“On what was my 3rd ever night on Kracking Carp and I was lucky enough to have the Parrot grace my net! Being a regular to Anglers Paradise for 19 years now, and I’ve caught 14+ twenties to 29lb 8oz from the Specimen Carp Lake, but I had never managed a thirty plus from the complex till now…
I fished with boilie tipped with corn to the far margin and with the rods being out for over twelve hours, I thought my chance had gone, till Parrot woke me at first light…The best wake up call ever!! Many thanks, already looking forward to next year.”
CONGRATULATIONS DAVID – WHAT A CATCH AND A VERY WELL DESERVED WINNER!
Here he is with his Winning Fish and being presented his prizes by Zyggy and Zenia with special thanks to PB Products UK.
**FISH OF THE WEEK IS SPONSORED BY PB PRODUCTS UK – GREAT TACKLE – GREAT PRODUCTS**
Combe Martin Sea Angling Clubs annual fun fishing event on Ilfracombe Pier always brings plenty of smiles and this year was no exception. The title of the event explains what the day is all about nothing too serious just a few hours fishing with the chance to meet fellow anglers and special guests. The event focuses on young anglers so the competition is geared towards under 16’s accompanied by a responsible adult.
This years guests included Dominic Garnett who writes a regular column for the Angling Times and works with the Angling Trust to promote angling. https://dgfishing.co.uk/
(Above) Dominick Garnett gets involved coaching young anglers
Steve Dawe is an all round angler who has a particular interest in species fishing and is raising funds for the Stroke Association.
In January last year he started a fund raising challenge to catch 52 species of fish in a year and has surpassed this already landing his 64th species during this years event, a rock goby.(Below)
(Below)The Coastguard raised awareness of the need to take care at the waters edge offering advice to all who attended.
(Below)Ilfracombe Aquarium were at hand to identify any rare species caught and also hope to obtain specimens for the aquarium.
This years event was once again a success with a really friendly atmosphere and plenty of fish caught to give the young participants encouragement. One of the events main targets is to introduce young people to a pastime that can provide a lifelong interaction with the environment as Dominick said to me if we recruit one young person into a life of fishing we have been successful.
The below pictures give a view of the event that is made successful by those who take part.
(Above) Winning angler Effie Welch aged 7(Above) Dan Welch with one of several garfish caught.(Above)Charlie Stanway with a wrasse(Above)Lyn Wilson with the only mackerel caught(Above) Lyn Wilson won the longest fish and heaviest fish category with a garfish of 9oz.(Above) Lyn Welch with a rock goby and a pollock(Above)Steve Dawe and family(Above) Danny Watson chats with Lawrence from Ilfracombe Aquarium(Above) Joshua Jeffery with a garfish(Above) Ben Clarke with one of several blenny he caught.(Above)Dominick Garnett, Danny Watson and Pauline Chard of High Street Tackle, Ilfracombe.Ross Stanway receives his signed copy of Crooked Lines from Author Dominick Garnett
(Above)Paulina Garnett with a poor cod(Above)Solomon Welch with a wrasse(Above)Ross Stanway with wrasse(Above) Jordan Choules with a wrasse(Above) Sea Ilfracombe Pirate checks on proceedings(Above)Harbour Master Georgina meets with the local coastguard
Aaron Bunning targeted Upper Tamar lake on the Cornwall and Devon border and caught this lovely mirror at 21lb exactly. Aaron also had a double figure common and both fish fell to Scopex Squid fluro pop ups over 2kgs of 20mm freebies. This continues Aaron’s fine run on the venue…….
I joined South Molton Angling Members on a trip out off Clovelly aboard Shimano sponsored ‘Independent’ Charters skippered by Doug Walls.
We met at Clovelly at 8:00am all keen to head out for another adventure at sea that commenced with the transfer of anglers and gear from the pebbly foreshore to the waiting boat a hundred or so yards offshore.
All on board and Doug gave an outline of the days plan. We would be venturing past Hartland Point to sample the fishing grounds West of Hartland at the Mouth of the Bristol Channel expectations were high for a variety of species. I have fished these grounds in the past and know full well that they can give excellent sport.
