Combe Martin SAC – AGM & Presentation Night

Combe Martin SAC held their AGM and presentation night at the  Mariner’s Arms in Braunton. Members reflected upon the past years successes and failures as the club strives to remain relevant and positive in this ever changing world.

There were some excellent fish caught throughout the year as is apparent from the list of award winners. How to acknowledge success in angling is increasingly debated. It seems that the appetite for trophies has waned partially due to the cost of prohibitive engraving. At around £10 to engrave a trophy a club with twenty or thirty trophies faces a bill of between £200 and £300 which equates to the total raised via subscriptions. Certificates of merit are the preferred option and sit nicely into a folder but in truth these days a grip and grin photo on Facebook seems to be many anglers preferred option. Those of a cynical nature frown upon this supposed fishing for clicks but I personally accept that most anglers like to share their joy in success.

The clubs annual Puttsborough Open was once again a resounding success with good attendance, plenty of fish and welcome funds for the club. The ongoing support from Sakuma Tackle is very much appreciated.

The clubs lure fishing league proved popular with a dedicated band of club members keen to explore the possibilities of this growing sector of sea angling. Many thanks go to Danny Watson of High Street Tackle for his ongoing sponsorship.

The clubs mullet anglers are very active chasing the species throughout the seasons catching a fish that was once considered a fish of summer throughout the coldest of winter days.

There are also a hard core of club members who seek those big specimen huss, conger and tope from the rugged rocky shoreline.

Daniel Welch has invigorated interest in boat fishing with his Charter boat Predator 2 taking club members to investigate new marks using the latest techniques with considerable success.

The clubs longstanding committee remains unchanged this year. The club has a full and varied diary of events planned for 2026. Details of the club can be found at their website

www.cmsac.co.uk or on their Facebook Page. New members are welcome.

Awards for 2025 Season are as follows:

Trophy winners 2025

Bass Cup       –  Length –   Mark Drewer – 77cm  Weight  Shane Pavis Hookway 4lb 2oz

Grey Mullet Cup –    John Shapland –  Thick Lipped grey mullet – 5lb 7oz

Conger Cup –  Jonathon Stanway – 18lb 10oz

Predator Award – Shane Hookway – Shore Caught tope 43lb 6oz

Flatfish Cup –   Wayne Thomas – Flounder 1lb 6.25oz

Shore Shield – Olli Passmore  – Gilthead Bream – 5lb 10oz – 187.5%

Medway – Boat – Specimen    – David Brooke – gilthead bream- 6lb 4oz –  208.333%

Wrasse Trophy – Ollie Passmore – ballan wrasse     – 5lb 2oz

Ray Shield –            Craig Mc Cloughlin – Small eyed ray 9lb 8oz

Specimen League     – Top Five –    Shane Pavio HookWay       Five fish total 518.349 %

Donald Kyte Award – 6 mullet – John Shapland – 689.463%

Scouse Trophy – Ross Stanway 1lb 1.25oz

Lure Fishing League –

1^st Jamie Steward – Five – 354cm

2^nd Mark Drewer – Five – 351cm

Biggest bass in lure league – Mark Drewer 77cm

Merit Trophy  was awarded to  Daniel Welch  for his outstanding contribution and support of the club via his Charter Boat enterprise Predator 2 that has invigorated the clubs boat fishing sector.

Club Records

 David Brooke  – Gilthead Bream – 6lb 4oz

Fish of the Season awards – £25 Voucher for High Street Tackle

January February March  – Shane Pavio Hookway – Tope Shore 43lb 6oz

April May June  – Ollie Passmore – Gilthead bream – 5lb 10oz

July August September – David Brooke – Gilthead bream 6lb 4oz

October November December – John Shapland – Thick lipped grey mullet 5lb 7oz