Kevin Legge secured first and second in Combe Martin Sea Angling Clubs Spring Rover landing a fine brace of bull Huss scaling 13lb 101/2oz and 11lb 8oz. The fish were tempted during heavy rain and were caught on consecutive casts. 
Both fish were retained in a large rock pool and returned after weighing and photographing in line with the clubs catch and release ethos.
I am so excited and honoured to be asked to be the host and presenter of the 1st ever South West Angling Show which will take place at Newton Abbot Racecourse on Saturday 2nd May and Sunday 3rd May.
We will be fronting some of the biggest brands from across the country offering great deals and offers on great tackle at the show and also showcasing some fantastic talks on the main stage of influential Anglers interviewed by myself.
We are very excited about bringing an Angling Show to the South West and hope to see everyone join us to celebrate it and make it a success to continue in the future.
Nathan Clements secured first and second in Bideford Angling Clubs Monthly Sea Rover with thornback ray scaling 10lb 41/2oz and 6lb 7oz.
In Appledore Shipbuilders monthly Rover it was Jack Sharrock who secured victory with the only fished registered between the fifteen anglers a thornback ray of 6lb 6oz.
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.
