28 Jan 2018

Anglers embark on Beach Clean to show they care

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I joined seven members of Bideford & District Angling Club at Clovelly this morning to carry out a beach clean of the foreshore and harbour area. Following issues with angling related litter Bideford Club were determined to show that anglers do care and condemn those who drop litter and tarnish the majority of anglers who do take their litter home. In all we collected 16 bags of rubbish of which I would estimate 1% was angling related. The vast majority of the litter was plastic and its long levity was illustrated quite starkly by this old Ski Yogurt pot that  I googled to find it probably began its life in the mid 70’s.

Children’s plastic toys were also abundant along with plenty of household containers. Some of the debris has undoubtedly come from waste that had been dumped on the cliff-side by villagers in times gone by to be dislodged as the cliffs subside and the sea pounds the upper foreshore. Giving up a couple of hours to pick up the unsightly waste from the foreshore brings home the immensity of the plastic and waste issue that is caused by our modern lifestyle. There is a minority of anglers who add to this problem with their own debris but society has a big problem as could be seen as I drove home along the Atlantic highway with its littered verges.

Fishing line was amongst a small amount of angling related litter that included a couple of frozen bait wrappers.
Litter picking

 

Plastics and other debris dislodged as the cliff subsides.

 

 

22 Jan 2018

Norway Success Beneath the Northern Lights

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(Above) Kevin Legge with a fine halibut.

Combe Martin SAC members Kevin Legge and Craig McCloughlin joined a party of anglers in Saltstraumen Brygge Fish Camp,Norway. In search of cod, halibut, haddock and coalfish from the shore. They enjoyed success with several halibut, double figure cod and also enjoyed the spectacle of the Northern Lights with temperatures well below zero throughout the trip. Both anglers were kept warm with specialist clothing from Braunton Based company Reeds – Chillcheater.

(Above) Even in Norway Kevin found the inevitable dogfish!

 

22 Jan 2018

Sea Angling News Round Up.

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Shore sport seems to have slowed down with the weather undoubtedly deterring a few anglers from venturing out. There are a few whiting, dabs and dogfish being tempted. There is still an excellent chance of catching ray, conger, huss and spurdog from deep water marks.

If the weather permits boat sport should be good off Ilfracombe with Bluefin taking trips out after spurdog and conger.

Bideford 24 hour Rover

Nathan Clements took the top spot in Bideford Angling Clubs twenty four hour rover with a fine pollock of 4lb 3oz.

In runner up spot was  Andrew Clements with a pouting 1lb 1 1/2  and in third Antony Smith with a  rockling 14 1/2 oz.

In Appledore Shipbuilders Rover Josh Atkinson secured victory with a spotted ray weighing 3lb 10oz.

 

 

16 Jan 2018

If its cod you want get up Channel!

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Boat fishing has been excellent off North Devon with spurdog and conger but if its cod your after its up to Minehead and Watchet you will need to go.

A good weekend on Reel Deal with plenty of fish about including whiting, conger, ray and dogfish both days no cod yesterday. Cod have been scarce some days but plentiful on others. Chris Wadham has taken the lead in the Big Cod Competition sponsored by High Street Tackle Ilfracombe, Ammo Bait and Veals Mail Order with five cod for a total length of 2.32 metres.

 

16 Jan 2018

Private Boats Enjoy Offshore Sport

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The recent calm weather has allowed several of North Devon’s boat owners to venture out and savour the sport on offer. James Gubb Fradgley and Rob Scoines sailed out of Lynmouth and landed spurdog to 17lb, thirty conger to 29lb a blonde ray of 13lb and several bull huss.

(Above)James Gubb with a 29lb conger

 

James Gubb – blonde ray

 

Rob Scoines -bull huss
Rob Scoines – spurdog 17lb
(Above ) James Gubb  specimen bull huss
Dan Welch and Ross Stanway sailed out of Ilfracombe and also discovered conger, huss and spurdog.
(Above) Ross Stanway with a specimen huss
(Above) Dan Welch – spurdog
(Above) Ross Stanway with a spurdog
Dan Welch – conger 28lb
15 Jan 2018

Anglers Enjoy Deep Sea Sport on Bluefin

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The days fishing got underway following the stunning sunrise above Combe Martin Bay ( Above).

I joined a party of anglers on board John Barbeary’s ‘Bluefin’ Last Sunday morning when we steamed out to a mark six or seven miles off Ilfracombe where we hoped to connect with the packs of spurdog that have become a feature of winter fishing off the North Devon Coast. Several trips had been possible to these deep water marks over the previous few days when plenty of tackle testing specimens had been boated.

It wasn’t long after dropping the anchor before a few spurdog homed in on the array of baits on offer beneath the boat. Spurdog are not particularly fussy feeders devouring most fish baits with gusto.

(Above) Simon Blacher with one of the first double figure spurdog of the day.

(Below) One of several spurdog I landed during the day.

As the tide eased several conger joined in on the feasting beneath the boat with Exeter based angler Pete Gregory boating a beauty of 36lb. (Below)

 

A brace of bull huss ( Below)

Pete Gregory with a fine spurdog (Below)

Over the previous week John Barbeary had taken several parties of anglers to the grounds several miles off the coast when neap tides and good weather gave a perfect window of opportunity.

Below highlights from a productive week on Bluefin

Rob Scoines with two spurdog the best a fine specimen of 18lb 2oz

(Above)Rob Scoines with a huss

(Below) Pete Gregory with a 30lb plus conger

Pete Gregory with a rare Bristol Channel Ling.