2008 British Cod Champion
Garreth Butt 
230 anglers from all over the
UK gathered at Yarmouth Quay last week to fish the two day British Cod championships hosted by West Wight chartered skippers association.
On the first day the weather allowed all 24 boats to fish the back of the Wight and with some good fish being reported over the last two weeks hopes were high for a good result. At 9am all the boats left Yarmouth Quay and by 10:15 were at anchor. The call to start came over the radio at 10:30 and 230 big fish baits were sent to the bottom. Within the first half hour Cod were being reported and by the end of the day 48 were returned to the scales. The £1000 day winner prize for the heaviest Cod went to local angler Jude Ridler with a fish of 28lb 2-1/2oz which earned his skipper Dave Stephenson owner of Becky M the day skipper prize. On day 2 the wind was increasing from the west so by 1pm all boats had to move into the Solent, this affected the overall number of fish caught with only 25 returned to the scales. Geoff Bond a builder from Romsey picked up the £1000 day prize with a Fish of 12lb 15-1/2oz boated on Wight Rebel skippered by Eric Elliott who won the day two skipper prize. The championship is awarded to the angler with the most Cod over the two days and with four of them on three fish each the overall weight was taken into account giving Garreth Butt a winning total of 39lb 13oz. Butt from Ventnor who has only ever caught one small Codling before received his £1000 prize and the British cod champion trophy from the chairman of the council Mr Arthur Taylor.
Tony Burt
The only other local anglers in the top ten was Bob Anderson how took third with 3 fish for 17lb 11-1/2oz and Tony Burt who returned two fish for a total weight of 16lb 5-1/2oz taking 9th overall.
Other winners
Jude Ridler 
Geoff Bond
winner day 1 winner day 2
The top skippers prize donated by Raymarine went to Vernon Everett on South Today with the heaviest total weight over eight fish. This was a well deserved prize as at one stage Vernon had to land four cod in his landing net at once.
The chartered skippers association wish to thank the Isle of Wight council, Plastimo, Yarmouth harbour commission and the local tackle shops Scotties, the tackle box and Barneys baits for there support and sponsorship as well as Western Wight AC for the scales and records team.
Alan Bravery also had a fish of 11lb 4oz
