that the funding for the English CHART (Catch and Release Tagging) programme in 2023 has been signed off and the programme has been given the green light.
Given the severe funding constraints we – the Angling Trust and the UKBFTA – have highlighted previously, the process for approval took longer than we would have liked. Throughout the spring we continued to push hard for CHART to continue into 2023, including writing to the Minister and raising the matter with politicians directly. We are pleased the Minister recognised the importance of ensuring CHART will continue this year in England.
Those funding constraints have required some streamlining of costs and one way in which that is being done is via removing the workshop and training element of the programme this year. This means that for 2023 only those skippers who have previously completed the training element and operated in CHART beforehand will be eligible to apply. It is anticipated that up to 25 vessels will again be authorised from the pool of “CHART graduates”.
Fish welfare is of the utmost importance to many skippers and anglers, who fought hard for the workshop and training element to be included in order to pass on this crucial knowledge to new entrants, so the lack of funding for this prior element of CHART is disappointing.
We understand that there will be some disappointment from those who wished to join the programme this year for the first time. DEFRA has indicated that the only way in which CHART could go ahead within the funds available was to adopt this approach. More information will be provided by CEFAS in the coming days to the “CHART graduate” pool and more widely via social media platforms. Specific questions regarding the operational protocols etc should be directed to CEFAS once they go live.
England joins Wales and Northern Ireland now in approving programmes for 2023 which will result in up to 40 charter vessels being authorised to legally fish for Atlantic Bluefin across the UK’s western waters.
We are very grateful to those skippers, crew members and anglers who have supported our efforts to ensure some form of legal fishing continued in England this year. We continue to work with Defra on the introduction of a world-class recreational catch and release fishery in 2024. We are hoping a public consultation on this will take place before the autumn.
Good luck to the anglers and skippers participating in CHART 2023. Thank you for your continued support and tight lines.
Normal service has been resumed, Nathan has put another winning net together, this time on peg 19., again on the short pole,paste over dampened 4mm pellets.
Keith Copland ran a close second fishing sweet corn on the pole off peg 6 , Keith Mountjoy fish pellets on the pole on peg 9 for third spot.
The rain held off except for one short shower, and George’s has once again produced a good match, with 3 rounds remaining Nathan leads and Martin moves into second spot.
Don Hearn on the river bank at the start of the season back in March
Many thanks to Don Hearn for allowing me to share Barnstaple and District Angling clubs mid-season report below.
NEWBRIDGE MID SEASON REPORT
After an exciting start to the season with several good fish taken and seen we are now, as last year, faced with extremely low water. The temperature was measured yesterday by the bridge at over 20 degrees and this of course can be threatening to migratory game fish. We have seen Salmon gasping on the surface and several casualties have been found. Some from mishandling, we think, but not by our members as far as we are aware. We are asking for restraint from salmon/sea trout angling during these drought conditions as any fish caught would be at risk of not recovering from the experience. You may have seen online that this is happening nationally and is disastrous for the species. We can but hope for rain. The Hall Estate up river from us has also asked beat holders for angling restraint until the water levels improve. Hopefully, as last year, we will get a decent run of fish when the rain finally comes.
We have now completed the new hut and after a bit of tidying of surrounding areas will soon be declaring it formally open! Hopefully this will last for many years and be a peaceful place to rest and shelter while watching the river pass by. This has involved a great deal of work from our volunteers but we all feel it’s worth it. The original hut was very substantial but in these changing times we couldn’t hope to compete. We are however proud of what we have achieved and hope it will serve its purpose for many years to come. With this downtime from angling at Newbridge work continues with strimming and clearing and if anybody has any suggestions for the beat they would be welcome. Also feel free to carry cutters etc and help yourself!
However, the restriction on the river doesn’t mean you can’t go fishing. One of the most popular options is fly fishing for Bass in the estuary. A greater challenge would be the Mullet. Both would give you a great scrap in lovely surroundings and well worth the effort. We do of course have course fishing at Aller pond which fishes well in summer with such deep water keeping temperatures down. Yet another quiet place to while away a few hours.
Whatever alternative you may find we look forward to getting back on the river when conditions improve and wish you, as ever, tight lines.
