Combe Martin SAC – Predator 2 Boat Trip

Combe Martin SAC’s Boat trip on Predator 2 was a trip we had been anticipating eagerly and with a fine day forecast optimism was high as we set out of Ilfracombe harbour on a calm morning.

As expected Skipper Dan Welch had a plan and it was to be a down channel day. Buoyed by stories of bass and tope we bounced over the calm waters and were overtaken by ever speedy Dan Hawkins on Reel Deal who was destined for the reefs of the North Cornish coast.

First stop was the turbulent tide race off Morte Point where bass and wrasse were targeted with lures. The water clarity was disappointing and after a short drift it was decided to head to mixed ground a short distance off the headland and drop the anchor. I opted to fish my light rod with a two hook paternoster baited with small strips of squid on size 4 Sakumu Chinu hooks. The rod tip was soon rattling as scad hit the baits, these were kept fresh as they would surely prove good baits for tope later in the day.

A steady trickle of species were caught including a bass, red gurnard, pollock, smoothound, dogfish, small conger and scad. As the tide eased Dan suggested we move out into deeper water with more tide flow.

 

“Peter the conger charmer”

This was big bait territory and large fish baits were sent to rest on the sea bed. Peter Robinson proved to be the conger charmer tempting a good fish of around 20lb along with others throughout the day. A few bull huss seized our baits and bent the rods. The tope proved elusive and we moved again further out to an area that had been producing some good tope in recent weeks.

The water was very murky and Dan thought this was the result of algae blooms and the dead algae being stirred up by the big tides. Bideford Bay had been alive with bait fish, bass, dolphins and birds a few days before this trip. It seemed devoid of life today with no signs of activity and little or no action as we dropped our baits to the seabed.

An increasingly frustrated Dan could only suggest we head back to where we had started the day and resume sport with the multitude of species that lurk close inshore.

We enjoyed the last couple of hours fishing off the spectacular headland of Morte point. Black bream, bull huss, conger, mackerel and pollock were brought to the boat with Peter Robinson catching a good number of fish from the boats stern.

Dan said it had been one of the toughest days of the season. But we all had a very enjoyable day boating ten different species of fish without actually focussing on amassing a large tally. The next few months will offer an array of opportunities and when the water clarity improves I feel sure sport will take off as it so often does in early autumn.

Weekly – ANGLING REPORT – August 21st 2025

Grey Mullet offer exciting summer sport

Graham Snow won Bideford Angling Clubs forty eight hour rover with a fine thin lipped grey mullet scaling 5lb 4oz. Runner up was Dale Kiff with a smoothound of 10lb 13oz and third Graham Snow with a thin lipped grey mullet of 4lb 3.5oz.

The hot sunny summer weather provides ideal conditions for mullet fishing with all three species seeming to thrive in hot settled conditions. There are three types of grey mullet in UK waters, thick lipped grey mullet, thin lipped grey mullet and golden grey mullet. All can be caught using light tackle more often associated with freshwater tactics. Thick lipped mullet are generally tempted using bait, generally bread presented on float tackle or legered. The thin lipped mullet are fished for with baited spinners and inhabit estuaries. The golden greys haunt the shallow sandy surf beaches and can be tempted using small bunches of ragworm.

All three species can also be caught using fly fishing tactics a style of fishing that has recently gathered almost cultlike status. These challenging fish offer an exciting alternative for trout anglers whose sport is impacted upon by reservoirs and rivers suffering from a prolonged summer drought.

Tench and carp are providing great summer sport in lakes across North Devon and can tolerate high water temperatures.

The final match of Bideford Angling Clubs Junior Summer league was held last Saturday and was won by Leo Davies with 6.540 Kilo. Runner up was Archie Thorne with 5.1 Kilo and Hawkon Wilson with 4.720 Kilo. The junior league has proved a popular series with all matches well attended with over twenty young anglers fishing each event. The events were generously supported by Anglers Heaven, Barnstaple Bait and Tackle and other local businesses. Club members Martin Turner, Richard Jefferies and Keith Mountjoy invested a great deal of time and effort into running the events. The overall winner of the league was Leo Davies.

Bideford Clubs Coarse fishing sector is thriving with their two club lakes providing excellent fishing for carp, tench and silver fish. The club matches are generally fully subscribed and the recent extension to their portfolio with access to fishing at Higher Shorston Lakes near Holsworthy ensures that members get excellent value for their moderate membership fees.

