30 Jun 2017

Cats on the prowl in Paradise

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Coarse Fishing, Sidebar | 0

Well Done to Julian Winspear and Partner in Crime Caz Osborne who both had a great session on Eldorado’s Bottom Cat and Carp Lake catching 5 Cats to 30lb+ and 4 Carp to 20lbs, all on the popular and faithful Paradise Baits Catastrophic!

Caz caught her Personal Best and Biggest Ever Fish to date with this 25lb Wels Catfish and Julian had his Personal Best 30lb+ Cat and a 20lb Mirror to put the icing on the Cake!

Euan Mclachlan, 19 from Sunderland who caught his Biggest ever Fish, a Personal Best 41lb Catfish from the Day Ticket Specimen Cat Lake.

Euan’s Story –

“I have never ventured much further than the Easy Access on my previous visits to Anglers Paradise, with my catfish PB being a little over 25lb, however after consulting with some of the members of staff me and my two friends decided that the Specimen Catfish Lake was throwing up the odd fish and that’s what we’d like to target. Before I came I said to my dad that I’d like to beat my Catfish PB by at least 5 pound and reach the 30lb barrier, however a 40 would be out of this world!

At the start of the week we did a night where I managed to get a 32lb 4oz from down the margins on meat, however after seeing this fish I knew I had to give it another shot for a bigger one. So Thursday came, and we hiked all of the gear back down to the Specimen Cat and I pitched up in the same corner swim (peg 3) as I did before and flicked a meat rod down the left margin. After hours upon hours of single bleeps from little Perch etc, I decided I’d try and get some sleep. I managed to zone them out until about 6am in the morning when I was awoken to about 5 or 6 continuous beeps on the alarm and then a massive drop back. I struck into it and knew I had a decent fish on, and after taking me round the back of the island and through the reeds on the far side, a 20-30min fight resulted in a new personal best catfish of exactly 41lb, Anglers Paradise really living up to its name and reputation once again.

I just want to say thank you again to you guys for making the holiday so
special, from the help in the tackle shop all the way up to the welcoming
and accommodating nature of all of you down there.
I’ll sure be back again,”

WELL DONE EUAN – ANOTHER GREAT WINNER!!

Here he is with his Winning Fish and being presented his prizes by Zyggy

24 May 2017

Latest reports from Anglers Paradise – Including a massive catfish!

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Coarse Fishing, Sidebar | 0

(Above) Zenia Drury-Gregorek, 33, (-; I got a rare window to fish on my favourite lake, the picturesque Koi Lake and just before leaving to pick the kids up I caught this stunner, using a cocktail of maggots float fishing on the bottom. God I love fishing and it was so GREAT to be out there.I really hope to encourage more ladies to fish as it’s simply magical.

Gavin Simpson, 40 from Wellingborough caught an amazing Personal Best 6lb 12oz Golden Orfe from the Main Carp Lake which is just 1lb 9oz short of the British Record! After about 4 hours of fishing he had a great bite, and he knew this fish felt different straight away. Gavin Said – “As I played it towards the net I saw this huge orange flank and thought WOW! I put the net under it and couldn’t believe what I was seeing, the most enormous Golden Orfe I had ever seen, what an amazing fish! It weighed in at 6lb 12oz, I had to check what the British Record was as I was sure it couldn’t be a lot more. I was right, the current record is 8lb 5oz, this fish was just 1lb 9oz off of the British record!
What a great fish and what a great memory for a trip that was a present from my wife Kerry for my 40th Birthday. I am sure there is a British record to be had in that lake for someone. Get yourself to Anglers Paradise, buy yourself one of Zyggy’s magic hats or hoodies and get yourself in those record books! I’m ‘Orfe’ there again soon myself to try and catch a bigger one!”

Paul Shepperd from Southampton is now the NEW CATFISH COMPLEX RECORD HOLDER – with a 74lb 8oz Catfish from the Main Carp Lake beating Sean Tacy’s weight by exactly 1lb that was caught 2 weeks after!!!
Paul went from 8 years of trying to catch Cat with no success until last year when he caught his 1st to then catching this Monster! Paul baited his swim with 14ml pellets, soaked overnight in Korda halibut goo, using a nine inch hook link with a long hair, with a korda size 6 curved shank hook. Paul Said – “Thank you to my wife and all the lads who helped with netting and weighing this monster. Also, Joe, the estate manager, the rig clinic guru, said this cat only has to eat a 10lb carp to be 84lbs. So there’s the challenge ladies and gents, beat that!
Thank you to the Paradise family for making this dream come true. See you next May. Also just to add to this great weeks fishing, I also met my fishing hero’s Ali Hamidi and Dean Macey at Anglers Paradise. Certainly a Week to remember!”

29 Apr 2017

Anglers Paradises Biggest catfish _ So far!

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Coarse Fishing, Sidebar | 0

The latest big fish news supplied by Zenia and Anglers Paradise.

NEW CATFISH COMPLEX RECORD…73LBS 8OZ!!

