Anglers tackle near 50mph winds

The 2012 Hastings Angling Centre Open Beach Match was fished in very heavy conditions with huge seas and a southerly gale gusting to nearly 50mph.
By The Newsroom
Published 1st Jan 2013, 14:00 BST

Fifty-three hardy anglers struggled with the conditions on Saturday, but those who could get out and hold were rewarded with surprisingly good bags of fish. In these conditions, only a few flatfish were recorded but good numbers of bass and whiting were had.

The clear winner was Darren Brooks, fishing at Newchurch, with 36 fish for 16lb 13oz to receive the £300 first prize. The heaviest fish was a codling of 3lb 14oz for Rob Dunk. Tony Methven had the heaviest flat, a flounder of 14oz. Both the winners of the heaviest fish won Akios CTM reels.

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Results: overall winner - Darren Brooks 36 fish 16lb 13oz; Zone A - 1st Mark Rodgers 14 fish 8lb 9oz, 2nd Keith Sturmer 15 fish 7lb 5oz; Zone B - 1st Ian Hopper 14 fish 5lb 12oz, 2nd Nick May 11 fish 5lb 0oz; Zone C - 1st Ralph Crosby 23 fish 11lb 15oz, 2nd Lee Chapman 25 fish 11lb 0oz; Zone D - 1st Colin Crosby 20 fish 10lb 3oz, 2nd Rob Dunk 12 fish 8lb 8oz; Pairs - 1st Colin and Ralph Crosby 22lb 2oz, 2nd Lee Chapman and Mark Rodgers 19lb 9oz; Heaviest round fish - Rob Dunk 3lb 14oz cod; Heaviest flat fish - Tony Methven 14oz flounder; Junior Alex Martin 7oz; Veteran - John Ryder 3lb 5oz.

See Friday’s Observers for the full article and more pictures.