Large packs of spurdog are on the hunt in the deep waters of the Bristol Channel off Ilfracombe. This 15lb specimen was tempted by John Passmore and was one of sixty plus fish taken early in the day!
Spurdog off Ilfracombe – Bluefin Charters
Keith Armishaw enjoyed a Red letter day off Ilfracombe on Bluefin . Thanks to Keith for this report .. I had the chance to escape for days fishing with son Lee who had never caught a spurdog – so we got on board Bluefin out of Ilfracombe with John Barbeary. I took plenty of muppets seeing the difference they made to the catch rate last time out. We started trying for bass but only had a couple on the flood tide, so it was on to the spurdog. Lee had a two bait rig and I used a single bait and what a trip it turned out to be, we had around 90 on the boat between 7 of us with Lee catching 30 up to 14lbs against my meagre 18. Jonathan weighed in with a couple of good huss and a conger but what a session. We then tried for bass on the return trip catching around around 30, and only 5 dogfish caught all day. We even headed in early as we were all fished out and didn’t fancy an inshore mark after the bass as this is where the dogs were taken. An unbelievable day…
Thirty Nine Pound Conger for Rob on Lorna Doone
Combe Martin SAC member Rob Scoines landed a fine conger of 39lb whilst fishing from Charter boat “Lorna Doone” off Watchet.
SPURDOG ARRIVE OFF-SHORE
Spurdog and bull Huss are giving sport off Ilfracombe with John Barbeary putting anglers on the fish. The early arrival of spurdog will bring hope amongst shore anglers that this season could be a good one for the species that have filled the winter gap in shore sport from diminished cod runs.
Go Up Channel for Autumn and winter cod.
As Autumn descends and days grow colder many sea anglers hope to catch cod. Sadly cod have become rare along the North Devon shore line so if you want cod its best to head up Channel and get out on one of the many charter boats that operate. Dan Hawkins has relocated to Watchet after the summer at Ilfracombe and continues to find quality fish.
Mick Cashmore sent me this report from Somerset.
Massive thanks to Dan Hawkins, Reel Deal charters, for a great days fishing, Saturday 5th Oct, and finally helping me get my lump of a cod and pb @ 9lb 2oz after years and miles of trying. Thanks again to a great skipper who works so hard to get you on the fish.
South Molton Anglers take a trip aboard Bluefin
Eddie Rands of South Molton Anglers reports on their latest boat trip.
With a decent forecast we eagerly set off to ilfracombe.
We left on time and went to a nearby reef, tried a couple of drifts for a bass, nothing doing so off we steamed to Lundy.
We soon caught a few mackerel for bait and then proceeded to work our way round permitted area of the island with feathers and sidewinders drifting where we caught ballan wrasse, pollack,coalfish, pouting a few more mackerel and horse mackerel.
We then anchored up in some deeper water and caught a few dogfish, Huss and tope.
Stephen Baker, Matt Brady and Steve Edmonds broke their duck and landed at least 1 each.
We had a lovely day in a very scenic situation with a good bunch of chaps and again well looked after by John Barbery aboard Bluefin.
Looking forward to next time.
Fine Autumn Sea Sport
Sea anglers have been enjoying some fine autumn sport from both boat and shore as summer temperatures linger on. Kevin Pike won Appledore Shipbuilders latest boat competition with a fine tope of 46lb. David Atkinson was runner up with a triggerfish of 3lb 81/2oz and Kevin Pike third with a triggerfish of 3lb. Triggerfish are a tropical fish that move into Britain’s Coastal waters during late summer and autumn and are a shoal fish that can offer great sport once located. Large numbers were first caught from the North Devon area in the mid-nineties. I recall one of these fish being caught in the early eighties when no one knew what type of fish it was. It is widely speculated that the arrival of triggerfish and gilthead bream is linked to climate change.
Olie Passmore and Kody Chugg fished a North Devon rock mark and landed trigger fish of 2lb 12oz and 2lb 14oz.
Young Effie tempts a tope
Daniel Welch and family headed out in their Private Boat to enjoy some sport afloat off Ilfracombe. Young Effie was delighted to boat fine tope. Bass, pollock and bull Huss also put in an appearance.
Tope off Ilfracombe
This happy lady tamed this 30lb tope whilst fishing off Ilfracombe on John Barberay’s boat Bluefin.
Bumper ray session off Minehead
Combe Martin SAC Member Rob Scoines enjoyed an action packed day on Steve Webber’s boat Osprey off Minehead landing 56 rays between the party. Rob boated eleven small eyed ray biggest 9lb13oz and 9lb10oz there were 5 rays over 10lb along a few bass and conger.