North Devon Match Group fished Upper Tamar lake where Ian Grey won the match with 67lb 5oz. Runner up was Nathan Underwood with 48lb 6oz and Ian Croxton third with 43lb 8oz.

Stafford Moor’s lakes continue to produce stunning Match weights. Benn Hagg won last Sundays Open match with 277lb 1oz. Jamie Bradshaw won the weekends residents match on Oak Lake with an amazing 487lb 1oz.

Martin Burton with a 32lb Mirror carp caught from Albert Square on a 16mm Sticky Krill Active wafter up on lodge lake

The venues specimen lakes are also in fine form with Riley Saunders and Kirsten Parkhouse enjoying a forty eight hour session on Beatties Lake during which they banked sixteen carp to 30lb 4oz.

A Fish of Summer Lakes

A fish that conjures up the essence of summer lake fishing is surely the tench with its glistening smooth olive flanks and bright ruby eyes. In my mind’s eye there is always an image of tranquil waters at the heart of which is a crimson tipped float poised between water lily’s.

            My good friend Steve Dawe had invited me to fish his complex of lakes so aptly called sanctuary lakes, nestled deep within Devon’s rural heartland these three lakes offer carp, crucian carp and tench.

            It had taken me a while to schedule in a trip but with summer ebbing I arranged a trip to the venue with my wife Pauline promising a relaxing day far from the madding crowd with all facilities at hand. This wasn’t to be a serious fishing session just a day emersed in nature with the chance of a few fish if I nurtured my luck.

And so it was no traditional crack of dawn start after tench but a more leisurely preamble to Lizzies Larder in Milton Damerel for a full English before heading to the lakes for a midday start. It was one of the summers hottest days with temperatures predicted to reach the high twenties. There was a clear blue sky and little breeze as we wound our way through country lanes following the sat nav whilst noting old country cottages, quiet villages and hamlets along the Devon lanes.

We eventually reached our destination to be given a warm and friendly welcome from Steve who then gave a proud tour of the three lakes. The first of the lakes was created in 2009 and it is astonishing how they have matured into an oasis of wildlife habitat in such a short time. An abundance of dragonflies could be seen swooping and hovering above the calm waters.

After circumnavigating all the lakes it was time for Pauline and I to set up for the day and with tench the number 1 target I followed Steve’s advice choosing a swim that offered some shade from the hot sun. Conditions were certainly not ideal for fishing so I did not set my expectations too high. One tench would be a result.

Pauline settled into the camping chair and digested ample reading matter while I engaged with the business of fishing. We delighted in the occasional glimpse of kingfishers darting across the lake and swallows and martins swooping to and fro. It really was a summer idyl to be savoured.

A couple of small rudd fell to a grain of sweetcorn on the float tackle and tell-tale bubbles indicated that a few tench were routing about in the bottom silt. After half an hour I put the kettle on and we enjoyed a fresh brew whilst absorbing the tranquil scene that was only troubled by the sound of farm machinery as farmers took advantage of the good weather to cut silage.

It was no surprise when late afternoon arrived and no tench had graced the net. I suggested we stretch our legs and have a wander around the lakes. We ambled past the smaller lake and onto the carp lake where some good sized carp were basking on the surface in the warm sunshine. It would have been easy to become side-tracked at this point as a well- placed floating crust would surely result in a well bent rod? Well, fish watching is second best to fishing and we lingered a while spotting the carp as they cruised around the lake.

After this short interlude we returned to the tench lake and recast my two rods. I have often found a break brings a fish and it was the case on this occasion for after a few minutes my float promptly sank and I felt that delightful resistance as the hook gained a hold. The tench plunged amongst the lily pads and I held it on as tight a line as the 6lb b.s line would take, the old Drennan tench rod absorbing the tension and cushioning the line.

At 3lb 5oz the tench was a pleasing catch and we admired its olive green flanks and crimson eye before slipping the fish back into the warm water. I had caught this fish on a small segment of luncheon meat and elected to persist with this same bait on the float rod. A few streams of classic tench bubbles drifted to the surface and with these signs my confidence grew. The float again sank and a second tench of a similar size to the first followed.

We brewed a fresh cup of tea and coffee and delved into the picnic bag. Throughout the session I had fished a method feeder and noticed just a couple of trembles of the rod tip.

We both relished the quiet warm summer evening and Pauline was content to relax as I continued to focus on the promising crimson tip that projected from the lakes mirror calm surface.

