The scores for 2012 were record breaking with all of the anglers in the top 12 beating the winning score of 1,270 points from last year’s festival. Congratulations to all who took part, anglers skippers and the organisers.
But most of all congratulations to Pat O’Shea of the Commodore Hotel who won the 46th Cobh International Deep Sea Angling Festival with a massive score of 2,705 points.
The catches during the competition were a real testament to the quality of angling available in the Cork Harbour Angling Hub. On the first day the boats averaged 50 congers each and the top scores went to Dutch angler, Gerard Gersjes with 980 points, followed closely in second place by Welsh angler, Paul Evans, with 925 points. The second day was dominated by pollack catches and Pat O’Shea had almost 60 fish to nearly 3kg for 1220 points – remember that last year’s competition was won with 1,270. All anglers had a well-deserved rest on the Wednesday and on Thursday fishing resumed but scores were more modest on a day during which ling and garfish featured most heavily in catches. Winner on Thursday was Steve Willams of Wales with 635 points, followed closely by Pat O’ Shea with 620 points. On Friday the fishing was very good again and congers showed up in numbers along with some good cod to 8.5kg. This suited Cork Harbour’s own conger specialist and a previous winner of the Festival, Frank Cronin, who was to prevail and recorded a good score of 705 points. In second place was Johann Duijts of Holland with a score of 665 points. Pat O’Shea finished the day with 375 points bringing his 4 day and final score to 2,705 points a long way clear of 2nd place angler Paul Evans of Wales with 2,155.
A special mention is made of Cobh’s Conger Queen Tina Kneeshaw who won the Ladies Prize but also caught the heaviest fish on 2 of the 4 days. On Monday she boated and 11lb conger and on Tuesday she again caught the heaviest fish. This time a fine 16kg conger which won her the Heaviest Fish Prize. What was most amazing was that only 10 minutes prior to catching this she had also landed 14kg conger.
Next year’s Festival will be run from Monday 2nd September 2013 to Friday 6th September 2013.
€1,000 for first place, €400 for 2nd place, and €200 for 3rd. The winning team of two will also receive a cheque for €400.
If you would like to enter then contact Cobh SAC through Mary Geary on 00-353-21-4812167 or by email on [email protected].
For the comprehensive report and loads more photos please see:
http://www.corkharbouranglinghub.blogspot.ie/2012/09/46th-cobh-international-deep-sea.html
The score board
15th Ger Brady, Cobh SAC, 1,115 pts
