David Cooper aims to defend Amble Open title with the aid of some more local knowledge

David Cooper claimed third overall in his debut in the Amble Open, one of the biggest events in the sea fishing calendar in Europe. And the 33-year-old he can finish in the prize list in this year’s event, the 43rd.

More than 400 competitors are expected to take part on Sunday, January 12, including a strong contingent from the East of Scotland.

The Bass Rock Shore Angling Club member admitted that a stroke of luck led to his success 12 months ago. He heard two local anglers talking about a particular mark and he looked it up on his phone.

The father-of-three from Edinburgh’s Bingham area found the location and caught the heaviest fish, a 6lb 14oz cod, in his bag of two cod for more than nine pounds. He was only ounces behind second-placed Matty Garbutt (Skelton) and the winner Stephen Common (North Shields).

The event, which attracted anglers from as far afield as Scarborough, Whitby, York, Leeds and Barrow-in-Furness, is fished in conjunction with the Penn Sea League. Fishing is from 9am to 1pm.

The entry fee is £12 for all classes and there is a prize fund of around £6,000 with the competition headquarters and registration at The Radcliffe Club, Amble, from 7am. The post code is NE65 ORA.

The event is supported by local businesses including Rockpool Fish and Shellfish, Verdant Leisure, Rutherfords Sports and Leisure, Sakuma and The Compleat Angler plus Angling Trust. Details are on the Amble club’s website.

Cooper added: “The conditions were the worst I have ever fished in and we had a 12ft swell to deal with. Frankly, they were dangerous, but I persevered and it paid off.”

He has been fishing regularly over the winter and last weekend he and fellow Bass Rock member, Chris Empson, landed 39 cod between them near Arbroath.

Cooper said: “The Amble event is massive and it was a new experience for me last year.

“I’m definitely going there again and I’ll decide on tactics on the day. I may well head for the same mark this time.”

Meanwhile, East Fife SAC are hosting their annual Open tomorrow and registration is at the Commercial Inn, Arbroath, from 9am to 10am. Hot rolls and teas/coffee will be available. Fishing is from 11am to 4pm with the boundary from Carnoustie to Ferryden and the weigh-in is at Vicky’s scales with a 5pm deadline.

The Bass Rock Shore Angling League is scheduled to resume on Wednesday at a venue to be confirmed on their Facebook page this weekend.

Meanwhile, it has been good sport at two local reservoirs. Drumtassie near Blackridge report brilliant fishing and they are open from 7am to 6pm. The best return has been a 17lb 9oz rainbow. At nearby Pottishaw close to Whitburn the water has been fishing well. The best recently has been an 11lb brown trout with mini lures fished slowly on a floating line tempting the fish regularly.

Edinburgh Fly Dressers resume on Wednesday, at 7.30pm in Currie Bowling Club off Lanark Road and the first session of the year will be a general get together.

West Lothian Angling Association confirm that their first fly tying night of the new year will be on Monday, February 3 in Mid Calder Community Centre at 7.30pm. Non-members are welcome and equipment is provided.