Regular Sean Tacy, had the week of fishing dreams when he landed Anglers Paradise’s NEW CATFISH RECORD!!!

Sean landed a Monster 73lb 8oz Wels Catfish from the Main Lake, and had the shock of his life when he saw it!!

The previous Record was held by Adam May for 2 years running with a 70lb 12oz Catfish also from the Main, but that has now been beaten!!

Sean caught the Monster using 15mm Robin Red Pellet topped with half a Paradise Baits Original Raspberry pop up, served over a bed of mixed sizes robin red pellets. Fixed lead clear dark matter leader, size 6 korda kurv shank hook.

Sean’s Story –

“After trying for so many years to beat my PB Catfish which I achieved many years ago here at AP and failing to do so I decided it was time to have a go on the Specimen Cat Lake and drove down a day early, after losing a fish on there, I really was gutted, so headed straight to the Octopusy as soon as the welcoming party had finished!

It started off with a not so productive time and me playing about with baits that I was happy so along come the night out. Alarms buzzing, like an angry bee I stumbled out of my bivvy losing my head torch to god knows where and no shoes! At last it felt a monster, finally I thought this has to beat my PB for sure…but it was not meant to be! *play sad music* so unable to go on the Specimen Carp Lake, I decided to go on the Main Carp Lake putting out the same combo that had worked the night before up against the island.

I decided great really confident! But the day went on and nothing to come except a cracking Blue Orfe! Then BOOM!! Off goes the alarms again, jumping out of the bivvy this time with shoes, I hit into it! It felt a monster and a monster I couldn’t control!! To start it just went, I am sure the fish was playing me more than me playing it!

Eventually I managed to get my phone, so shouting to siri to call the old man to come help net this monster that I hadn’t even seen yet! He come and eventually managed to get it in close to see it but it just didn’t want to go in the net, almost deciding to jump in the water and picking it up finally it went in!! It was a beast for sure and one that I never thought I would be seeing!!! Truly a fish of a lifetime and one I am sure will be dam hard to beat!

So again AP has been another great holiday and really cracking fishing and people!”
WOW!! HUGE CONGRATS SEAN – AMAZING FISH, AMAZING CAPTURE AND NOW YOU ARE THE CURRENT CATFISH RECORD HOLDER!!

**CONGRATULATIONS!!!**

13 Apr 2017

Fishing at 90 years young!

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Coarse Fishing, Sidebar, Young At Heart | 0

1ST EVER CAT AT 90 YEARS OLD!!!

To see kids fish and get the buzz for fishing it’s pretty special but at the other end of the scale, when you hear a 90 year old man has caught his 1st Ever Catfish – now thats VERY SPECIAL!!

Here’s John Coates, who at an amazing age of 90 Years, has just caught his 1st ever Catfish from the Easy Access at 20lbs!!

WELL DONE JOHN – THIS IS WHAT MAKES THIS SPORT SO GREAT – FISHING FOR ALL AGES!!

2 Sep 2016

CHRIS AND KEVIN SMASH THEIR PB’S AT ANGLERS ELDORADO!

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Coarse Fishing, Sidebar | 0

Chris Haydon and Kevin Dobson from On The Bank Angling, both from Exeter and have been testing out the Deeper Smart Sonar which is the world’s first wireless cast-able lake feature and fish finding device. They came back to Eldorado in search of catching their Personal Best Cats, and that they did! Chris managed to land the Biggest Cat from the Bottom Lake at 45lbs!! This Cat hasn’t been reported to come out for at least 2 years but Chris found it and landed the Beast on Popped Up Worms giving him a New PB Cat to his name! Kevin joined in on the action and also landed himself a PB 23lb Cat on a Big Chunk of Luncheon Meat.

30 Aug 2016

YOUNG FUN AT ANGLERS PARADISE

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Sidebar, Young At Heart | 0

The latest report from Zenia at Anglers Paradise is full of young anglers enjoying early success during their summer holidays.

(Above)Freddie Woodcock, 7 from London caught his 1st EVER Catfish at 17lbs 8oz from the Easy Access Lake on Halibut Pellets, Freddie said – “I have never been so excited, and I knew I’d made my Dad Proud!”

PRECIOUS MOMENTS. (Above) Here is Aiva Shelley with her Daddy on her first ever day of fishing on the Beginners Carp Lake. At just 4 Years Old she cast out and reeled Reeled in this 6lb Mirror and she loved it! Aiva used her Daddy’s Float Rod with Sweetcorn as the hook bait and this was her First Ever Carp!

Zenia comments. “Special Moments as a Family is just one of the reasons why we do what we do, what a priceless picture of a Father and Daughter Sharing the moment”.

Charlotte Cropp,( Above) 15 from Salisbury caught her 1st Ever Catfish from the Easy Access Lake after 15 years of coming here! The Girl Power Continues, it really is so great to see so many more Girls out there Fishing!
Charlotte’s Story – “This holiday, my goal was to catch my first ever Catfish. So on a drizzly Wednesday, we set up on Easy Access with the hope of achieving this. After waiting for about 4 hours, with no bites at all, my rod went screaming off and the drizzle decided to turn into a full on shower! After a fairly long battle and an aching wrist my first ever Catfish was landed. Not only that, but it weighed 21lb 4oz! After 15 years, I’ve never been so happy at catching a fish in my life!”