            The late summer sun slowly descended casting its reflection on the lake as martins and swallows swooped above the lake feasting in preparation for the long voyage that they will embark upon in just a few weeks. It is fascinating to ponder on nature and how these tiny birds migrate over these vast distances. Programmed from birth they surely have no perception of where or why they have to leave? No fear no apprehension just that inbuilt instinct to survive and thrive.

            I ponder on these matters as my float dips, I lift the rod and miss but at that very moment the other rod lurches over and the bait runner screams. The third tench of the day is the biggest at 3lb 9oz and it seems an appropriate time to pack away. The light is fading as we make our way to the car and glance back at Sanctuary vowing to return again.

Sanctuary Lakes are run by Steve Dawe via  a small limited membership club that is presently fully subscribed. Membership enquiries can be made to Steve via email :- [email protected]

T0RRIDGE RIVERS ASSOCIATION – NEWSREEL: SUMMER 2025

posted in: Articles, Game Fishing, Sidebar | 0

                                

 

The Annual Egg Box Dinner:

This is always a most enjoyable evening and hopefully our Fishery Protection Officer, Sam Fenner, will be able to join us. As usual the dinner will be at The Half Moon Inn: Saturday 20th September. It is always extremely popular so book early.

To book contact The Half Moon [email protected]: tel 01409231376

The Annual Raffle:

This year to save on the cost of printing raffle books and postage it has been decided to organise the raffle online. There will be a large board in the bar at The Half Moon with box numbers 1 to 1000. As members send in raffle monies (by cheque or BACS) I will write names into the boxes. Raffle tickets will cost £2: so for £10 you will have 5 tickets and for £20 ten chances to win one of the three excellent prizes.  This is our major fundraising effort to help cover the cost of running the hatchery so please support generously.

 Prizes: 1. Sportfish £100 voucher: 2.The Half Moon Inn £50 voucher: 3.Voucher for a case of 12 bottles of wine.

The Hatchery:

The EA has given us the go ahead to run the hatchery again this winter. Last year was a great success and in March 33,000 swim-up fry were stocked out into selected sites in the headwaters of the Torridge, Okement and Lew. Work is being undertaken to improve the safety of the site and the hatchery team are investigating ways to reduce the silt loading in the trays holding the eggs. All being well we will be trapping our broodstock during November.

The 2025 Season: following the pattern of recent years low flows seem to be the norm. The highlight has been a 15lb salmon caught on the second day of the season on the Madeira beat and anglers who have ventured out at night have enjoyed some success with the sea trout. During May and June the brown trout anglers enjoyed some excellent fishing with several fish over 2lb being caught.

Mike Weaver: the Devon River Reports:

A few weeks ago a guest staying at The Half Moon gave Adam old copies of the Trout and Salmon magazine with some going back to the early 1970’s and I was amazed to discover that over fifty years ago Mike Weaver was writing the Devon River Reports for the magazine and he is still, fifty years later, writing comprehensive monthly reports for the rivers in Devon. Well done Mike!! I have to admit these days I only buy the magazine to read the river reports.

In the April 1975 magazine Mike gave the rod returns of salmon and sea trout for the Devon rivers for 1974. The Torridge return was 156 down from 191 in 1973. The sea trout returns are astonishing. The total for all the Devon rivers was 3,778 of which the Taw return was 1,666 and the Torridge return 1,059. The two North Devon rivers accounted for over 75% of the Devon total.!! And almost certainly these returns did not include the large number of school peal which were caught. Taking into account there was much greater fishing effort in those days and spinning was allowed throughout the season but even so these returns show how dramatically stocks of both salmon and sea trout have declined in the last fifty years. Those were the days!!

Secretary: Charles Inniss Beeches Sheepwash

                   Beaworthy Devon EX21 5NW

                   e-mail: [email protected]

                   tel: 01409231237  (m)07464190944

WEEKLY – ANGLING REPORT – August 14th – 2025

BIG CARP FROM PARADISE SYNDICATE

George West enjoyed success at Angler’s Paradises Nirvana Syndicate lake banking a fine brace of mirror carp scaling 39lb each. The lake holds a stock of large carp grown on at the venue.

Anglers Paradise

Comment

Carp fishing is constantly evolving as the desire to catch bigger carp drives the sector resulting in  varied venues offering a gradual progression for carp anglers. Day ticket waters that offer large numbers of carp progressing to syndicate waters that have long waiting lists to enter with a high price tag that now exceeds the cost of a rod on an exclusive West Country salmon beat.

