Boat anglers are enjoying an upturn in sport off Ilfracombe with the arrival of mackerel an encouraging sign. Anglers aboard Wild Frontier caught plenty of mackerel, pollock and scad whilst feathering off the coast. Bull Huss provided sport at anchor and an octopus made its getaway at the side of the boat. The next few weeks should see good numbers of hard fighting tope move inshore following the mackerel shoals. Images courtesy of Jack Phillips.
Dan Carder has been enjoying success from North Devon’s shoreline catching a spotted ray and a good smoothound during his latest excursions.
Chay Boggis fished a popular Ilfracombe shore mark to land this stunning looking spotted ray.
I have been looking forward to getting back out onto the rocks after a bass on the lure and today I made my first foray. It was great to once again scurry across the rocks as the tide dropped to low water timing my arrival to coincide with the bottom of the tide.
Water clarity was great and I was full of confidence as I searched the water starting off with a Patchinko surface lure and alternating through shallow divers and soft plastics. I gave each of my favourite spots ten minutes or so before moving along the shoreline as the tide began to push in over the boulders.
Despite a lack of interest in my lures confidence remained high and even if a bass did not intercept my offerings it was good to be out in the warm sunshine taking in the splendid scenery. A pair of peregrines swooped above beside the steep cliffs hunting an unfortunate pigeon that was I believe lucky to escape on this occasion.
I had reached my final rock and as the tide rose it was to time to go as I had stated I would be home at around 7.30pm and it was now 6.30pm. One last cast! I had just changed to a shallow diving plastic; as the lure came close to a boulder ten yards out a savage take was followed by a screaming reel and a bent rod. A bass of around five pound battled for cover and won its freedom as the hook hold gave way. I recast to the same spot and to my surprise had a repeat performance as another bass hit the lure hard. After a spirited battle a three pound bass was brought to hand and on this occasion was destined to arrive on our dinner plate pan fried with new potatoes and fresh salad just over an hour later. I only take two or three bass for the table each year returning the vast majority especially any fish of over 7lb.
The catch raises a couple of questions. Was it the result of a change of lure or just being in the right place as a shoal of bass happened to arrive where I was casting?
Earlier in the day I had visited Danny Watson at High Street Tackle and selected a couple more lures to try out. On this occasion it was an old battered lure that had done the trick. I tend to rely on half a dozen lures, a couple of hard plastic shallow divers, a couple of soft plastics and a couple of surface lures. The lures I take will to some extent depend on the chosen venue.
I am posting this information on North Devon Angling News as anglers are important stakeholders in regards to the North Devon Coast and most have a deep appreciation for its beauty and natural diversity.
Focus Group on Special Places on the Northern Devon Coast
Local residents in Northern Devon are invited to take part in a Focus Group about Special Places on the Northern Devon Coast. The focus group is part of a wider study, being undertaken by Collingwood Environmental Planning (CEP) and ABPmer, on behalf of the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).
The focus group will be held in Barnstaple on Thursday 6th June 2019 at 7pm.
The purpose of the focus group is to gather feedback from local residents (adults aged 18 or over) on their experiences and perceptions of places on the Northern Devon coast which they consider to be special and to explore the reasons why. This information will be used to help the Marine Maritime Organisation (MMO) to understand how coastal views contribute to enjoyment of the coast so they can consider this in future planning and projects.
The focus group will last a total of 2 hours, and light refreshments will be available. As a thank you, a £50 cash incentive will be provided to participants upon completion of the session.
To register your interest to participate in a Focus Group please email: Sian Morse-Jones at s.morse-jones@cep.co.uk as soon as possible.
Also, if you haven’t done so already, there is still time to complete the online Survey on Special Places on the Northern Devon Coast, which is live until Friday May 31st 2019, by clicking the link here: https://vision.abpmer.net/seascape/map
May 24 hour results
1st Andrew Clements thick lipped mullet 3lb 13 1/4oz 95.705%
2nd Julien Stainer smooth hound 9lb 3oz 91.875%
Combe Martin SAC Member Jonathon Stanway caught this fine bass on a white laggin dragon soft plastic.
Bull huss have been providing sport off Ilfracombe with Toby Bassett, Rob Scoines and Troy Laing amongst a successful part of anglers. These huss have some truly stunning markings.
Dan Waklbridge was delighted to catch this small eyed ray from a North Devon beach as dusk and low water coincided. Such catches bring optimism that results will be good in the popular forthcoming Putsborough Open.
Presents Our
Saturday June 1st
Fishing From 10.00pm to 2.00am
Cash Prizes Of £100 & £50
And Many Other Donated Prizes
2 Rods, 4 Hooks, Specimen Sizes
Entry £5 plus £1 Pool Best Brace
Phone Nick 814703 Or Wayne 850586
For More Details Please Check www.cmsac.co.uk Or Our Facebook Page
Please Respect Putsborough & Remove All Litter
