12 Jan 2026

ANGLING REPORT – January 12th 2026

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ANGLING REPORT

Flounder Season Conclusion

Barnstaple Bait and Tackles New Year flounder bash concluded the flattie season with several good flounder brought to the scales at Flukey’s Bar.  Tyler Short caught the winning fish of 1lb 8.25oz. Kevin Hancock was runner up with a flounder of 1lb 8oz and Shane Murch third with a flattie of 1lb 5oz. A. J. Connaughton was top junior with a flounder of 1lb 5oz. Tyler Gammon runner up Junior with a flounder of 1lb 3oz and Josh Varbey third with a 1lb 2oz flounder. The series of flounder competitions held over the Autumn and Winter months by Barnstaple Bait and Tackle and David Jenkin’s have proved extremely popular with good numbers of Juniors catching their first fish. David and Barnstaple Bait and Tackle look forward to organising more events next season.

Bideford Angling Clubs end of season sea competition saw Dale Kiff secure the top two places with a spurdog and 10lb 3oz and a bull huss of 8lb 14oz.

Josh Atkinson secured the top three places in Appledore Shipbuilders January Rover with a brace of  pouting weighing 1lb 1.5oz and 13.75oz along with a dogfish of 1lb 13.25oz. Competitors caught bull huss, whiting, conger, rockling and codling.

Bideford Angling Clubs January Coarse Match at their home venue Tarka Swims was won by Nathan Underwood with 23lb 11oz. Kevin Shears was runner up with 19lb 4oz and Paul Elworthy third with 5lb 9oz.

Winter trout fishing is thriving at Bulldog Fishery where consistent sport is being enjoyed by visiting anglers. Highlight of New Year catches was a fine double figure brown trout caught by Garth Fuchs. The fishery are holding an Open Competition on February 1st contact the fishery to book as spaces are limited.

There are numerous dates for the diary over the coming months as we move towards Spring. The popular South West Fly Fair is to be held at Roadford Reservoir on Sunday February 22nd. Charles Jardine will once again be the guest of honour as fly Fishing enthusiasts from across the West Country gather in anticipation at the dawning of a new season.

Trout and Salmon magazine is now under the editorship of Pete Tyjas whose home water is the River Taw. A gathering to celebrate the start of a new season is presented by Trout and Salmon magazine is to be held at the Fox and Hounds between Friday March 27th and the 29th. The event has a full program of speakers, demonstrations and exhibitors together with food, drink and the opportunity to mingle with fellow anglers and their families. Contact the Fox and Hounds Country Hotel for full details.

12 Dec 2025

Weekly ANGLING REPORT – December 11th 2025

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ANGLING REPORT

Sixty Pound Carp from Paradise

Jay Harper has banked what is believed to be the first carp over 60lb to be caught from Devon or Cornwall. The huge carp was tempted from Anglers Paradise’s Nirvana Syndicate Lake and tipped the scales at a fraction over 60lb. The fish was weighed and verified by fishery manager Joe Drury and sets the bar for anglers fishing the venue over the coming months. The carp was caught less than a month ago at a weight of 59lb 2oz and was believed to be Devon’s largest carp. Carp are very often at their top weights throughout the winter months and with  a seemingly milder climate expectations are that potential weights for carp and other fish will climb over the coming years.

Anglers Paradisehttp://www.anglers-paradise.co.uk

When I started fishing for carp back in the early 1980’s Winter fishing for the species was still looked upon as pioneering with the fish still regarded as a fish of the summer months. A combination of climate change and significant improvements in weather resistant bivvy’s and warm and waterproof clothing has revolutionised the sport. Anglers can now camp out in the wildest of weather with little discomfort. Modern effective self-hooking rigs mean that anglers can wait in comfort only dashing out when the bite alarm signals.

A group of eight anglers from Plymouth enjoyed their Christmas Social event at Bulldog Fishery banking two carp over thirty pounds and ten over twenty pounds. Such a catch from this sometimes tricky venue during early December highlights just how productive winter carp fishing can be.

Combe Martin SAC’s Christmas Rover was won by David Brooke with a bass of 5lb 13oz. Kevin Legge was runner up with a smoothound of 6lb 15oz and myself third with a bull huss of 6lb 3oz. Members caught dogfish, spurdog and conger.

Michael Hammett secured top spot in Appledore Shipbuilders monthly Rover with a bull huss of 9lb 9.5oz. Josh Atkinson was second with a huss of 8lb 3oz and Chris Slade third with a huss of 8lb 2oz.

North Devon Match Group fished their latest Match at Stafford Moor where members combatted challenging conditions with strong winds and heavy rain. Paul Morris won the Willow Lake section with 89lb 7oz with Warren Thornton runner up with 69lb 7oz. Tom Downing won the Oak lake section with 62lb 10oz with Dave Wood taking runner up spot with 55lb 2oz.

