Angling: Duo reel in some top prizes – despite tough conditions

TWO south bank rod men had a great weekend when they hooked some super prizes at a big sea angling contest.

The European Open beach competition on the Yorkshire coast was nearly wrecked by the horrendous weather.

The organisers decided to extend the boundaries to the River Humber.

More than 1,000 anglers took part from all over the country, and anglers from abroad even entered the competition.

But it turned out to be a very profitable weekend for the south bank based anglers.

Goxhill's Karl Wiepcke managed to find one of only three cod caught during the entire weekend.

A codling of 1.70kg was enough to take the first prize on the first day and also took the heaviest weight over the two days, earning him a fantastic prize of a Peugeot car and £2,000 in cash.

He also got another £950 for the pairs prize.

Not bad for two day's work .

Karl was fishing at Aldborough Road end in very rough conditions, on the first day.

One of Grimsby's up and coming young anglers, Mark Taylor, also did very well. He came third on the Saturday with a codling of 1.050kg.

He was fishing the groynes at Withernsea, seeking out the calmer waters.

He managed to get a lug worm razorfish bait out into the crashing seas – and found a stray codling.

This was enough to claim third on the day. Taylor was anxious to improve and knew one fish would boost him up the ranking the following day.

Guided by England internationals George Smith and Julian Shambrook, he decided to go for cod at Spurn.

This ploy failed, so he went for flounders instead.

The size limit for the flounders was a massive 31cm.

Taylor caught two at 29cm and one at 30cm.

He could just not get that one fish that would take him up the prize ladder – but that single codling gave him third overall, £500 and a 42-inch 3D television.

Grimsby international Smith did manage a flounder in size and this gave him third on the day and a nice pay day of £500.

Shambrook was second with a whiting.

The Sunday match was won with a flounder, as there was not one cod caught.

In fact, out of the 1,000 entrants, only 12 anglers weighed in.

On the presentation night, Mark had rather foolishly said that if he came in the top three on the Sunday, he would accept his prize wearing a pink wet suit.

He was made to strip off on stage and put the suit on – well done to him for being such a good sport.

Meanwhile, the Humber Sea Angling Club were in action at Humberston creek and it fished very well.

Top flattie angler Steve McGregor had 7lb of quality flounders. He had 13 good fish and he also had the biggest fish of the night, a 33cm flounder.

He was followed by Adie Cooper, with 13 fish for 6.4lb. Third was Steve Robinson, who had the most fish on the night. He was kept busy, catching 20 fish, including the biggest round fish of the night, a 26cm rockling.

The next match is tonight on Courtaulds straight. Meet at the Novartis barrier at 5.15pm, fishing is 6.30pm to 10.30pm. New members are welcome.

Sunday's rearranged big cod boat match is, at the moment, still on. The weather is changing every day, but it does not look too bad at present.