He’d done particularly well in day, and it all added to the occasion. Steve Williams (right) who suddenly turned the highly competitive Southern Sea Angling the match on its head. After sitting it out with League events, finishing as winner, and was Smoothhounds would be important, three hooks baited with pieces of sandeels, third in the Irish Winter Beach Festival. with 19 caught by the 39 anglers, he had a thumping bite that produced a and victory went to a very deserving 94cm bull huss worth 452 points. In the last Third with 76 points from eight matches Darren Bond (pictured) on end peg 39 15 minutes he added a 33cm pollack to finish was consistent Geordie matchman Steve with 11 fish for 782cm. The 33-year-old with 478 points and a big margin of victory. Williams, who had been second in 2017. bricklayer, from Lancing, got among the fish early on and finished with Andrew Dugdale, from the Isle of Man, In Division One, Swansea’s Carl Campion seven hounds and four dabs. was second in the zone with four fish for 155 earned 46 points from five matches, with points, while zone B winner was Scotland a December win at the Loughor Estuary Brian Carter, from Barrow, finished international Billy Buckley, from Glasgow, pushing him from third to first. second. His lucky dragon charm secured with three for 206 points, with Nathan to his rod-rest seemed to do the trick Elliott, of Dover, next with two dogfish for because he caught the most fish 156 points and left thinking what might have (seven dabs, four bass, four flounders been if he’d not lost several dogfish late on. and a plaice for 485cm). They say you can never keep a good man On the next peg to Brian was young down, and so it was for George Smith (above Keane Greenhow, from Sunderland, the left), who became only the third angler, and first junior to qualify for the prestigious the first Englishman, to win the Penn Sea final, who caught a creditable seven League on three occasions. fish for 210cm and finished seventh in zone A. That put him ahead of three George, 55, really made it count in the last former Penn final winners fishing in the same zone. George Smith’s verdict… “To win the Penn Sea League is probably one of the hardest Third was Matt White, of Lancaster, things to do as you’re competing against every angler in the who in 2018 had earned promotion to country. You need to be on your game throughout the year” the Penn Premier Division by finishing fourth in Division One. The angler, from Lancaster, caught seven fish, including three hounds, for 485cm at peg 38. sea angler issue 575 69

20 TOP TIPS Secrets of match angling All the information, tactics and tricks you need to get on the ladder to competitive success T here are no secrets tobeing a successful match angler. It boils down to hard work – be it at home sorting gear and rigs, on the beach gathering bait, sourcing information and then back on the beach putting in the rod hours. Some anglers are attracted by the atmosphere, the banter and being the best on the day. It’s all about having a competitive edge, and many enjoy having the bragging rights, however fleeting. Money is not usually the motivator because annual winnings, particularly for those who travel widely, rarely cover the outlay, and not even the hottest rods win everything. GETTING STARTED mix of cash and prizes. Many total bonus big fish is not so valuable as it catch events feature a prize for the would be in weight, and it’s why events 1Start with club matches, and when the heaviest or longest single fish, and even that reward length by converting it to fishing gets too easy join the local open a nominated species, giving you more weight are perhaps a fairer proposition circuit for an extra challenge. Start out at chances to win something. for the newcomer. the large entry club or town open in your area where you have a good knowledge of 4Choose the right sort of match for you. 7 Other systems involve points, and the fishing before going further afield. Pegged events where total bag weight it is a good idea to consider the way or total length are required to win have the winners are determined in any event 2There’s nothing worse for your many devotees, but the biggest entries before you enter. Some events work on a confidence than never winning anything, are generally in roving events, particularly percentage of specimen, others on points so look for events with a