16 Aug 2023

CLUB RECORD BONITO OFF NORTH DEVON

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Combe Martin SAC member Daniel Welch caught this stunning Atlantic Bonito on a small silver lure whilst fishing from his own boat off the North Devon Coast. The 3lb 15oz fish sets a new club record.

Bonito are members of the Tunny family.

“A moderately regular visitor to Northern European seas and very common off Southern Europe.It is migratory with the seasons, not living in water below 15 c and preferring temperatures  around 22c.” An extract from Key to the fishes of Northern Europe by Alwyne Wheeler. Several bonito have been caught off the North Devon coast in recent seasons a likely result of climate change and warmer waters?

 

20 May 2018

Bideford Club Record hound

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Rob Harris writes:-
Fished A North Devon surf beach early hours this morning. Smashed my pb hound! Poor quality pictures as I was on a solo mission and had to strap my phone to my seat box! a couple doubles landed along with dogfish and this beauty weighing 21lb! Caught on spider crab and squid. I actually missed a couple good runs whilst dealing with dogfish so decided to fish with my reels in gear, this paid off as the fish hooked its self in the corner of the mouth, all be it nearly ripping my rod out the rest

Rob Harris has landed a huge shore caught smoothound of 21lb 1/2oz to set a new Club record for  Bideford Angling Club. The was an easy winner in the clubs 24 hour rover that was dominated by smoothound. The above pictures are not the best but they do give a good indication of the proportions of this very special fish. It has been an unprecedented start to the season with the potential for more outsize specimens over the coming months.

1st – Rob Harris smoothound 21lb 1/2oz

2nd – Lee Watts – smoothound 12lb 71/2oz

3rd – Andrew Clements Smoothound 11lb 73/4oz

All the smoothound were released alive after weighing and photographing.

(Above) Lee Watts
(Above)Andrew Clements