At the end of October the clocks go back signalling the true start of late Autumn and the impending onset of winter. This is prime time for shore anglers seeking large predatory species from the Bristol Channel. Combe Martin SAC member Shane Pavio Hookway has enjoyed success targetting conger landing a conger of 19lb 15oz from a rock mark. He also joined Bristol Channel Angling Guide Jansen Teakle to beach a fine eel of 19lb 12oz.
Combe Martin SAC member fished an up Channel mark for cod using a squid and lugworm cocktail and was rewarded with hard fighting conger scaling 23lb 2oz.
Combe Martin SAC member Mark Jones took a trip up Channel to beach this superb thornback ray of 14lb 8oz. The ray sets a new club shore record for CMSAC beating Kevin Legges thornback Ray of 13lb 12oz caught in 2006.
Top picture – Chris Waddham 7lb and lower picture and cod competition leader with a total length of cod 1.39m Paul Chidgy 15lb12oz
Daniel Hawkins reports from up Channel that fishing has been mixed with cod hard to find at times. Big shoals of herrings are bringing the spurdog close inshore where they are being tempted along with ray, conger, huss and good numbers of whiting.
(Above) 30lb conger Dan Cook
(Above) spurdog to the rod of Pete Richards
Work is progressing well on Reel Deal 2 that will be taking anglers out of Ilfracombe next summer when shark will once again be on the agenda.
See pictures below
The cod competition is underway and 45 years waiting for a double figure cod came to an end for paul Chidgy when he boated this handsome 15lb 12oz cod on Dan Hawkins boat off Watchet. Double figure cod are the main target of the Watchet and Blue Anchor Charter boat fleets over the coming months but there should be a few ray and conger to bend the rods in between cod.
