ANGLESEY on the North West coast of Wales saw an influx of 106 anglers to take part in the second Anglesey Boat Angling Festival. With 14 charter boats booked the event was proving to be yet another great success.

The Anglesey festival is a very simple event and run to accommodate competitors of all angling abilities, ensuring that they have an enjoyable and memorable weekend on the island. With this event there is no weird and wonderful points system to try and understand. Every fish caught is awarded 1 point regardless of size; with the event being held in October there is naturally an abundance of whiting, dabs and dogfish for the anglers to target their efforts on.

Day One

On the Saturday the forecasted winds were a nice force 2 -3 thus it would allow us to venture outside the Straits to a cluster of marks off Whitebeach on Anglesey. Whitebeach is famed with shore anglers for its consistent bags of whiting and dogs, with the odd conger and ray thrown in. All boats were underway by 0830 for the 45 minute trip to the fishing grounds.

First boat to return was Alan Tinsley’s Aquastar, Warrior. With 8 anglers on board, fishing for 6 hours – the anglers had caught over 2000 fish. What was also pleasing to here is that many of the fish caught were good size whiting, dabs and dogs – not really the tiddler bash as some had suggested it ay be. Day one saw Welsh International Gwyn Andrews take the 1^st position, with a boat win from the Warrior giving him 100% for an amazing 387 fish.

From the 106 anglers fishing the Saturday over 100 of them had caught over 100 fish; excellent fishing with smiles all around the camp.

Day Two

The wind was blowing a very strong easterly and the coastguard was giving us a force 6. With that forecast there was no chance of us venturing out to Whitebeach once again? In fact most anglers preferred the idea of fishing in the Straits were they knew the fishing would be slower, they were all still knackered from Saturdays exploits and fancied an easier day.

Best result of the day was young Aaron Smith. At only 11 years old, Aaron who had a poor showing in his first competition, last years festival, had practised hard and questioned a number of top rods in planning his fishing for this weekend. With a respectable 60% from the Saturday, Aaron secured a place with those he had learnt from by winning his boat on the Sunday, a definite rod to look out for in coming years.

Winner

After a couple hours of crunching numbers through all the boat results we ended up with 5 anglers on the maximum 200%, including last year’s winner Kevin Preston from Lancashire. On a fish count back the 2003 Anglesey Boat Festival Individual winner was English International Dave Shay from Doncaster. Dave won a cool £700 and crystal tankard. The full results from the weekend were as follows: –

1^st        Dave Shay         (below left)           200%   492 fish            £700

2^nd        Colin Orme Thomas    (below right)  200%   425 fish            £400

3^rd        Allen Symmonds           200%   406 fish            £200

4^th        Kevin Preston               200%   397 fish

5^th        Rod Adamson              200%   391 fish

Prize table went down to 27^th position with a total prize value of over £4500 over the two days.

4 man blind drawn team (pictured below)  – Colin Orme Thomas, Stan Kucyj, Jon Law and Neil Blake.

12lb boat rod each from www.taylormaderods.co.uk

3 man blind drawn team – Colin Orme Thomas, Alan Roberts, Kevin Preston

floatation suit each from Bamber Bridge Tackle ltd

2 man team optional 1^st – Colin Orme Thomas, Wyn Parry        £200

2 man team optional 2^nd – Allen Symmonds, Dai Snowden        £150

Top Lady – Pearl Smith            Boat Rod from www.taylormaderods.co.uk

Top Junior – Aaron Smith         Boat Rod from www.taylormaderods,co,uk

Deserving another mention, Aaron finished 31^st overall in a field that contained over 100 adults.

Top Skipper – Alan Tinsley –Warrior – average return of 197 fish per angler

We would like to thank our main sponsors who helped make the 2^nd Anglesey Festival an over whelming success, these include Robbie Roberts, Colin Taylor of Taylor Made Rods, Libby Hughes – Tourism Partnership North Wales, Mike Thornbury Bamber Bridge Tackle Ltd, Malcolm Gilroy –Anglesey Bait Centre.

Plans are already underway for the 2004 Anglesey Festival. The event will return to Beaumaris on 02^nd *& 03^rd October 2004. for further information please contact Gethyn Owen on 01248 716315 or Alan Reid on 01248 602304 or visit the website www.boatfestival.co.uk