15 Apr 2025

Early Season Lure Sport on Predator 2

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Lure Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

Dan Welch has treated anglers to some exciting lure fishing trips on Ilfracombes latest charter boat Predator 2. Good numbers of colourful wrasse and pollock have put welcome bends into anglers rods over the calm settled weather leading up to Easter. Prospects for the coming season are excellent to book trips visit the Predator 2 website : –

https://www.boatfishingdevon.co.uk/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJrAe9leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHg7sULdVWXxi8-AOvi498bL77IHah1zbd9JN_wAemrDTxQ5jziDEVGOb7Xc4_aem_9ZckyS0xcEgppGxb-Pyntw

Click on links below to book a trip :-

15 Apr 2025

Combe Martin SAC Lure League – Seth takes early lead

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Lure Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

Seth Tuson has taken an early lead in Combe Martin SAC’s members lure fishing league registering bass of 67.5cm and 57cm he now has three bass for a total length of 182cm. Both fish were tempted using soft plastic shad lures. Robert Daniel Hurst is on two bass for 121.5cm.

Below is the shad lure that tempted the larger of the bass.

The event is sponsored by High Street Tackle, Ilfracombe with first and second prize plus biggest bass. First or second prize cannot win biggest bass prize.

9 Apr 2025

Lure Season off to an early start

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Lure Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

Combe Martin SAC member Robert Daniel Hurst has registered two early season lure caught bass into the clubs Lure Fishing league. The bass of 61cm and 60.5cm are cracking bass and are a good omen for the coming months. Both bass were tempted using a megabass spindle worm. The prolonged spell of settled weather has resulted in excellent water clarity and warm temperatures. Entry into the league is free to club members that is sponsored by High Street Tackle, Ilfracombe.

6 Apr 2025

COMBE MARTIN SAC – Lure Fishing League Underway

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Lure Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

Combe Martin SAC member Seth Tuson got his lure fishing season underway registering a 57.5cm bass into the clubs lure fishing league that started on April 1^st.

The league is open to all club members free of charge and is sponsored by High Street Tackle Ilfracombe.

31 Mar 2025

Combe Martin SAC – Lure Fishing League

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

Combe Martin SAC Club member Mark Jones has already enjoyed success with this lure caught bass on a recent trip to the coast.

With fine weather forecast for the coming week water clarity should be ideal and with higher temperatures bass will become more active.

30 Nov 2024

ANGLERS PARADISE 2024 – Lure Fishing Weekend

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Articles, At the Waters Edge, Coarse Fishing, Lure Fishing, Sidebar | 0

Many thanks to Zenia for a full report of the 10th AP Lure Fishing Weekend

The 10th Anniversary of the Anglers Paradise Lure Weekend 2024…

There were laughs, banter, memories made, personal bests, first ever fishes caught on a Lure, the list goes on…

In a nutshell – A MEMORABLE WEEKEND FOR SURE

A Friendly Fishing Competition does exist at Anglers Paradise, big or small love them all and remember sometimes we catch and sometimes we don’t…that’s why it’s called Fishing and not catching…blank days happen to us ALL…

STORM BERT

…the most challenging conditions we’ve ever had for this competition that’s for sure!! But all anglers did awesome and we are proud of you all!!!

A massive thank you to all the sponsors for the AMAZING PRIZES

@rapalaeurope

@okumaeurope @okumafreshwateruk

@fox_rage_fishing @fox_international

@rozemeijerfishing @rozemeijer_uk

Voodoo Traces

@drennantackle @espcarpgear

@fortiseyewear @fortiseyeweareurope

@outlaw_pro @outlaw_pro_predator

@capitalangling

Devon Baits

Also thank you to Paul and his helper Grace for all the yummy food, all the adjudicators – Colin Beetz, Paul Tegg, Russell Irving, Duncan Smith, Joe Dietrich, and Toby Cryer. To our 4 fantastic Team Captains – Dave Drake, Ben Humber, Nathan Edgell and Ian Jones – for all doing a great job

Also thank you to the Bar staff, Jason Barnes and Emma Knight. Also a special mention to Joe Drury who has put in a tremendous amount of work…day and night to make this event happen! THANK YOU TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU

We can’t wait to show you the results with all the Winners

but with 100’s of pictures taken, we are currently in editing mode and will gradually share them with you.

To all that took part – we hope you enjoyed yourselves and hope to greet you again one day.

Well done to all the Winners who all went home with lots of awesome prizes from our great Sponsors!!

Izaak Walton wrote in 1653: ‘He that hopes to be a good angler must not only bring an inquiring, searching, observing wit; but he must also bring a large measure of hope and patience.’

Well everyone who braved ‘Storm Bert’ down in Devon certainly were ‘good anglers’ as they persevered through those awful conditions displaying the very best example of ‘hope and patience’.

So a huge well done to all the friendly companions and competitors who took part in the 10th Anniversary Lure Weekend at Anglers Paradise.