 

South Molton Angling Club fished their latest Mac Trophy Competition at Bulldog Fishery where Edward Rands was first to bag up with six fish by 9:30am including the biggest fish for the day a fine brown trout of 4lb 8oz. Breakfast was served up at 10:00am by which time some members had already enjoyed excellent sport.

 

 

1 Dec 2025

A Danglers Diary – November 2025

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November can be a great month for angling full of opportunity. But as is often the case these days I struggle to get out to the waters edge as often as I would like.

Late afternoon flooding tide.

Mullet fishing in late Autumn and at night would once have been unthinkable.

Not that mullet always take the bait.

A big Spring tide and a full moon casts its light across Lynmouth Bay. Its sights like these that make it worth getting out there.

Out with Kevin and the big rods… dogfish, small conger and hopefully one of those nights something better…

An afternoon on the rocks where once there were cod…..

A trout competition at Bulldog Fishery to end the month….

BULLDOG FISHERIES – NOVEMBER COMPETITION

 

7 Aug 2025

Weekly ANGLING REPORT – August 7th 20205

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Stunning Carp Brace

Shaun Thorne tempted a stunning brace of carp from Lower Tamar lake including a stunning common carp of 32lb 12oz and a mirror carp of 25lb 2oz. The lake on the Devon Cornish Border holds a stock of stunning specimen fish including carp, bream, roach, tench, perch and eels.

Carp sport

Carp anglers are enjoying sport across the regions lakes with Hacche Lane producing several thirty pound plus specimens. At Stafford Moor Owen Thrumble fished four nights on Beattie’s Lake to bank forty carp to 30lb 5oz. Adam Atkins banked sixteen carp to 35lb 7oz.

Bass Fishing

Bass anglers continue to enjoy good sport with lure tactics from both boat and shore.  I took a good friend to a local shore mark recently and despite lots of weed in the water and a brisk wind we managed a fish each. I was delighted to introduce him to the excitement of bass fishing in shallow water and enjoyed his success as much as my own.

Rivers

High water temperatures are still a concern for river anglers across the region. Barnstaple and District Angling Association have extended their advice to members requesting a refrain from fishing until water temperatures drop below 20 degrees. Abundant algae is also causing concern as it clogs the river bed and reduces oxygen levels.

Match Fishing

Stafford Moor continues to produce excellent bags of fish for match anglers. Scott Puddy won the mid-week open match at the venue with 274lb 3oz and Rich Yeo won last weekends match with 250lb 1oz.

Sea Angling 

Bideford Angling Clubs Monthly sea rover was dominated by smoothound with Richard Jefferies heading the field with a specimen of 11lb 9oz. Tony Gussin was runner up with a hound of 10lb 10oz and Dale Kiff third with a hound of 10lb 4oz.

Appledore Shipbuilders monthly rover was also dominated by smoothound with Andrew Atkinson taking first and second with hounds of 12lb 4.25oz and 9lb 3.75oz. Third was Michael Hammett with a hound of 8lb 12oz.

Comment

The summer holidays are now upon us and it is to be hoped that some young anglers will take their first steps into a pastime that can provide a lifetime of enjoyment at the water’s edge. The world today is very different to when I started fishing over fifty years ago. Many believe it is the online and gaming  world that has taken many young people away from outdoor pursuits whilst others consider cost to be a major issue. Reflecting upon my own journey as a young angler I would suggest that the main obstacle is the lack of freedom given to young people in an increasingly protective society. This is perhaps ironic when the world of social media may well pose more threats to mental well- being than those physical dangers of a life at the water’s edge.

Bideford Angling Club have been running a brilliant series of Summer competitions for junior anglers at their home water. Bailey Bramley won the latest event with 7.840 kilo. Max Chapple was runner up with 6.085 kilo and Leo Davies third with 5.795 kilo. Twenty one young anglers took part in the latest match that has been generously supported by local tackle shops. This Saturday is the last in the series in which close to forty young anglers have taken part over the five events.

28 Jan 2024

Combe Martin SAC AGM and presentation night.

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Kyle Bishop recieves his well deserved Merit award from club secretary Nick Phillips.

Combe Martin SAC held their AGM and presentation night at the White Lion Inn Braunton on Friday January 26th. The club had enjoyed a successful year in 2023 with members registering a good number of specimen fish. The club are introducing a predator award next season for the member registering the best tope, conger, bull huss and spurdog specimen rating total. The winner will receive a megladon sharks tooth for 12 months from club member Daniel Welch.

