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.

An 8lb 4oz small eyed ray for Peter Robinson
One of several huss caught but not as big as the one that dropped the bait later in the session!
Skipper Dan Welch with a 6lb 4oz small eyed ray

 

Nick Phillips with a lure caught pollock

 

Wayne Thomas with a pollock tempted on a Fillish minnow
Jack Phillips with a pollock caught on bait.

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.

The Waverley passes us as we drift for mackerel providing a timeless view as it steams past.

 

BIG LURE CAUGHT BASS – CMSAC Lure League

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Combe Martin SAC Member Jamie Steward registered this 70cm bass into the clubs lure fishing League. The specimen was tempted using a 5″ Mega-Bass spindle worm purchased from the league sponsor High Street Tackle Ilfracombe.

“5” spindle worm with decoy violence jig head bought from Danny at high street tackle

https://www.highstreettackle.co.uk/megabass-spindle-worm-5-inch-2359-p.asp

1 – Seth Tuson Five bass = 316cm

2 – Reece Woolgar Four bass = 263cm

3- Mark Drewer – two bass = 122.5cm

4- Robert Hurst – two bass 121.5cm

5 – Jamie Steward – one bass – 70cm

6- Wayne Thomas – one bass – 53cm

Seth Tuson extends Lead in CMSAC Lure League

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Seth Tuson has extended his lead in Combe Martin SAC’s Lure Fishing League tempting a fine bass of 69cm to bring his five bass total to 316cm.

Present standing are :-

1 – Seth Tuson Five bass = 316cm

2 – Reece Woolgar Four bass = 263cm

3- Mark Drewer – two bass = 122.5cm

4- Robert Hurst – two bass 121.5cm

5- Wayne Thomas – One bass – 53cm

The event is free to club members and sponsored by High StreetTackle Ilfracombe

COMBE MARTIN SAC – RESCHEDULE PUTSBOROUGH OPEN

Due to a forecast of large swells and a strong North West Wind CMSAC have reluctantly decided to reschedule the annual Putsborough Open to Saturday June 21st. Same times etc see poster below : – The decision has been made with the clubs sponsors in mind. Once again we thank the owners at Putsborough for allowing the event to be held.

 

Always a great night with a friendly vibe and plenty of fish over the past couple of years

PUTSBOROUGH OPEN – RESCHEDULED TO SATURDAY JUNE 21st

Due to a forecast of large swells and a strong North West Wind CMSAC have reluctantly decided to reschedule the annual Putsborough Open to Saturday June 21st. Same times etc see poster below : – The decision has been made with the clubs sponsors in mind. Once again we thank the owners at Putsborough for allowing the event to be held.

 

Always a great night with a friendly vibe and plenty of fish over the past couple of years

SEA ANGLING RESULTS

Bideford Angling Club

Graham Snow secured top spot in Bideford Angling Clubs monthly sea rover with a specimen thick lipped grey mullet of 5lb 1.5oz. Jon Stevens was runner up with a smoothound scaling 9lb 3.5oz and Jazzer John third with a smoothound of 8lb 3oz.

        APPLEDORE SHIPBUILDERS 

   Jake Moule secured victory in Appledore Shipbuilders June Rover with a smoothound of 13lb. Graham Snow was runner up with his thick lipped grey mullet of 5lb 1.5oz and Andrew Atkinson third with a specimen hound of 12lb 6.5oz.

 

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

Lure Fishing on Predator 2

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For booking info click on link :- Above

https://www-2559n.bookeo.com/bookeo/b_boatfishingdevon_start.html?ctlsrc2=%2BIDJvmgr1vT1qazBfW3FHnPVZGc52d%2Bjg6K%2BcPxL%2B3I%3D&src=03k&fbclid=IwY2xjawKnnrBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBtaHlDalliNFNDQU1aNWxCAR4yyKugZBSoqJBYit5wferQNjPVGzkIh2MmtiduNyzzDW862MzYsPheQi4jDw_aem_INqpIVVCppHutbq7cF0-3Q

Predator 2 Skipper Daniel Welch took a party of anglers out off Ilfracombe to enjoy a short evening lure fishing session. “Great to get back out on the water for one of our evening lure trips. You will be glad to know we haven’t forgotten how to fish, with over 20 bass to the boat including some good sized fish we also had pollack to 9lb 8oz and wrasse.”

South Molton & District Angling Club Trip – Bluefin

I joined South Molton AC  members and boarded John Barbeary’s Bluefin at just before 8.00am. The plan was to go and fish the waters close to Lundy Island but with a brisk Westerly and fair sized residual swell after a couple of rough days John suggested plan B. And so we left Ilfracombe harbour and headed up channel.

The spectacular cliffs that plunge from Exmoor’s Northern edge are always a joy to witness especially as the morning sunlight reflects upon the waters creating a silvery seascape framed by the dramatic cliffs.

            We started the day drifting the reefs off the Hangman’s where several pollock smashed into our strings of lures. We kept half a dozen to use as fresh bait when we dropped anchor. John explored several reefs but the fishing proved slow. As it was now high water with little tide flow we dropped anchor.

            It wasn’t long before rod tips were nodding as huss, conger and the inevitable dogfish intercepted our baits. Ed Rands and Lathum both caught conger into double figures and Ed  boated what was to be the biggest huss of the day at close to 10lb.

            As the tide pull slowly increased John up anchored and we tried drifting a few marks further up the coast to no avail. John received Info from fellow Ilfracombe boat skipper of Carrick Lee who’s party had caught several bass on a drift further up channel. Its always good to witness how Ilfracombe’s skippers work together sharing information to help each other.

            It seemed we had missed this opportunity as after several drifts our bass tally remained at nil.

            We then enjoyed an hour in the relative shelter of Woody bay with its densely wooded slopes and admired the exclusive properties nestled within the woods.

            John was uneasy at the slow sport and decided it was time to head back to the waters off the Hangman’s. Down went the big baits and again the rod tips nodded to the pull of huss, conger and dogfish.

            A sharp pull resulted in a pleasing bass of around 4lb to my offering of a bluey and squid wrap.

            Ed hooked into a very good fish that put a serious bend in his rod. We all watched the drama waiting in anticipation to glimpse what we thought was a big conger. Sadly whatever it was came adrift close to the boat before we had the chance to see it? The touch of drama added a hanging question over the day.

A good fish..but what is it?

And then its gone……..

Ed ponders upon what he lost?

            For the next hour we fished on as the tide eventually swung the boat so that we faced into the brisk breeze. A steady succession of huss, small conger and dogfish visited the boat before John started the engines and we headed back to Ilfracombe.

            The pier was busy with crabbers and tourists as we climbed ashore. Sausage and chips beside the harbour to round off a good days fishing.

http://www.ilfracombeaquarium.co.uk

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