Angling – September Kids Clinic

DOUBLE DELIGHT ON KIDS CLINIC

Of the many Kids Fishing Clinics held by the Angling Section over the years none are exactly the same.

The biggest common denominator of course is the pure delight the 14 schoolkids experience out on Success under the guidance of volunteers from the Section.

True to form, the kids on the September 28 Clinic had a ball, and true to form, there were two events that made the day more special.

First, in a record haul, 10 king george whiting were landed on a big sand patch between Mewstone and The Stragglers. Normally, up to three or four geordies might dance over the side during any one Clinic, but 10 is impressive by any standards.

Second, the kids came up close and personal with a specimen most of them had never seen before – a 1m western shovelnose ray that wasn’t camera shy and was soon grateful heading back to the depths.

Rest assured the ray probably would have been the talking point at tea-time for the all-boy crew whose ages ranged from 7 to 15 years.

New Clinic Co-ordinator Bert Zuideveld, who spent hours respooling the reels stored in Shed 7 and gave all the other gear a spruce up, reported that the first drop produced a good haul of sand whiting.

Other volunteers, John Holbrook, Joe Venter, Martin Smith and Jimmy Barlow were kept busy removing up to three dozen sandies from hooks throughout the morning while king george were taken at the same time.

With the threat of a 14-15 knot breeze by noon, Success anchored north of Mewstone, at the ready to scoot over to the lee of Carnac for some comfort.

Thankfully, the forecast of an uncomfortable seabreeze never got off the ground, and the kids enjoyed some sandwiches, drinks and fruit before another early afternoon session.

Ironically, the ubiquitous herring, which are the go-to fish for the Clinics, couldn’t be found for love nor money despite a mountain of berley. Only two were caught.

Supported by Recfishwest, two more Clinics are scheduled for the January School Holidays, with dates to be released soon.