FISHING WISDOM – By Dominic Garnett
posted in: Article, Articles, At the Waters Edge, Carp Fishing, Coarse Fishing, Game Fishing, Match Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar |
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FISHING WISDOM
A Miscellany of Angling Anecdotes, Facts and Folklore.
By Dominic Garnett
GMC Publications. ISBN 9781784947200
Dominic’s latest book delivers an array of wisdom and comment in his unique and at times quirky entertaining style. The book strips angling back to basics in the first few chapters adding clarity to tactics that will sharpen any anglers approach to the varied waters into which lines are cast.
The design of the book certainly oozes tradition and it is in many ways a timeless tome packed with information for anglers making their first tentative casts or reflecting upon a life time searching for that connection with those creatures that dwell within a fascinating and mysterious realm.
Dom is a multi-discipline angler like myself and I can relate to much within the book and found myself benefitting from the straight forward analysis of angling. It also stimulated my own thoughts on why we fish and its wider benefits.
As those darker winter nights approach it is a book well worth delving into deserving a place on any anglers bookshelf. My own personal favourite section is perhaps the Fishing and Culture section that celebrates anglings rich history and mythology.
It is a book that will never become outdated for its key themes are the timeless essence of angling through the ages.
BASS LURE LEAGUE UPDATE
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
SEA ANGLING RESULTS
Stormy conditions may have deterred some anglers from venturing forth but the turbulant waters often stir up food close in encouraging fish to feast upon the proceeds.If you can wade through the dogfish a specimen fish could be the reward.
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.
Bideford Angling Clubs forty eight hour sea rover was won by Paul Ackland with a dogfish scaling 2lb 2oz.
Weekly Angling Report -October 23rd 2025
posted in: Articles, At the Waters Edge, Casting around North Devon, Coarse Fishing, Game Fishing, Lure Fishing, Match Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar |
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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 31st 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.
NORTH DEVON – AUTUMN BASS
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. 🌊🐟
Adventure on the high seas as a childhood dream is realised.
It was the perfect fishing adventure even though in a way I didn’t actually catch a fish!
A tuna fishing trip is very much a team effort all the work in locating the fish and setting up the tackle is done by the Skipper and his crew. The anglers reel in the fish sharing an exciting adventure on the high seas that will linger in the minds eye for a lifetime. It is a true joy to witness nature close at hand and connect with the immense power of these awesome hunters of the ocean depths.
It is to be hoped that this catch and release big game fishery can thrive to support a local economy and focus minds on the long term conservation of our coastal waters.
My angling Journey began close to 60 years ago at the Cornish seaside town of Looe. As a young angler I would fish from the Banjo Pier on Autumn evenings gazing out at the flashing light of the Eddystone Lighthouse thirteen or so miles off the coast. I dreamt of venturing out to sea in search of big fish and on a trip out of Looe this Autumn those dreams came true. At some point I will put together a full account of the trip shared with six good friends when as a team we brought nine tuna the largest estimated up to 300lb to the boats side where they were carefully revived before being released back into the clear waters.
Combe Martin SAC Lure Fishing League latest
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
Combe Martin SAC – MULLET WEEKEND
Combe Martin SAC’s Mullet fishing weekend saw members catch good numbers of these hard fighting fish with Daniel Welch securing top prize with a fine fish of 3lb 14oz. Runner up was John Avery with a mullet of 3lb 12.5oz and Wayne Thomas third with a fish of 3lb 8oz.
Large numbers of small mullet bode well for the future though they made it hard to connect with the larger specimens that could be glimpsed on the flooding tide. The annual event was concluded with breakfast in Lynmouth Pavillion.
SEA ANGLING NEWS UPDATE- Latest Competition Results
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.
