The Winter Shore Angling Festival 2015, sponsored by Tronixpro, Vercelli and Cennitic got under way today Thursday 22nd January at Balinoulart beach in Co Wexford. Anglers from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Iceland all travelled big distances to compete in this important event on the Irish sea angling calendar.
Sign in took place at Sean Ogs in Kilmuckridge between 8.30am and 9.30am and after receiving all relevant information, anglers headed off to their pegs to set up and await the all in which was called at 12 noon. The foggy and freezing temperatures which were accompanied a by grey overcast sky gave way to brighter conditions on what could only be described as an unseasonably mild day for January. The earlier menacing sky was replaced with temperatures topping 8 degrees and clear blue skies and many anglers were able to shed the unnecessary layers of protective clothing.
The tide was high at around 9am and was slightly coloured. As the competition got underway at 12 noon the tide was ebbing well. Fishing took place over the next five hours with anglers experiencing varying degrees of success in each of the 4 zones.
There was the usual flurry of activity at the start of the event as anglers picked off fish in the gullies close in. As the tide dropped they targeted their fish at distance. Flounder were by far the most abundant species but dabs, whiting and codling were also taken. The fishing slowed after the first hour as the tide dropped further and then the grind began. Anglers had to work really hard for each and every fish and despite changes in tactics there was a long eerie lull in the afternoon in many of the zones.
Longest round fish of the day was taken by A. Sampson with a nice codling of 42cm with G. Griffiths having another cod of 38cm. Honours for the longest flat fish was shared by Warren Doyle and Micheal Quinn each with a nice flounder measuring 34cms. As the day 1 of the Winter Shore Festival entered the last hour it was really all to play for. The bright clear sky meant that it stayed brighter longer and the flooding tide produced some additional fish in the last half hour of the session.
Results and Current Standings after Day 1 of the Winter Shore Angling Festival 2015 can be found below
Individual
1st Stephen Glynn, 2nd Sean Ivory, 3rd Bill Lindfield, 4th Richard Yates, 5th Joe Duggan, 6th Chris Clark.
2 Man Team
1st Ashley Sampson & Yilmaz Samiloglu, 2nd Paul Tyndall & Stephen Glynn, 3rd Sean Ivory and JP. Mulloy
4 Man Team
1st Ashley Sampson, Yilmaz Samiloglu, Gareth Griffiths and Ged Stephens 2nd Gordon Thornes, Bill Lindfield, Saul Page and Richard Yates, 3rd Shay O’Neill, Warren Doyle, Stephen Glynn and Micheal Quinn.
Super Pool
1st S.Glynn Zone 2, 2nd S.Ivory Zone 4, 3rd J. Duggan Zone 2
Long Flat
Warren Doyle 34 cm Flounder, Micheal Quinn 34cm Flounder
Long Round
A. Sampson 42cm Codling, Gareth Griffiths 38cm Codling
