Fishing: Ray Lands Peter Couch of Bream

By JOHN INGHAM

SIX sightings of a Couch’s sea bream in 10 years was the average in UK waters when People Sport reported a prizewinning four-pounder recently.

That was a Guernsey fish. But experts at Plymouth’s National Marine Aquarium predicted that climate change and warmer water would attract these tubby fighters from the Mediterranean to our islands.

Spot on, folks. Brits holidaying in the Channel Islands are now catching Couch’s bream and trawlermen in Guernsey Fishermen’s Trading Company say they’ve seen dozens. One small trawler delivered 16 of around 12oz each to a local retailer.

That’s clear evidence of wildlife signalling big changes in our weather patterns.

But Guernsey carpenter Ray Fallaize, 38, has delivered the clincher by catching a Couch’s sea bream that smashes the UK offshore record with over 1lb 11oz to spare.

Ray says: "I was off Guernsey’s west coast, fishing in a pal’s boat, when I felt a couple of taps. A big bite from a strong fish followed seconds later and a struggle started to recover line. Finally, I got it close enough to reveal a Couch’s bream."

When the pair returned to shore the bream was weighed as a contender for the local fish-of-the-month contest.

That’s when Ray learned that its weight of 6lb 9oz 7dms was the biggest ever seen in British waters, breaking records in Guernsey, the Channel Islands and Britain.

His big bream fell for sand-eel bait and scored maximum points against the UK offshore target of 4lb 14oz 4dms, set off Newquay six years ago.

Boat and shore titles will be held by Guernsey anglers when the claim is ratified by the British Record Fish Committee. The smart money is on Guernsey to keep them but the underwater scene is changing rapidly.

Ray wins a Shakespeare pounds 150 prize package, including a powerful Ugly Stik Gold boat rod teamed with an Ugly boat multiplier reel, in The People Sport competition.

(c) 2007 People, The; London. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.