Sea Rover Results

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Andrew Atkinson won Appledore Shipbuilders monthly Sea Rover with a club record rockling of 2lb. Runner up was Josh Atkinson with a bull huss of 10lb 15.25oz and third Andrew Atkinson with a bull huss of 8lb 12oz.

Stephen Found won Bideford Angling Clubs monthly rover with a thornback ray of 8lb 13oz. Andrew Clements was second and third with a bass of 6lb and a conger of 17lb 1oz.

Big Bass wins Bideford Competition

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Jon Stevens won Bideford Angling Clubs forty-eight hour rover with a fine specimen bass scaling 11lb 1oz. Stephen Found was second and third with smoothound of 13lb 11oz and 13lb 8oz.

Jon kindly sent me this account of his successful evening on a local storm beach.
The session started with a stunning Autumn sunset!
The following 3 hours were very slow, without a single bite registered.  
However, the next hour saw the only 2 bites of the night, resulting in 2 fine Bass of 11lb 1oz & 8lb 2oz.
The fish fell to whole joey mackerel, presented on a single hook pulley rig just beyond the surf.
Both fish were nicely lip hooked (single circle hooks employed) & were returned to the water swimming off strongly, following a quick weigh in the sling & a photo.

 

SEA ANGLING COMPETITION RESULTS

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 Andrew Clements won Bideford Anglings Clubs August Rover with a specimen thick lipped grey mullet of 4lb 6oz. Dale Kiff was runner up with a bass of 5lb 4oz. Jenson Kiff was third with a smoothound of 7lb 6oz and Graham Snow forth with a thin lipped grey mullet of 2lb 14.5oz.

       Josh Atkinson was first and second and third in Appledore Shipbuilders sea rover with black bream of 2lb 4.25oz and 2lb3.5oz. A ballan wrasse of 4lb 12.25oz completing his domination of the scoreboard.

COMBE MARTIN SAC – SUMMER UPDATE 2024

Its half way through the year; a good time to put out an update on club events. What’s happened and what is planned for the rest of the year.

I think its fair to say that many sea angling clubs are going through a difficult time. Times are changing and it seems that COVID had a lasting impact on the angling scene and perhaps society as a whole.

Combe Martin SAC are one of the longest standing sea angling clubs in North Devon established back in 1962. At the end of last year our membership was around forty, Nick will give details in his update.

At the start of the year in February the club launched a species league to encourage participation in the Ilfracombe area and a sector of the club that offers a bit of fun and community. The club has a serious side with a dedicated band of  successful anglers chasing the big specimens. Whilst we need to cater for the hardcore angler we also need to encourage new blood and perhaps cater for the older generation who can no longer hop around on the rocks like mountain goats.

Thanks must go to Toby Bassett whose energy and passion has invigorated a new section of the club. Amazingly club members have caught 32 species from the pier since February 1st. At present Toby Bassett is leading the league with 29 species. Runners up are Ross Stanway and Dan Welch with  23 species each. Solly Welch is third with 14 species and Lenny Lake forth with 13 species. Paul Lorrimore and Gary Prout fifth on 12 species and Ted Childs sixth on 10.

         Apologies if I have made any errors I would ask all members of the group to list their species with their images.

         The league is sponsored by several local business including High Street Tackle, Turton’s Butchers, Ilfracombe Aquarium and numerous others. I will organise a get together with Toby to formulate things a bit more. We try and have a pop up fishing event each month alternating between Sunday mornings and Thursday evenings. The first few have attracted a good number of members. The last one clashed with a strong wind and summer business. I did manage a mackerel and a few blennies. The Autumn months should see a surge in species and it would be good if club members can get past fifty species.  The tally so far below! This is quite an achievement and it is fascinating what can be caught with some anglers dropping down to size 20 hooks to tempt the mini species.

