In sea angling this week, the Leinster Provincial Council Shore Committee held an open shore angling competition and awards night in Courtown. Anglers participating in the event checked in at the Orphan Girl, bar and restaurant, on Sunday morning last 11th December 2011.
The weather on the day was fantastic, especially considering the mixed bag that we had experienced in the proceeding weeks. Despite the possibility of bad weather, 56 anglers turned out for what was to be a terrific event. The sea was calm with a slight colour and it was overcast with intermittent sunny spells and it did turn very cold in the afternoon.

The action was immediate following the all in being called at 12 noon and some anglers hit trebles straight away. The tide at one stage did not know if it was coming or going, not unusual at this location. Lulls and calm periods were interspersed with frantic periods of activity, something that all match anglers can bear witness to.
Preparation and process is key to success when match fishing, and all anglers had their next trace prepared and baited in advance waiting for the next hook up. After which the fish was then landed, trace quickly changed and new baits recast. The fish were then carefully unhooked, recorded, measured and released carefully and swiftly back to the water. This was done seamlessly and expertly and then the whole process started all over again.

Many of the fish taken during the competition were small but an estimated 800 fish were reported to have been taken during the event. The main species taken were whiting, dab and flounder but small numbers of other species such as codling, coalfish and rockling were also recorded. Crab, maddies mackerel and lug baits all produced results on the day. The overall winner of the open shore event was Alan Mulcathy with 46 fish and the winner of the ladies section was Paula Dunphy with 23 fish. Junior section winner was Roy Daniels with 20 fish. The seniors section was won by Frank Lawlor.
At the awards ceremony on Sunday evening in the Orphan Girl the winner of the league John Bermingham, South Shore SAC was awarded with his gold medal. Second place went to Paul Whelan, Raheny SAC and Third Place went to Paul Tyndall Bray Head SAC. Darragh Bermingham took first in the junior section.

RESULTS OF THE LPC OPEN SHORE COMPETITION
ZONE A
- 1st Frank Baxter
- 2nd Joe Duggan
- 3rd Eamon Bermingham
- 4th Gerry Flood
- 5th John Bermingham
- 6th TC Keogh
- 7th Shay O’Neill
- 8th Stephen Glynn.
ZONE B
- 1st Alan Mulcathy
- 2nd Paul Heffernan
- 3rd Paul Scanlan
- 4th Ian Daly
- 5th Robbie Gilbert
- 6th Paul Tyndall
- 7th Mick Quinn
- 8th Chris Keane.

Ladies Section
- 1st Paula Dunphy
- 2nd Ann Whitty
- 3rd Vivien Champ
- 4th Jane Cantwell
- 5th Karen Byrne

Junior Anglers Section
- 1st Roy Daniels
- 2nd Darragh Bermingham
- 3rd Richard Warren.
Senior Anglers Section
- 1st Frank Lawlor
Longest Fish Pool
- Longest Round Fish went to Chris Keane with a whiting of 35cm.
- Longest flat fish went to Jane Cantwell with a flounder measuring 37cm.

