Getting hooked on angling 
A variety of fish were landed - the first within 15
minutes - when the Penarth Angling Club hosted a free taster
session.
The Penarth Pier event was organised by the
Vale of Glamorgan Council’s sports development team in conjunction
with Penarth Sea Angling Club, and it was young Johnathan Saunders
who caught the first fish (a ray) and later landed a pouting.
The taster session provided youngsters with
the opportunity to learn the basics of angling through the guidance
of experienced club members. The club provided the rods and bait
which included mackerel, squid, sand eel and ragworm.
The bait certainly seemed to work as fish were
landed throughout the four-hour session on a glorious Sunday
afternoon. Also successful alongside Johnathan were Ieuan
Mardon (pouting), Louis Allen (pouting, whiting and cod) and
volunteers Rob Galley (dover sole) and Bob Churchill (large conger
eel).
Joining Rob and Bob in helping guide the young
anglers were other club volunteers - Steve Harford, Dave
Jones, Robin Collis, Bob Churchill, Tony and Ieuan Mardon, Albert
Smith and Jim Sexton.
Vale council sports development manager Karen
Davies said: "The aim was to provide the youngsters with an
introduction to fishing and a link to a local club should they wish
to continue in the future."
Anyone interested in joining the Penarth club
can contact membership secretaries Robin and Dot Collis on 029 2061
5360. Annual membership is £3 (juniors), £6 (seniors)
or £7.50 (two adults and two children under 16).
The club host a number of competitions as well
as enjoying regular angling off the pier on Sundays from September
until the end of May.
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