6 Nov 2025

ANGLING REPORT – November 6th, 2025

ANGLING REPORT

Flounder Season in full swing

The flounder season is in full swing with regular competitions being held in the estuary. Triple Hook Clubs South West Water Open was won by Robbie Hancock with a flounder of 1lb 71/2oz. Runner up was Steve Baker with a flounder of 1lb 67/8oz and Garry Vaughan third with a flounder of 1lb 61/4oz. Triple Hook Clubs Open last Sunday was won by Paul Ackland with a fine flounder of 1lb 111/4oz. Runner up was Mario Manley with a flounder of 1lb 63/8oz, third Mark Hancock was third with a flounder of 1lb 51/2oz and Kevin Hancock forth with a flounder of 1lb 41/2oz.

( Above) Paul Ackland won Bideford Angling Clubs monthly sea rover with a flounder scaling 1lb 121/2oz.

The estuary is also producing good numbers of bass with many being tempted with baits intended for flounder. Increased rainfall and colder weather is perhaps needed to result in increased catches of the humble flounder that provide easy fishing close to the town. One of the beauties of flounder fishing is that it can be enjoyed by anglers of all ages and abilities.

BASS FISHING

Jamie Steward has secured victory in Combe Martin SAC’s Lure Fishing League sponsored by High Street Tackle. The event ran from April 1^st until October 31^st with club members registering their top five lure caught bass. Jamie registered five bass for 354cm with Mark Drewer runner up with five bass for 351cm. The longest bass of 77cm was caught by Mark Drewer.

MATCH FISHING

Gary McClair won this year’s Stafford Moor November Silvers Festival with 31lb from Woodpecker Lake.

Bideford and District Angling Clubs team of fifteen travelled to Bude Canal for the second leg of their interclub match with Bude Angling Club. The match was a close run affair with Bude winning with 234 points to Bideford’s 230 points. Bideford secured overall victory carrying a thirty point advantage from the first heat held on their home water.

North Devon Match Group fished their latest Match at Oaktree Fishery where Paul Morris took top spot on the bottom lake with 62lb 10oz. Andy Preston was runner up with 38lb 2oz. On the top lake Nathan Underwood took top spot with 110lb 10oz. Daniel Underwood was runner up with 74lb 2oz.

Big trout continue to provide sport at Bulldog Trout Fishery with brown trout close to double figures featuring in recent catches. Mike Latham won the fisheries latest competition with six trout for 26lb 13oz. Nick Tamlin was runner up with six trout for 21lb 11oz and Ian Connabeer third with six trout for 13lb 10oz. Biggest fish of the day was a 9lb 10oz brown trout caught by Mike Latham.

2 Nov 2025

Weekly Angling Report, October 30th, 2025

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Coarse Fishing, Game Fishing, Lure Fishing, Match Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

BIG WEIGHTS AT STAFFORD MOOR

North Devon Match Groups latest Match at Stafford Moor was won by Nathan Underwood with 132lb 8oz. Tom Downing was runner up with 123lb 4oz.

The latest Open Match at the Moor was won by Mark Wyne with 108lb10oz.

The October Fisho 2025 Final was fished at Stafford Moor’s Woodpecker lake last Sunday. The winner of section one was Mark Layzell with 157lb 1oz and the winner of section 2 Martin Preston with 139lb8oz.

BIDEFORD & DISTRICT ANGLING CLUB

Bideford Angling Clubs Rod N Reel Match on their home water was won by Richard Jefferies with 31lb 1oz. Runner up was Reg Sutton with 29lb 1oz and third Keith Copland with 23lb 14oz.

LURE FISHING SUCCESS

Lure anglers have been enjoying some late season bass sport with several fine specimens taken from estuary marks. Jason Hayes and his friend banked a fine brace of bass each measuring 72cm.

SEA ANGLING

Bideford Angling Clubs forty eight hour sea rover was won by Paul Ackland with a dogfish scaling 2lb 2oz.

Kevin Legge took first and second place in Combe Martin SAC’s October Rover with small eyed ray weighing 8lb 12oz and 6lb 13oz. Third place was taken by Nick Phillips with a bull huss of 6lb 4oz.

