The Millennium “Fur & Feather” sea fishing match on the River Mersey attracted 130 anglers – the biggest entry this year – and it was won by Bootle’s Joe Perry with a cracking 10lb 7oz cod.
“It really is an ambition achieved,” explained the 29 year old who only two weeks ago was taken on as a sea angling consultant by Maghull Angling Centre.
“This is always the biggest competition on the Mersey and a ‘who’s who’ of the shore angling scene for the region.”
North West Association of Sea Angling Clubs organisers allow competitors to choose anywhere on the river, so Joe headed off for his favourite ‘secret’ hole on Seaforth Rocks.
“I won a match two months ago from the very same spot where the sea bed is snaggy and seems to attract and hold fish at certain tide times,” he said.
“My tackle was a Pennel pulley-rig with 5/0 and 1/0 hook carrying crab bait and pinned down by a seven ounce lead.
“There were plenty of undersize fish and codling to 3lb about but my big fish came two hours into the flooding tide and it gave a terrific scrap, taking me five minutes to net”.
Joe’s share of the prize fund was £ 50 and tackle but every one of the 130 anglers received a prize donated by the association.
Second with a whiting and codling totalling 3lb 13oz was John Waugh from Wallasey and Barry Lavender from Liverpool had 3lb 8oz for third place.
