Combe Martin SAC member Daniel Welch has been enjoying some great summer sport from both boat and shore. Fishing from his private boat he has boated several tope to forty pounds along with some quality Huss. He also scaled down to apply a little more finesse tempted a thick lipped grey mullet of 4lb.
Ross Stanway has taken the lead in Combe Martin SAC’s lure fishing competition sponsored by High Street Tackle Ilfracombe. He tempted a fine bass of 70cm that was estimated at 8lb 8oz. The fish was caught from a rock mark using a Black Fiiish minnow.My biggest bass to date 70cm exactly. Ross said ” Unfortunately I didn’t weigh it as I’ve taken to not carrying scales whilst lure fishing. But I estimated it at between 8-9lb. And theres a length to weight chart on uk bass that suggests a 70cm averages 8lb 8oz. It was a brilliant scrap in some pretty challenging conditions. Stiff nwly winds and a fair swell running. After a few quick snaps I slid it back in as quickly as I could. It was awesome to see it swim off. I’m over the moon to have caught what is definitely a PB for me. A little bit gutted that it happened when I was on my own but on the other hand it was a magical moment that I’ll never forget. Also landed 5 smaller ones around 2lb mark.”
Several members have been targeting the bass with Dan Welch landing several from local rock marks. 
I fished a shallow and rocky beach mark in a brisk North West Wind to tempt a pleasing bass of 62cm (estimated at 6lb 8oz). The bass took a Mega bass spindle worm in water of no more than 18″. The soft plastic weedless lure enabled effective presentation in the weed strewn shallow rocky water.
July 1st until September 6th Lure Fishing competition – Kindly sponsored by High Street Tackle, Ilfracombe, who have donated a top quality lure fishing rod for the winner. The runner up will receive a £25.00 Gift Voucher. Club members only. Club membership is £12.00 seniors. Visit www.cmsac.co.uk for contact details or pay your subs to Danny Watson at High Street tackle and leave your Name, email, Mobile number and address. All fish are to measured from nose to fork of tail. The longest bass is the winner. Please supply good quality photo with captor and measurement. New members must provide witness to capture. Enter via CMSAC facebook page or send details to [email protected]
Wayne Thomas
Chairman & Competition Secretary & Fish Recorder & Facebook contact
The Shippen
Loxhore Cott
Nr Barnstaple
North Devon
EX31 4ST
Tel: 01271 850586 Email: [email protected]
Nick Phillips
Secretary & Treasurer
2 Sharlands Lane
Braunton
N Devon
EX33 1AY
Tel: 01271 814703 Email: [email protected]
Jack Phillips
Webmaster
2 Sharlands Lane
Braunton
N Devon
EX33 1AY
Tel: 01271 814703 Email: [email protected]
The Combe Martin Sea Angling Club was in 1962. Whilst over the years has never really developed into a large Club, it has always had a hardcore of dedicated anglers who have contributed to the Club in their own individual way. Be it a member who is so enthusiastic for the sport, members who are not really into competition fishing and members who put time and effort into administration necessary to run any organization. Over the years all personal aspects have contributed to a Club well known throughout the south west for it’s solid and reliable longevity.
The Club now holds it’s meetings and weigh-ins at The Cricket Club, Braunton.
Competitions are held every month throughout the year. The Club also organises occasional outings, both shore and boat. Also holds a Presentation Night in February which is very well received and normally a slide show is put together at our AGM. A newsletter is distributed to members two or three times a year with a “news brief” following the Club’s AGM. E-newsletters are now also mailed to members only. These are then available to download with all manner of specimen and minimum size lists, rules, calendar, etc.
It’s own website http://www.cmsac.co.uk
Facebook has become a dominant feature of the club so a lot of information is based around this. So look us up.https://www.facebook.com/groups/172631212798366/
Combe Martin SAC member has found that the enforced lockdown has given him time to indulge in his passion for painting the fish he seeks with rod and line. Below are just a few of Ross’s superb paintings inspired during his visits to the waters edge.
