After a postponement due to the weather, the 2023 SMAC Open Species Hunt Competition was held on Sunday 27th August. The alternative attractions of family activities on a Bank Holiday weekend and the Victorious Festival meant we had fewer  competitors than for our usual open competitions but that didn’t deter those that entered. The weather didn’t help either, and although it was sunny there was a strong westerly wind blowing which put paid to plans to fish to the east. Fortunately, there is always somewhere fishable and even the harbours can produce enough species to be competitive so there’s no need to travel far. As it turned out, the first few species were logged before the boats had travelled at all!

Fishing finished at 4pm and boats started arriving back. However, one was missing, and it contained our Species Hunt legends Bill Arnold and Peter Churchill. Eyes anxiously scanned the horizon and then, with seven minutes to the deadline, Sea Biscuit came down the channel and arrived at the holding pontoon with a flourish. After a final check of the entry photographs in the shade of the fuel hut we were ready to award the prizes. Glasses were replenished and we all sat back in the sun to await the results. Then we realised two essential competitors were missing from the assembly and once more, eyes anxiously scanned the horizon, although this time into the marina. Yes, Bill and Peter had decided to put Sea Biscuit to bed and were making their way slowly back to the bar. Finally, we were ready to start proceedings.

Last year’s winner Wayne Comben was invited to present the prizes and as a practice run he presented Michelle Plomer with her Fish Of The Month medal from July. Then we could get down to the real business. We have a complicated way of determining tie breaks, but this wasn’t necessary except in one case. As it involved Ray and Michelle Plomer we decided to award the pair of them both prizes and let them fight it out between themselves. So in reverse order, the prize winners are:

10th place: Steve Kelly (4)
9th place: Ray Plomer (6)
8th place: Michelle Plomer (6)
7th place: Bill Arnold (7)
6th place: Dan Sissons (8)
5th place: Aiden Ely (9)
4th place: Pam Eckersall (10)
3rd place: Wayne Comben (12)
2nd place: Dan Lumsden (13)

and the Winner of the 2023 SMAC Species Competition is the man who must be on first-name terms with every fish in the Solent: Peter Churchill (15)

Pam Eckersall also wins the Ladies Bonus with the highest score among the lady competitors.

We would like to thank all of our sponsors who donated prizes: Premier Marinas; Sportsman’s Knight Charters; SMDAC; Baits ‘R Us; Victory Gas and Heating; Cosham Angling; Prestige Plumbing; British Big Game Charters; Newnham Builders; Marina Bar and Fish-On Tackle.

A big Thank You also to all the competitors and the organising team (mainly Steve Kelly) who made this another successful and enjoyable competition.