As the year draws to a close, the fishing has gone generally quiet in quantity terms, but there have been some quality flounders and other fish weighed in during the month to keep the interest going.

Candy/Creese Cups, North Beach: Nine anglers attended the Candy Cup match which had a sprinkling of daylight and darkness this year. Quickly the rods were bouncing, but it proved to be pesky undersized coalies which were tugging the lines. As darkness fell, a not unreasonable hope was that the whiting and dogs, possibly dabs would show up but it remained slow after the sun dropped. In the end, undersized whiting and coalies were recorded and just three in size fish came to the scales. Diane picked up a nice plaice of 402g, but was beaten into third place by John Nick's dog and Nev's flounder. Results were: 1. John Nicholas, LSD 0.586kg and wins the Candy Cup; 2. Nev Andrews, Flounder 0.448kg; 3. Diane Northcoate, Plaice 0.402kg.

Lydstep Cup: A dank, but thankfully warm evening greeted the anglers competing for the Lydstep Cup 2012. We only visit this venue once a year and this match reminded us why! Even though there was a nice surf and the sea was coloured, even bites were almost impossible to encourage. After a demoralising four hours (for most of the anglers but not all!) just Stuart Allen found a fish, thank goodness, and prevented the dreaded draw for the money. Result: 1. and winning the Lydstep Cup Stuart Allen, LSD 0.699kg.

Mid-week: The mid-week series bubbled up to a banging crescendo, but then ended with a sad whimper! The final match promised to decide the outcome of the mid-week points with just two points separating Barry, Nev and Roy after 12 months fishing. Unfortunately, it all turned out a bit limp (said Barry?) as we all blanked. The positions remained as they were at the start therefore and congrats to Barry for taking the mid-week points as a result.

Fur 'n' Feather, Ex-Servicemen's Cup and Committee Shield: The usual dilemma greeted the anglers at the booking in for this year's Fur 'n' Feather which was where to go between Giltar Point and Telpyn to find fish and wake the scorer up! Recent storms made the majority seek a little bit of shelter and they headed for Saundersfoot. Edmund Hilary and Scott of the Antarctic (i.e. Totter and Martin) decided that Amroth would be the killer venue so they bucked the trend and trotted off East. They said they would be 'some time'.............Anyhow, the chaps who slipped down to Saundersfoot did find some flounders and there were some quality fish amongst them. In the end, the weigh-in was better than usual for a Fur 'n' Feather with seven anglers bringing 11 flounders to the scales. Things proved very tight at the scales and Nev (see photo) pipped Stuart by one solitary gram to take the top prize, a highly unlikely outcome given the match secretary's usual dire performance on the Fur 'n' Feather in the past. Results were: 1. Nev Andrews, Flounder 0.754kg; 2. Stuart Allen, Bag 1.380kg; 3. John Nicholas, Flounder 0.618kg. The lads then repaired to the Ex-Servicemen's Club for post-match drinks and the traditional prize-giving and raffle. Barry and Louvain Taylor had performed their usual miracle of matching quality and quantity for the prizes on a limited budget for the members and we are all extremely grateful as usual. A very pleasant match all round and a nice way to start the Christmas festivities.

Haven Rover: The weather was by now starting to get on our nerves a little and just five anglers booked in at Hobbs Point for the final Roving match of the year. That didn't stop the entrants being adventurous however with Ward's Pier, Hakin Point, Dale Fort and Fort Road being visited by the lads in search of fish, any fish! Another hard day at the office in the end, with just two dogs and one coalie to the scales at the finish. Barry's nice coalie of 0.670kg was enough to take the Coalfish Cup. Results were: 1. Barry Taylor and Nev Andrews, seven points; 2. Gareth Protheroe and Adam Roberts, four points.

Beach Rover: Eleven anglers decided to finish the year with a flourish and booked in at Kilgetty for the final final final match of the year, a beach rover. Hopes had been high of a visit to Pendine, but a SW gale which had blown on and off for a few days took that off the agenda rapidly and Saundersfoot (again) and Lydstep were the venues the anglers headed for. In contrast to the Fur 'n' Feather, Saundersfoot, was very slow and only John Nick managed any insize fish. He scooped a very tidy prize (£1.25 Lesley, honest!) to end 2012 and start his bait and tackle fund off for 2013. Results were: 1. John Nicholas, Flounder 0.751kg.

In addition to the fish recorded in matches, Julian Davies has lessened the pain of a couple of match blanks with a cracking flounder caught whilst pleasure fishing which banged the scales round to 1.069kg (see photograph). The Dab Cup has also been nicked from Garfield late in the day by Nev with a specimen of 0.380kg, also whilst pleasure fishing.

There will be a Haven Rover on January 6, with the annual general meeting on January 9. The venue is the Ex-Servicemen's Club as usual and proceedings commence at 8 pm prompt under the watchful eye of 'El Presidente' Edge. Further details are available on the club's newly-revamped website which can be accessed at http://www.tenbyangling.co.uk">www.tenbyangling.co.uk. Please bear with us though as there will be some refinements as we go along. The club's Facebook pages are also regularly updated in addition to our regular reports in the Observer. The club is grateful to John Loring for his time in putting together a professional website, which can also be used to process membership applications! Whizzo Chaps!

Finally, the club would like to wish all its members a successful and healthy New Year, in particular some of our members who are not experiencing the best of health at the moment.

Further information at any time from Nev on 07500 417737.