Samual Rigby fished a new mark he had planned to fish for quite some time and was rewarded with this fine bass of 72cm. The fish was caught on a 6 inch gravity stick paired with a 3/0 weightless hook.
PREDATOR 2 – COMBE MARTIN SAC – BOAT TRIP
June 12th 2025 was Combe Martin SAC’s first club boat trip out of Ilfracombe aboard Predator 2 with Dan Welch. I hope that it will be a new chapter in the clubs long history and I look forward to plenty more trips with Dan who works hard to find the fish that are all too often hard to find.
We headed up channel as a result of strong Westerly winds that would have made the waters closer to the mouth of the Bristol Channel uncomfortable. It is always enjoyable watching the familiar coastline from the boat as those landmarks pass by along with a lifetime of memories. The headland of Rillage and the coastguard station, Widmouth Head, Watermouth and the Sexton Burrow, Burrow Nose. Broadsands, Sandy Cove, Combe Martin, Wild Pear Beach and Little Hangman. North Devon’s dramatic northern edge looked splendid with verdant lush green providing a glorious back drop. As we surveyed this beauty I also reflected on the access that has been lost to us as anglers over the last fifty or so years. Restrictions due to private ownership and Coastal erosion all contributing and exacerbated by human behaviour, an increasing population and of course funding for access projects.
Past Combe Martin Bay and the dramatic sea cliffs immortalised in the book “The Hidden Edge of Exmoor”. Access to this shoreline restricted by geographical splendour has always been difficult and it is fascinating to reflect upon past generations who descended these cliffs to harvest natures gifts.
“While over a thousand people may have climbed Mount Everest and may thousands may have walked England’s South West Coast Path, very few have traversed the whole of the Exmoor Coast down at sea level along what we have called The Hidden Edge of Exmoor. The Exmoor Traverse is a serious mountaineering venture that is compounded by a tide that can rise vertically at six feet an hour and by cliffs that tower over six hundred feet in places. Out of sight of civilization it is an awe-inspiring wilderness, boasting the highest marine cliff in England, a waterfall as high as Niagara and a colony of ancient stunted yew trees that may prove to be the largest in Britain.”
The book goes on to record the historical stories of those who descended the cliffs in Victorian times to gather birds eggs, laver, driftwood and botanical data. Not to mention the scars still visible on the cliffs from mining operations.
On this day as a brisk west wind blew up channel it was without a doubt the dramatic scenery that stole the show for the fishing proved difficult. The morning started well as we dropped anchor off Woody Bay. We hoped for tope that had been abundant over recent days. These proved elusive but a couple of small eyed ray proved encouraging along with a few huss and the inevitable dogfish. A couple of pollock succumbed to baits when we moved a little inshore over the rough ground to avoid the stronger tide and this prompted a short lure session with several pollock brought to the boat.






The wind was steadily increasing as we moved out to fish offshore where we once again hoped to find the hard fighting tope. The wind buffeted the boat causing it sit awkardly at anchor making keeping contact with our baits challenging resulting in a few minor tangles. There was little that Dan could do and we chose to move closer inshore seeking shelter and perhaps that illusive tope. An hour passed and with just a few dogfish Dan suggested we call it a day and paused for few mackerel on the way home to top up our bait freezers and perhaps savour for tea.
A few drifts in a lively sea off Rillage produced a few nice mackerel one of which was consumed a couple of hours later after pan frying with a dash of pepper and lemon juice. We all look forward eagerly to the next trip when we hope for better weather and a few more fish.

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
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
A BLAZE OF COLOUR – CLUB RECORD CUCKOO WRASSE
Summer sea sport is underway with long warm spell resulting in some exciting fishing off Ilfracombe. Predator 2 is the latest Charter boat to join the Ilfracombe fleet and its skipper Daniel Welch is taking anglers to Bristol Channel Reefs where good numbers of wrasse and pollock are being tempted using the latest lure fishing tactics. A recent trip resulted in new Combe Martin SAC club record cuckoo wrasse weighing1lb 6oz to the rod of Ross Stanway. A seaqualizer device to return fish to water without harm a device that is available from the Angling Trust and is also proving a valuable conservation tool for returning pollock caught in deep water.
Dan Welch also caught a spectaculary coloured cuckoo wrasse of 1lb 5oz using a small lure.
The colours on wrasse are truly awesome and a match for any in tropical waters.
Promising signs of summer on evening boat trip
It was good to get out off Ilfracombe aboard Predator 2 for a short evening session using lure fishing tactics. Dan Welch had already taken a party to waters near Lundy Island where they had caught numerous pollock and wrasse. I was fortunate to catch the first two bass of Predator 2’s season and whilst small they bring promise of sport to come as the water warms. Water clarity was undoubtedly a factor on making the fish hard to find with algae prolific and frothy foam abundant. It is hoped that this will clear in the coming weeks. Despite the challenging conditions pollock and wrasse were also brought to the boat with Dan tempting a wrasse of close to 3lb.
It was good to see a steady procession of swallow’s flying over as the boat drifted. We were also visited by an inquisitive seal.

Combe Martin SAC – Lure League Update
Robert Drewer has registered bass of 63.5cm and 59cm into Combe Martin SAC’s Lure fishing league this puts him into second place at present with 122.5cm.
Seth Tuson is leading at present with three bass for 182cm and Robert Hurst third with two bass for 121.5cm. I am keeping a note of the successful lures used and soft plastics are dominating at present with all seven bass caught on these lures.
Early Season Lure Sport on Predator 2
Dan Welch has treated anglers to some exciting lure fishing trips on Ilfracombes latest charter boat Predator 2. Good numbers of colourful wrasse and pollock have put welcome bends into anglers rods over the calm settled weather leading up to Easter. Prospects for the coming season are excellent to book trips visit the Predator 2 website : –
Click on links below to book a trip :-
Combe Martin SAC Lure League – Seth takes early lead
Seth Tuson has taken an early lead in Combe Martin SAC’s members lure fishing league registering bass of 67.5cm and 57cm he now has three bass for a total length of 182cm. Both fish were tempted using soft plastic shad lures. Robert Daniel Hurst is on two bass for 121.5cm.
Below is the shad lure that tempted the larger of the bass.
The event is sponsored by High Street Tackle, Ilfracombe with first and second prize plus biggest bass. First or second prize cannot win biggest bass prize.
Lure Season off to an early start
Combe Martin SAC member Robert Daniel Hurst has registered two early season lure caught bass into the clubs Lure Fishing league. The bass of 61cm and 60.5cm are cracking bass and are a good omen for the coming months. Both bass were tempted using a megabass spindle worm. The prolonged spell of settled weather has resulted in excellent water clarity and warm temperatures. Entry into the league is free to club members that is sponsored by High Street Tackle, Ilfracombe.