Club Species total

Common Shanny
Rock Goby
Pouting
Whiting
Conger
dogfish
ballan wrasse
plaice
pollock
shore rockling
tompot blenny
scorpion fish
poor cod
dab
cling fish
small eyed ray
thick lipped grey mullet
3 B Rockling
corkwing wrasse
bass
spotted ray
bull huss
spurdog
garfish
Leapord goby
Anchovy
top knot
montagu’s blenny
dragonette
Pilchard
turbot
grey gurnard

The clubs specimen fishing has been good with  the clubs dedicated anglers catching some superb fish. Kyle Bishop seems to be in a league of his own recording 15 specimens so far this year. Including spurdog to 15lb 3oz, cod of 18lb 5oz, tope of 36lb 15oz, bull huss 10lb 5oz, smoothound 13lb 4oz and blonde ray 10lb 3oz.  Fish of the winter was Kyles cod of 18lb 5oz a specimen rating of 152.6%. Fish of the Spring was Kevin Legge’s conger of 26lb 9oz. Leading the summer so far is Ollie Passmore with a stunning gilt head bream of 6lb 10oz.

         The clubs competitions were well attended early in the year but have dropped off as the summer approaches. The Putsborough Open attracted thirty anglers from across the West Country and the meet up at the end revealed that it had been an excellent night with most competitors registering fish including smoothound, small eyed ray, blonde ray, bull huss and the inevitable dogfish. Winner was Simon Springell with smoothound of 12lb 2oz. The club would like to thank sponsors of the event Sakuma and Quay Sports. Full results of this competition and all other competitions can be found on North Devon Angling News. https://www.northdevonanglingnews.co.uk/2024/05/19/combe-martin-sac-putsborough-open-2024-3/

         Peter Robinson has done a sterling job in trying to organise club boat trips. Sadly the weather has conspired to cancel a couple. We  did get out in early May with Steve Webber and enjoyed a great day with good numbers of ray brought to the boat.

https://www.northdevonanglingnews.co.uk/2024/05/16/out-of-minehead-ray-and-hounds-with-cmsac/

         The clubs boat fishing activitys should receive a boost with club member Daniel Welch now operating out of Ilfracombe with is charter boat Predator 2.

We have several events to come throughout the rest of the year. The Ilfracombe Fun and Harbour Species league continues with pop up fishing competitions in July and August along with the Fun Fishing Event on September 1st.

         The clubs bass lure fishing league competition sponsored by High Street Tackle is well underway after a slow start with bass hard to find. The competition is for the best five bass by length. Current leader is Reece Woolgar with three bass for 175.5 cm. Runner up at present is Mark Drewer with two bass for 130.5 cm.

         An Open shore lure fishing competition is being held on July 5th, 6th, 7th. Fishing commences at Midnight. Entry is £10 winner takes all for the longest bass. Book in via club pages and contacts or at High Street Tackle.  Meet up for prize giving at Ilfracombe Pier 6.00pm

         July and August – Summer League best three specimens mixed species. Prize to be announced from local sponsors.

August 10th – Summer Evening Fish
Fishing 6.00pm to 11:30pm £10.00 Entry
– Meet up Ilfracombe Pier Midnight

Very Best wishes to all Club members from myself (Wayne Thomas – Club Chairman) and Nick Phillips Club Secretary)

SECRETARYS COMMENTS

Thank you Wayne for an excellent round up of Club activities so far this year.

Membership does fluctuate slightly year on year but we are at a strong point now with membership already at the forty mark, only halfway through the club’s year.

I do get enquiries on how to join the club and on our website are details of our BACS and don’t forget members can of course leave membership monies and details with Danny at High Street Tackle, Ilfracombe and of course with Craig at The Braunton Bait Box. The website contains our calendar, specimen and minimum size lists and details on up and coming events. An interesting area is the history of the club, which will be updated soon. The website is new to me so bear with me in some areas.

We are still members of The Angling Trust and Wyvern Division and members can benefit from this including the award scheme and knowing that a national body is working to help protect our sport in many ways.

