Some of the participants: Outside Amroth Arms.

THE EIGHTH Felinfoel Brewery Double Dragon RNLI Annual Fishing Open, organised by members from Pembroke & District Angling Club, Osprey Sea Angling Club and Neyland Sea Angling Club, was held on Sunday February 8 on Amroth beach in South Pembrokeshire.

This year, like last year, the date did make a difference in catches compared to just four weeks earlier, good catches of Flounder being recorded at the Air Ambulance Open but not so many at this match but more than last year despite what many thought would be testing conditions with a flat calm sea and no wind. However, 15 out of the 78 anglers, compared to only 9 out of 68 in 2014, that fished, which included 5 ladies and 2 juniors (a boy and a girl), managed to weigh in 21 sizeable fish as compared to 2014 when only 9 were recorded and four weeks earlier when 38 anglers weighed in 64 fish.

The winning angler who managed to land 2 flounder for 885gms was a visiting angler from Newport, Gwent, Dai Loder, netting him the first prize of £250. Local rod, Stuart Allen, from Kilgetty, had the biggest flounder at 580gms taking the pool of £78. In second was a Milford Haven angler, young Daniel Tucker, new into the senior ranks of anglers and former top junior more than once on Amroth beach. He was narrowly beaten by just 70gms landing 2 flounder for 815gms, allowing him to pick up the runner’s up prize of £100. In third place was another visitor but ex local, Craig Thompson now from Portsmouth as opposed to Haverfordwest where he used to reside when winning competitions such as these on this very beach. He also had two flounder but for 690gms winning him £50. No junior managed to weigh in but a couple of the ladies did with Alison George from Milford taking the £20 prize with a Flounder of 270gms. The pair’s competition was won by 2 local Saundersfoot Angling Club members, Tony Ormond and Llewellyn Rose with 3 flounder for 830gms, picking up £90, with visitors Keith Stephens and Carl Isaac, second with 2 flounder for 670gms netting them £50.

However, the most important result on the day was that the event, by the time the money is all in, they will have raised over £900, for the Angle & Tenby lifeboats.

John O’Connor said: “Thanks goes to the main sponsor Felinfoel Brewery along with their rep Jamie Owen for continuing to sponsor this event and congratulations goes to the anglers from the organising club, together with Roger Harris of the Amroth Arms who always puts his premises and valued support at this event’s disposal, together with Pam from the Tenby Lifeboat support group who, along with Ken Gainfort, ran the raffle, thanks. Finally, we must again thank all the kind and generous sponsors of the event, including those already mentioned who donated cash, made collections and donated prizes for the mega raffle which ensured continuation of the event’s great success. These were, in no particular order, Shane Tucker, Roger Harries (Amroth Arms), John O’Connor, Leigh Rogers, James Lemon of Awesome Fishing, Andy Luxford, Howells Welding (Pendine) ,Davies Decorators, Martin and Sandra Thompson of Anglers Corner, Milford Haven, Lawson H.I.S., Grainger Tubolt, St. Ishmaels Nurseries, Ken Gainfort, Dale Sailing, Consort, Derek Gregory and John and Sheila Mason. If anybody feels aggrieved that they have been missed off this list and we hope there isn’t, we are truly sorry, but thank you, most warmly, for your continued support.”