Many thanks to Jason Hayes for sending me this exciting report….
🎣 What an afternoon on the North Devon coast!
I headed out for a quick bass session with a mate who’s just getting into fishing, targeting sea bass along our local marks. Not long in, his rod bent over and after an awesome fight, he landed a stunning 72cm bass! The excitement on his face said it all — his first real specimen fish, and what a one to start with!
He had to head off shortly after, absolutely buzzing… I stayed on for another half hour, and unbelievably, my rod went solid too — another beautiful 72cm fish!
Two cracking bass, same mark, within half an hour. Couldn’t have scripted it better.
North Devon doing what it does best. 🌊🐟
Bruce Elston enjoys tuna action as the rays of a new day dawn.
It was the perfect fishing adventure even though in a way I didn’t actually catch a fish!
A tuna fishing trip is very much a team effort all the work in locating the fish and setting up the tackle is done by the Skipper and his crew. The anglers reel in the fish sharing an exciting adventure on the high seas that will linger in the minds eye for a lifetime. It is a true joy to witness nature close at hand and connect with the immense power of these awesome hunters of the ocean depths.
It is to be hoped that this catch and release big game fishery can thrive to support a local economy and focus minds on the long term conservation of our coastal waters.
My angling Journey began close to 60 years ago at the Cornish seaside town of Looe. As a young angler I would fish from the Banjo Pier on Autumn evenings gazing out at the flashing light of the Eddystone Lighthouse thirteen or so miles off the coast. I dreamt of venturing out to sea in search of big fish and on a trip out of Looe this Autumn those dreams came true. At some point I will put together a full account of the trip shared with six good friends when as a team we brought nine tuna the largest estimated up to 300lb to the boats side where they were carefully revived before being released back into the clear waters.
Combe Martin SAC member Jamie Steward caught this stunning 71cm bass to take him into pole position in the clubs Lure Fushing league sponsored by High Street Tackle Ilfracombe.
Current standings are :-
1st – Jamie Steward – Five bass – 353 cm
2nd – Mark Drewer – Five bass – 351 cm
3rd – Seth Tuson – Five bass – 347.5 cm
4th – Wayne Thomas – Five bass – five bass – 318 cm
Combe Martin SAC’s Mullet fishing weekend saw members catch good numbers of these hard fighting fish with Daniel Welch securing top prize with a fine fish of 3lb 14oz. Runner up was John Avery with a mullet of 3lb 12.5oz and Wayne Thomas third with a fish of 3lb 8oz.
Large numbers of small mullet bode well for the future though they made it hard to connect with the larger specimens that could be glimpsed on the flooding tide. The annual event was concluded with breakfast in Lynmouth Pavillion.
Whilst Jack Phillips wasn’t pleased to catch this eel its was good to see as these once prolific fish are now considered rare.
Storm Amy swept across North Devon last weekend and its effects will undoubtedly be felt as sea anglers seek big bass, tope and huss along the coast. A big Autumn storm such as this generally encourages big fish close in shore to feed and forage on the food dislodged.
Andrew Atkinson won Appledore Shipbuilders monthly Rover with a bull huss of 7lb 10.25oz. Runner up was Michael Hammett with a huss of 7lb 1.75oz and Josh Atkinson third with a dogfish of 1lb 15oz.
Stephen Found won Bideford Angling Clubs Sea rover with a mackerel of 1lb 2oz.
Combe Martin Sea Angling Clubs Lure Fishing league still has two weeks left to run and is currently headed by Mark Drewer with five bass for a total length of 351cm’s. Runner up is Seth Tuson on 347.5cm and Jamie Steward third with five for 344cm.
The flounder season is well underway on the Taw estuary with forty anglers taking part in the Daniel Mackie Flukey’s Flatfish Open. Stefan Jones won the competition with a flounder of 1lb 8.25oz. Runner up was David Jenkins with a flounder of 1lb 7oz and Taz Wotton third with a flounder of 1lb 6.75oz. The event raised £125 for the Children’s Hospice South West. Barnstaple Triple Hook Club have launched their Flounder season schedule with the Junior and Ladies Open competition this weekend.
I sometimes wonder what anglers want to read on North Devon Angling News in addition to the latest news from around the region. I thought it might be worthwhile taking a look back at the beginning of each month at the venues I have fished over the preceding month and the triumphs and trials I have encountered.
In early September Pauline and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. It is a testament to Pauline that she has accepted my obsession with angling throughout those fiorty plus years supporting me great with patience. (Most of the time; for there are times when I have undoubtedly overstepped the mark a little).