 

Award winner for 2023 were as follows :-

2023 Trophy Winners

Cod Trophy    Mark Jones.    6lb 12oz

Bass Trophy   David Brooke – 12lb 6oz

Mullet Cup       Kyle Bishop = Thin Lipped grey mullet    5lb 3oz 129%

Conger Cup       Shane Pavio Hook Way – 23lb 7oz

Flatfish Cup       Daniel Welch.  Flounder 1lb 9oz

Shore Shield       Kyle Bishop   tope 61lb 9oz  205%

Medway Cup     Mark Jones  Porbeagle Shark  151% calculated by formula

Ray Shield    Jamie ~Steward small eyed ray – 12lb 13oz

Wrasse Trophy   Daniel Welch   5lb

Burgess Trophy     Charlie Stanway – ballan wrasse 4lb 15.5oz 110%

Scouse Shield     Wayne Thomas  – rockling 15oz

D Kyte Award     Wayne Thomas 4 mullet total 312%

Out Of Limits    Ollie Passmore –  ballan wrasse     5lb 6oz

Ollie Passmore recieves the Out Of Limits trophy for a fine wrasse of 5lb 6oz

 

Thornback Cup     – Mark Jones 13lb 10oz

Specimen League –    Kyle Bishop

Bass                     10lb 6oz      129.688%

Bull Huss                15lb 5oz.     153.125%

Spurdog                13lb 3oz.      132%

Thin Lipped grey mullet. 5lb 3oz.  129.688%

Tope                      61lb 9oz.         205.208%

Ballan wrasse         4lb 15oz.         109.722%

                                           Total – 859.306%

   
Runner up Jamie Steward

small eyed ray 12lb 13oz 128.125 S
tope 37lb 12oz 122.083 S
gilthead bream 4lb 4oz 141.667
thin lipped grey mullet 4lb 14oz 122.875 S
smoothound 13lb 3oz 131.875 S
bull huss 11lb 4oz 112 S
758.625

 

 

Top four boat specimens

Mark Jones –

bass 9lb 1oz 113.281 B
porbeagle 265lb 151.43 B
tope 36lb 90 B
pollock 7lb 4oz 72.5 B
427.211

Club Records 

Kyle Bishop – Skate 13lb 8oz

Shaun Quartly – blue-mouth 6oz

Kyle Bishop – bull huss  15lb 5oz

Daniel Welch – bonito 3lb 15oz (Boat)

Shane Pavio Hook Way – Thresher Shark – 300lb ( Estimated)

 Fish of the season –

Winter 22/23    David Brooke – bull huss 15lb 2oz             151%

Spring 23            Jamie Steward – Gilt head bream  4lb 4oz 141%

Summer  23       Kyle Bishop.   Tope     61lb 9oz.                      205%

Autumn 223–     David Brook.   Bass  12lb 6oz                          154.688%

Merit Award  –    Kyle Bishop outstanding catches throughout the year.

Kyle Bishop with the 61lb 9oz tope that won the best specimen award

The club are also launching an Ilfracombe based species league that will be run in conjunction with keen Ilfracombe anglers

Species competition Format

  1. Most species wins
  2. All fish to photographed with captor and proof of location
  3. Boundaries from lime kiln to Cheyne beach
  4. CMSAC Club members
  5. Comp starts 1st of Feb 2024 until December 31st 2024

Subsequent years will be as per calendar year

  1. Entry for CMSAC members is free as part of membership
  2. Fishing to club rules – 2 rods, four hooks

9 . Prizes upfront

 1st, 2nd , 3rd

Season Ticket for aquarium ( Family TBC)

£25.00 Voucher High Street Tackle

Voucher for local butchers ( TBC)

  1. Catch a Release encouraged

Entries to be sent to Fish Recorder Wayne Thomas or Toby Bassett.

Photos required clearly showing fish, captor and location.

League will be kept updated by Fish Recorder and in addition to individual entries a tally will kept as a club tally as a collective team effort.

Will try and arrange a few pop up species days throughout the year to encourage social interaction with members.

8 Sep 2023

Combe Martin SAC’s Lure Fishing Update

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Reece Woolgar registered this fine bass of 65cm to take a narrow lead in Combe Martin SAC’s Club members lure fishing competition that runs until the end of October.

Present positions are : –

 

Reece Woolgar three bass – 200cm

Mark Jones three bass – 199cm

Shaun Quartly three bass – 188.5cm

Wayne Thomas thee bass – 182.5

25 Jan 2023

Tope and huss to start 2023 –

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Combe Martin SAC member Kyle Bishop has enjoyed some hard earned success during the first month of 2023 tempting tope of 38lb and 34lb along with several Bull Huss to 12lb. The club are holding their AGM and presentation night at the White Lion, Braunton on Saturday 28th January. New members are welcome so please come along and suport the club.