COMBE MARTIN SAC – Lure Competition Update

posted in: Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

Reece Woolgar has extended his lead in Combe Martin SAC’s Lure fishing league catching his second bass of 59cm. Giving him a total of 116cm for two bass. The league winner is the one with the best length for three bass. The competition is sponsored by HIgh Street Tackle Ilfracombe and is free to club members.


At the end of June HIgh Street Tackle are hosting an Open lure fishing competition in conjunction with CMSAC. Further details to be announced soon.  See poster below and comment from Danny Watson.

Danny Watson

I am really pleased that High Street Tackle are able to be behind this competition again this year….don’t forget to come and see us for all of your needs.
For those that haven’t been before, for a long time or maybe you just didn’t know, from our humble beginnings High Street Tackle is now one of the top bass lure fishing shops in the UK. With even more continuing growth and expansion planned this year.
We stock a massive selection of absolutely everything you need from all of the best European and Japanese brands and for two of them carry the largest selection in the UK. With some items not available anywhere else.
Please feel free to discuss any requirements – we are always happy to open out of hours by arrangement whenever possible.
Follow the High Street Tackle pages on Facebook and Instagram to stay informed of the latest deliveries…
Good luck to everyone that enters and for anyone thinking about it, just do it – this format allows for greater chances of winning than the single biggest fish.

Devon & Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (D&SIFCA) Netting Permit Bylaw Review, Benefits and Implications

Andrew Burt Chairman of the National Mullet Club is urging anglers who have benefited from the netting ban in estuaries across the South West to express their thoughts regarding the significant benefits in extending the current bylaw that has undoubtedly protected stocks that are valuable to the recreational angling community who largely practice catch and release. 

Below is an explanation of the current situation with information that can be drwn upon when drafting a letter or email.

Devon & Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (D&SIFCA) Netting Permit Bylaw Review, Benefits and Implications

The D&S IFCA netting bylaw, D&S IFCA MCRS and Bylaws (see page 20 for netting), came into effect on the 1st March 2018. After 5 years it is now up for review and the process will start shortly.

D&S IFCA introduced this bylaw to protect salmonids, bass, grey mullet and other species that use these inshore areas for migration, as nurseries or for refuge. In doing so D&S IFCA recognised the importance of protecting these areas from commercial fishing and the benefits to recreational fishing and local communities. It is worth noting that many of these areas now fully protected are BNAs (Bass Nursery Areas) and are ecologically sensitive.

The bylaw as it stands only allows for seine netting for sandeels. This offers complete protection of all other species using the estuaries and harbours.

The Environment Agency pushed for a complete ban due to the poor ecological status of salmonids particularly Atlantic Salmon. The financial benefit to local communities of thriving salmon and sea trout is huge, not only getting local rods out fishing again but attracting anglers from other parts of the country to return.

The harbours and estuaries are home to all three native UK grey mullet species, particularly thick and thin lipped. These two species use these areas throughout the juvenile stages and then adulthood. It can take a thick lip mullet 10 – 12 years to reach maturity before they can breed for the first time. Often aggregating in large shoals and demonstrating a high site fidelity (often returning to the same places) they are particularly vulnerable to overfishing. During winter months they are known to aggregate in particularly large shoals prior to spawning; this makes them extremely vulnerable to commercial exploitation at the time when they are most in need of protection.

As previously mentioned, many of the areas protected are already BNAs, however this does not protect bass from unscrupulous commercial fishing or mortality when caught in nets set for other species and outside of months when bass nursery regulations apply, see link for current regulations,D&S IFCA Bass Nursery Areas and Regulations . Like grey mullet species they are spiky and easily caught in gill nets of any mesh fished tight or slack.

These inshore areas are important not only for the fish but for recreational angling as they offer good access as few anglers have boats and fishing from the open coast is often not possible or safe. Thriving inshore fisheries are of huge benefit recreationally and financially to local communities where anglers can fish for species such as grey mullet, flounder and gilthead bream that are of low importance to commercial fishing as well as bass. Further up the rivers anglers and communities benefit from increased salmonid stocks.

It should be noted that much of the recreational fishing is catch and release, it is estimated that over 95% of grey mullet caught recreationally are returned alive (who would want to eat a fish that has spent 10 – 20 years eating detritus including raw sewage anyway?). Some species more commonly retained such as bass (bass may not be retained if caught from a

page1image43189184 page1image43189568

boat), impact is extremely low and recreational anglers are severely restricted as to how many bass may be retained.

