WILDFISH – BIN THE BILL CAMPAIGN

Wild salmon are endangered so join Wildfish in their passionate effforts to raise the issues that threaten these iconic fish.

Welcome to our May newsletter. The prolonged dry weather has remained a defining feature of the year so far – and May has been no exception. Drought is no longer a distant possibility; it’s becoming a growing reality in the UK. Yet, despite the warning signs, water companies have failed to plan ahead – and it’s our wild fish populations that are paying the price. This month, we’ve launched our “Bin the Bill” campaign in response to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. We’re calling on the Government to rethink its approach and deliver a planning system that protects wild fish and the waters they depend on. Scroll down to learn more about this and what else we’ve been working on throughout May.

Join our call to Bin the Bill

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill is central to the Government’s plan to “get Britain building” and boost economic growth – but at what cost? This Bill poses a serious threat to wild fish and would dismantle environmental protections that have been in place for generations. Some are willing to compromise. But when nature is on the line, there is no middle ground. Join us and show the Government what’s really at stake.

📸 Take a photo that shows what it means to you

📱 Post it on social media with the caption below

#️⃣ Add the hashtag #BINTHEBILL

🔗 Finally, don’t forget to tag @wildfishcons !

Social Media Caption

If the Planning and Infrastructure Bill goes ahead, this is what we all stand to lose. Wild fish and the wildlife that depend on our rivers will pay the price. I stand with @wildfishcons to #BINTHEBILL

Big Bass Brace in CMSAC Lure League

Reece Woolgar enjoyed a lure fushing session to remember tempting bass of 72cm and 63.5cm to move him into runner up spot in Combe Martin SAC’s Lure Fishing league.

Current Standings are :-

Seth Tuson five bass – 304cm

Reece Woolgar four bass – 263cm

Mark Drewer two bass – 122.5cm

Robert Hurst two bass – 121.5cm

Wayne Thomas one bass – 53cm

Bideford Angling Club – Midweek Competition Result

posted in: Match Fishing, Sidebar | 0
Midweek evening competition No.2
Results, :
1st Nathan Underwood   52lb 13oz
2nd Steve Johnson 27lb 12oz
3rd Ian Croxton 23lb 6oz
4th Kevin Shears 22lb 13oz
5th Keith Mountjoy 22lb 1oz
6th Richard Jefferies 21lb 3oz
20 members enjoyed another pleasant evening on George’s lake.
Nathan, last year’s midweek series winner, drew on what’s now becoming the infamous, peg 4.
He has made no mistakes and fished the long pole for a clear victory. Luncheon meat over micros was his choice of tactics. Steve and Kevin have had a next peg battle on 21 and 22 , Steve has added 4 carp to his silvers bag to secure 2nd spot .
Ian has taken 3rd spot on peg 6 using both pole and feeder tactics.
Kevin’s mainly slivers net was taken on the pole on corn for 4th place overall.

Horwood Match report and Fishery update

Horwood’s regular Friday match turned up some cracking weights this week, using both lakes with the fish finally feeding after a difficult spawning period.

Lakes are looked after by Neilsen Jeffery and with good help from members both lakes are now looking fantastic, with all 16 pegs having great inside features and shelves to fish on. You can literally catch double figure carp from under your feet.

The hundreds of willows that have been planted help create good protection now and obviously being able to drive and park next to your peg is a great bonus.

Please contact Neilsen if you wish to have a look around and are interested in possibly joining the friendly group of fishers.

Contact Neilsen 0n 07484325343

Best weights from Fridays match below.

Bottom Lake

1st

Graham Curnow with 125.14lb 2nd 

Stuart Russell with 114.0lb 

3rd 

Mark Lynch with 99.15lb

Top lake

1st 

Gary Sullivan with 81.03lb

2nd 

Mario Manley with 34.07lb

BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT IN ANGLERS PARADISE HISTORY

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BIGGEST FISH CAUGHT IN ANGLERS PARADISE HISTORY
Lee Meakin, age 36 has made Anglers Paradise history and caught the complex record Catfish at 100lbs from the Main Lake!!
This is the heaviest fish to have ever been caught here and he is now the new RECORD HOLDER!!
As a Fishery, we are all incredibly proud to have grown these Cats on from babies to THIS!!
Lee shared –
“Well my dad said I wouldn’t catch a catfish, so I wanted to prove him wrong haha!! After having no bites on the carp all day, I put 2 rods out for a cat not expecting anything and like he said there is 2/3 in here and the last time 1 was caught, was either last year or 2 years ago but I thought why not try?! I am not going to catch if I don’t try, so out went 2 Dynamite Baits 21m halibut pellets in the middle of the lake and my other went out on big fishy boilie and a fishy pop up.
2 and a half hours later my halibut rod screams off and bringing it in half way felt like a small cat as it wasn’t fighting and coming towards me, only to get it close and off it screamed!!
30 minutes later it tired and I put my waders on to try help it in the net and get it on the bank and only then seeing the pure size of it I couldn’t believe it!!