larger prize table. those based on a single big-fish catch. for different species, and some even offer For some, heaviest fish events could be the points for undersized, returned fish. 3Events with all cash prizes tend to place to start, but most new match anglers Choose your match to suit your preference, attract the top match anglers, so the think pegged events are the way to go. ability and skills. best events for newcomers are those with a 5Many anglers prefer the fish in the bucket weigh-in at the end of the competition, arguing that catch, measure and release events favour the small-fish snatchers. This is a skill not all anglers enjoy, but can be overcome if organisers set a sensible minimum size. 6The occasional bonus big fish is the piece of luck that makes competitions attractive. Events where fish are measured and the length is recorded can mean a 70 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 575

14Casting range, bait, rigs and PEGGED vs knowledge of the marks all influence ROvING results. You have to bear in mind that if there are better anglers around you they The advantages and disadvantages may catch fish before you do. The big difference in events is whether 15The skill is the ability to cast long, they are fished on a roving or on a but knowing when to fish short. Be pegged basis. warned, casting long can become a drug, and lots of good anglers are ruined by a Rovers have a boundary at each end casting ego. within which competitors must fish, while pegging promotes a fair spread 8Read the event’s rules. There are 16You can’t beat practice. The more you of competitors and avoids a crush matches where the number of certain fish the more confident and successful around the hotspots. Pegged events are prolific species allowed is limited, while In you will be. usually fished in zones, which gives the others it might be that the number of hooks angler an opportunity to top the zone is limited to fewer than three. 17Savour little victories. It’s always good even if they can’t win the match. for your confidence to finish ahead of 9Under match fishing conditions, the a well-known top angler, whether it be in a Rover competitions can be dominated pressure can be very different to fishing zone or just on the adjacent pegs. by local experts who know the freelance. Focus on your fishing, while being hotspots, get there first and usually aware of what is being caught nearby so catch the fish. On the other hand, you can adapt your tactics if necessary. pegged matches reward angling skill as well as the luck of the draw. Pegging 10Do not underestimate the importance is generally viewed as fairer. There is of bait because it can be a great room for both systems. leveller on many venues, which is why some events ban some of the harder to Some anglers like to fish next to their obtain baits. mates and where they want within the match boundaries, which is a reason 11Going out of your way to dig or collect 18Learning to be a match angler is like rovers are popular. A problem with your own bait can gain an advantage. serving an apprenticeship. Consistent rovers is the rush for the best spots The alternative is having to buy a harder-to- success rarely comes instantly. That’s why on the match day. Zoned rovers are a source bait. Conversely, if you turn up with honing your skills at club level is a good compromise and involve drawing for a score of frozen lug and a re-thawed box of starting point. Experience coupled with your allocation to one of several large squid, you will get what you deserve, even if knowledge of the places you fish are only sections inside the main boundaries. you’ve got all the best tackle. Don’t be the the first rungs on a long ladder. The key to angler with all the gear and no idea! gaining a lot of knowledge quickly is to fish The downside of large rovers is that with top-class anglers. there have been instances of cheating, 12Be a busy match angler. Prepare a especially where big money prizes are fresh bait on a spare rig, known as 19Lots of would-be match anglers fail involved, whereas pegged events are double patting, so it is ready to be cast out because they don’t open their minds easier to steward, particularly as the as soon as a rig is retrieved. Each cast is and instead stick to ‘robot fishing’ where standard system involves catch cards usually timed and retrieved after, say, they won’t adapt. The best