Combe Martin SAC member travelled to Norway where his party enjoyed success despite some brutal weather conditions. Keeping warm with Chillcheaters of Braunton’s thermal under fleeces Kevin landed a halibut of 24lb, 26lb cod and stunning coalfish scaling 24lb 4oz. Kevins fishing buddy Photos Yianni also enjoyed success landing cod over 40lb. All the fish were caught fishing from deepwater shore marks.
George Hunton secured victory in Combe Martin SAC’s Winter Rover 2 landing a Bull Huss of 8lb 7oz. In runner up spot was Mark Jones with a thornback ray of 8lb 8oz. Plenty of other fish were caught by the nine anglers who fished including dogfish, conger and rockling.
1st Antony Smith spotted ray 4lb 8 1/2oz
Ollie Passmore landed this specimen 13lb Spurdogs from a popular North Devon shore mark. The fish was returned after a couple of pictures and swam away strongly.
Jonathon and Ross Stanway ventured out onto the North Devon rocks during a short break in the weather and found conger on the feed. They landed fish of 16lb 11oz and 11lb 8oz.
It was a pleasure once again for Pauline and I to attend Bideford & District Angling Clubs presentation night and to be made so welcome. Such events are vitally important to the social fibre of angling clubs enabling members and families to join together to enjoy a little fun and banter whilst reflecting on the achievements made by members throughout the year. It is not just about the fish caught but also about recognising the huge amount of effort invested by club members. BIdeford Club is a long established club that has its own waters for coarse anglers, a thriving sea section and a game section that travels across the South West to target trout on the fly.
There were some outstanding fish caught throughout 2019 including a bass of 15lb 6oz to the rod of Tarrant Wotton, a club record couch’s bream of 15oz to the rod of Nathan Clements and a rainbow trout of 14lb 11oz to Matt Sander. John McCullum won the Clubs Game Fishing Trophy with 49 points. Martin Turner secured the clubs Match Mans Cup with 108 points and young Tyler Scott won the club Sam Vaughan Cup for most Match points by a Junior with 42 points. Dick Talbot won the clubs sea league with 49 points. There were a huge number of certificates awarded and trophies congratulations to all of the winners. Let’s hope 2020 is just as productive for club members.
A winner takes all raffle was won by Reg Sutton who kindly donated the proceeds to the RNLI in memory of local angler Cameron Atkinson who sadly lost his life late in 2019.
Boat anglers are enjoying some great sport off Ilfracombe where a party boated upwards of double figure spurs to 18lb along with numerous Huss and eels to 30 lb.
1st Paul Ackland – Golden Grey Mullet 1lb 8oz 75%
2nd Dick Talbot Dog fish 2lb 2oz 70.833%
End of season results
1st Dick Talbot dogfish 2lb 2oz 70.833%
Thirteen anglers fished CMSAC’s six-hour rover on February 1st and the fishing proved hard going with strong winds and heavy rain throughout much of the night. Dogfish dominated catches with Jonathon Stanway securing top spot with a dog of 2lb 3oz. In runner up spot was Daniel Welch with a doggie of 2lb and Mark Tossel third with a doggie of 1lb 14oz.
Appledore Shipbuilders travelled far and wide across the South West to find their fish and fish more associated with the summer months won.
1st -James Atkinson – mackerel 1lb 5/8oz
2nd – Kevin Pike – bass 5lb 3oz ( returned in line with current regulations)
3rd – James Atkinson -mackerel 14oz
Shore anglers have been finding a few fish over recent high tides with conger, huss and spurdog for those putting in the hours. There is every chance of an outsize conger from deep water rock marks with thirty pound plus specimens likely.
Combe Martin SAC member David Jenkin’s fished a popular North Devon shore mark to tempt five spurdog to 13lb 19oz. Spurdog packs have been few and far between close to the shoreline this winter but if you find a hunting pack sport can be fast furious. Wire traces are essential to stand a good chance of landing the fish that have razor sharp teeth.
