Huxster family dominate January awards

FOUR of the five prizes in the January Fish of the Month competition went to the Huxster family. Father Steve won the Shakespeare Monthly Angling Award for the best overall fish and the J. Meerveld and Sons Tankard for the top shore-caught specimen with his 2-13-0 lesser spotted dogfish, which scored 98.5%. He also won one of the two runner-up prizes of Bucktrout's Bass Beers for his 7-9-0 lesser spotted dogfish, which was worth 89.74%.

Son Shane took the other runner-up award for his shore-caught 12-6-6 pollack, which scored 77.08%.

George Jennings prevented a complete grand slam by the Huxsters when he took the Alderney Sea Angling Club Tankard for the top boat-caught fish, a 1-9-14 cuckoo wrasse worth 76.81%.

The unsuccessful entries were: Steve Huxster 6-6-0 shore-caught ballan wrasse 73.48%; Mark Platt 2-2-12 boat-caught pout 63.47; Adrian Sarre 6-7-12 shore-caught grey mullet 54.50; Peter Frise 4-9-10 shore-caught ballan wrasse 53.04; Mark Fletcher 9-3-10 shore-caught bass 50.16 and Stuart Lee 8-13-4 shore-caught bass 47.99.

The Aval du Creux Hotel Junior award was not won.

Mark Page and junior angler Sam Teed have submitted the first entries in the February FoM competition.

A visit to a wreck mark west of Guernsey produced only six pollack, but the catch included a number of good specimens.

Page had the heaviest, a 21-4-0 fish, while Teed's best weighed 16-3-0. All the catch was taken on shad artificial lures presented on spinning tackle.

Both fish will be judged against the 25-12-0 Bailiwick boat record.

THERE is only days to go before the Bailiwick Bass Club's competitive year ends on 29 February, but the final destination of the shore championship trophy has yet to be determined with only 12-5-13 covering the top three anglers.

Mick Damarell had a blank month in January but has still clung on to his lead, with 15 for

84-5-0.

Nearest rival Mark Fletcher caught fish of 9-3-10 and 4-13-8 to come up to 14 specimens for 79-14-8. His biggest fish gave him the Collenette Jones award for the heaviest of the month.

The only other member to weigh in during January was third placed Ben Mahy. His 6-14-14 catch consolidated his third position with 12 bass for 71-15-3.

Things are clearer in the pairs championship. Jason Brouard and Ben Mahy have recorded 24 bass for 136-5-11, well clear of Daryl Butcher and Colin Patch in second spot who have entered 17 for 106-9-5.

The club has confirmed that the annual general meeting will be held on Tuesday 26 February. It will take place at Les Rocquettes Hotel at 8pm.

THE Guernsey Mullet Club have had a great start to their new competitive year for during January 13 members entered no fewer than 25 fish.

The best of the month was the 7-7-10 landed by Glen Cortez.

Four members landed more than one, the catch list being topped by Sam Robins who had five for 18-6-0.

Paul Carre had four for 15-0-0, Mike Weysom four for 13-12-0 and Tim Cotterill three for 13-4-0.

Besides Cortez, members with a single fish were: Mark Dyke 4-14-0, Andy Le Lerre 4-9-0, Scott McMillan 4-8-0, Mark Gillson 4-7-0, Dave Saunders 3-4-0, Peter Taylor 3-1-0, Ron Harris 2-15-0 and Gary Le Poidevin 2-14-0.

The club hope the catches will be repeated in their 25th anniversary open festival that starts at the weekend.

It will run over two weekends, the second being on 15 and 16 March.

Registration for the first leg will be between 6 and 7pm on Friday at the Brock Road Youth Centre at the old Boys' Grammar School.

There will be two weigh-ins, 6pm on both Saturday and Sunday at the premises of Mick's Fishing Supplies, next to Aladdin's Cave.

The festival is open to all anglers and there will be prizes for the best catches of each weekend, as well as the overall winners.

The prize-giving will be held at La Villette Hotel on Friday 28 March.