Angling – September Comp

John Bech needed to produce a herculean performance in the Angling Section’s September competition to cobble enough points to take out the 2022-23 champion angler crown.

The Section captain was sitting a tick over 114 points shy of leader Ray Wilson, six-times winner, who was sitting at home doing “Groundhog Day” exercises getting his replaced right knee into shape.

A 9am alert on Ray’s phone showed a 15kg samson fish on a brag mat and a message from John, saying “Look out here I come!” signalled his intent.

Not a bad start. Around 30 points already in the kitty, with the sambo nailed at John and Denise’s tailor spot around Rowboat Rock.

While the messages dried up, John kept plugging away, building a points tally that would threaten to breach the gap, as herring, skippy, sand whiting and king george boosted his claims for the title.

Alas, while tarwhine were up and about, none was legal size and Craig Thomas boated the tailor that John so earnestly sought.

So, for the second successive year the captain is again runner-up, pipping Chris Walkey (in Bali), who finished third. Denise Bech again was the leading female angler.

The September comp was won by Craig who collected 101 points. His catch featured all the usual suspects, including a super-sized squid taken outside the Club.

October signals the start of the 2023-24 season.

Full Angling Section results will be posted soon, with awards handed out during the Section’s Xmas bash in December.