6 Jul 2017

More on the record catfish from Anglers Paradise.

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Anglers Paradise is undoubtedly North Devon’s premier venue for big catfish with numerous specimens caught every year over fifty pounds.

Zyg Gregorek sent me this report today that follows on from my initial report on the new complex record. This fish being born and bred in the UK should undoubtedly qualify as a UK record.

The record for Wels Catfish was discontinued in 1990 because the Record Committee believed monster fish were smuggled in from the continent at over 60lbs (but Carp were and still are)
I had official permission to stock Wels Catfish from MAFF (this was after 4 years of trying) and bought the Catfish from Neville Fickling in 1994. They were small Catfish born and bred or rather spawned in this country, the biggest about 10 inches, well under 1 lb. Over the years the Cats grew 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 etc but I was not going to claim a record until we had an 80lb plus.
As I said to them, as I have done everything by the book the Record Committee should recognize the fish. The captor was Dion Cook-Martin one of my employees who is “over the moon” about it. If I hadn’t told him to go in the water and untangle the line from around the bushes the fish would not have been landed.
It’s great for the South West and Devon to have produced a record fish.

Anglers Paradise(Above)Previous complex record catfish of 74lb 2oz.

 

3 Jul 2017

Sea Angling Results

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APPLEDORE SHIPBUILDERS

Paul Downing won Appledore Shipbuilders monthly Rover with a  fine undulate ray scaling 11lb 121/8oz.

Graham Snow took second and third with thin lipped grey mullet scaling 3lb 145/8oz and 2lb 143/8oz

The junior prize was won by Jack Pike with a smoothound of 6lb 121/2oz.

Appledore Shipbuilders annual away trip fishing for the Gordon Harrower Trophy was held on Plymouth Breakwater where the fishing proved more challenging than expected. James Atkinson secured top spot with a thick lipped grey mullet scaling 3lb 8oz. Runner up was Chris Slade with a conger of 15lb 8oz and third Michael Hammett with a dogfish of 2lb 61/2oz.

Dan Redmore took first in Bideford’s monthly Rover with a plaice of 3lb 6oz. In runner up spot was Paul Downing with an undulate ray of 11lb 121/8oz and Graham Snow was third with a thin-lipped mullet of 3lb 145/8oz and third was Andrew Clements with a grey mullet of 3lb 6oz. Forth went to Graham Snow with a mullet of 2lb 143/4oz and fifth to Steven Found with a mullet of 2lb 61/4oz.

 

COMBE MARTIN SAC’s Fish of the month competition was won by Dan Spearman with a smoothound scaling 12lb 14oz. Runner up was Ollie Passmore with a hound of 12lb 6oz and James Hunter third with a thin lipped mullet of 4lb 1oz.

3 Jul 2017

Huge Catfish is Paradise complex best!

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The latest news from Zenia at Anglers Paradise.

FROM BABIES TO THIS…A NEW COMPLEX CATFISH RECORD HAS BEEN CAUGHT, AND IT’S MASSIVE!!!

Huge Congratulations to our Estate Team Member Dion Cooke-Martin, 38 who has caught the Biggest Ever Complex Cat Record at a whopping 82lbs from the Main Carp Lake!!

Dion caught the Monster Wels Catfish using a 6ft Stalking Rod, size 6 barbless hook on a basic hair rig, with a Single Paradise Baits ‘The Twist’ Boilie fishing just off the island nearest the Boat House.

Dion caught the beast during the 5C’s Syndicate Match which he won too!

We are very proud that we have bred these fish from babies to THIS!! We stocked the Cats 20 years ago and introduced them to Anglers Paradise as Kittens the size of your finger which are now as big as this 82lb Cat – That’s some growing!!

WELL DONE DION – WHAT A MASSIVE FISH AND ANGLING ACHIEVEMENT!!! ANOTHER NEW CAT RECORD WITHIN WEEKS!!

Anglers Paradise
2 Jul 2017

Big Sea Trout and several salmon on the Torridge

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On the river Torridge sea trout specialist Martin Weeks landed a fine sea trout of 10lb and lost a far bigger fish when the hook pulled free after the fish tried to empty his reel of line. Dr Jonathon Compson landed five sea trout averaging 1lb 8oz from an upper river beat and Paul Carter landed a 4lb grilse from a middle river beat. Graham Roberts also landed a grilse of 4lb and Adam Baron caught a 10lb salmon and a 3lb sea trout.

I fished a Middle Torridge beat and whilst I failed to tempt a salmon or sea trout I did manage to catch a beautiful brown trout of around 1lb. Unfortunately the picture suffered from some incompetence from me!

2 Jul 2017

North Devon Match Group Summer league

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No 3 Upper Tamar Devon Bank.

1st Neilsen Jeffery 30lb 9oz

2nd Martin Turner 27lb 12oz

3rd Christopher Morris 23lb 13oz

4th Paul Ware  21lb 12oz

5th Paul Elworthy 20lb 11oz


Neilsen fished a 5mt whip , near the bench peg on the Devon arm, with groundbait and caster, Martin caught a mainly roach net shallow on hemp. Chris fished a top kit to hand for 3rd and Paul’s 4th place was a feeder caught net of bream.

1 Jul 2017

Big Bass on a Lure

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Combe Martin SAC member Dan Spearman landed this fine lure caught bass weighing 11lb to set a new personal best. The lure was a Savage Gear 3-D Mullet. The fish was returned carefully to water. Dan also lost another large fish during the session.

From today  (July 1st) anglers are allowed to retain one bass per day for the table. I would suggest that all bass over 8lb are returned alive with bass between 3lb and 6lb making the best fish for the table. Many anglers will I am sure continue to practice catch and release for much of their fishing.

30 Jun 2017

Taw Salmon Brace

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Taw regular Ian Blewett landed a fine brace of salmon from a Middle Taw beat. The fish both carefully released were estimated at 11lb and 8lb and were tempted on a home tied size 10 gold cascade.

Several large sea trout have been hooked including a massive fish that was played for over ten minutes before it headed back down river towards the sea and parted company with the unlucky angler.