My good friend Mark Everard included this in his latest Newsletter. This will undoubtedly have a significant impact upon the fish within the Bristol Channel and I would urge all who care to sign the petition linked beneath.
‘Acoustic fish deterrence at the intake of Hinkley Point C nuclear reactor
I have noted previously that EDF is frankly telling lies about the alleged ‘minor impact’ that an uncontrolled abstraction of cooling water from the Severn Estuary would have on fish. Modelling suggests 182 million fish killed a year for 60 years… hardly minor! Add to this the many are protected species – shads, lampreys, salmon, sea trout and others including much of the allis and twaite shad population of the UK that congregates in Bridgwater Bay – not to mention impacts on non-designated species. EDF suggests that creating a small bit of saltmarsh – highly unpopular with local communities and farmers – will offset damage if they are allowed to backtrack on fitting acoustic fish deterrent systems (about which they also promote untruths relating to noise and maintenance) but this is utter rubbish as it will not address biomass or species diversity to any significant degree.
Its been a difficult winter on North Devon’s rocky shoreline but persistance and local knowledge paid off for Combe Martin SAC’s members Kevin Legge and David Brooke who have landed several specimen spurdog and bull huss during recent sessions.
David Brooke with his specimen spurdog of 14lb 8oz
The spurdog season got off to a flying start off Ilfracombe where John Barbeary took anglers to deep water marks last Sunday. The party of seven anglers boated close to one hundred spurdog the biggest weighing 20lb with many double figure fish. Many thanks to Mike Spiller for providing these images.
The winning fish an eel of 18lb 10oz was caught by Jonathon Stanway with his brother Ross Stanway securing runner up spot with an eel of 12lb 2oz. Third was Ollie Passmore with an eel of 11lb 15oz.
Jonathon Stanway with his winning eelOllie Passmore with his eel of 11lb 15oz
Conger dominated catches during this six hour evening competition with members fishing various marks on the North Devon Coast. The conger seemed to be on the feed in a big way. I fished with club secretary Nick Phillips and we landed close to twenty eels, sadly all were less than 10lb. I did hook what felt like a very big eel and was dismayed when the 7/0 hook I was using snapped an event that has never happened to me in over fifty years of fishing.
COMBE MARTIN SAC – AGM
Chairmans report
An interesting year with potential areas for the club to grow. The fun and species league based around Ilfracombe has generated an influx of new members and as a club we need to ensure this initial enthiusasm doesn’t dwindle away. How we do that is of course up to the members?
The core of the club is still specimen based but there has been a change in the way we fish with less social interaction and a more insular approach. Reduced access to the coastline is an issue as an increasing population leads to ever more restrictions on parking and access.
The challenges we face as a club are common to most clubs and we need to address areas where we can perhaps offer more to the membership. Though all a club really provides is a place to come together and share a common love of angling. It is a concern that Nick and I have been at the helm of the club for forty years or more! If there is a future then at some point some young revolutionaries will have to kick us out.
Fish recorders report
38 species from Ilfracombe Pier and harbour area!
Toby Bassett caught – 34 of them!!!
Specimens fish – 51 over 100%. Kyle landed – 20 of these
(49 in 2023)
Gilthead bream seem to thriving in the estuary and I suspect there were more 100% smoothound caught than recorded? A big change in what is being caught in the estuary with smoothound and gilthead bream caught as far up as Fremington Quay.
The winter fishing on the Open coast has been difficult with small conger and dogfish dominating catches. Good to see a few big pouting caught but the numbers of pouting and whiting are a fraction of those in past decades.
The summer bass fishing was good in the estuary and for some periods on the open coast.
I am hoping to see a big increase in fish recorded from the boats this season now that we have a Charter boat skipper in our midst. I would like to recruit a few new members wanting regular boat trips. As members they will have secure access to regular trips and a reasonable rate.
As regards to fish entries they are a valuable source of historical data for the club so please send in your fish. Either via email, Watts App, Messenger or good old phone.
I spent an hour or so working through the results of the 2024 Combe Martin SAC – Ilfracombe Harbour fun & Species Competition the results are below.
Well done to all who have taken part throughout the year. We had a very good uptake at the start of the year and special thanks go to Toby for his enthusiasm and efforts in recruiting new members. The number of species caught across the membership was amazing. The club sub group has added a different dimension the club and it is essential that this is continued. The club has its AGM on Friday 31st at the Mariners Arms, Braunton and it would be really good if as many as possible attend. This is your club and ideas are required.
I suggest we have a sub group coordinator or maybe a meeting at Ilfracombe for a chat and get together and maybe a combine with the first fish of the year.
To continue the club species total accumulator on both an annual and ongoing basis.
Arrange events throughout the season maybe Winter, Spring , Summer & Autumn. Plus at least one social meet at Ilfracombe in conjunction with one of these events?
Please Bring ideas to the AGM….
Total Number of species caught by club members – 38
1st – Toby Bassett – 34
2nd – Daniel Welch – 31
3rd – Ross Stanway – 30
4th – Nigel Oliver 24
5th – Gary Prout 21
6th– Lenny Lake – 19
7th Solly Welch – 18
7th – Ted Childs – 18
8th Paul Lorrimore – 13
9th – Charlie Stanway – 10
10th – Andrew Laramy -9
Zephyr Laramy – 9
Wayne Thomas – 9
11th – Jake Stanway – 7
12th – Matt Childs – 6
A sub group meeting is to held to look at how the league will proceed in 2025.
The AGM was attended by 19 club members. The only substantial change was that competition entry for standard competitions has risen to £10 reflecting changing times and relative value of money. A £5.00 entry fee had been in place for over twenty years. The increased entry fee makes the prize money more attractive.
Andrew Clements won Bideford Angling Clubs End Of Season competition with a small eyed ray of 9lb 9oz. Tony Gussin was runner up with a rockling of 1lb 2oz.
Well, despite some appalling conditions,Barnstaple Bait & Tackles FAMILY FLOUNDER BASH went ahead with a good turnout of hardy (or mad) anglers braving the elements.
Plenty of fish were weighed in, plenty of raffle tickets were sold and over £200 was raised for the Children’s Hospice South West! We must say a big thanks to The Ebberley Arms for their hospitality and of course to David Jenkins for his help in running the event.
Big congrats to all the winners which were as follows:
JUNIORS:
1st – Max Chapple
2nd – Jack Chapple
3rd – Kayden Wolton
SENIORS:
1st – Richard Chapple
2nd – Taz Wolton
3rd – Scott Bowden
4th – Dave Bowden
COMBINED FAMILY:
‘The Chapples’
Thanks to everyone that took part and we look forward to seeing you on the next one in the Autumn! In the mean time, enjoy these pics of the day and a nice shot of some of the flounders before being returned safely back to the estuary.
