Cargill triumphs in two-day Reid Memorial

Dundee angler David Cargill emerged with the top prize after two days of the Iain Reid Memorial sea fishing match.

The Scotland international caught 14 fish on Day One for 396cm and another 14 fish the second day to accumulate a total of 762cm from eight hours of fishing at Kirkcaldy beach on Saturday and Leven beach on Sunday.

He edged out Lothians-based Mike Kyle who collected 671cm, nine fish on the Saturday for 240cm and 20 fish on day two, for 431cm with Phil Pape from Cumbria, the assistant manager of Scotland’s Ladies Shore Angling Team, in third position. He hooked into 11 fish on Sunday for 289cm and 13 fish at Leven for 363 giving him a combined total of 652cm.

The popular annual match has drawn top fishermen from all over Scotland and from the North of England with rods in the water from noon to 4pm on both days.

Neil Cutler from Tyneside, a well-known competition angler, was fourth with 507 points with Kirkcaldy-based Mike Horn fifth. Horn is the president of the Scottish Federation of Sea Anglers.

Other placings were: 6, Paddy Kerrigan; 7, Gareth Gardiner (Tyneside); 8, Brian Maxwell (Ayr); 9, Steve Potts (Tyneside); 10, Chris Horn (Kirkcaldy).

Stewart Cresswell from Ayr landed the longest fish, a 41cm flounder, and 490 fish were caught over the two days include dab, flounder, turbot and coley.

Some of the catch was collected and then transported to the Borders by scientists at the St Abbs Marine Station for tests to see how offshore wind farms and their associated cables are affecting marine life.

The fish will be returned to the sea once tests are carried out.

Anglers fished under a slate grey sky at Kirkcaldy on Saturday and the harbour end of the beach proved one of the most productive areas on a day of little wind and a calm sea. Mackerel and lugworm were the specified baits.

They faced a 17mph wind at Leven on a cloudy day and the prize giving was at the East Dock Bar, Methil. Points for the national Penn Sea League were earned by anglers.

Organisers also held a raffle to assist funding for the Scottish Ladies Shore Angling team which competes annually in the Home Nations Shore Angling Championship.

In fact, two members of the women’s team, Edinburgh-based but Aberdeen-born, Buffy McAvoy, and Edinburgh-born Lesley Maby, who now lives in Cumbria, competed at the weekend.

PICTURE: Mike Horn (left) and Nuno Santos checking cards on the beach at Kirkcaldy. Picture Nigel Duncan

ALL SMILES: Lesley Maby on the beach at Kirkcaldy. Picture Nigel Duncan

CONTEMPLATION: Sean Baxter (right), owner of Deals on Reels fishing tackle shop at Cowdenbeath wondering about his next move at Kirkcaldy beach. Picture Nigel Duncan

BUSY BEACH: Around 50 anglers took part in the two-day event. Picture Nigel Duncan

TOTAL CONCENTRATION: One angler focused on his rod tip. Picture Nigel Duncan

WAITING GAME: Alan Combe looking out to see hoping for a bite. Picture Nigel Duncan

WINNER: David Cargill walks to a fellow competitor with a fish in his bucket for a measure. Picture Nigel Duncan

BAITING: William Stafford from Edinburgh focused at Kirkcaldy beach. Picture Nigel Duncan