Andrew Atkinson landed the biggest spurdog of the day at 15lb 6oz when Appledore Shipbuilders fished on John Barbeary’s Bluefin off Ilfracombe. The spurdog packs are still present in good numbers providing welcome sport.
Appledore Shipbuilders – Easter Competition
Andrew Atkinson won Appledore Shipbuilders Easter Competition fished at Appledore Rocks in the lower estuary with a flounder scaling 1lb 41/2oz.
Stafford Moor – Sunday Open – Double Ton
Stafford Moors Open match on Tanners and Woodpecker lakes, had a continental pay out . The day commenced with glorious sunshine and then bitter cold and cloudy in the afternoon Despite this lakes fished well especially Woodpecker !!!! A big well done to Phil Hardwick who bagged a fabulous weight of 255lb 6oz from peg 17 on Woodpecker fishing 8mm pellet fishing the Pole up the edge.
2nd place was: Martin Heard (Mosella) peg 11 Tanners with 124lb 4oz
3rd place was : Mark Layzelle peg 11 on Woodpecker with 190lb 4oz
4th place was : Tim Hagg peg 20 on Tanner with 91lb
5th place was :Paul Morris peg 1 on Woodpecker with 139lb
6th place was: Boz Phillips peg 25 on Tanner with 86lb 14oz
Our silvers winner of the day was Peter Randall with 31lb 8oz from peg 34 on Tanners
Spring Ray dominate Rover
James Thomas won Combe Martin Sea Angling Clubs Spring Rover with a specimen small eyed ray weighing 11lb 13oz. James father Wayne Thomas took second and third places with a small eyed ray scaling 9lb 10oz and blonde ray of 14lb 2oz. The fish were all caught off Minehead aboard Steve Webber’s boat Osprey. The clubs party landed around 25 ray, small eyed, thornback and blonde ray. They also landed smoothound, bull huss and dogfish.
Shore anglers in the competition landed several quality fish the best and fourth place in the competition went to Daniel Welch who landed a small ray of 9lb 5oz. This bodes well for the clubs open competition at Putsborough beach next month.
Bideford – Monthly Coarse Match
Bideford And District Angling Clubs monthly competition saw 14 anglers compete at Tarka Swims, where they were reminded that we are still in early spring by the cool breeze, despite this some large fish were prepared to feed. Pete Slade landed a common carp of nearly 15lb, after an arm aching battle of well over an hour ,this secured victory. Most fish fell to pole fished maggot. John Lisle still leads the league with 70 points Steve Bailey 2nd on 58 April monthly comp
Tarka Swims
1st Pete Slade 14lb 13oz
2nd Steve Bailey 12lb 6oz
3rd John Lovell 12lb 3oz
4th Stuart Bailey 11lb 15oz
Where to for carp? Stafford Moor a pretty good bet!
(Above)Richard James and Jason Norris who had 16 fish out between them up to 28lb from the inlet swim on Beattie’s lake this week fishing with mainline cell and squid Boilies.
(Above) Jack Griffiths who had this 26lb 2oz mirror from the 2nd swim on the dam wall up on lodge lake using Mainline cell & Sticky Baits Manilla boilies.
(Above) The ‘carp busters’ fished the summerhouse swim On Beattie’s lake . They had 17 fish between them up to 21lb 6oz using good old Mainline cell boilies.
Specimen Small eyed ray for young Ollie Laird
Young Ollie Laird landed a fine specimen small eyed ray of 11lb 10oz whilst fishing on Steve Webbers boat Osprey off Minehead. Bagged on his 12-20lb Ugly stick & Abu seven that he won last year for a fish also boated on board Osprey.
Superb Carp catches from Stafford Moor
Stafford Moor is in fine carp form with stream of reports coming to North Devon Angling News below is a collection of images showing off some superb catches of carp.
(Above) Nik Slater fished Stafford Moor to land four quality carp to 16lb.
(Above) Brandon King who is only 13 years old and came fishing to Stafford Moor with dad Barry. They fished on the dam wall on Beatties lake and had 4 fish out , Brandon caught a 23lb mirror (below) using good old cell boilies and squid supreme bait smoke.
(Above)Craig Lacey who had 7 fish out up to 22lb 10oz using jungle squabs. Craig had 2 fish form the back bays , 3 on the inlet and 2 from the dam wall all on Beattie’s lake.
(Above)Matt Luscombe who had 12 fish out in 24 hours up on the spit on lodge lake fishing cell boilies and Sticky Manilla.
(Above) Lee Mccrum with this stunning 24lb common form Beattie’s lake today on the dam wall, caught on cell boilies.
News from Nick Hart at Exe Valley
Catch & Release to continue at Exe Valley Fishery
Although I had been meaning to add a catch report during March it is quite poignant to be writing one up now as this weekend heralds a two month period since Catch & Release options were introduced here at Exe Valley Fishery.
Catch & Release News
I am happy to report that the initial trial has been a resounding success with twenty percent of anglers choosing to opt for Catch & Release only while many others have completed their limits prior to enjoying an enjoyable sporting session rather than leaving the fishery prematurely.
Catch & Release options will continue for the foreseeable future until such time that water temperatures become too high. Please check the website and facebook for details or call 01398 323008, although I anticipate that the options should be available until June 2017 at least. We are the only small stillwater fishery in the area offering such a range of flexible fishing permits and now that spring is in the air you can expect some fantastic imitative sport … especially as there are a few wise Trout in Anchor Lake now.
Top Sport … and some of it is top of the water!
Over the last few weeks 228 anglers have enjoyed some great sport landing 893 Trout for a very healthy average of 3.9 fish per angler. Top flies have been Damsels, especially the Blue Flash variety and Buzzers under a bung are also very successful. But as the water begins to warm and the longer days are upon us don’t be afraid to try a straightforward dry fly such as a CDC Owl. Andrew Berwick, who started fly fishing late last year, did just that and was rewarded with his first ever surface caught Trout.
Looking back through the returns as usual we have witnessed some great catches including Perry Bamonte with a 5 fish bag at 17lb plus another 5 fish released, the second time he has achieved this in as many weeks. Matt Hunt has become a regular, travelling from Torquay to fish with us having heard that C&R fishing is now available. Fishing with his pal Mr Morgan they consistently catch 15 – 20 fish between them during weekly sessions since the new options were introduced back in February.
Nick Billet from Wellington said “Great day, many thanks will be back” after his first visit, completing a limit of 8 with his 4 fish taken tipping the scales at 14lb. Buzzers under an indicator proved to be the successful tactic which also worked for Nicks mate Shaun Rowden, also landing 8 fish.
News of the changes have spread across the West Country and Peter Philips from Plymouth was another first time visitor who had a best Trout of 5lb 8oz in a bag of 4, with one safely released. He commented “Great Fishery – lovely setting, nice condition & variety of size of fish, easy back casting – will certainly be back!”
Mr Metcalfe all the way from Wales was rewarded for his journey today in the form of this 11lb Rainbow.
Big Porbeagle on Reel Deal!
Dan Hawkins Charter Boat Reel Deal has arrived in Ilfracombe for the summer season and has got off to a flying start once again targetting the big porbeagle that hunt the waters off the North Cornish coast. On Thursday April 6th Mark Watts hooked a huge porbeagle estimated at 350lb and successfully brought the fish to the side of the boat where it was carefully released. The fish was tempted using Ammo mackerel and chum on a 10/0 owner hook.
More pictures and further details on this capture to follow later!