The journey to the mark is an integral part of any day at sea and spirits were high as we rounded Hartland Point race where several porpoises were showing in the surging waters. The cliffs from Clovelly round to Morwenstow are wild and for the most part inaccessible those parts that can be accessed carry a rich vein of history including many a shipwreck.
The first stop was to a reef where we drifted for pollock, mackerel or bass. First into action was Mike Good who swung aboard a pleasing pollock of around 4lb.
(below) Mike Good with a 4lb pollock.
After a few drifts and a few more pollock Doug decided to drop anchor and see if we could entice a few tope, bream or huss. Within minutes of the baits hitting the bottom rods were nodding as a succession of bull huss seized our baits.
There were a variety of tactics employed with some choosing big baits for tope or huss and others small baits for bream and other species. Black bream are great sport and good eating and it was great to see one of these come aboard to Ed Rands who was using back lug and squid baits.
After an hour or so the tide eased and sport tailed off. A move to a mark further West was Doug’s choice and we steamed several miles before once again dropping the anchor. Soon after settling Mike Good hooked the best fish of the day a fin perfect black bream of 2lb 8oz.
(Above)Steve Edmunds with a pleasing bream
A couple more bream followed but sadly it was not a good as we had hoped for and bites were few and far between. I always feel for the skipper at times like this for they have put the anglers on good ground but the fish are either not there or not playing the game. As time and tide ebbed away there were a few flurry’s of action with Ed Rands boating the biggest fish of the day a bull huss of 8lb 8oz. The day ended with ten species caught including, bull huss, dogfish, corkwing wrasse, mackerel, scad, pollock, smoothound, pouting, poor cod and black bream.
Robert Kingdon boated a smoothound with an unusual tail deformity.
(Above)
I hope to return to waters off Clovelly next year with the South Molton anglers and enjoy a day afloat with Independent Charters. Doug kept us supplied with tea and coffee all day and did his best to put us on the fish.
(Above) Thirteen Year old Eden Thomas from Hele Bay Ilfracombe enjoyed a boat fishing trip on a Private Boat and hooked a fine smoothound estimated at over 14lb whilst fishing just off Capstone Point.
(Above) Kevin Goodman has sent me reports of a thornback of 14lb caught off Combe Martin and pollock to almost 10lb. The Boat was I believe Jay Jay.
A party of North Devon Anglers enjoyed an away day to Weymouth where the fished from Charter Boat ‘The snapper’ Top fish was this fine 3lb 7oz black bream to the rod of MarcusHorrell.
12 fished . Another weekend of scorching temperatures saw some good sport , Martin Turner landed 17lb of bream and 4 carp for a winning total on favoured peg I , he caught on pellet waggler and long pole shallow with maggot. John had a good bream and a carp on peg Q for second , club secretary Steve landed a nice net of small bream and one carp off peg S for third , fourth spot was filled by Ian who lost several carp but landed 2 on bread from peg X. Keith’s all bream net won the silvers pot.The halftime icecreams from Reg Sutton were most welcome ! Due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’ the evening match on Wednesday will be postponed and re fished on the evening of the 1st August.
Zyggy Gregorek posted this news today as he prepares to head off once again on globe trotting exploits in search of big fish.
“My first 20lb 2oz Mirror Carp this year, caught at our 5’C’S Syndicate match on the Main Lake on the 1st July trying out my new T Shirt which I’m taking to Cape Verde and it’s now been christened with my 1st 20 this year. This T shirt is definitely lucky so all the Sharks, Tuna and Marlin beware in a week’s time. Zyggy will be after you with my new Tshirt which I had specially printed”.
Frank Connolly and his son Kieren Connollyfrom Essex Lodge lake on swims 5 & 6 on the dam wall. They banked twenty carp between them all caught on DSTR baits.
Stef Jones and Matt Druce enjoyed some fine sport over the weekend in Bideford Bay and beyond landing tope to 35lb and spurdog to 16lb 2oz along with bull huss.
were most welcome ! Due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’ the evening match on Wednesday will be postponed and re fished on the evening of the 1st August.
