The winners and Gareth’s Daughter, Winter, a brave Junior angler, pictured (left to
right) are, Rob Collins, Steve Hoskins, Tom Fisher and Gareth Protheroe.


Sunday 9th November 2025, did not see the weather gods in a benevolent mood, as the day started with unremitting rain until not long before the match was due to end. So, it wasn’t the best of days, weather-wise,  for the Osprey Sea Angling Club, based in Pembroke Dock, holding its annual open beach fishing competition or ‘Flatfish Festival’, to give it its other more descriptive name, at Amroth, writes Dr John O’Connor.
 
But, as the Norwegians would say, there is no such thing as bad weather is just weather, and inappropriate clothing. However, some fish turned up with Bass, Flounder, Soles and Whiting to the scales. As usual undersize fish, of which there were a number of small Bass, were not recorded, as happened with other round fish brought to the scales as a large Bass was recorded early on at the weigh in.
 

Good turn-out in such conditions

 
Despite the weather, conditions did look good with a stiff breeze and good surf running, giving plenty of coloured water on what turned out to be a rather miserable autumn day. Despite this, over 59 anglers, including 2 Ladies and 11 Juniors, some only entering the free junior table, turned out to support the club for which the Osprey club members are very grateful and the organisers thank them one and all.
 
However, 13 anglers, but no Ladies or Juniors, weighed in 2 Bass, 2 Sole, 2 Whiting and 9 Flounder. But, as noted previously, there were other fish caught but not weighed due to the winning Bass being presented to the scales first, as well as a lot of other undersize fish, especially school Bass.
 

Steve pockets all the prizes!

 
The winner, not an Osprey member unfortunately, was Steve Hoskins with 2 Flounder for1Kg 375gms., whilst second was Tom Fisher, an angler who has been fishing these events for a number of years since he was a Junior, with a good Bass of 1Kg 95gms.  In third place, was another regular and 2024 World Boat Champion, Gareth Protheroe, with a fine Flounder of 660gms. The pairs competition was won by 1st and 2^nd-placed, Steve and Tom, with a bag of 3Kg 370gms from local regulars Dorian Harries and Rob Collins with 2 Flounder and a Whiting for 705gms earning them second spot
.
The Stewards’ draw was also won by Steve and we thank all the stewards for their help in signing in fish on the beach, especially in such trying conditions. The next Open at Amroth will be this Sunday 23rd November in aid of the charity “Blood Bikes Wales” and Provisional early 2026 dates for your diaries are 4th January for the Air Ambulance Open and 1st February for an open match to support the RNLI.
 
Finally, thanks must go to Ian Wilkinson of the Temple Bar Inn for accommodating us, providing the bottle for the stewards draw, to the club members and others that helped on the day and also to our sponsors, Peter Kraus, Oriole Johnson, J & M Tackle, Dimond Street, Pembroke Dock, Shane Tucker, Rodney Phillips and Mickey Probert, who donated cash and raffle prizes to further help support the club.