anglers can signed by a witness on the next peg. 20 minutes if you haven’t had a bite. turn their skills to any types of venue and It’s also about knowing if and when to fishing conditions. JP MOLLOY leave a bite to allow other fish to take the other baits on a rig. Irish international & match organiser 13Effort is the key word. Even when luck plays its part in fishing, those who “By running matches as a longest help their confidence along with effort will fish event and bag weight, we get eventually come out on top. Never give up. more people on the beach. I get If you have a good bait in the water, there is the big-fish anglers and the match always a chance. anglers. It’s actually working really well. It has even seen people back 20Enjoy it! Whether you get a prize or on the beach that have not fished come nowhere, you’ll gain experience. for 20 years.” It’s a day out fishing, usually very sociable, so what’s not to like? sea angler issue 575 71

PENN SEA LEAGUE Telling the story by numbers Factsandfiguresfrom our big match series PENN SEA LEAGUE PENN FINAL WINNERS WINNERS OF ROLL OF HONOUR Year Venue Winner THE LEAGUE Dave Madderson & FINAL IN THE n 1999 Alan Price 2000 Humberston Creek Ian Golds SAME YEAR n 2000 Alan Price Shane Russell n 2001 Ian Golds 2001 Weymouth Breakwater Rob Marshall Ian Golds 2001 n 2002 Alan Price Alec Harvey Joe Arch 2007 n 2003 Shane Russell 2002 Holyhead Breakwater Neville Charlesworth Dave Roe 2008 n 2004 Joe Arch Colin Carey n 2005 Peter Corker 2003 Tynemouth Breakwater Joe Arch WINNERS OF n 2006 Jim Dobie Dave Roe BOTH LEAGUE n 2007 Joe Arch 2004 Dover Breakwater Chris Clark & FINAL n 2008 Dave Roe Nathan Elliott n 2009 Rob Marshall 2005 Bagillt Cob Steve Smith Joe Arch n 2010 Joe Arch Saul Page Pete Corker n 2011 Disqualified 2006 Cefn Sidan Peter Corker Ian Golds n 2012 George Smith Steve Smith Rob Marshall n 2013 Dave Roe 2007 Holland-on-Sea Chris Read Saul Page n 2014 Paul Medd Chris Read Dave Roe n 2015 George Smith 2008 Silloth George Smith Shane Russell n 2016 Saul Page Steve Williams George Smith n 2017 Ged Stevens 2009 Samphire Hoe Darren Bond n 2018 George Smith 2010 Pwllheli * Became Premier Division in 2006 2011 Hessle 2012 Dover 2013 Pennington Marshes 2014 Morecambe 2015 Warkworth 2016 Chapel St Leonards 2017 Kelling 2018 Bossington 2019 New Brighton MOST LEAGUE WINS MOST FINAL MOST TOP 3 PLACES IN OVERALL LEAGUE WINS Joe Arch 3 (2004, 2007 & 2010) George Smith 6 (3x1st, 1x2nd, 2x3rd) Chris Read - 2 Alan Price 3 (1999, 2000 & 2002) Alan Price 5 (3x1st, 2x2nd) Steve Smith - 2 George Smith 3 (2012, 2015 & 2018) Joe Arch 5 (3x1st, 2x3rd) No other angler has won more than once. Saul Page 4 (1x1st, 2x2nd, 1x3rd) THEY’VE DONE THE TREBLE... GEORGE SMITH “It’s open to everyone give you big points each year. for free and it keeps “I’ve been told on a few occasions that The England international match anglers talking has topped the League about who’s winning I chase Penn points, but you must still three times and also won be consistent in getting results. Over the the Final. and who’s not years, I’ve had some good results, as well throughout the as getting into the Final. “The Penn Sea League is whole year. fished by virtually every match “It’s not easy “I think the Final is one of the matches angler in the country – young to win the that every match angler wants to win. or older, male and female. League. It takes You’re fishing against 40 of the top match It is open to everyone. a lot of match anglers of that year. I’ve been lucky Run by Sea Angler fishing around enough to win it and have had some good magazine, it is probably the first page the country. You placings as well, so I’m well pleased. in each issue that most match anglers look need at least a at to see their name and where they stand couple of wins in “You’ve got to thank Penn for sponsoring in the League. major opens to this and Sea Angler for running it. It’s a thankless job sometimes, chasing results to get the League updated every month.” 72 SEA ANGLER ISSUE 575

