Combe Martin SAC member Ollie Passmore endured several blanks before contacting this stunning gilthead bream of 5lb 10oz. Ollie used Mini Manta hooks size 2 with Sakuma 30lb fluro.
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Double Figure Lure Caught bass
Jamie Steward decided to take up lure angling this year and got off to fine start… 5th trip out and he hooked in to something special.. “bounced a soft plastic down the crease in to a slack bit of water and 
seen my line pick up out the water and start running up river against the tide, reel was screaming 
few big ol head shakes and darting runs and i managed to tire out and guide through the bladder wrack this fine old warrior of a bass! Forgot to measure it as im new to the game but I did weigh it and she pulled the scales to 10lb on the dot! Was relieved to see it hit the magic double figure mark and set me a new PB. Probably the best scrap I’ve had on a rod and reel and its fair to say i quite like this luring malarkey was a pleasure meeting this Bass! 
cheers Danny Watson of high street tackle for the guidance on rod choice and quality lures 
Putsborough Open 2025 – June 7th
A BLAZE OF COLOUR – CLUB RECORD CUCKOO WRASSE
Summer sea sport is underway with long warm spell resulting in some exciting fishing off Ilfracombe. Predator 2 is the latest Charter boat to join the Ilfracombe fleet and its skipper Daniel Welch is taking anglers to Bristol Channel Reefs where good numbers of wrasse and pollock are being tempted using the latest lure fishing tactics. A recent trip resulted in new Combe Martin SAC club record cuckoo wrasse weighing1lb 6oz to the rod of Ross Stanway. A seaqualizer device to return fish to water without harm a device that is available from the Angling Trust and is also proving a valuable conservation tool for returning pollock caught in deep water.
Dan Welch also caught a spectaculary coloured cuckoo wrasse of 1lb 5oz using a small lure.
The colours on wrasse are truly awesome and a match for any in tropical waters.
Appledore Shipbuilders Boat Competition
Three boats took part in Appledore Shipbuilders the May Boat competitions.
Weather was lovelly with calm seas.
Andrew Atkinson won with a lovely Huss of 13lb 8ozs. Kevin Pike was 2nd with another Huss of 13lb 7ozs and Andrew 3rd with another specimen Huss of 13lb 4ozs.
A few small Tope and Smothound were also caught.
Sea Angling May Rover – Results.
Andrew Clements won Bideford Angling Clubs May Rover with a fine thick lipped grey mullet of 4lb. Phil Vanstone was runner up with a wrasse of 4lb 2oz and Antony Smith third with a thornback ray of 7lb 7.5oz.
Jake Moule won Appledore Shipbuilders monthly rover with a specimen smoothound scaling 11lb. Michael Hammett was runner up with hound of 10lb 2.25oz. Third place was shared by Michael and Jake with hounds weighing 7lb 3oz.
Combe Martin SAC – Blue skys and rays off Minehead
Combe Martin SAC members enjoyed a fine days sport off Minehead with Steve Webber on his boat Osprey. The day started with a Wetherspoons Breakfast where the nuances of poker, politics, health and economics provided an interesting agenda.
A flat calm sea is a wonderful sight when setting out for a day’s boat fishing and it was a buoyant party of anglers who set out to enjoy a day afloat.
A full report of the day should appear in the July edition of Sea Angler. But for now i will share a few images of a great day with club members catching, bass, thornback, small eyed ray, spotted ray, conger, smoothound and more than a few dogfish.
Many thanks to Steve Webber ( Below) for putting us on the fish, keeping the kettle on and entertaining us with tales and reminisces.
FROTHY WATERS – OBSERVATIONS ?
Whilst the algae blooms witnessed along the coast are nothing new there are a couple of observations I will make. First the bloom often referred to as May bloom is earlier than normal and secondly the amount of surface froth is unusual and whilst large spring tides and a big surging swell have contributed I personally consider that this could be largely due to extensive run off from rivers into the Bristol Channel carrying worrying levels of enrichment from agricultural run-off and sewage overflows.
There is increasing awareness of the many issues that impact upon water quality with considerable focus on rivers with many groups with environmental interests now joining together to campaign for a revision into how we manage our environment. This is certainly complex and requires extensive effort across government and society.
Promising signs of summer on evening boat trip
It was good to get out off Ilfracombe aboard Predator 2 for a short evening session using lure fishing tactics. Dan Welch had already taken a party to waters near Lundy Island where they had caught numerous pollock and wrasse. I was fortunate to catch the first two bass of Predator 2’s season and whilst small they bring promise of sport to come as the water warms. Water clarity was undoubtedly a factor on making the fish hard to find with algae prolific and frothy foam abundant. It is hoped that this will clear in the coming weeks. Despite the challenging conditions pollock and wrasse were also brought to the boat with Dan tempting a wrasse of close to 3lb.
It was good to see a steady procession of swallow’s flying over as the boat drifted. We were also visited by an inquisitive seal.
Combe Martin SAC – Lure League Update
Robert Drewer has registered bass of 63.5cm and 59cm into Combe Martin SAC’s Lure fishing league this puts him into second place at present with 122.5cm.
Seth Tuson is leading at present with three bass for 182cm and Robert Hurst third with two bass for 121.5cm. I am keeping a note of the successful lures used and soft plastics are dominating at present with all seven bass caught on these lures.