12 Aug 2016

Netting Ban Consultation Reminder

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

Devon and Severn IFCA are holding a number of events to publicise the proposed Netting Permit Byelaw. Please join Officers at the promotion trailer that will be at the following venues between 1600hrs and 2000hrs. This is your opportunity to ask questions and find out more information. Large charts showing estuaries and coastal areas will be on display as well as the byelaw and permit conditions. Copies will be available for you to take away. Please advertise this as widely as possible within the fishing community.

Churchfields car park, Appledore, EX39 1RL 15th August 2016
Cove car park, The Cove, Ilfracombe, EX34 9EN 16th August 2016
Fish Quay, Sutton Harbour, Plymouth, PL4 0LH 17th August 2016
Imperial Road Recreational Ground, Exmouth, EX8 1DB 18th August 2016
The Den, Den Crescent, Teignmouth, TQ14 8AA 19th August 2016
Quay West car park, Quay West, Minehead, TA24 5UP 22nd August 2016
Entrance to Sailing Club, The Promenade, Clevedon, BS21 7QU 23rd August 2016
Manor Road car park, Sidmouth, EX10 8RR 24th August 2016
Car park, Creek boat park, Gould Road, Salcombe, TQ8 8DU 25th August 2016
Freshwater Quarry car park, Blackball Lane, Brixham, TQ5 8BA 26th August 2016

The byelaw, permit conditions and charts can be viewed in advance on our website: www.devonandsevernifca.gov.uk/public-consultation-

11 Aug 2016

Its big bass time!!!

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

Liam Stevens has landed one of the biggest bass so far this season a fine specimen of 15lb 8oz that was landed from a shore mark in the Ilfracombe area. The fish was tempted using mackerel presented on a 3/0 hook on a running ledger set up. Liam had persisted after suffering from a large amounts of weed fouling his line the previous night. The fish was weighed and witnessed by Peter Read and photos taken by Ben partridge. Liam is a member of Combe Martin Sea Angling Club.

The remaining months of the year are sure to turn up large specimen bass with many marks along the North Devon coast capable of producing fish to make anglers dreams come true.

9 Aug 2016

ROCK DWELLING WRASSE

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

Andrew Parish used King ragworm purchased at Braunton Bait Box to tempt this handsome ballan wrasse from a mark near Combe Martin. Ballan wrasse were plentiful along the North Devon coast during the 1980’s but catches have not been as good over recent seasons. A contributory factor could be that less anglers target the species these days as they tend to reside in among thick kelp and rock that deters some anglers. It would be great to see some pictures of these fine fish. Crab baits were always favourite for the bigger specimens though king ragworm was always a great bait for numbers of fish. Recent developments have seen wrasse targeted with great success using lures a method that is perhaps underused in North Devon?

8 Aug 2016

Combe Martin Club News

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

Graham Snow took the top two places in Combe Martin SAC’s Fish of the month competition with a fine thick-lipped mullet of 4lb 15oz and a thin-lipped mullet of 4lb 1oz. In third place was Kevin Legge with a bass scaling 9lb 2oz. Club member Ross Stanway got August’s competition off to a good start landing a fine specimen rockling of 1lb 13.5oz.

13663348_10157265485810284_1168943537_o — *Ross Stanway*

8 Aug 2016

Appledore Shipbuilders News

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

David Atkinson won Appledore Shipbuilders Monthly Rover with a fine gilthead bream scaling 4lb 53/8oz. Runner up spot was secured by Steve Ford with a gilthead of 4lb 2.75oz and in third was Josh Atkinson with a smoothound scaling 6lb 15oz. In the Junior section it was Chelsea Babb that took the prizes with a ballan wrasse of 3lb 3.75oz.

Top fish of the week was a stunning bass taken from a local beach scaling 12lb 9.75oz by Paul Downing.

5 Aug 2016

Netting Permit Byelaw Consultation

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

Dear All,

The byelaw, permit conditions and charts can be viewed in advance on our website: www.devonandsevernifca.gov.uk/public-consultation-

POLITE NOTE: Please do not send responses to this email address. Responses are to be sent to [email protected] AND [email protected]

The public consultation closes on 22nd September 2016.

Kind Regards,

Laura Bullock
Enforcement Officer

Devon and Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority
Brixham Laboratory
Freshwater Quarry
Brixham
Devon
TQ5 8BA

Tel (office): 01803 854648
Website: www.devonandsevernifca.gov.uk
Twitter: @DevonSevernIFCA

31 Jul 2016

MASSIVE THRESHER SHARK ON REEL DEAL

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

A huge thresher shark has been boated by Nick Lane fishing aboard Dan Hawkins Ilfracombe based Charter boat Reel Deal. The shark calculated by formulae at 368lb was tempted using a whole mackerel hook bait and was landed after a powerful struggle lasting over an hour the fish leaping from the water twice before eventually being brought into the boat where it was measured and photographed before being released. The fish was taken from a mark off the North Cornwall coast around a two hour steam from Ilfracombe. Dan told me the fish swam away strongly, a wonderful sight for all on board.

The fish exceeds the present British Record of 323lb caught back in 1982.

31 Jul 2016

Appledore Shipbuilder’s Bass Competition

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

Eighteen anglers fished Appledore Shipbuilders Bass comp at Westward Ho. Fishing was made difficult with large amounts of weed fouling the lines. Despite this four fish were landed with Paul Downing the winner with a bass of 6lb 61/2oz. In runner up spot was Cameron Atkinson with a bass of 5lb 1/2oz. In third place was Steve Ford with a bass of 4lb 14oz.

13871909_257990884587094_1713260096_n — *Cameron Atkinson runner up in bass competition*

30 Jul 2016

BIG BASS TEMPTED ON BREAD

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

Stephen Found was targetting thick lipped grey mullet in the River Torridge estuary when his bread flake presented on a size 8 hook to 6lb b,s line was seized by a fine specimen bass of 9lb. The fish battled for 25minutes before being successfully landed. Stephen is a member of Bideford Angling Club and lives in Holsworthy.

Over the years I have landed numerous species of fish whilst targetting mullet with bread flake including bass, wrasse, black bream,pollock, garfish and mackerel. The capture of big bass in the estuary is often accidental which raises the question of how many would be caught if anglers actually targetted them.

26 Jul 2016

Specimen bass for Kevin Legge

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

Combe Martin SAC member Kevin Legge landed this fine bass of 9lb 2oz from a local beach. The fish was tempted using Ammo mackerel and returned alive to the sea. I expect to see a few double figure fish caught over the coming months on both lures and baits. Big baits after dark on the beaches have a proven track record though there is plenty of room for experiment with bass that can be tempted using a wide range of tactics. Big bass venture into surprisingly shallow water where free-lined baits on light tackle can bring surprising results?