PUTSBOROUGH OPEN – INFORMATION UPDATE

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Putsborough Open – Please note Ocean Fest is taking place in Croyde so this could result in delays if approaching via this route. Consider alternative routes.

Please weigh all fish in imperial pounds and ounces not metric or US. If you do not have compatible scales please convert weights prior to meet up.

Low water is at 9:00pm expect fish from the start smoothound, small-eyed-ray are likely to dominate if they dont show a dogfish could win you a prize.  As always there is an extensive prize table with a prizes down to tenth place plus a special junior prize. Junior entry is £5.00 or full price optional giving chance to win top prize.

Note if you catch a  worthy specimen please give me call and I will try and get to you with a camera.Please try and secure an image of all fish with the exception of dogfish.

SEE Specimen list below : –

PREDATOR 2 – COMBE MARTIN SAC – BOAT TRIP

June 12th 2025 was Combe Martin SAC’s first club boat trip out of Ilfracombe aboard Predator 2 with Dan Welch. I hope that it will be a new chapter in the clubs long history and I look forward to plenty more trips with Dan who works hard to find the fish that are all too often hard to find.

We headed up channel as a result of strong Westerly winds that would have made the waters closer to the mouth of the Bristol Channel uncomfortable. It is always enjoyable watching the familiar coastline from the boat as those landmarks pass by along with a lifetime of memories. The headland of Rillage and the coastguard station, Widmouth Head, Watermouth and the Sexton Burrow, Burrow Nose. Broadsands, Sandy Cove, Combe Martin, Wild Pear Beach and Little Hangman. North Devon’s dramatic northern edge looked splendid with verdant lush green providing a glorious back drop. As we surveyed this beauty I also reflected on the access that has been lost to us as anglers over the last fifty or so years. Restrictions due to private ownership and Coastal erosion all contributing and exacerbated by human behaviour, an increasing population and of course funding for access projects.

Past Combe Martin Bay and the dramatic sea cliffs immortalised in the book “The Hidden Edge of Exmoor”.  Access to this shoreline restricted by geographical splendour has always been difficult and it is fascinating to reflect upon past generations who descended these cliffs to harvest natures gifts.

“While over a thousand people may have climbed Mount Everest and may thousands may have walked England’s South West Coast Path, very few have traversed the whole of the Exmoor Coast down at sea level along what we have called The Hidden Edge of Exmoor. The Exmoor Traverse is a serious mountaineering venture that is compounded by a tide that can rise vertically at six feet an hour and by cliffs that tower over six hundred feet in places. Out of sight of civilization it is an awe-inspiring wilderness, boasting the highest marine cliff in England, a waterfall as high as Niagara and a colony of ancient stunted yew trees that may prove to be the largest in Britain.”

The book goes on to record the historical stories of those who descended the cliffs in Victorian times to gather birds eggs, laver, driftwood and botanical data. Not to mention the scars still visible on the cliffs from mining operations.

On this day as a brisk west wind blew up channel it was without a doubt the dramatic scenery that stole the show for the fishing proved difficult. The morning started well as we dropped anchor off Woody Bay. We hoped for tope that had been abundant over recent days. These proved elusive but a couple of small eyed ray proved encouraging along with a few huss and the inevitable dogfish. A couple of pollock succumbed to baits when we moved a little inshore over the rough ground to avoid the stronger tide and this prompted a short lure session with several pollock brought to the boat.

An 8lb 4oz small eyed ray for Peter Robinson
One of several huss caught but not as big as the one that dropped the bait later in the session!
Skipper Dan Welch with a 6lb 4oz small eyed ray

 

Nick Phillips with a lure caught pollock

 

Wayne Thomas with a pollock tempted on a Fillish minnow
Jack Phillips with a pollock caught on bait.

The wind was steadily increasing as we moved out to fish offshore where we once again hoped to find the hard fighting tope.  The wind buffeted the boat causing it sit awkardly at anchor making keeping contact with our baits challenging resulting in a few minor tangles. There was little that Dan could do and we chose to move closer inshore seeking shelter and perhaps that illusive tope. An hour passed and with just a few dogfish Dan suggested we call it a day and paused for few mackerel on the way home to top up our bait freezers and perhaps savour for tea.

A few drifts in a lively sea off Rillage produced a few nice mackerel one of which was consumed a couple of hours later after pan frying with a dash of pepper and lemon juice. We all look forward eagerly to the next trip when we hope for better weather and a few more fish.

The Waverley passes us as we drift for mackerel providing a timeless view as it steams past.

 

BIG LURE CAUGHT BASS – CMSAC Lure League

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Combe Martin SAC Member Jamie Steward registered this 70cm bass into the clubs lure fishing League. The specimen was tempted using a 5″ Mega-Bass spindle worm purchased from the league sponsor High Street Tackle Ilfracombe.

“5” spindle worm with decoy violence jig head bought from Danny at high street tackle

https://www.highstreettackle.co.uk/megabass-spindle-worm-5-inch-2359-p.asp

1 – Seth Tuson Five bass = 316cm

2 – Reece Woolgar Four bass = 263cm

3- Mark Drewer – two bass = 122.5cm

4- Robert Hurst – two bass 121.5cm

5 – Jamie Steward – one bass – 70cm

6- Wayne Thomas – one bass – 53cm

Seth Tuson extends Lead in CMSAC Lure League

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Seth Tuson has extended his lead in Combe Martin SAC’s Lure Fishing League tempting a fine bass of 69cm to bring his five bass total to 316cm.

Present standing are :-

1 – Seth Tuson Five bass = 316cm

2 – Reece Woolgar Four bass = 263cm

3- Mark Drewer – two bass = 122.5cm

4- Robert Hurst – two bass 121.5cm

5- Wayne Thomas – One bass – 53cm

The event is free to club members and sponsored by High StreetTackle Ilfracombe

Big Bass Brace in CMSAC Lure League

Reece Woolgar enjoyed a lure fushing session to remember tempting bass of 72cm and 63.5cm to move him into runner up spot in Combe Martin SAC’s Lure Fishing league.

Current Standings are :-

Seth Tuson five bass – 304cm

Reece Woolgar four bass – 263cm

Mark Drewer two bass – 122.5cm

Robert Hurst two bass – 121.5cm

Wayne Thomas one bass – 53cm

CMSAC LURE LEAGUE UPDATE

 

Combe Martin SAC Member Reece Woolgar got his 2025 lure fishing campaighn underway registering bass of 67cm and 60.5cm into the clubs lure fishing league that is sponsored by High Street Tackle, Ilfracombe.

The succesful lure was a Keitech Easy Shiner 4” in various colours

 

Present standings :-

Seth Tuson – Five bass – 304cm

Reece Woolgar – Two bass – 127.5cm

Mark Drewer – Two bass – 122.5cm

Robert Hurst – Two bass – 121.5cm

Combe Martin SAC – Lure League Update

Robert Drewer has registered bass of 63.5cm and 59cm into Combe Martin SAC’s Lure fishing league this puts him into second place at present with 122.5cm.

Seth Tuson is leading at present with three bass for 182cm and Robert Hurst third with two bass for 121.5cm. I am keeping a note of the successful lures used and soft plastics are dominating at present with all seven bass caught on these lures.