Strong North West winds have curtailed the end of season boat fishing season out of Ilfracombe with many trips cancelled throughout October. This late Autumn period is historically a time of plenty for shore angling enthusiasts with a vast range of species worth targeting. If species fishing is your thing then Ilfracombe Pier and many local beaches can provide red mullet and perhaps sole. Big bass, ray, smoothound and even tope can be tempted from the surf beaches if conditions permit. Grey mullet sport is at its peak in harbours with five pound plus fish a real possibility. The flounder season is also in full swing with these obliging flatfish a popular target in both the Taw and Torridge estuaries.

TROUT FISHING

Wimbleball Reservoir is producing great sport from both bank and boat as Autumn brings cooler conditions with fish feasting on fry in the margins.

At Bulldog Fishery quality brown trout have been the reward for anglers visiting the lake with good numbers banked along with rainbow trout and spartic’s. Several big brown trout have been stocked recently and are proving surprisingly elusive with anglers glimpsing the fish in the clear water and occasionally hooking big fish that break free or slip the hook after stripping yards of line from the reel. It is always fascinating how big fish can remain uncaught for months even in relatively small waters.

1 Nov 2025

Jamie Steward Wins Combe Martin SAC – Lure League

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Lure Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

Jamie Steward has secured top spot in Combe Martin SAC’s Lure Fishing League sponsored by High Street Tackle Ilfracombe. Jamie will be presented with his prize at a date to be arranged with Danny Watson at High Street Tackle.

Jamies five bass were : – 72cm ,71cm , 71cm, 70cm, 70cm

1st Jamie Steward – Five bass – 354cm

2nd – Mark Drewer – Five bass – 351cm

3rd – Seth Tuson – Five Bass – 347.5cm

4th – Wayne Thomas – Five bass – 318cm

5th – Daniel Welch – Five bass – 302cm

Biggest Bass registered – Mark Drewer 77cm

28 Oct 2025

BASS LURE LEAGUE UPDATE

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Lure Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

Jamie Steward has reinforced his lead in Combe Martin SAC’s Lure Fishing bass league with a fine bass of 71cm his sixth bass over 70cm this season. Jamie has focussed on lure fishing this season and his efforts reveal the potential of local marks even this late in the season. It is likely that bass can be taken on lures all year round.

1st Jamie Steward – Five bass – 354cm

2nd – Mark Drewer – Five bass – 351cm

3rd – Seth Tuson – Five Bass – 347.5cm

4th Wayne Thomas – Five bass – 318cm

5th – Daniel Welch – Five bass – 302cm

Biggest Bass registered – Mark Drewer 77cm

The lure fishing league sponsored by High Street Tackle ends on Friday 31st October

23 Oct 2025

Weekly Angling Report -October 23rd 2025

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Articles, At the Waters Edge, Casting around North Devon, Coarse Fishing, Game Fishing, Lure Fishing, Match Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

UNDERWOOD SECURES WIN AT BIDEFORD CLUB WATER

Bideford Angling Clubs monthly Coarse Match on their home water was won by Nathan Underwood with 84lb 2oz. Runner up was Darren Polden with 52lb 12oz and third Keith Mountjoy with 39lb 14oz.

Jamie Steward caught a stunning lure caught bass of 71cm to give him a narrow lead in Combe Martin SAC’s lure fishing league sponsored by High Street Tackle, Ilfracombe with five bass for 353cm. The league ends on October 31^st with several members in contention. Runner up spot is currently held by Mark Drewer with five bass for 351cm and Seth Tuson third with five bass for. 347.5cm.

Combe Martin SAC members have been catching specimen mullet from the North Devon Coastline with Daniel Welch catching a 4lb 2oz specimen and Graham Snow a specimen of 4lb 1.5oz.

The Fluff Chucker’s Fly Fishing Group followed up on a successful Brown Trout Masters series with a West Country Grayling Cup hosted by the Arundell on the Devon and Cornwall border. Roger Truscott once again demonstrated his skill with the Fly Rod winning the event with a fine grayling of 45cm. Runner up was Rodney Wevill. Winner of the morning session was Gary Brazier and Ozzie Gough winner of the afternoon session.

Grayling offer winter sport on a limited number of rivers across Devon with the Arundell waters offering fishing on the Tamar and its tributaries. The Upper Exe waters controlled by the Dulverton Anglers Association offer several miles of fishing for these ladies of the stream.

Bulldog Fishery is in fine form with big brown trout, spartic’s and rainbows being caught. The venue is launching its winter competition program of events with the first competition this Sunday.

