I am a reasonably successful sea angler and I very much enjoy my sea fishing with a great bunch of guys who I know really well.

We all help each other and even though there is a bit of friendly rivalry we all swap knowledge about fishing methods, lend each other tackle and share transport.

We enjoy a variety of fishing, sometimes targeting large fish, such as conger, pollack and cod on the offshore wrecks, sometimes bream or bass inshore and sometimes indulging in a little species hunting.

I have the choice of fishing any of fifty or so pre-booked trips every year without any nasty "financial surprises" on the day.

I have also got to know a number of charter skippers very well and they seem to really look after me both as a club member and as an individual.

I used to fish with a couple of friends and we had terrible problems getting good fishing. We would read in the angling magazines about the great catches but when we rang the skippers of the boats involved there were very few dates available, even months ahead, especially at weekends.

Even when we did manage to book a boat we sometimes had problems because one or more anglers failed to turn up and we had to pay the extra money, making some very expensive days fishing.

If I booked as an individual I often had to take pot luck with unknown skippers and sometimes felt that they were not as professional as they could be or that the boat was far from ideal for the job it was doing.

My catches were poor and the size of the fish was often very small and the catch usually consisted mainly of pout and mackerel and dogfish.

Sometimes I did not even know what sort of fishing we would be doing or what tackle and bait would be required.

In desperation I went on a trip organised by a local pub but it just turned into a floating drinks session (much to the annoyance of the skipper) and then I joined a small local sea fishing club but it folded soon after. I almost gave up sea fishing and was just about to sell all my tackle.

Guildford City Sea Angling Club

I really enjoy my days at sea and fish all over the place.

I have had some fantastic catches and some great times.

Since joining GCSAC I have been out with some great skippers.

I have fished from some of the best boats from the South Coast, Bristol Channel, Yorkshire, Channel Islands, Florida and Ireland, caught huge Bass, Cod, Pollack, Coalfish, Skate, Rays, and Conger Eels.

I have, fished for the club in the British Conger Club competitions and even became a member of GCSAC's committee and now Chairman.

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