Weymouth Angling Society

Top of the league for so long, Codfathers (Paul Seagrave, Dave Lane, Mick Channon) finally cracked in the June heat of the W.A.S. Shore Team League by only scoring 2 points

Once again Dire Straits (Mike Shorter, Graham McReady, Ian Legg) were rampant and took top honours, and 10points, by winning the Weight and Greatest Numbers categories, coming second in the Number of Species category and claiming 3rd best specimen.

As their name implies, Phoenix ( Ray Goodwin, Steve Goodwin, Bob Goodwin) raised themselves from the ashes of bottom position by taking 7points, thus elevating themselves to 2nd last over Hook, Line and Sinker,

Despite a very unpleasant night of extremely high winds, which made conditions very difficult, teams still managed to winkle out 90fish, most of which were Wrasse, although Pout, Poor Cod, Gurnard, Silver Eels and Dogfish featured.

The best specimen points went to Ray Goodwin with a very impressive Ballan Wrasse of 2.19Kgs which converts to 128.36% of specimen.

Top place for Greatest Number of Species went to Snafu, who, despite being one man down, managed 5, Ballan and Corkwing Wrasse, Pout, Poor cod and Silver Eels.

The top 3 points positions are now very close with Codfathers on 41Points just leading Musketeers (Roy Groves, Ken Gowans, Phil Billings) who are on 40 and Dire Staits, thanks to their recent top form are breathing down their necks with 39.

MARCH

The March heat of the W.A.S. Shore team League was held at the Masonic Hall end of Chesil Beach on Thursday 27th.

Conditions were good, despite an ever increasing wind making for some rough water near the end of the competition, but everyone managed to cope.

A total of 100 fish were caught by the 8 teams, mainly dogfish and pout, although Pete Hegg managed to find a Smoothound of 4lb 6oz, whilst Ant Buik captured a Dab, an unusual but welcome species given the conditions.

The Musketeers, (Ken Gowans, Phil Billings, Pete Hegg) were top earners (thanks mainly to the efforts of Pete), accumulating 12 points which elevates them from 4th to 2nd, 5points behind the leaders The Codfathers (Mick Channon, Paul Seagrave, Dave Lane) who lead with 27points. Chickerell Mafia (Mark Ayles, James lane, Martin Johns) drop one place to 3rd scoring 6 points to bring their total to 19points. The Underdogs (Phil Cheeseman, Ant Buik, Paul Phillips are in 4th place with 17points

Best specimen fish was a Lesser Spotted Dogfish of 86.49% captured by the Chickerell Mafia narrowly beating one of 84.84% from The Musketeers.

The Greatest number of fish category was won by The Musketeers with 20 which also secured them first place in the heaviest weight section with 10.2Kg

Second in the weight section were The Underdogs with 9.06Kg whilst sec ond greatest number of fish was claimed by the Codfathers with 19.

February

The second heat of the WAS Shore Team League competition took place on Thurs 28th Feb and was staged as a roving event,competitors being able to fish wherever they fancied within Dorset.

As fishing time is only 3hrs, most preferred to fish locally, i.e Chesil Beach or Portland rather than further afield.

The majority chose to fish on Chesil Beach,which was reflected by the catches of Dogfish and Pout, whilst a few went to Portland, returning with Pollack and Rockling.

Altogether, a total of 113 fish were recorded, with Chickerell Mafia securing 28 of them to win the greatest number of fish catergory as well as the heaviest weight section with 11.8 Kg, followed by Hook, Line & Sinker with 8.99Kg

Codfather and Musketeers tied for number of species, both with 4 and best specimen was a Dogfish of 85.61% captured by one of the Codfathers.

After 2 comps, the league leaders are Codfathers with 20 points, followed by Chickerell Mafia on 13 with Hook, Line& Sinker and Underdogs tied in third with 11.

January

Weymouth Angling Society held its first match of the Monthly Shore Team League 2008 in very benign weather conditions.

Eight teams of three collected a haul of 210 fish comprising dogfish, mick pout and poor-cod with a solitary codling.

The Codfathers (last years winners) - Paul Seagrave, Dave Lane and Mick Channon had a good evening winning all four categories avaialble, top weight, greatest numbers, best specimen and greatest number od species for a maximum 13 points.

With most teams recording four species, Paul Seagraves cod made The Codfathers tally up to five, whilst Mick Channon's huge whiting of 1.2kg (2lb 10ox) equal to 176.47% of specimen made absolutely sure that his team were top performers.

Second place went to The Underdogs (Paul Philips,Ant Buik and Phil Cheeseman) with seven points.

Third place was The Musketeers (Roy Groves, Ken Gowans and Phil Billings) with five points

With another ten matches to go there is still plenty to fish for.