Spurdog to 18lb and double figure bull huss are featuring in catches off Ilfracombe with John Barbeary’s ‘Bluefin’ taking anglers to the proven marks.
Combe Martin SAC – Boat Trip
Combe Martin SAC Boat Trip
Many thanks to Matt Jeffery for his report on CMSAC’s latest boat trip out of Minehead.
Osprey trip..30/12/19
Spirits were high as we pulled out of the harbour today with Steve Webber at the helm , all of us busily making our rigs and hoping to trick that big one into snaffling it up off the sea bed .
I for one was very pleased to be greeted by a calm morning as we pulled out of the harbour, and i wondered to myself was today the day ?.
with the usual teas and coffees made by young William Webber and also the cooking of bacon and sausages by Steve Webber it was a pleasent day
Unfortunately it wasnt to be today and it wasnt for the lack of trying either might i add ….
a few decent fish were caught through the masses of conger eels to 15lb…….
Louis Rooke managed a nice blonde
Peter Robinson had a spotted ray of 3lb 2oz
many thanks to Steve Webber for trying his best to get us on the fish ,and good on the club members for never giving up with those big cod baits ……
Trusty Waters have much to offer – Upper Tamar and Melbury producing some stunners.
It’s been a relatively mild winter so far and this has ensured consistent action with the regions carp. South West Lakes Trust waters have much to offer the keen angler who relishes the slightly wilder feel of these waters that hold some stunning carp. In contrast to many of the smaller commercial lakes anglers have the opportunity to choose their swims and fish without the competition for swims often experienced on popular heavily stocked commercials.
Ryan Willshire banked this 20lb14oz mirror from Upper Tamar in the last 24 hours. Great way to start 2020! Mainline Baits IB boilie over monster particle was the successful combination.
(Below) Lee Watts sent us in this catch report from the last couple of days: ‘Great session on Melbury with Aaron Jones nice way to finish the year with a few crackers, great to see Arron using a new cog lead to great affect at 180 yards! I also managed catching on a new test bait. My two mirrors were 24lb and 19lb and Aaron had 5 fish with 4 low double commons and cracking 13lb mirror!
Salmon – journeys end
I was sent this picture of dead salmon seen on the banks of the Torridge Estuary. Such a sight is not uncommon at this time of year. The majority of salmon will have spawned on the redds high up on the rivers headwaters and many die of exhaustion after ensuring the ongoing survival of the species. This salmon was estimated at 8lb to 10lb and was a cock fish judging by its prominent kype.
I always welcome any fish related news, comment and pictures from North Devon.
It is less that two months until the start of the salmon fishing season on our local rivers. Last season was blighted by low flows throughout a large portion of the season. Rumours are that this has been a reasonable spawning season on our local rivers so we must hope that this is true. Salmon numbers have been in decline for decades and every effort must be made to ensure that these iconic fish continue to forge up our rivers each year.
New Years Day – Fishing success
Combe Martin SAC members Jonathon Stanway and Ross Stanway got their New Year off to a great start catching a variety of fish from a North Devon Rock Mark. Ross’ landed smoothound of 8lb 6oz a catch that would have been considered a summer species a decade ago. This ponders the question is it an early hound or a late hound?
Stafford Moor – Winter Carp Catches
Dean Guppy banked four carp to 24lb from Beatties lake up to 24lb all caught on Sticky baits krill boilies.
(Below) Chris Blythe who had 4 fish out from Beatties lake all caught on J H baits , B4 bottom Baits.
(Below) Matt Saint caught a new personal best of 27lb 3oz from swim 14 on lodge lake caught on CC Moore live system boilies.
Stafford Moor Open Match
The latest Open Match on Tanners & Woodpecker lakes saw some good weights despite the time of year.
Chris Davis had 122lb 5oz from Woodpecker to win the match convincingly.
In second place was Ryan Shipp who bagged himself 113lb 6oz from Tanners Lake
In third place was James Cooper bagged 73lb 9oz from on Woodpecker Lake
Off Shore Sport On Bluefin
Calm weather has enabled John Barbeary to take anglers off Ilfracombe to enjoy some frantic sport with spurdog and bull huss. Each winter huge packs of spurdog prowl the Bristol Channel hunting for whiting, herring and sprats. The commercial ban on fishing for these members of the shark family has resulted in a population explosion that is generally welcomed by anglers who return the fish to the water.
Big Conger to end the year
Shore Fishing has been difficult along the North Devon Shoreline with those big fish hard to find. Fish those prime marks with big baits and heavy tackle and the results will eventually come its just a case of being in the right place at the right time.
Nathan Clements ended 2019 with this fine conger of 26lb 9.5oz tempted from a North Devon Rock Mark.
Stefan Jones caught this specimen bull Huss of 12lb 10oz whilst fishing a North Devon Rock Mark
NORTH DEVONs GREATEST CARP HAUL?
Graham Kelly has enjoyed a session to remember at Furzebray Carp lakes banking four of Island lakes most sort after fish. Graham banked the carp known as Charlotte at 46lb 14oz, Blackspot at 45lb, Angies Common at 37lb 10oz another carp of 31lb, the big Zip at 28lb and two other twenty pound plus fish.
