b'Retrospect2012 SHIELD WINAlby struggles to hold theMany years later and after our family bach impressive 19lb snapper Noelhad been sold, I fortunately got to spend Ossie caught surfcasting offtime back at Glinks between 20102013 Glinks in the early 90s. staying at another bach and my interest in surfcasting returned after many years boating and fishing.The surfcasting was also starting to get a lot better out on the west and good fish were returning.I also got a few mates into this style of fishing, and we fished in a couple of the early January Glinks contests which were being run then by locals Trevor and Sharon Hunter.In 2012 when fishing I scored a couple of fish and then a fat 2-3kg fish which I thought could pick up a prize.Back at the weigh in and with Noel Ossie hanging back to see what fish go up to be weighed, and he came over to sneak a look at my fish in the bin and chuckled while shrugging as he saw it was better than his fish, weighing 2.5kg I managed to win the shield!So, at 38 years old and many Glinks contests later, I had won the coveted shield.The following year the tables were turned as I came in second and Noel won it back!There was one person in particular whoexcitedly told everyone about the big fish won the shield a lot and the man to beat! from his car window.My grandfather He still holds the record to this day foryelled out to bring it up on our deck and most wins, and Noel (Ossie) Osbaldiston isheld it aloft struggling, as we all admired a bit of a surfcasting guru.He obviouslyit and asked Noel where and how he knows how to read a beach well and findcaught it.the better channels and sand banks whereI had never seen such a big snapper good fish feed.He has an uncanny abilityin person caught surfcasting and my to find big snapper and I can recall as agranddad had told me stories of how teen when getting into surfcasting in thebig fish were common like this in his day early 90s when he caught two big fish inbefore the pair trawlers had done their one day. damage to the fish stocks.I remember it was a calm sea and lowAfter leaving us, Noel said he might tide in the morning around 7am so Noelhit the same spot again that evening on had got up early and went south along thelow again and we said he would struggleWinning the shield with his late beach and found a good bank.He soonto beat that fish.Low and behold hegrandmother Mavis Pattinson peeking landed a beaut 19lb snapper and arrivednearly did and caught another 18lb fishbehind and finally beating surfcasting guru back to the baches later that morning andthat night! Noel Ossie was a great day for the editor.96FISHING IN GODZONE SUMMER ISSUE #48'