Smoothound are still providing some rod bending action along the coast. Paul Hutchings landed six including two over 10lb in a short after work session this week.
Braunton Bait Trip to Foreign Shores
Craig McCloughlin runs Braunton Baits and has just posted this report.
Just got back from another Braunton Bait Box / FishTrek stingray trip abroad.
This trip wasn’t to disappoint!! We managed a lot of different species and a lot of personal best’s broken several times over
Between us we landed
Eagle ray to 25lb +
Butterfly ray to 80lb+
Stingray ray to 170lb
Smooth hound to 21lb 10oz
Hammer head shark
Benito
Lizard fish
And Rikki having the fish of the holiday with an estimated weight of 170lb
and whats even better – all the rods I built stood up to the battle
If Anyone is interested in a trip abroad please get in touch
Combe Martin SAC Winter Rover
Dan Welch secured victory in Combe Martin SAC’s Winter Rover landing a specimen spurdog of 12lb 3oz ( Above)
In runner up spot was Matt Jeffery with a specimen bull huss of 10lb 13oz(Below). Matt also took third place with a spurdog of 8lb 4oz.
Several conger were also landed to 15lb along with rockling and dogfish.
The end of competition meeting was held at Cook Island and proved to be a great venue with friendly banter and in depth discussion on the weekends fishing and tactics.
COMBE MARTIN SAC LYN FISH CHARITY MATCH
Spring ray and early Smoothound – Sea Angling News
Kevin Pike won Appledore Shipbuilders monthly Rover with a smoothound scaling 8lb 11/2oz. In runner up spot was David Barnes with a smoothound weighing 6lb 41/2oz. The arrival of smoothound close to a month before expected is encouraging news and bodes well for the coming months. Jack Pike dominated the junior section with a rockling of 15oz and a codling of 3lb 4oz.
Phil Vanstone won Bideford Angling Clubs Monthly Sea Rover with a thornback ray of 9lb 2oz. In runner up spot was Andy Clements with a thornback of 6lb 151/2oz and third Dick Talbot with a thornback of 6lb 12oz.
Combe Martin SAC Member Kevin Legge fished an Upper Channel mark to land four thornback ray to 10lb 8oz.
(Above) Kevin Legge with a brace of thornback
Rob Scoines won the clubs fish of the month competition with a boat caught conger of 38lb. Runner up was Graham Snow with a grey mullet of 4lb 131/2oz.
(Above) Left Rob Scoines with his CMSAC Fish of the month
Larry Lambell celebrated his 70th birthday by chartering John Barbeary’s boat Bluefin and invited fellow anglers to compete for the Blue Fin Trophy. Tony Reeves won the trophy catching the most species on the day. Larry won the sweep for heaviest fish and best specimen with a fine spurdog of 14lb.
SEA FISHING PROSPECTS
Whilst we need a good stir up conditions are favorable for getting out there and trying for a fish or two during what is historically one of the best months of the year for shore fishing. Ilfracombe Pier is producing a bit of variety as Ross Stanway discovered when he enjoyed a short session landing, whiting, codling, gurnard and dab. Several decent pollock have also been tempted from marks along the coast with several over 2lb.
Big baits fished off deep rock marks should bring results with conger, huss, ray and possibly tope.
Boat anglers are enjoying sport up channel with the first spurdog of the winter season along with qaulity cod, conger and ray. I am sure anglers will soon be catching these ferocious predators from John Barbearys ‘Bluefin’ off Ilfracombe.