ANGLER LANDS 2ND BIGGEST CATFISH (Above) 
Massive congratulations to Rob Halsey who has caught the 2nd biggest ever Catfish at 92lbs from the Main Lake!
2 in one week, just insane!!🤯
Rob shared –
“92lb Catfish from the main lake, caught on snowman rig with a 15mm Dynamite Baits monster tiger nut boilie and 10mm yellow pineapple pop up fished over bag of crushed boilies and pellet.
This fish run me ragged, from one side of the lake to the other and back again, but after 20 minutes or so, she was mine.
What a fish!”
Anglers Paradise

Lure Fishing on Predator 2

posted in: Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

For booking info click on link :- Above

https://www-2559n.bookeo.com/bookeo/b_boatfishingdevon_start.html?ctlsrc2=%2BIDJvmgr1vT1qazBfW3FHnPVZGc52d%2Bjg6K%2BcPxL%2B3I%3D&src=03k&fbclid=IwY2xjawKnnrBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBtaHlDalliNFNDQU1aNWxCAR4yyKugZBSoqJBYit5wferQNjPVGzkIh2MmtiduNyzzDW862MzYsPheQi4jDw_aem_INqpIVVCppHutbq7cF0-3Q

Predator 2 Skipper Daniel Welch took a party of anglers out off Ilfracombe to enjoy a short evening lure fishing session. “Great to get back out on the water for one of our evening lure trips. You will be glad to know we haven’t forgotten how to fish, with over 20 bass to the boat including some good sized fish we also had pollack to 9lb 8oz and wrasse.”

South Molton & District Angling Club Trip – Bluefin

I joined South Molton AC  members and boarded John Barbeary’s Bluefin at just before 8.00am. The plan was to go and fish the waters close to Lundy Island but with a brisk Westerly and fair sized residual swell after a couple of rough days John suggested plan B. And so we left Ilfracombe harbour and headed up channel.

The spectacular cliffs that plunge from Exmoor’s Northern edge are always a joy to witness especially as the morning sunlight reflects upon the waters creating a silvery seascape framed by the dramatic cliffs.

            We started the day drifting the reefs off the Hangman’s where several pollock smashed into our strings of lures. We kept half a dozen to use as fresh bait when we dropped anchor. John explored several reefs but the fishing proved slow. As it was now high water with little tide flow we dropped anchor.

            It wasn’t long before rod tips were nodding as huss, conger and the inevitable dogfish intercepted our baits. Ed Rands and Lathum both caught conger into double figures and Ed  boated what was to be the biggest huss of the day at close to 10lb.

            As the tide pull slowly increased John up anchored and we tried drifting a few marks further up the coast to no avail. John received Info from fellow Ilfracombe boat skipper of Carrick Lee who’s party had caught several bass on a drift further up channel. Its always good to witness how Ilfracombe’s skippers work together sharing information to help each other.

            It seemed we had missed this opportunity as after several drifts our bass tally remained at nil.

            We then enjoyed an hour in the relative shelter of Woody bay with its densely wooded slopes and admired the exclusive properties nestled within the woods.

            John was uneasy at the slow sport and decided it was time to head back to the waters off the Hangman’s. Down went the big baits and again the rod tips nodded to the pull of huss, conger and dogfish.

            A sharp pull resulted in a pleasing bass of around 4lb to my offering of a bluey and squid wrap.

            Ed hooked into a very good fish that put a serious bend in his rod. We all watched the drama waiting in anticipation to glimpse what we thought was a big conger. Sadly whatever it was came adrift close to the boat before we had the chance to see it? The touch of drama added a hanging question over the day.

A good fish..but what is it?

And then its gone……..

Ed ponders upon what he lost?

            For the next hour we fished on as the tide eventually swung the boat so that we faced into the brisk breeze. A steady succession of huss, small conger and dogfish visited the boat before John started the engines and we headed back to Ilfracombe.

            The pier was busy with crabbers and tourists as we climbed ashore. Sausage and chips beside the harbour to round off a good days fishing.

http://www.ilfracombeaquarium.co.uk

DULVERTON AA – Urge support of Wildfish.org

posted in: Game Fishing, Sidebar | 0
As you are very well aware – I’m passionate about our waters, our association and how incredibly special for me it is to be able to enjoy spending time deeply immersed within that beautiful environment.
Like myself – I know how much you value what the club has achieved and continues to achieve with the support of its valued members.
We are all too well aware of what the ‘water companies’ don’t do to protect that special environment which supports such varied fish species, with its continued direct sewage pollution.
WildFish – is a UK organisation (charity) which works hard to protect the UK’s precious natural streams and rivers.  Fergal Sharkey – a keen fly fishing enthusiast has been a vice president, along with many other notable scientists/people.
With that in mind the more people that help support that charity will directly impact and help protect our streams and rivers, but also help to change policy about how water companies are managing these environments.

CMSAC LURE LEAGUE UPDATE

 

Combe Martin SAC Member Reece Woolgar got his 2025 lure fishing campaighn underway registering bass of 67cm and 60.5cm into the clubs lure fishing league that is sponsored by High Street Tackle, Ilfracombe.

The succesful lure was a Keitech Easy Shiner 4” in various colours

 

Present standings :-

Seth Tuson – Five bass – 304cm

Reece Woolgar – Two bass – 127.5cm

Mark Drewer – Two bass – 122.5cm

Robert Hurst – Two bass – 121.5cm