Fab Flounder Festival on the River Teign

The National Flounder Festival fished on the River Teign over the weekend of was once more a resounding success, as 139 anglers fished the event, including 13 juniors.

For once, the weather stayed kind and encouraged the anglers to fish hard. The overall winner was Carl Campion from Wales with a fish of 2lbs 7oz. He took the trophy the £1250 prize money and the pool money of £300 - not a bad weekend’s work.

The junior winner for the second year running was Teignmouth SAC’s own Sophie Cockram with a fish of 1lb 11oz. She won trophies and a rod for her efforts.

Teignmouth would like to thank all anglers and sponsors for supporting this event and will shortly be announcing the date of next year’s competition.

I have been following the England under 16 shore team with interest over the last couple of years, noting their success in the home internationals. A couple of weeks ago they travelled to Wexford in Ireland where they fished the world championships.

After a hard week’s practice and four days of competition the team, consisting of local anglers Lexie Groves and Archie Sweetland, as well as Liam Checksfield and Harvey Plumstead, did incredibly well by finishing in third place and all coming away with bronze medals.

This is all organised by volunteers and funded privately by sponsors and parents, no money comes nationally, so a tremendous effort all round. There is exciting news to come for the future junior Pathway leading up to the team and it could involve the bat – watch this space.

Fish of note from the shore this week include Luke Rossiter’s Conger Eel of 20lbs 9oz caught from Chesil Beach. Love them or hate them, they always put a bend in the rod. Also from Chesil, Honiton SAC member Ben Male landed a fantastic Whiting of 2lbs 15oz.

Torquay’s Tom Stebbens travelled to the Bristol Channel and had a good day on the Thornback Rays. Tony White continues to catch plenty of good sized bass on lures with most coming to Savage Gear white lures.

Some really good fish have been entered for our fish of the month competition kindly sponsored by Sidewinder Lures and Newbarn Angling centre. There is, however, still plenty of time to get your November entries in. Please email your pictures and catch reports to johnsherlock@gmail.com