A bass of 66.5cm caught on a mega-bass spindle worm has moved Wayne Thomas into second place in Combe Martin SAC’s Lure Fishing Competition that runs until the end of October. The fish was one of two bass caught during a short evening session.
Lure Fishing Competition Standings :-
1st – 3 bass – Daniel Welch – 195
2nd 3 Bass – Wayne Thomas – 181.5
3rd 3 bass – Solly Welch – 173
Biggest bass – Daniel Welch – 68cm
I joined South Molton Angling Club for an evening at Instow where members tried their luck with both Fly and lure tactics. It was an enjoyable evening but no bass were tempted. Fortunately the Cricket Club gave a chance for members to discuss tactics for next time over a welcome pint.
http://www.highstreettackle.co.uk
The following night I headed out onto the coast where I enjoyed more success. Early into the session I tempted a small bass on a surface lure and went on to tempt four more after dark on a soft plastic. The best of these a nice fish of 64cm that will be enjoyed pan fried with just a sprinkling of pepper.
Daniel Welch. three bass total – 167.5 cm
James Corner two bass – 122 cm
Wayne Thomas two bass – 115 cm
Peter Robinson one bass – 62 cm
Ross Stanway – One bass = 53 cm
Daniel Welch has extended his lead in Combe Martin SAC’s lure competition with a boat caught bass of 58.5cm bringing his three fish total to 167.5cm.
Daniel Welch has secured a lead in Combe Martin SAC’s Lure competition with three quilifying bass totalling 159cm. It is very early days in the competition that runs until October 29th and is sponsored by High Street Tackle. With the settled conditions and big tides over the coming weeks I expect several bass to be registered. It could be that a glut of spider crab will result in the bass moving away from the lures for a few weeks.
The clubs is also running a best mixed brace competition throughout July sponsored by Braunton Baits.
Combe Martin SAC member Peter Robinson registered this 62cm bass into the clubs lure competition. The fish was tempted on Peters Private boat and was tempted using a Savage Gear Sandeel.
Daniel Welch = 107cm
Peter Robinson – 62cm
Ross Stanway 53 cm
Biggest bass – Peter Robinson 62 cm
Daniel Welch has secured an early lead in Combe Martin SAC’s lure competition tempting this 57cm bass on a Lipper 90 lure.
CMSAC Lure Competition
Daniel Welch 2 bass. 107cm
Ross Stanway 1 bass 53cm
Combe Martin Sea Angling Clubs Putsborough Open was once again a resounding success despite a forecast of less than favourable conditions and slightly disappointing numbers of quality fish. It was great to hold the event again after two years of interruption due to the COVID pandemic.
A massive swell had been pushing into the North Devon Coast over the previous couple of days casting doubt on the wisdom of proceeding with the event. Putsborough is however sheltered to some extent from a westerly wind and does not have such a severe swell as some neighbouring beaches. With high pressure starting to build and the wind set to ease the club decided to take a chance and proceed with the event. As luck would have it the forecast was correct and the wind eased though the swell was still a little challenging.
Thirty-two anglers signed in and it was great to see familiar faces once again from the North Devon angling fraternity. The competitors spread out across the vast expanse of sand some pitching up closer to Woolacombe than Putsborough. The beach was littered with brightly coloured jellyfish.
A stunning sunset was enjoyed by all as tackle was prepared and hooks laden with bait.
http://www.highstreettackle.co.uk
The fishing proved slow with dogfish dominating catches. Two good sized smoothound took the top two places with Ryan Hardman winning and taking the top prize of £100 plus specimen pool and a choice from the prize table. Kevin Legge was runner up with a smoothound of 7lb 4oz. A couple of small bass were tempted the best a bass of 2lb 8oz for Gareth Pike.
Thank you to Scott Wallace for providing a few additional images of the night.
The club would like to give a big thank you to the sponsors; Sakuma Tackle, Quay Sports, HIgh Street Tackle and Braunton Baits. I am sure those who took part appreciated the superb range of prizes for the winners listed below.