314 Thetotalnumber DIVISION 1 of Penn Sea League ROLL OF HONOUR matches in 2018 (Saturday and Started 2006 Sundays and official n 2006: Gareth Griffiths (left), Barrow bank holidays only). n 2007: Andrew Hooper, Birtley n 2008: Steve Smythe, Pentwyn 18,482 n 2009: Darren Newland, Ryde The total entries in Penn Sea League n 2010: Stephen Harper, Whitley Bay matches covered in the 13 issues of n 2011: Andrew Dawkins, Lymington Sea Angler in 2018. That’s an average n 2012: Joe Perry, Bootle attendance of 58.86 anglers per match. n 2013: Mark Taylor (right), Grimsby n 2014: Phil Harrison, Hatfield n 2015: John Byrne, Hull n 2016: Tomas Hughes, Bangor n 2017: Chris Westgarth, Widdrington n 2018: Carl Campion, Swansea MOST APPEARANCES IN 17 10 MEMORABLE MOMENTS THE 20 PENN FINALS 16 16 Editor Cliff Brown picks some of his favourites George Smith 15 Joe Arch 14 1 Top of the list has to be witnessing the was a tiny 44cm fish for Karl Nangle. Nev Charlesworth 14 achievements of Alan Price, Joe Arch Dave Lane 12 and George Smith in being the only anglers 7George Smith adding victory in the Bill Lindfield 12 to win the Penn Sea League on three Penn Final, in 2017 at Kelling, to his Rob Tuck 12 occasions each. Amazing consistency! impressive League record. He’s done it all. Neil Cutler 11 Rob Marshall 10 2 Monty Burton using big crab baits 8In the same final at Kelling, Gareth Shane Russell 10 to catch smoothhounds at Portland Griffiths fishing through the pain Alan Price 9 Breakwater, while everyone else was barrier with a heavily bandaged thumb, Chris Clark 9 wrasse snatching. after a nasty accident at work only the Julian Shambrook 9 day before. No pain, no gain. Pete Corker 9 3 That final at Cefn Sidan – truly Garry Hutson 9 fish-tastic. Well done Colin Carey. 9The achievement of 10-year-old Saul Page 8 angler Keane Greenhow to finish Steve Smith 8 4 Ian Golds, always the joker but deadly fourth in Division One in 2018 and become Nathan Elliott 8 serious when fishing, using a plastic the first junior to fish the Penn Final, Craig Buy 8 bottle for a float at Portland Breakwater. where he finished a creditable seventh in Simon Drayton 7 his zone at New Brighton in 2019. Bob Gascoigne 7 5 Being there for a second consecutive Ged Stevens 7 Penn Final victory in 2016 by Chris 10Those cheeky impersonations Jim Dobie 7 ‘Bugsy’ Read. Will anyone do it again? of fellow competitors by Julian Ian Golds 7 Shambrook, the boss of Anyfish Anywhere Martyn Reid 6 A smoothhound bonanza was rods. His mimicry of Joe Arch and Bob Chris Stringer expected at Chapel St Leonards in Gascoigne is particularly memorable. Gordon Thornes 2016. It was not to be, and the only hound (red = pictured) JOE ARCH qualify for the Penn Final and to qualify ALAN PRICE for the Welsh national team. Fishing Penn A former world champion matches as much as I could always seemed The first angler to win the and long-time Wales to keep me match-minded. Penn Sea League three times international, who has and former world champion. topped the League three “The good thing about the League is that times and won the Final. it helps keep match fishing going. Without “The Penn League was a great it, I think sea match attendances would be addition to match angling “My experiences in the down. It certainly helps to keep anglers on and encouraged a lot of Penn Sea League have the beach. people to get out and start varied from highs to match fishing. It showed that lows, but this is fishing in general. It’s “To win the League three times and to the more you put into match great when you do well and rubbish when win the Final once are up there with the fishing the more you get out of you don’t. biggest results that I have achieved in my it, which is probably shown by match-fishing career. the anglers that have won it in the past. “Travelling to various venues around the country where the competitions are “What it takes to be successful is 100 “You have to admire George Smith, who held not only broadens your knowledge per cent commitment, lots of preparation still gives it a 100 per cent and deserves all of match fishing techniques, but also you at home tying rigs, spooling reels, sorting the success he’s still having. meet and talk to local anglers, pick up tackle and looking after your equipment. various tips and make some good friends. Getting your bait to the best condition is “People used to say that success is one of the most important things to get because you fish a lot... well, I don’t “Its importance to me was that it set right. If you travel to new venues, try and remember the Penn League giving goals for the year. My goal was always to get some local information if possible.” attendance points!” SEA ANGLER ISSUE 575 73

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