Sea Anglers are catching some good fish from the North Devon shore line with huss, spurdog and conger amongst catches.
Prospects for the coming month are excellent if the Westerly winds persist.
Combe Martin SAC member Ross Stanway enjoyed a session at a local shore mark to land several ray including three small eyed ray of 8lb 8oz and a brace of spotted ray.
Bideford Angling Club Monthly Sea Rover
January Rover results
9 angler’s fished
1 fished weighed
1st Stephen Found Dog 2lb 3 1/2oz
Jim Dean banked two carp out up to 29lb 2oz from swim 2 up on lodge lake, Jim caught on CC Moore live system and washed out pink carp freaks pop ups.
The South West’s Premier Trout Fishery opens on February 1st. Fly Fishing enthusiasts across the South West will be delighted to get back to fishing this water after a drought hit 2022.
When I started fishing from the North Devon Coast close to fifty years ago access to the coast was not a major issue with many marks freely accessible. During the 1980’s and onwards issues started to arise as the numbers of anglers fishing increased with many travelling long distances to fish the marks. Sadly, some of the anglers showed little respect for private property and sometimes left litter and in some cases broke down fences to gain access.
During recent years some marks have been operated on a permit only basis with an annual fee charged to allow access to private land to fish. Permits are generally obtained by local anglers who tend to respect the owners and their property accepting that times have changed and that to gain access to fish a charge is perhaps the new normal.
These access issues have perhaps been highligted further since COVID and lockdowns increased coastal visits by the general public.
In some cases certain areas have been closed to angling to ensure maximum potential use of the venue for commercial purposes. There are concerns that anglers breaking the rules regarding access to closed areas could jeopardise access to wider areas.
I hope that those reading this will know of the areas and appreciate the issues. It would be sad if those who have invested in permits and follow the rules are denied access to several prime marks due to anglers fishing a couple of marks that have been closed off. Once access is lost it is seldom regained.
Respect of private property is essential if anglers wish to maintain access to the coast.
Some areas of South Devon have become virtual no go areas as a result of anti social behaviour by a minority it is to be hoped this does not happen in North Devon.
Combe Martin SAC member Jamie Steward banked a fine brace of specimen bull huss scaling 11lb 4oz and 11lb 13oz.
Additional Pike Fishing Rules (all of the above apply also).
Combe Martin Sea Angling Clubs Get some Fresh Air Festive Fish saw members fish marks across North Devon with a wide variety of species registered. Whilst no 100% plus species were caught several good fish were registered. Species caught included rockling, dogfish, spotted ray, small eyed ray, conger, thick lipped grey mullet, Bull Huss, pollock, spurdog and tope.
Results : –
1st Wayne Thomas – Thick lipped grey mullet 4lb 2oz 97.059%
2nd Kevin Legge – Conger – 18lb 90%
3rd Kevin Legge – Tope – 26lb 14oz – 89.583%
4th John Avery – Thick Lipped grey mullet – 83.824%
5th – Daniel Welch – dogfish – 2lb 7oz – 81.250%
6th – Kevin Legge – Spurdog – 7lb 14oz – 78.750%
7th – Ross Stanway – Bull Huss – 7lb 13oz – 78.125%
8th – Wayne Thomas – Thick Lipped Grey Mullet 3lb 2oz – 73.529%
9th – Jonathon Stanway – conger – 13lb 11oz – 68.437%