Here she is with her First Ever 21lb 4oz Catfish from the Easy Access and being presented her Prizes for Winning Fish Of The Week. (Below)

A Picture Can Speak A Thousand Words.. ( Below).Tommy Flower with his Gorgeous 2 Year Old Daughter Summer giving the Fish a Kiss before releasing it back into the Octopussy Lake. Tommy caught the Upper Double off the Top during a quick hour of stalking on Skretting Pellets. It’s Pictures like this that remind us the Magic of This Sport we call Fishing!

27 Aug 2016

CATFISH FROM PARADISE

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Coarse Fishing, Sidebar | 0

Keen alround angler John Shapland fished Anglers Paradise with his good friend Dan Spearman targetting catfish and carp from the day ticket catfish lake they enjoyed success using large boilies with John landing a carp and a personal best catfish of 19lb 5oz.

Anglers Paradise has the largest density of catfish in North Devon with fish to over 70lb. These fish give a very strong fight and will feed until cooler weather descends as autumn approaches.

16 Aug 2016

YOUNG CHARLIE WINS FISH OF THE WEEK IN PARADISE

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Sidebar, Young At Heart | 0

CharlieGrant1stEver18lb4ozCatEasy29thJulygallery — *Charlie Grant*

Charlie Grant aged 9, from Reading caught his FIRST EVER Catfish of 18lbs 4oz from the Easy Access Lake at Anglers Paradise on Luncheon Meat whilst fishing with his Dad Rich Grant and brother Joe. Zenia Gregorek says “It’s moments like these, that make us love what we do and when you see Families like the Grants enjoying the sport together and making memories like this, is just perfect.Charlie’s face is priceless and has certainly made us all Smile with him. The Passion that boy has for Fishing is just great and we were thrilled to present him as the Winner of Fish Of The Week!!”

Many lifetime anglers start their journey whilst on summer holidays with their families; all credit to such venues as Anglers Paradise for providing such an idyllic starting place.

16 Aug 2016

BIG CATS ON THE PROWL

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Coarse Fishing, Sidebar | 0

Ryan Owen (Right) from Manchester came for his annual holiday at Anglers Paradise and on his last day decided to give Nirvana’s Day Ticket the Specimen Cat Lake a try in the hope of a BIG Cat! Literally, Ryan had packed up all his stuff ready to go, when at the last minute his last rod left in the water screamed off! After a 15 Minute Battle, Ryan landed a New personal Best 60lb 4oz Whopper of a Catfish using Krill Boilies on a size 8 barbless hook fishing in deep open water.

Louie Nightingill, aged 13 from Worthing, West Sussex caught an Amazing Personal Best 67lb 10oz Catfish from the Main Carp Lake at Anglers Paradise on Halibut Pellets. The fact that Louie is only 13 and managed to land this beast all by himself and not be pulled in is such an achievement, he even beat his Dad who caught a 52lb Cat during the same session, Louie NEVER expected to catch one bigger, but he did!! Not many 13 Year Olds have a PB Like this beside their name!!

25 Jul 2016

Fish From Paradise

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Coarse Fishing, Sidebar | 0

Julia Marston, a Sandwich Bar Owner, 55, from Heathfield, East Sussex had a week to remember at Anglers Paradise after catching a wide variety of Specimens to say the least! Julia caught an amazing Personal Best 55lb 5oz Catfish from our Day Ticket Specimen Cat Lake. Julia caught the Monster using 20lb main line, very strong fluorocarbon hook link, running 3oz lead, Catmaster Size 2 Barbless Hook with 2 20mm Mainline Salty Squid Boilies. Julia said – “My heart was beating so fast, my hands were shaking, I could not believe the size of this fish!! I don’t think I will ever catch anything as big as this Cat, it really is a Fish of a Lifetime”!

Julia also caught 2 Personal Best Koi’s of 8lb 4oz AND 10lb 4oz Koi from the Koi Lake both on a Fruitella 15mm Mainline Boilie, and to finish off she caught a PB 3lb 8oz Golden Orfe from the Specimen Tench and Orfe Lake also on Fruitella Boilies – What a week!

Jackie Charlton (below) 47, an accountant from London caught ‘Simon’ the Koi at 13lbs 8oz from the Specimen Tench and Orfe Lake which smashes Jackie’s previous 2lb Personal Best! It’s a very special Koi that doesn’t come out often, and being the Only Koi in that Lake makes it a very special Fish when you do manage to catch it! It’s certainly one of our favourites! The fact that Jackie saw the Koi and then caught him was just great, we think her Hubby was slightly envious…

Jackie caught the Koi float fishing using a small pole float with sweetcorn as bait, feeding pellet and sweetcorn.