We celebrated at the Tarr Steps Inn beside the glorious River Barle that once teemed with salmon during the Autumn months. I remember catching a silver grilse on the day of Princess Diana’s funeral back in 1997. The river like many has suffered a dramatic decline in its salmon stocks though its wild brown trout are still abundant.
The Barle above Tarr Steps
In the Exmoor Town of Dulverton it was good to see minnows shoaling in the leat that runs past Rothwell & Dunsworth the book shop that always has a tempting array of fishing books.
An antique cased perch catches my eye…whats the story behind it?
The Glorious Wye
Whilst the River Wye in Herefordshire frequently makes the headlines regarding effluent from Chicken farms and agriculture it is still a beautiful rIver. its salmon runs have plummeted but it is still home to some wonderful Coarse fish. I extracted a few bronze flanked chub on a trip in the middle of September.
A feast intended for barbelThis chub found rolled meat to its liking.
Evening light on a tranquil Wye.
HOME WATERS
The quiver tip back on home ground…
CORNISH REEF
The annual trip to fish in the Looe Basher was once again an enjoyable excursion visiting familar haunts.
The flooding tideOut of LooeA brace of comber for myself and Chris Hayton
Spectacular red gurnard
Bruce Elston with a fine conger
A decent black breamwow ! what colours
Fish to brighten the dullest of daysDominick is king of ling catching his third in three years.
Broken tips for two!
An un-welcome sign on the quayside where I spent many hours fishing as a child. Floatfishing for pollock after dark on Autumn evenings remembered with great fondness.
IN HOPE OF SALMON
Prime water on the River Torridge
THOSE WILD BROWNS ALWAYS OBLIGE
The beauty of a wild brown trout from the higher reaches of a local river.
Many thanks to Anglers Paradise for inviting Pauline and I to their 40 year celebrations.
Its flounder season and Triple Hook Club launch their Winter time table of events.
The Daniel Mackie Flukeys Flatty Open attracted 40 entrants. Lots of fish were caught up and down the river. Results as follows:
1st Stef Jones 1lb 8 1/4 oz £100
2nd David Jenkins 1lb 6 7/8 oz £60
3rd Taz Wotton 1lb 6 3/4 oz £40
Next comp is on the Sunday November 24th the entry sheet will be in Barnstaple Bait and Tackle from Tuesday £5 entry we also raised £125 for Children’s Hospice South West.
There are just over three weeks left of Combe Martin SAC’s Lure Fishing league that has been hotly contested this year by a dedicated band of enthusiasts. Whilst numbers of bass are likely to be less now is perhaps the time to catch that elusive double figure specimen.
Mark Drewers latest entry
Mark Drewer is the current leader with five bass for 351 cm with Seth Tuson in runner up spot with 347.5cm
Jamie Stewards latest 72cm catch below brings his five fish total to 344cm.
Daniel Welch of Predator has been putting anglers amongst some fine bass and pollock over recent weeks. If weather permits October could see some of the biggest bass of the season boated.
My sea angling journey started many years ago fishing from the Banjo Pier in Looe, South Cornwall so each year when we return to join what has become known as the Looe Basher group many memories are rekindled. I was booked onto the Reef Fishing trip on the Friday of the week which turned out to be a lucky break as two days of the six booked for the group ended up being cancelled due to inclement weather.
The Looe Basher is organised with military precision by Lee Armishaw of Watersmeet Publications who navigates many hurdles to put together this highly enjoyable convergance of friends each Autumn.
Lee Armishaw
I joined six other anglers on Dan Margetts, Sowenna and we sailed out of Looe on a grey morning eager to connect with the many species that dwell on the offshore reefs. The previous days highlight had been the sighting of a fin whale breaching close to the boat.
I hope to cover the trip in a future Sea Angler Feature so will not go into too much detail. But the trip resulted in some stunning fish that brought much colour to the grey Autumn day. Two of us boated nine species each on the day with a total of at least a dozen species to the boat including three comber.
The week concluded with a gathering and a delicious meal in the Golden Guinea where the annual ‘Evans Top Rod award’ was presented to Dickie Howell who landed ten species in a single session and assisted Dan Margetts with crewing. ‘The Evans Top Rod engraved Tankard is presented in fond memory of Peter Evans who was a regular attendee of the Looe Basher. He brought a warm presence, optimism and humour to the event and is greatly missed following his passing earlier this year.
Jack Perks was also congratulated in catching a comber to bring his tally of Uk species to 100!