To sum up, the bylaw has little impact upon commercial fishing but huge positive impacts upon the fish living inshore, the communities and the financial value generated for Devon and Somerset. We firmly believe that there has been a positive impact upon the quantity and size of species since the bylaw was instigated as well as an increase in range of some species such as gilthead bream. During previous consultation landing data from the commercial sector highlighted the low commercial importance of these areas. The protection of these nursery and refuge areas, social and economic benefits to recreational angling, coastal communities as well as those further inland surely highlight that this bylaw should not be changed to weaken it. If you fish in the D&S IFCA region, please take a few minutes to contact D&S IFCA using the details below about the positive impacts and future potential the bylaw offers.

page2image41105008

More Info

https://www.devonandsevernifca.gov.uk

D&S IFCA Home

ADDRESS: Brixham Laboratory, Freshwater Quarry,
Brixham, Devon,
TQ5 8BA

D&S IFCA Region

GET IN TOUCH
EMAIL: [email protected] PHONE: 01803 854648
OUT OF HOURS: 07740 175479

 

ESTUARY BASS

posted in: Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

Lee Mutter fished the Taw estuary offering worm baits purchased at Quay Sports. He was delighted to catch and return a fine bass of close to 6lb.

Bass are present in the estuary throughout the season but are strictly catch and release until March 1st when two bass per day can be retained.

COMBE MARTIN SAC LURE FISHING COMPETITION

Combe Martin Sea Angling Clubs Lure Fishing Competition generously sponsored by High Street Tackle concluded on Saturday, October 29th, with presentation of prizes at Danny Watsons High Street Tackle Shop in Ilfracombe.

I ( Wayne Thomas) was fortunate to take the first prize of a Penn Conflict XR Lure Rod with Dan Welch securing the runner up prize of a lure bundle worth close to £100.

Results – All lengths are actual with weights estimated via B.A.S.S Calculation charts for length to weight.

Wayne Thomas – Bass

74.5 cm                                 9lb 12oz

69    cm                                   8lb

68.5 cm                                   7lb 12oz

Total 212 cm

Daniel Welch

68 cm                                      7lb 12oz

66 cm.                                          7lb 2oz

61 cm                                      5lb 1oz

Total – 195cm

 

Solly Welch ( Junior)

58 cm                                      4lb 12oz

58 cm                                      4lb 12oz

57 cm                                      4lb 8oz

Total – 173cm

James Corner

62 cm                                      5lb 13oz

60 cm.                                      5lb 4oz

Total 122 cm

David Jenkins

55 cm                                      4lb

53 cm                                      3lb 12oz

Total 108 cm

Peter Robinson

62 cm                                      5lb 13oz

Effie Welch

53 cm                                      3lb 12oz

The club would like to thank Danny at High Street Tackle for his generous support throughout 2022. We look forward to working with Danny in 2023 whe he have exciting plans for another bass lure league for club members and an Open Lure Fishing competition fished over a weekend.  More details and dates to be confirmed in the New Year.

North Devon has a vast potentail for lure fishing with beaches, rocks and estuaries providing a wide variety of opportunities. The fishing on offer can certainly match fishing in more high profile areas like Southern Ireland, Pembrokeshire and Cornwall. We owe it to our local angling community to promote what we have to support the local economy.

CMSAC – LURE FISHING COMPETITION UPDATE

The Combe Martin SAC Lure Fishing Competition is free to all paid up members and is sponsored by High Street Tackle. Wayne Thomas has extended his lead in the competition catching a bass of 74.5cm and another of 68.5cm to give a total of three bass for 212cm. Both fish were tempted after dark using Megabass Spindle Worms.

Results so far :-

1st – Wayne Thomas – three bass – 74.5cm  68.5 cm 69 cm Total  212cm

2nd – Daniel Welch – three bass – 68cm 66cm 61cm  Total 195cm

3rd – Solly Welch – Three bass – 58cm 58cm 57cm Total 173cm

4th – James Corner – two bass 62cm and 60cm Total 122cm

Biggest Bass – Wayne Thomas 74.5cm, 69cm and 68.5cm  Daniel Welch – 68cm

Mike Squires Memorial Competition Results.

posted in: Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

Mike Squires Memorial Competition Results.

Bass competition 

Nathan Clements took top spot in this Open match fished on Westward Ho! beach in memory of popular club member Mike Squires.

1st Nathan Clements 4lb

2nd Nathan Clements 3lb 2 1/2oz

3rd Antony Smith 2lb 14oz 

£35.05 was collected in donations for cancer research.

Mike Squires centre on a trip to Sark with fellow members of the Combe Martin SAC.

Combe Martin SAC Bass Lure Competition

posted in: Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

There is an extra dimension to lure fishing after dark with the visual senses restricted sound and feel take over. The savage jolt as a big bass hits the lure and rips line from a tight drag is electrifying. My latest excursion resulted in several bass the best a beauty of 7lb 7oz ( 69 cm) that  increases my lead in the Combe Martin SAC Lure competition. A Mega-bass Spindle worm once again the successful pattern

Combe Martin SAC – Lure Fishing Competition

1st  Wayne Thomas  3 bass 203.5cm

2nd  Daniel Welch. 3 bass 195cm

3rd Solly Welch 3 bass  173cm

Biggest bass – Wayne Thomas 69cm