1st Ryan Hardman smoothound 7lb 10oz
2nd Kevin Legge smoothound 7lb 4oz
3rd Shaun Kersey dogfish 2lb 6oz
4th Arron Brooker dogfish 1lb 15oz
5th Antony Smith dogfish 1lb 14oz
6th David Brooke dogfish 1lb 12oz
7th Gareth Pike dogfish 1lb 12oz
8th Antony Smith dogfish 1lb 11oz
9th Wayne Thomas dogfish 1lb 10oz
10th Gareth Pike dogfish 1lb 9oz
11th Nick Phillips dogfish 1lb 8oz
12th Nathan Clements dogfish 1lb 7.5oz
13th Arron Brooker dogfish 1lb 7oz
14th James Corner dogfish 1lb 6oz
15th John Johnson dogfish 1lb 6oz
Best bass – Gareth Pike 2lb 8oz
Combe Martin SAC give thanks to all those who made the effort to take part and to the landowners at Putsborough who gave permission for use of the car park free of charge out of hours,
Combe Martin SAC hope you enjoy this open competition with kind permission of the landowner.
The club is very greatfull to local tackle shops and Sakuma for supporting the event.
SAKUMA, High Street Tackle, Quay Sports and Braunton Baits.
The weather as is often the case has proved a concern with a big swell pushing into the North Devon Coast. The conditions should be fishable but challenging. It will be the same for all competitors and big fish often show when there is a bit of movement. Whilst it is breezy this is due to drop off and it is from the West so Putsborough will be sheltered. Whilst two rods are allowed it might prove more effective to fish one rod well than to fish two rods and get tangles as a result of the possible undertow.
Competitors should take great care when wading as there can be a strong undertow and rip tides. Far better to keep shallow and cast from a firm base the fish will come in surprisingly close.
Fishing is for single best specimen, with £100 for first place and £50 second plus pick of the prize table and so on. There is an optional £1 pool foir the best specimen. There will be prizes for the top fifteen fish.
Small-eyed ray are the principal target and can show up anywhere — so pick your spot.
Sandeel is generally best but fish can be tempted at times with a whole squid or mackerel bait. Bass will show if there is some surf, the obliging dogfish is usually around — along with the odd small turbot, conger, smoothound and occasional blonde ray.
Low water is 10:15pm and the best period to fish is usually two hours either side, with the last hour-and-a-half of the ebb and first hour of the flood often proving the most productive. There are some small pits and sandbanks along this beach, so if you can spy one out it might be worth heading for…
For the purpose of this competition two rods and four hooks may be used, with a pennell rig counting as two hooks. Combe Martin Competition size limits apply.
Please leave a space of approximately 20 yards between yourself and the next angler — it’s a large beach!
When you catch a fish, please check it against the sizes overleaf and complete the capture form, before showing it to another competitor and asking them to witness it.
[Witnesses: Please also print name so you can be identified if need be!]
Steward’s decision is final. All complaints must be issued in writing to organisers before the scales close.
Please do not bring fish to the scales in water, unless the intention is to release them alive. Each angler is limited to two fish per species, but we would ask you to minimise killing of fish and endeavour to keep only your single best specimen.
Please respect the beach and do not leave litter, discarded line or old tackle behind and do not start fires.
If possible, please ensure your vehicle is parked at the bottom of the car park to the far right.
https://www.putsborough.com/surf-cams/
A few images from previous Putsborough Competitions.
Bideford Angling Club Monthly rover results 11 angler’s fished
3 fish weighed
1st Antony Smith Smoothhound 10lb 11 1/2oz 107.187%
2nd Andrew Clements Small Eyed Ray 9lb 10oz 106.994%
3rd Jon Stevens Small Eyed Ray 8lb 12 1/2oz 97.569%
Kyle Bishop won Combe Martin Saa Angling Clubs fish of the the season for Spring with a fine bull huss of 13lb 9oz.
David Jenkins was runner up with a gilthead bream of 3lb 9oz.
