In a continuing effort to raise funds for the family of the missing Bristol Channel angler Alan Wright (See 11.2.08 entry), a friendly competition was organised by the Hampshire Hookers Angling Club and was held on Saturday 23.2.08 at Eastney beach, along the Esplanade near the Royal Marines Museum.
I started the journey from Sussex at 5.15am and made reasonable time considering the thick fog in places. I arrived at about 7am and met up with other hopeful anglers who had turned up. Donations to the fund were deposited in the bucket. In total, some 25 attended in support.
The target species for the day was Plaice for which Eastney is famed (apparently). Although a bit early in the season, there were reports that a few had been caught in the area, so everyone was optimistic.
After introductions, I trudged off in company with ‘Fishyrob‘ to find a spot to fish . Once we had selected our ‘patch’, we set up and started fishing. I used two rods with one using a one hook clipdown rig baited with the preferred Ragworm. The other rod was armed with a two hook flapper, again baited with Ragworm but with thin strips of calamari tipping it off.
To say fishing was slow is an under statement, it was non existent; no bites, no indications, in fact no sign of any fish being there at all. I passed the time by sorting through my gear and making totally unnecessary changes and checking things over again. 
I had a good scout around amongst the debris and general flotsam on the high water mark and was rewarded with a few Slipper Limpet which I added to my bait bucket. I tried all the usual tactics that would normally induce a bite, I ignored my rods, I had numerous coffees, I even wandered off and chatted with Rob to my West and the chap to my East, Kev I think (If you’re reading this, I apologise for not remembering your name – I have a severely crap memory).
From what I heard along the grapevine, I was not alone in being fishless. It seemed that the Plaice were still away on holiday or had decided not to play. At one point though, the beach was filled with excitement with whispers that one of our gathering had battled and brought ashore a Flounder! There was hope after all. There were later sightings of a “Scorpion Fish” – probably a Bullhead of some description being beached, followed by wild tales of a Blenny of some sort (there are numerous types) being hauled ashore. I did hear later that a Whiting had also been thwarted but I do believe this was after the official close of the competition.
No matter what the rumour mongers were spreading, my rods stayed securely in the rest and did not budge during the whole day except when being picked up for bait changes, rig changes and hook replacement after being snipped off by crabs (not a medical condition). It mattered not one jot what I tried in my quest for fish, nothing worked, it was that simple.
Slowly but surely, people started to pack up and drift away from the beach until the only fools left were me, Rob and another guy far away to the West. By about 3.30pm I called it it quits and buggered off leaving Rob to his manic endeavours. It was a tiring drive home and I was certainly glad of a good hot shower and spruce up.
Despite being dire as regards to fish, it had been a good day out and a different venue for me. It was all for a good cause which had a few more quid in its coffers. A huge thanks go to local lads, Big Ivor and Pompeyboy for great organisation and making everyone feel welcome. I would seriously consider going again once the Plaice are in. In fact as my mother lives not too far away, I don’t know why I don’t try it more often anyway.
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Fishing
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Sea Angling, Seaford, Sussex | 