I can only reiterate your thoughts and agree that so far this year club events have exceeded expectations especially the targeting species around Ilfracombe Pier which has generated a great interest. This can only bode well for our Fun Fishing event on the Pier in September. Of course our Putsborough competition went very well back in May, so many thanks to all those involved, especially all at Putsborough.

There are some great events coming up in our calendar with the Lure Fishing Weekend, Lyn Fish Mullet Weekend and of course our Flounder competition in November which of course always creates interest. Don’t forget running through the summer is our Lure Fishing League.

Reed – Providing Vital Protection from the elements for Twenty Five Years

The Reed Storm Jacket on a cold December day back in 2016

Being an all-round angler and fishing throughout the year coping with what the elements throw at me is an important part of my fishing preparation. An adage that is often thrown around is that there is no such thing as bad weather just the wrong clothing. Well there is perhaps some truth in that though generally I prefer a warm sunny day to a cold wet one!

I enjoy my fishing excursions throughout the year and keeping warm and dry undoubtedly makes the experience both more enjoyable and productive. You will not fish well if you are cold wet and miserable.

Playing a hard fighting trout during a heavy downpour

I have worn a vast range of weather proof garments over the past fifty years some good some not so good. Several years ago I was introduced to Reed Chillcheater clothing by my good friend and fellow angler Kevin Legge. Kev extolled the virtues of Reed Chillcheater products and in 2016  I invested in an Aquatherm Fleece Storm Jacket.

North Devon sea angler Kevin Legge embraces the elements in his Reed Storm Jacket

I was immediately impressed by the comfort and resistance to the winter weather the Aquatherm Fleece provided. The inner fleece provides warmth and the outer fabric provides a waterproof barrier.

I also combine the wearing of Transpire Fleece base layers during the colder months and find this ensures I can endure the coldest of days. I occasionally wear the double thickness transpire under top and trousers but generally find that I get too warm unless its static fishing.

The true test of clothing is undoubtedly its endurance overtime and whilst most waterproofs I have used in the past start leaking after a couple of seasons my Aquatherm Fleece Storm Jacket is still doing its job over eight years later.

(Above and Below) Keeping out the chill Arctic air in Norway

After speaking with company owner Chris Reed I put the jacket into the washing machine. It now smells far better and with the slightly fishy aroma removed it still repels the rain. The pockets have ripped and it’s getting a bit jaded but it still keeps out the rain. I will be investing in a new jacket for this coming winter.

At home in both fresh and salt water.

I visited Reed premises a few weeks ago to discuss their ongoing support of North Devon Angling News and enjoyed a tour of the premises. I have been pleased to help promote their excellent products since 2016 when I launched NDANs. The products are manufactured In Braunton by a small team of skilled workers. Reeds have been producing products aimed primarily at the Kayaking, Canoeing and outdoor adventure fraternity for twenty five years. Local anglers have discovered the benefits of Reed products with the clothing stocked at Braunton Bait Box and at Veal’s Mail Order and of course direct from Reeds at Braunton.

 

Chris Reed shows me around their well stocked storeroom

The work place

https://www.veals.co.uk/reed-chillcheater-storm-jacket-trousers-a-review/

Huge Rare Shad from local estuary

         Dan Spearman was spinning for thin lipped mullet and had a shock when a huge allis shad estimated at 5lb seized his baited spinner. The fish gave an exciting account leaping from the water and making several long runs. The fish was landed and carefully returned to the water. The shad is a rare and endangered species and are not to be fished for intentionally.  The population appears to be increasing on the Taw with several reported each year by salmon anglers. The species spawn during late spring and early summer.

Thin lipped grey mullet are moving into the estuaries of the Taw and Torridge providing exciting sport for anglers using baited spinner tactics. Combe Martin SAC member John Shapland caught a fine  specimen thin lip of 4lb 4oz.