Sunday, for a change, saw the weather gods take their time to get to a benevolent mood, as the day started with torrential unremitting rain until about an hour into the match, then it all changed into what turned out to be a great drying day with sunshine and wind, for this was the day that the Osprey Sea Angling Club, based in Pembroke Dock, held its annual open beach fishing competition or flatfish festival to give it its other more descriptive name.

Once again, this year, the fish turned up in numbers greater than previous years, with a Cod, an above average number of in size Flounder, plenty of Lesser Spotted Dogfish and some Dabs.

Despite the weather, conditions did look good right from the off with a stiff breeze and good surf running, giving plenty of coloured water on what turned out to be a sunny autumn day.

Sixty anglers, including two ladies and two juniors (both boys), turned out to support the club, for which the Osprey club members are very grateful and the organisers thank them one and all.

Thirty-two anglers, including one lady and one junior, weighed in 40 Flounder, many more than the last two years, 10 Lesser Spotted Dogfish, four Dabs and one Cod, with many other fish caught, both in size in the case of Dogfish and undersize in the case of other flatfish.

There may even have been a Lesser Weever caught this year!

The winner, once again, was a local angler, this time from Saundersfoot, but not an Osprey member, Franco Attanasio, a regular Welsh international and supporter of these Open events, with three Flounder for 1kg 365gms. Second, from Neath, was another regular, John Hearn, with a Lesser Spotted Dogfish of 940gms. Third place, again this year as last, but not tied, was Osprey vice-chairman, Haydn Cole from Lamphey with three Flounder and a Dab for 1kg 355gms, just missing out on winning by 10gms.

Top lady was another Welsh international, June Howell, with a Flounder of 460gms and top junior was Rocco Sheldon with a Flounder of 335gms. The pairs competition was won by Peter Taylor and Stuart Allen with a bag of 2kg 275gms, from Franco and Andy Young with 2kg 105gms.

The stewards draw was also won by Andy Young and we thank all the stewards for their help in signing in fish on the beach.

The next Open at Amroth will be on November 10 in aid of the charity ‘Blood Bikes’ and provisional early 2020 dates for your diaries are January 12 for the Air Ambulance Open and February 9 for an open match to support the local RNLI.

Finally, thanks must go to Ian Wilkinson, of the Temple Bar Inn, for accommodating us, providing the bottle for the stewards draw, to club members and others that helped on the day and also to our sponsors who donated cash and raffle prizes to further help support the club.

These were, in no particular order, Shane Tucker, John O’Connor, Steve Parry, Leigh Rogers, Mark Bennett, Mark Hagan, Steve Parry, James Lemon, of Awesome Fishing, and Mike Rowe, of J & M’s Tackle and Bait, Dimond Street, Pembroke Dock.