Several North Devon based anglers have travelled to Cornwall and South Devon ports to sample the exciting tuna fishing that is currently thriving to bring a welcome boost to local economies. I joined four good friends out of Looe to share an awesome angling adventure that saw us bring nine tuna to the boats side all between 200lb and 300lb. The power of these fish is immense and a true test of an anglers stamina. It is truly amazing to witness such an abundance of life as these magnificent fish feast upon a shoal of fish along with dolphins and sea birds. It is to be hoped that this valuable catch and release big game fishery can thrive and focus minds on the long term conservation of our coastal waters.

22 Oct 2025

NORTH DEVON – AUTUMN BASS

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Lure Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

Many thanks to Jason Hayes for sending me this exciting report….

🎣 What an afternoon on the North Devon coast!

I headed out for a quick bass session with a mate who’s just getting into fishing, targeting sea bass along our local marks. Not long in, his rod bent over and after an awesome fight, he landed a stunning 72cm bass! The excitement on his face said it all — his first real specimen fish, and what a one to start with!

He had to head off shortly after, absolutely buzzing… I stayed on for another half hour, and unbelievably, my rod went solid too — another beautiful 72cm fish!

Two cracking bass, same mark, within half an hour. Couldn’t have scripted it better.
North Devon doing what it does best. 🌊🐟

19 Oct 2025

Combe Martin SAC Lure Fishing League latest

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Lure Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

Combe Martin SAC member Jamie Steward caught this stunning 71cm bass to take him into pole position in the clubs Lure Fushing league sponsored by High Street Tackle Ilfracombe.

Current standings are :-

1st – Jamie Steward – Five bass – 353 cm

2nd – Mark Drewer – Five bass – 351 cm

3rd – Seth Tuson – Five bass – 347.5 cm

4th – Wayne Thomas – Five bass – five bass – 318 cm

5th – Daniel Welch – Five bass -302cm

9 Oct 2025

SEA ANGLING NEWS UPDATE- Latest Competition Results

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Lure Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

Storm Amy swept across North Devon last weekend and its effects will undoubtedly be felt as sea anglers seek big bass, tope and huss along the coast. A big Autumn storm such as this generally encourages big fish close in shore to feed and forage on the food dislodged.

Andrew Atkinson won Appledore Shipbuilders monthly Rover with a bull huss of 7lb 10.25oz. Runner up was Michael Hammett with a huss of 7lb 1.75oz and Josh Atkinson third with a dogfish of 1lb 15oz.

Stephen Found won Bideford Angling Clubs Sea rover with a mackerel of 1lb 2oz.

Combe Martin Sea Angling Clubs Lure Fishing league still has two weeks left to run and is currently headed by Mark Drewer with five bass for a total length of 351cm’s. Runner up is Seth Tuson on 347.5cm and Jamie Steward third with five for 344cm.

The flounder season is well underway on the Taw estuary with forty anglers taking part in the Daniel Mackie Flukey’s Flatfish Open. Stefan Jones won the competition with a flounder of 1lb 8.25oz. Runner up was David Jenkins with a flounder of 1lb 7oz and Taz Wotton third with a flounder of 1lb 6.75oz. The event raised £125 for the Children’s Hospice South West. Barnstaple Triple Hook Club have launched their Flounder season schedule with the Junior and Ladies Open competition this weekend.

2 Oct 2025

Combe Martin SAC – Lure League Update

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Lure Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

There are just over three weeks left of Combe Martin SAC’s Lure Fishing league that has been hotly contested this year by a dedicated band of enthusiasts. Whilst numbers of bass are likely to be less now is perhaps the time to catch that elusive double figure specimen.

Mark Drewer is the current leader with five bass for 351 cm with Seth Tuson in runner up spot with 347.5cm

Jamie Stewards latest 72cm catch below brings his five fish total to 344cm.

1st – Mark Drewer – 351 cm

2nd – Seth Tuson – 347.5

3rd – Jamie Steward – 344 cm

4th – Wayne Thomas – 318cm

5th – Daniel Welch – 302cm

4 Sep 2025

Seth Tuson takes lead in CMSAC lure league

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Lure Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

Seth Tuson is now leading Combe Martin SAC’s Lure Fishing League with five bass for 347.5cm after adding a bass of 67cm to his five fish total.

1st – Seth Tuson – Five Bass -347.5cm

2nd -Mark Drewer – Five Bass – 344.5cm

3rd – Wayne Thomas – Five bass – 318cm

4th – Jamie Steward – Four bass – 272cm

5th – Reece Woolgar – Four Bass – 263cm

6th – Daniel Welch – Four Bass – 233cm