Combe Martin SAC – OPEN RESULT

Combe Martin Sea Angling Clubs Open competition generously sponsored by Quay Sports was won by Daniel Welch who landed three blonde ray scaling 8lb 11oz, 8lb 6oz and 7lb 9oz to take first, second and fourth place. Third was taken by myself with a grey mullet of 2lb 14oz. Competitors also caught conger, dogfish and rockling.

SAC OPEN RESULT

 

MIKE MILLMAN A SAD LOSS – 1933 – 2023

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I was saddened to read of the death of Mike Millman a prominent angling Journalist whose words and pictures have been published throughout my angling life. I have chatted with Mike on a few occasions over the years and his passion and knowledge of angling history always shone through.

Times have changed dramatically since Mike Millmans younger days of angling adventure. He would certainly relish the influx of tuna into South West Waters.

“My interest in angling began during the war years when as a ten year old equipped with a ten foot bamboo rod purchased for 2d at a local seed merchants,thick cuttyhunk line, which was tied directly to the end of the cane, and a somewhat rusty hook, I would join with other boys and men too old for military service in pursuing mackerel from an old jetty.

Those were halcyon days when thousands of mackerel could be relied upon to arrive each summer evening, on the making tide, to feed on millions of brit that would form into huge ball for protection in the corner of a tiny harbour. Even now I can picture the predators slashing into the mass of tiny wriggling fish and feel the jerk on the line as one made a mistake and grabbed my hook, whch was wrapped in silver paper and dangled close to the ball.”

Extract from Sea Angling Supreme by Mike Millman publsiehd in 1979

He celebrated his 90th birthday on March 26 2023,

Through this passion and skill, combined with his love of fishing, he built a hugely successful career. Born in Plymouth in 1933.

Its Fun Fish Time at Ilfracombe – Sunday September 3rd 2023

COMBE MARTIN SAC FUN FISH – The weather is looking perfect for the Fun Fish on Ilfracmbe Pier with sunshine and light winds forecast . We have guests on the day including Mat Mander Chief Officer of  Devon  & Severn Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority,  Dean Asplin from the Angling Trust and representatives from the Coastguard and RNLI who focus on water safety.

Bring along a rod and enter the fun fishing competition or just come along for a chat with club members and our guests. Its only two hours and once a year. There is also lots to explore around Ilfracombe’s Sea Ilfracombe Festival.

The event is generously supported by High Street Tackle Ilfracombe with an array of superb prizes for the competitors.

Ilfracombe Aquarium. https://ilfracombeaquarium.co.uk

Below an array of top quality prizes from HIgh Street Tackle.

SEA ANGLING NOTES

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Below are a couple of pieces intended for the NDJ column that for some reason did not get printed.

Sea anglers have been enjoying some good sport with mackerel showing in good numbers from both boat and shore at Ilfracombe. After several poor years it is good to see mackerel feasting on shoals of sandeels.

            Climate change is having a dramatic and at times catastrophic impact on the natural world. Salmon are an iconic species their survival threatened by rising water temperatures a fact that is slowly starting to reach the awareness of the wider public. Angling bodies have been campaigning against pollution from sewage and intensive farming for many years. It is good to see these important issues reaching the wider public agenda with the demise of West Country salmon featured on BBC spotlight.

            Rising sea temperatures are a mixed blessing for sea anglers with long term threats to the marine eco systems balanced against short term opportunities to catch species that may visit our waters as result of a warmer climate.

            It is amusing to read the annual sensational headlines about great white shark visiting UK waters. It is highly Likely that these majestic creatures do visit waters off the coasts of Devon and Cornwall there is after all nothing to prevent them and plenty of seals and other prey to hunt.

The Taw and Torridge estuary offer exciting opportunities to target bass and grey mullet using fly fishing tactics. All three species of grey mullet can be caught in the estuaries. Thick lipped grey mullet, Thin-lipped grey mullet and golden greys can all be targeted each requiring subtle modifications to tactics. The pursuit of mullet on the fly increased in popularity in recent seasons with a Facebook group; Mullet on the Fly having 10,000 members. Colin Macloud has done much to demystify the catching of mullet on the fly following the publication of his excellent book, Mullet On The Fly. I must confess that my own efforts to catch mullet on the fly have been enjoyable but generally unconnected to the wily target species.

North Devon Angler Kyle Bishop has enjoyed recent success with grey mullet on the fly catching several good fish from the Taw estuary.