The EFSA Wales Shore Championships were fished recently in the Swansea area under what can only be described as poor conditions.
The first day was over high water into the dark at Mumbles Promenade, near the Nab Rock, into the teeth of a south-easterly gale. Only three anglers caught sizeable fish and then only one fish each, two whiting and a rockling.
On the second night, the venue was changed to Aberavon Beach as the weather had worsened and this at least afforded some shelter.
However, the fishing was not a whole lot better, with whiting the mainstay of the catches, and not many at that, plus one lucky dogfish for the winner of the Gold Pin, Phil Lustig from Stackpole, Pembrokeshire, with 200 points.
In fairness, he was one of the three who weighed in on the first day, a creditable effort. The other two first day catchers blanked, leaving the door wide open for the second and Silver Pin winner with 183 points, Steve Tucker, a local Swansea rod and organiser of the venues and bait, for which he must be thanked.
Third and winner of the Bronze Pin was Steve Davies from Pembroke Dock with 171 points.
The pairs competition went to Phil Lustig and Hayden Cole, of Lamphey, Pembrokeshire.