Craig Ogilvie made the long journey to Norfolk for the Joc Goudie International Beach Masters, but it proved worthwhile.
The North Berwick-based angler, who recently won the Bass Rock Shore Angling League’s winter series, claimed a third and fourth place in his zones.
And the East Lothian tradesman finished eighth overall in the prestige event which featured several members of the English sea fishing team.
Craig’s biggest fish was a 38cm whiting and he fished two beaches, Kelling and Salthouse which are five miles apart.
Competitors were all supplied with black lugworm, lugworm and blueys to use as bait and winds topped 40mph but, thankfully, they were from the shore side which aided casting.
Craig (pictured conducting a weigh-in at one of the Bass Rock events) said: “It was my debut in the event and this is a huge competition with top anglers from the UK. I’ll be back next year and hope to do better now I know more about the venue.”
He was not alone in make the seven-hour trip to the windswept Norfolk beaches. Dale McCallum (Port Seton) claimed a first in his zone on day two of the weekend event.
He finished 22nd overall while Cameron Cunningham (Port Seton) finished 34th in the event which attracted around 80 competitors.
Barry McEwan from Port Seton, the winner of the Bass Rock Summer League, finished 38th overall.
Unlucky McEwan landed the joint longest fish with Craig on the Saturday and again on Sunday with a 57cm dogfish, this time with the overall winner, but there was no prize for the longest fish.
Meanwhile, the Bass Rock club host their annual meeting in the Golfers Rest in North Berwick on Friday, February 28 (7pm).
Names are coming in quickly for the Bellhaven Beach Open, which the club organise, on Sunday, April 12.
This is a pegged and zoned match with up to 80 anglers with an entry fee of £10 (adults). Juniors, who must be accompanied by an adult at all times, have free entry.
Registration is from 8am to 9am with fishing from 10am to 2pm and this is a catch, measure and release format with a bottom limit of 18cm for flat fish and 20cm for round.
Youngsters measure all their fish and the match is pre-booking only to Craig 07840 770 643 or Barry 0781 392 4555
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