Busy year for Apuldram anglers - but not without worries

Members fish in boats outside Chichester Harbour, from the shore at East Beach, Selsey, and favoured locations in and around Dell Quay and this year they organised a new evening event on the River Arun.

At various locations at sea, members caught smooth hounds, dog fish, bass, bream and mackerel. Preferred baits included squid, mackerel strips and rag worm.

The East Beach events yielded whiting and bass, caught usually on rising tides. These competitions were well-supported by club members.

Throughout the year, but not when the bass ban from boats was in force, members caught good-sized specimen bass from 3lb 8oz up to an incredible 11lb 3½oz. This large fish was caught on a rising tide near the quay using sliding gear with king rag worm, early in November.

A few members caught small silver eels but generally they were rare and difficult to locate. This and the general lack of flounders continues to be a concern for the club - although several members were successful with some flat fish, their numbers have never recovered from previous years.

The annual run of grey mullet caused considerable interest for members again this year with more than 20 specimen fish caught.

The largest fish weighed in at 6lb 4oz, not quite matching the heaviest of 7lb 8oz last year. Techniques to catch these very shy fish varied considerably but the favoured method involved very light line and spinning rods.

Every year the club link up with the Harbour Conservancy Education Centre at Dell Quay for an ‘introduction to fishing’ event. This year, despite it being a rainy day, it was really successful with more than 60 participants who enjoyed a very interesting occasion.

This event will take place again at the Quay on June 5 this year. See the Harbour Conservancy Events Booklet for 2011 for more information.

The Christmas fishing event, although disappointing in terms of the number of fish caught because of the extreme cold water, was encouraging because members from other fishing clubs and associations took part, including Trident and Barn Sea.

All participants retired to Apuldram’s fishing hut and club headquarters on the Quay, where mince pies and hot drinks were served.

To find out more about the club, either visit www.apuldramfishingandboatingclub.org.uk or pick up a leaflet outside our club hut, at the Conservancy Office or at the Chichester Library in Tower Street.