Mumbles Motor Boat & Fishing Club

PAKA/MMBFC Junior Coaching Session

30 children took part in the latest coaching session put on by PAKA. The event took place on Swansea's West Pier, but the day before PAKA members Alan Duthie, Clive Jones Hayden Woods and Anthony Brock had to clean up the pier to minimise the risk to the youngsters. Unfortunately, 90% of the rubbish collected was discarded by anglers, fishing lines, hooks, bait packets and carrier bags from tackle shops, along with broken bottles,beer cans, and worst of all human excrement. APB were very helpful by providing personal protection equipment, i.e. gloves, hi-vis jackets and security.

On the day the coaching was very welcome and effective, all the youngsters caught fish with Thomas Wood of SA1 & MMBFC caught the most fishing including the largest of the day a nice gurnard. Several scout troops were also taking part and the Mumbles troop won the overall fishing trophy. The day was trouble free and enjoyed by all the juniors, coaches and adults helping out. A big thank you goes to all concerned. Future days are planned and more qualified coaches would be a big help.

Now for the pictures:

Preparation of the pier ready for coaching sessions with junior anglers

Sample of rubbish to be cleaned up. Hayden removing a push bike

Pier clean and tidy in both direction, all ready for the juniors to come on down fishing

A shoal of Juniors and their helpers

One to one tuition The fish are coming in

Junior members - Junior fish

Experience comes in little packages

Mumbles Scouts - Trophy winners

Recent Catches Harry Lawson bream at 2lb 5oz & 1lb 6oz Harry Lawson - 13oz Plaice
National Representatives for Wales Club Junior members 13 year old Rhys Davies (left) and 15 year old Josh Davies have represented Wales in the Home International Juniors Shore Fishing Championships. The Championship was fished over two days on Abererch Beach, Pwllheli, Gwynedd. The fishing was tough due to the fantastic weather conditions, with the water calm and crystal clear so they had to use every facet of their skills to catch the fish. The competition was very close each day and the final results went down to the last cast and the boys were just nosed into 3rd place with 21 points and the Bronze Medal. Both juniors are also members of PAKA and were active participants in the coaching programme run by Alan Duthie and Clive Jones, they have natural fishing abilities and were very easy to coach. Rhys also learned a lot of his techniques and skills from top angler Paul Morgan. Further coaching days are planned by PAKA for next year’s Home Internationals to be held in Scotland. A further Club Junior, 12 year old Thomas Woods, is showing great promise and could join Rhys and Josh in the full Welsh Junior Team. Rhys and Josh thanked PAKA and their associated clubs, including MMBFC, who provided financial help with their expenses for the Home International. Rhys Davies with a Junior Club record 10lb bull huss caught during training, with Paul Morgan, for the Home Internationals. Rhys has progressed under this one to one tuition to a standard that makes him very difficult to beat in a match situation. Rhys’ father Mike is also a prolific angler and very proud of his son’s success. The PAKA coaching scheme is very comprehensive and was designed in 2009 to help youngsters come into fishing. It has been so successful it is now being rolled out to involve local schools, youth clubs and scout troops. The programme also helps in the rehabilitation of the more vulnerable members of society. The coaching programme also includes education on the marine environment, participation in beach and fishing mark clean ups, identifying the origins of waste, impacts on the marine environment, and fish conservation measures.
Sunday, 26 May 2013 -Junior coaching at Knab Rock, Mumbles
10 Junior members attended the shore based coaching session run by members Alan Duthie and Clive Jones. All the juinors particularly enjoyed the casting sessions as well as improving their casting skills. Leading junior member Josh Davies (16), right, played his part very well.

Junior Catches-Oystercat 9 July 2014 Tom Lawson smoothhound 8lb 10oz Tom Lawson bream 2lb 5oz & 1lb 6oz Tom, John France, Harry with smoothhound Welsh Junior Stars
MMBFC Young Rod Rhys Davies with a smoothhound caught on the Mumbles foreshore. Caught on 4 July 2013 in the week before he was due to take part in the Home International Shore Fishing Competition representing Wales. WFSA Home International Junior Shore Team The WFSA's Junior Fish Off, for places in their Home International Competitions, took place on Saturday, 23 March 2013 at Borth. Three of our Juniors participated and, from fishing against very strong competitors, were selected for the Welsh Junior Team. They will represent Wales in the Home International Shore Fishing Competition to held 8-12 July 2013 at Abererch. 13 Year old Rhys Davies of West Cross has been pleasure fishing for 5 years; last year he joined the PAKA coaching programme and since then his progress has phenomenal. Mike, his dad says young Rhys is very proud and privileged to represent Wales in the Home Internationals. 16 year old Josh Davies from Swansea qualified for his 2nd term in the Welsh Team. Josh was PAKA's 1st junior to qualify for international junior duties. Both of which are can be attributed to the PAKA coaching programme. Josh has aspiration to become a fishing coach later in the year and is keen to help his fellow junior members. 12 year old Thomas Woods, from St Thomas, got into fishing 10 months ago and went straight on to the PAKA coaching programme. At the WFSA's Junior Fish Off he qualified a 1^st reserve for the Junior Team. Thomas is a very good angler and has a fantastic chance of getting into the Junior International Team next year. Update news; Thomas has now been put into the Welsh team for the Home Internationals.

Hooked on Fish - Hooked on Fishing