Don Hearn
Newbridge River keeper
My own comment :-
The low river levels as a result of prolonged dry conditions are a serious concern and if as is generally thought are a result of ongoing climate trends this does not bode well for the future. We all share the burden of potential climate disaster and need to consider how we should react. My own observations as an angler and conservationist are concerning. Indications that the natural world is in a bad place are all around. If salmon in the river are the proverbial canary in the mine then we should all be concerned.
Combe Martin SAC are hosting an Open Lure Fishing Competition with High Street Tackle Ilfracombe. If the event is well supported it is hoped it will become an annual event that can be built upon each year if the appetite is there to share the wonderful lure fishing for bass that can be enjoyed along Nortb Devons coast line. The coast line offers a wide variety of marks to target bass with a wide range of lure tactics proving successful.
Shallow rocky shorelines –Taw and Torridge Estuary
Bass tempted on a soft plasticOne of North Devons rocky headlands from the sea.
Sandy beaches have great potential for bass on lures
The boundaries for the event are the entire North Devon Coastline from County Gate to Welcombe Mouth.
The entry fee is £10.00 Competitors must book in at High Street Tackle Ilfracombe.
There is a first prize of £100 and £50 for the runner up. Additional prizes may be added if support is good.
The presentation will be held at Ilfracombe Pier, Outside the Aquarium at 6:30pm on Sunday July 2nd.
All those who attend the presentation will be entred into a raffle for a lure donated by High Street Tackle.
The prizes are for the longest bass nose to tip of tail caught using an artificial lure. A photo of bass and tape must be provided in addition to picture with captor if possible.
Fishing is from 00.00 June 29th until 6.00pm July 2nd.
All entries to be sent to CMSAC via their facebook page or to North Devon Angling News via social media or [email protected]
Advice on lure fishing for bass along with a huge sellection of lures are avaialble at High Street tackle.
Ocean Daze offer an ocean and fish themed range of clothing that will appeal to those who love spending time by the sea. They are available at Braunton Baits and online.
Wistlandpound Fly Fishing Club held their latest competition at Wimbleball Reservoir where Andre Muxworthy secured first place in difficult conditions boating a brace of rainbow trout totalling 4lb 10oz. I was runner up with a rainbow of 2lb 6oz. In the hot bright conditions, the trout had gone into the deep water close to the dam and were caught using fast sinking lines.
During the hot days of summer a boat is without doubt the best option on this large reservoir giving the opportunity to search various areas in search of the venues hard fighting rainbow trout and wild brown trout. In the heat of the day deep water is undoubtedly the best place to search with bright lures, blobs and boobys good tactics to employ. In the cooler evenings dry flies and nymphs can work well. Mid June saw some spectacular sport with trout feasting on beetles and mayfly. Whilst the long hot days of summer often prove difficult any day spent afloat on this beautiful water is to be cherished.
A quick report from Ed Rands on South Molton Angling Clubs 4hr Clovelly evening sea trip on the 19th of June.
We met doug the skipper aboard “independent charters” at 5pm motored out for 10 minutes and set anchor.
We put squid baits and mackerel baits down and started catching fish and it never really stopped until we came in at 9:30.
We caught the inevitable dogfish, a few smoothound, probably 30 bull huss into double figures and we had a few mackerel to bring home to eat as well as a few scad which were not eaten! The weather was pretty good and flattened the sea out well by the time we had finished.
Thanks to Jim, Danny, Bob, Nigel and Craig for attending and doug looked after us admirably with tea and coffee, although we did Craig’s coffee again later!
B.D.A.C ROD AND REEL MATCH SUMMER LEAGUE RESULTS DATE 25.6.23. 12 anglers fished Sundays match at Tarka with some fantastic weights being weighed in, The sun was shining with a bit of wind from time to time all anglers caught fish. First place today went to Richard Jefferies on peg 16 with a net full of carp fishing the float for a weight of 66lbs 6oz. Second place was Steve Ashton on peg 6 with a nice mixed bag of fish for 58lbs 2oz on the feeder to the island. Third place was Darren Polden on peg 8 with a nice mixed bag of fish for 52lbs 7oz and forth place went to Nigel Spurr on peg 19 with 45lbs 11oz.
