Large numbers of small mullet bode well for the future though they made it hard to connect with the larger specimens that could be glimpsed on the flooding tide. The annual event was concluded with breakfast in Lynmouth Pavillion.
Combe Martin SAC held a weekend long competition for the mullet anglers in the club that was fished between seven keen members. Fishing a variety of marks a total of 32 mullet were caught over six tides.
( Above ) John Avery with a 2lb 8oz grey mullet
( Above) First light Combe Martin Bay
The winning fish, a fine specimen thick lipped grey mullet fell to the rod of Callum Gove and weighed 5lb 2oz. Daniel Welch was runner up with a thick lipped grey mullet of 3lb 14oz.
Members concentrated their efforts over high waters that coincided with first and last light each day with members fishing from pre-dawn until after dark on some tides.
The competition concluded with a full English and tea and coffee in the Pavilion.
Graham Snow won Bideford Angling Clubs monthly sea rover with a fine specimen thick lipped grey mullet scaling 5lb 3oz. Andrew Clements was runner up with a thick lipped grey mullet of 4lb 9oz and Dale Kiff third and forth with smoothound of 8lb 8oz and 7lb.
Graham Snow’s specimen mullet of 5lb 3oz also took top spot in Appledore Shipbuilders Rover. Andrew Atkinson was runner up with a smoothound of 11lb 9oz.
Combe Martin SAC member Daniel Welch took time out from his charter boat Predator 2 to target grey mullet whilst inclement weather restricted boat forays. He was rewarded with over half a dozen fish over 3lb, the best a fine specimen of 4lb 6oz.
July’s Rover Results
1st Stephen Found Thicklipped Mullet 6lb 5oz 157.812%
2nd Stephen Thicklipped Mullet 4lb 14oz 121.875%
3rd Andrew Clements Thicklipped Mullet 3lb 15oz 1/4 98.828%
4th Antony Smith Smoothhound 8lb 0 1/2oz 80.312%
5th Nathan Clements Smoothhound 7lb 5pz 73.125%
6th Nathan Clements Smoothhound 7lb 2 1/4pz 71.406%
Combe Martin SAC members ventured to Portishead Marina in search of the large mullet that reside within the sheltered waters. The day commenced with heavy rain falling and a bitterly cold North wind that ensured that breakfast the first item on the days agenda.
Fortified with full English and hot coffees members explored the confines of the marina. The mullet proved elusive with John Shapland securing the only fish of the day a superb specimen of 4lb 2oz.
Combe Martin Sea Angling Clubs annual Lyn Fish competition concludes each year at Lynmouth with the meet up afterwards in the pub. This year’s meet up was in the Ancient Mariner where members were pleased to retire to the warmth of the bar after fishing around the harbour as a cold North Wind swept in.
October is generally a good month for targeting thick-lipped grey mullet and most members who fished the competition concentrated on these wily grey ghosts fishing several of the weekend’s tides.
I ( Wayne Thomas) was fortunate to win the competition with a mullet of 3lb 4oz and added a brace of mullet weighing 3lb 3oz each to secure the top three places. Dan Welch also caught several mullet to 2lb 9oz using float and feeder tactics. I was also surprised to catch a pollock of around 1lb 8oz using bread flake as bait.
Only 1 fish weighed
1st Andrew Clements Wrasse 3lb 13 1/2oz 85.416%
Combe Martin SAC Member Daniel Welch tempted this 3lb 12oz thick lipped grey mullet from a local harbour. The species offer exciting sport on light tackle and the next four months offer the best opportunity to target them from a wide variety of marks.