Match Fishing

Craig Lamey secured top spot in Bideford Angling Clubs monthly coarse match at their home water with 87lb 10oz. Nathan Underwood was runner up with 44lb 15oz and Keith Copland third with 44lb 10oz.

Sam Powell won last Sundays Stafford Moor Open Match with 248lb 5oz. The Saturday  residents match was won by Martin Heard with 321lb 7oz.

Sea Angling

South Molton Angling Club members enjoyed a boat trip out of Lyme Regis where they enjoyed great sport catching eleven species that included black bream, thornback ray, and bull huss.

Stephen Found has been enjoying some great smoothound sport from the North Devon shore landing specimens of 14lb, 15lb 6oz and 18lb. Recent seasons have seen unprecedented numbers of these hard fighting fish move close inshore and at times moving into the estuary an area that historically did not see these fish in any numbers.

Several bonito have been caught from boats fishing the water at the mouth of the Bristol Channel. These powerful fish that average 2lb to 4lb are a hard fighting predatory fish that can be glimpsed as they erupt from the water as they smash into shoals of baitfish.

I enjoyed a day fishing for porbeagle shark on Ilfracombe boat Predator 2 and ventured to the recognised sharking grounds West of Hartland Point. Whilst we caught no shark we caught numerous tope, gurnard, bass, mackerel, gurnard and scad. Several shark have been caught in recent weeks but fishing seems to have been impacted upon by frequent algal blooms that are unusual for this time of year.

Rivers

Barnstaple and District Angling Club have once again suspended fishing on their river beats as high water temperatures and low oxygen levels bring grave concern for the rivers wildlife.

Comment

As I add the finishing touches to this week’s angling report the BBC news is reporting on the fact that ‘The UK’s seas have had their warmest start to the year since records began, helping to drive some dramatic changes in marine life and for its fishing communities’.

In my weekly angling report above I mention the influx of smoothound, unusual algal blooms and river temperatures that are concerning for fish survival. All of these could be linked to climate change and as an angler I observe these changes from the water’s edge.

            I personally accept that the evidence points to rapid change in our climate and yet this is tempered by the fact that climate change is linked to events that have happened before as marine eco systems are cyclical and complex. Tuna are not new to UK waters and were abundant during the mid-twentieth century. Octopus population explosions occurred previously at the start and middle of the twentieth century. I would also point out that the frequently used phrase since records began is emotive terminology as since 1980 when records started is probably less alarming as forty odd years is little more than a blink of the eye in the evolving climate of the planet.

Ilfracombe Aquarium – Offers an intimate view into local waters

Ilfracombe Aquarium offers an insight into the abundant life that resides in the varied waters of North Devon and Exmoor. Situated in a corner of Ilfracombe’s busy Pier Car Park. Anyone with an interest in life beneath the surface will be fascinated by the abundance and variations of life in our regions waters. The colours of many fish a match for those of far off tropical seas.

Conservation is very much at the heart of the exhibits with information from Exmoor National Park, The National Trust and River Trusts displayed throughout. The Aquarium staff share their extensive  knowledge of exhibits with plenty of personal observations to enliven their narrative.

            Whilst the venue perhaps lacks the punch of the larger venues it offers a more intimate experience that can be savoured across the generations. I remember my own childhood visits to sea side aquariums with fondness and always relish getting up close to life in that other realm. The magic of gazing into clear rockpools and streams with a child’s eyes is rekindled in these smaller aquariums.

            The Aquarium has supported Combe Martin Sea Angling Club’s annual Fun fish over the past twenty or so years and has once again offered a family ticket as a prize in this years event.

 

            The Aquarium Café offers great coffee and light snacks that can be enjoyed on a warm day relaxing on the elevated decking overlooking the bustling pier and harbour.

 

 

Anglers Paradise – Syndicate Success

The new Nirvana syndicate lake is producing some stunning fish withon its first few weeks of opening. The lake was well knwon as the specimen catch and release trout lake and is one of the most picturesque lakes across the venue.
GEORGES SYNDICATE SUCCESS🎣
Well done to George West who on his first session on the Nirvana Syndicate landed two 39lb+ Mirror Carp 👏
George said it felt he was on a mini France Carp fishing holiday with the hot sunshine and big fish, and thoroughly enjoyed his peaceful three nights on the lake. He also commented saying they are the hardest fighting fish he had ever caught!
Jay also got in on the action with a lively Grass Carp 👏 (pic in comments).
The third session starts tomorrow as the lads on the weekend 2 rota take to the lake for the first time.

created by Polish

Anglers Paradise