SEA ANGLING – Latest news

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Peter Robinson won Combe Martin SAC’s June Rover with a boat caught Small-Eyed-Ray of 8lb 4oz. Runner up was Daniel Welch with a small-eyed ray of 6lb 4oz. Both fish were on Predator 2 during the clubs boat trip.

Note the clubs boat trip at Minehead is featured in the July edition Sea Angler on sale Friday 20th June.

Bidefords 48-hour results

1st Paul Ackland Sole 1lb 10 1/2oz 94.642%
2nd Andrew Clements Smoothhound 9lb 4oz 92.5%
3rd Dale Kiff  Smoothhound 8lb 10oz 86.250%
Combe Martin SAC member Jason Hayes enjoyed a shore session the remmber beaching five top to an estimated 30lb during a recent session.
A quick report on South Molton Angling Clubs latest trip evening trip to clovelly from their Chairman Ed Rands
A reasonably calm sea awaited us when we arrived at 4:30.
We were soon anchored on the “gore” 10 minutes from the harbour.
It wasn’t long before the fish started coming with the inevitable dogfish, a few smoothound and huss and then my highlight of tope putting in an appearance.
Danny boyles had one chase the bait right to the surface and then took it and 5 minutes later his first ever tope of around 17lb was landed, he ended up with 2 and jim rickets did the same catching his first, followed by another.
We also had a few scad and mackerel.
The fishing slowed up so we headed home at about 9.
Good fun, good fishing and we got home before they closed the road at clovelly Cross.
Thanks to everyone that attended and kev harris (non member), danny boyles and Craig for driving.
Tightlines and enjoy the weather.
Ed

Combe Martin SAC – Lure Fishing Update

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Mark Drewer has taken a lead in Combe Martin SAC’s Lure Fishing League submitting a brace of 70cm bass plus a 64cm fish to add to his existing entries. He now has a total of 326.5 for five bass.  His fish were caught on Wolf Needlefish and white gravity sticks.

Fellow member Ross Stanway also enjoyed success with a brace of bass of 66cm each.

1st – Mark Drewer – 326.5

2nd – Seth Tuson – 316

3rd- Reece Woolgar- 263

4th- Ross Stanway – 132

5th- Robert Hurst – 121.5

6th- Wayne Thomas -53cm

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.