Congratulations to Ian Jones on the win captaining his team to achieve 9 lure caught species which was an amazing result and my fellow captains Ben Humber and Dave Drake.

Massive thanks to my sponsors Rozemeijer UK and Rozemeijer and Robert Lawrie from Voodoo Traces for such generous and quality prizes. It’s an honor and a privilege to attend an event like this on your behalf so thank you again.

Finally special thanks to all at AP especially Joe Drury & Zenia Drury-Gregorek for everything they do for us lure anglers and anglers in general. The whole concept, venue and people make this event truly one of a kind and I’m very grateful to be able to attend it. The lure weekend always reaffirms to me that fishing is so much more than just fish and I like that.

WINNER OF THE BIGGEST PERCH OF THE 2024 LURE WEEKEND

Dan Wahid who was our youngest participant aged 13, who caught a very credible 29cm Perch from the Kracking Carp Lake.

This was Dan’s 1st ever Lure Weekend and we are so, so happy for him on winning this category! Despite the horrendous storm, Dan fished his socks off and did not give up at any point, he showed 100% dedication and truly deserved this win!!

WINNER OF THE BIGGEST CATFISH OF THE 2024 LURE WEEKEND

Nicole Williams who caught a 75.5cm Wels Catfish from the Easy Cat Lake!

This was also Nicole’s 1st ever Catfish and to catch her first on a lure is pretty impressive!!

Nicole showed 100% dedication, she listened to advice from the Adjudicators and her Captain, and after persevering cast after cast…SHE CAUGHT HER CATFISH!!

WINNER OF THE BIGGEST TROUT OF THE 2024 LURE WEEKEND

A TIE between Nigel Kingston and Darren Higby who both caught a 68cm Rainbow Trout from the Trout Lake!

WINNER OF THE BIGGEST PIKE (caught by a participant) OF THE 2024 LURE WEEKEND

Elliot Mason with a 62cm Pike from Valhalla

Congratulations Elliot, in tough conditions, you still managed to catch a Pike, great angling and another well deserved win!

23 Nov 2024

Reece Woolgar secures Lure Competition Victory for Second Year

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Articles, Lure Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar, Uncategorised | 0

Reece Woolgar has won Combe Martin SAC’s club members annual Lure fishing league for the second consecutive year with a five bass total of 334.5cm. Reece was presented with £100 tackle voucher by Danny Watson at High Street Tackle. The club hopes to run the event to the same format next year. It is hoped that more lure anglers will join the club and take part in this event that is free to club members.

I asked Reece about his go to lures and two of his top three are pictured below.

The megabass Dark sleeper and Megabass AYU 5″ Spindleworms certainly deserve a place in any keen lure fishers lure box.

Lure fishing is certainly a fascinating branch of angling with many thousands of lures available. Danny stocks an impressive range of lures to cover every aspect and species within the UK and beyond.

*The biggest bass caught during the league was this fine bass of 75cm to the rod of Wayne Thomas using a megabits AYU 5″ Spindleworm*

Runner up in the lure competition was Wayne Thomas with five bass for 310 cm, Ross Stanway with five for 293cm and Dan Welch with five for 270cm.

5 Oct 2024

Reece Woolgar extends lead in bass Lure League

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

Reece Woolgar has extended his lead in Combe Martin SAC’s Lure Fishing League tempting a fine bass of 73.5 cm. The fish had a good sized mullet of close to 30cm in its throat.

With just three weeks remaining in the competition Reece will take some beating though October is a good month for big bass.

The present standings are :-

Reece Woolgar – 334.5cm

Wayne Thomas – 310 cm

Ross Stanway – 293cm

Dan Welch – 270cm

26 Sep 2024

Reece takes a commanding lead in lure fishing league

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Lure Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

Reece Woolgar has taken a commanding lead in Combe Martin SAC’s Lure Fishing League sponsored by High Street Tackle. Reece banked a fine brace of bass measuring 66cm and 65cm to push his combined total for five bass to 321 cm. Wayne Thomas is in runner up spot with 310cm. The league closes on October 31st with the prizes presented at High Street Tackle.

Reece Woolgar – Five bass – 321 cm

Wayne Thomas – Five bass – 310 cm

Ross Stanway – Five Bass – 293cm

Dan Welch – Five Bass – 270cm

16 Aug 2024

COMBE MARTIN SAC – Lure Fishing League update.

by Wayne Thomas | posted in: Lure Fishing, Sea Angling, Sidebar | 0

Combe Martin SACs Club members lure fishing league runs from April 1st until October 31st. After a slow start members are now catching some stunning bass from both boat and shore. There are now four members with five bass on the scoreboard. I( Wayne Thomas) have secured a lead after a couple of good sessions on the shore adding a fine bass of 75cm to my tally along with bass of 60cm and 58cm. All fish were caught using mega-bass spindle worms.