The lack of flounders continues to be a concern for anglers at Dell Quay
After a really cold winter, the start of the 2011 sea fishing season for members of the Apuldram Fishing and Boat Club was a challenge but, as the weather improved, there was the promise of a successful time ahead for the rest of the year.
The competitions started in March with a full programme of events planned throughout the year. Members regularly fish from Dell Quay, on the shores from Fishbourne Mill to Copperas Point and Birdham, as well as many other locations inside the harbour. The club also organises a variety of boat and beach events outside the harbour.
The early competitions are always a real challenge to land good-sized fish and 2011 was no exception. Some members, however, did catch early bass as the waters warmed up. The run of grey mullet into the upper reaches of the harbour was very impressive. Some members caught mullet up to 5 lb. 8oz. and had many good bites using rag worm tails and bread as bait. Throughout the season there was almost a complete lack of flounders. Eels were also hard to find. The flounder population has been a concern for anglers over many seasons. A number of reasons have been suggested for their scarcity but it still remains a mystery.
When the bass ban came into force from the end of April to the end of October, members could only catch them from the shore in the harbour, and fished in small creeks and in the early run of the tide. A number of good bass were caught around 5 lb. They were found in shallow water swimming with the mullet. The bass often don’t show themselves, unlike the mullet, who enjoy showing off, swimming fast and doing quick turns. Often though, on really hot summer days, the mullet can be observed almost asleep rolling in the gentle movement of small waves!
The high winds were a feature of last year from early spring to mid summer. This really affected the out of harbour boat competitions and fishing in deep water. High seas developed on many days, which made the fishing unsafe. On one or two rare days some members caught mackerel, dog fish, smooth hounds and even a tope which was returned to the water.
On a calm evening during June in the harbour near Birdham, a member in a boat caught a large smooth hound, a very powerful fish, which when weighed was returned to the water. Also, in the same area a few days later from another boat, a good number of mackerel were caught.
In June, the club in partnership with the Harbour Conservancy, hosted a family and young people’s event on Dell Quay, with almost sixty participants. For the first time this included a crabbing competition. It was a great success and a good day for the club. A number of bass were caught and then put back. This year the club has been invited to repeat the day on Friday 8th June, at the end of half term, by the Conservancy who have offered a prize, a day out on the solar boat for a family, for the largest crab. Please see the Conservancy activities booklet 2012 or their website for details.
In November, during one of our competitions, just after the close of the bass ban, a flounder weighing 1 lb.5oz. and a 3 lb.1oz. bass were caught by two members from a boat close to Dell Quay. This was the first recorded flounder of the season. It was weighed and then returned safely to the water because they are so rare at the moment.
Towards the end of what can be described as a variable season, the club held their annual Christmas event on and around Dell Quay on the 11th December with members and friends from other sea angling organisations, including the local Barnsea club. A cup was generously donated by the fishing tackle shop in East Wittering. It was a good bright day and there were a number of bites. Despite the fact that fish had been caught by members a few days before in the area, no fish were landed. The social event afterwards at the club house on the Quay, was enjoyed by all. It has been proposed that we run the event again early in the new year from the beach at East Wittering.
The Club looks forward to a good fishing season in 2012. For more information about our club please see the website on www.apuldramfishingandboatclub.org.uk
Allan Blamire