(Below) Ross with a nice bass from the North Devon Shoreline
Kevin Legge secured first and second in Combe Martin Sea Angling Clubs Spring Rover landing a fine brace of bull Huss scaling 13lb 101/2oz and 11lb 8oz. The fish were tempted during heavy rain and were caught on consecutive casts. 
Both fish were retained in a large rock pool and returned after weighing and photographing in line with the clubs catch and release ethos.
George Hunton secured victory in Combe Martin SAC’s Winter Rover 2 landing a Bull Huss of 8lb 7oz. In runner up spot was Mark Jones with a thornback ray of 8lb 8oz. Plenty of other fish were caught by the nine anglers who fished including dogfish, conger and rockling.
1st Antony Smith spotted ray 4lb 8 1/2oz
1st Paul Ackland – Golden Grey Mullet 1lb 8oz 75%
2nd Dick Talbot Dog fish 2lb 2oz 70.833%
End of season results
1st Dick Talbot dogfish 2lb 2oz 70.833%
Thirteen anglers fished CMSAC’s six-hour rover on February 1st and the fishing proved hard going with strong winds and heavy rain throughout much of the night. Dogfish dominated catches with Jonathon Stanway securing top spot with a dog of 2lb 3oz. In runner up spot was Daniel Welch with a doggie of 2lb and Mark Tossel third with a doggie of 1lb 14oz.
Appledore Shipbuilders travelled far and wide across the South West to find their fish and fish more associated with the summer months won.
1st -James Atkinson – mackerel 1lb 5/8oz
2nd – Kevin Pike – bass 5lb 3oz ( returned in line with current regulations)
3rd – James Atkinson -mackerel 14oz
Sea Anglers are having to dodge the storms to find quality fish along the coast. Great care needs to be taken when choosing where to fish during these difficult conditions with long handled nets and sound warm waterproof clothing essential.
Kevin Legge won Combe Martin SACs Winter Rover 1 with a fine specimen Bull Huss scaling 11lb 7oz. Mark Jones was runner up with a small eyed ray of 9lb 3oz and Kevin third with another Bull Huss of 8lb 11oz. Fishing was generally hard going with quality fish hard to find. Nick Phillips caught a pleasing pollock of 3lb 9oz for forth place and David Jenkins targeted estuary flounder to take fifth place with a flounder of 1lb 61/2oz. Members also caught codling, whiting, pouting, rockling, small conger and the inevitable dogfish.
BIDEFORD COD COMPETITION
Dick Talbot secured first and second place in Bideford Angling Clubs cod competition landing codling of 2lb 0.5oz and 1lb 12oz.
Once again many thanks to Matt Jeffery for I report on the CMSAC Boat Trip
Teddie boy 02/01/20
this was our 2 nd trip out after the elusive cod.
a little more blowy and the conditions today oozed cod.
with some fresh blood on the boat spirits were high once again,this was also boosted by the news that Michael webber had netted two cod to nearly 14lb the day before which is always good to hear !.
we managed to get conger eels to the boat within the first 15 minutes and the odd dog. The constant top up of tea and coffee from the ever vigilant skipper ( a knock off from the old block!.)plus bacon and sausage rolls.
Some decent fish came to the boat with Rob Scoines getting the first blonde to the boat of 14 lb
then young Jack Phillips picking up a whiting of 1lb 10 oz
the best fish of the day went to John Shapland with a 19lb 14oz blonde ray
Mark Jones and Mark Jones also got in to the action on the blonde to double figures
and Jamie Steward managed a decent eel at 22lb 6oz
other ray were caught by all, so we at least all had something other than small eels and dogs.
alas there was no cod, again it was not for the lack of trying, even with Michael stretching our 8 hr trip to 9hrs to give us every last glimmer of hope of the capture of the elusive unicorn mud pig !!!!!!!.. we will be back piggy……..
