Sea angling sport really seems to be taking off at the moment with a wide range of species being caught by anglers along the coast from both boat and shore. Shore anglers are enjoying some exceptional sport with smoothound and even a few early tope. Float-fishing is producing garfish and the occasional mackerel from marks in the Ilfracombe area along with some quality pollock. Several bass have been tempted by lure anglers who are relishing the clear water opportunities. Thin Lipped grey mullet are present in the estuary’s.
(Above)Cameron Atkinson enjoyed a great day afloat on a Private boat catching plenty of small bass and some decent pollock with the best one falling to Cameron weighing 7lb to set a new personal best for the species.
Six members of Combe Martin SAC enjoyed a boat trip off Minehead on board Osprey Skippered by Steve Webber. The day started off with a cool North East breeze that made for an uncomfortable lop on the water. Despite this fish came steadily to the boat all day with smoothound the dominant species at our first mark in Porlock Bay. The biggest of the hounds was a low double. A range of baits worked for the hounds with crab, prawn and squid all tempting these hard fighting members of the shark family.
As is always the case banter flowed freely throughout the day that kept spirits up when heavy rain fell for a short while and grey skies shrouded the hills. John Shapland boated a fine huss of 11lb 8oz. (Below)
After a couple of hours targetting the hounds Steve suggested a move to the sandbanks to try for a few ray.
It wasn’t long at our new mark before we found a few ray with small- eyed ray, thornback and spotted ray finding our baits.
(Below)The best specimen of the day turned out to be a fine small eyed ray that gave a spirited tussle before reaching the net that was expertly wielded by Skipper Steve Webber,
As the tide flooded we made a couple more moves before anchoring off Dunster to try for the hounds again. The hounds here in the murkier water were very light in colour and whilst not so numerous appeared to be a slightly bigger stamp of fish.
As the day started to drift towards its conclusion the sun eventually started to break through and enable us to peel off some of the layers. Nick and his son Jack were not up until now enjoying good sport and seemed to have a knack of finding the dogfish that punctuated every ones day as always. Fortunately persistence eventually paid off and something bigger nailed Nick’s bluey hook-bait.
After several minutes of tension there was some disappointment when the hard fighting fish turned out to be conger of perhaps 10lb.
Everyone on the boat by now really wanted Jack to catch a decent fish and Steve baited Jack’s hook with a generously donated helping of peeler crab. After a few minutes Jacks rod was bouncing on the gunnels and at last Jack enjoyed a bending rod as a hound fought strongly before reaching the boat.
Shortly after this it was time to head back to Minehead with its tourists crabbing down the harbour wall and devouring ice creams in the hot sun. We couldn’t help but wish it had been this calm and still all day. We ended the day with a flourish as several hounds came to the boat with John Shapland having an uncanny knack of finding the hounds.
I set out on my first lure fishing session of the summer with Jeff Pearce and took him to a remote rock mark that has been kind to me in the past. I was pleased to see that the water clarity was excellent as we looked down into the bay whilst we strolled down the cliff path. We had timed our visit to coincide with low water and I knew that by the time we arrived at the far end of the bay the tide would be starting to creep in. Lure fishing sessions are generally determined by tide, light and water clarity.
By the time we reached our starting point we were both perspiring from the effort of rock hopping. Jeff was probably wondering if the effort was worth it. I clipped on my favourite shallow hard plastic lure and hopped onto a boulder. I flicked the lure thirty yards or so out and commenced an erratic retrieve. The water clarity was excellent and with my Polaroids removing glare from the water I could watch the lure as I worked it back to the waters edge. On the third cast a dark shape materialized behind the lure. The fish closed on the lure and I kept up a steady retrieve giving the lure a twitch before running out of water. Lure and bass converged, the rod hooped over as I watched the drama unfold at the end of my line. It is magical moments like this that feed the addiction of lure fishing. That moment of electrifying contact especially when its all clearly visible.
Success so early in the session was just what we wanted and ensured that each cast was made with optimism and belief an essential ingredient in any form of angling. Jeff was into a small pollock a few casts later that that further buoyed our optimism. Half an hour later I once again felt that thrilling jolt down the line as a fish hit the lure but this time the hooks failed to take a hold. Next cast into the same spot and bang! Another bass was gyrating on the line. A similar size to the first fish that I estimated as close to 4lb.
As the tide crept in we decided to make our way back along the bay. Sadly huge rafts of weed had drifted close to the shore and rendered a large portion of the bay difficult to fish. We finished the session fishing an area of the bay that I have found seldom brings any success but with a setting sun and a couple of fish under the belt we were not complaining.
My favourite ground for lure fishing for bass is shallow and boulder strewn. Bass will swim into water barely deep enough to cover their backs and in this terrain they do not have long to inspect the lure. There are thousands of lures to choose from and lure choice is important and needs to suit the conditions so give a little thought as to what you think will work. Confidence in the lure is vitally important and this factor probably influences what is successful. I carry a handful of lures in my Snowbee sling-bag and only use one or two for 90% of my fishing. This doesn’t stop me being tempted when I visit the tackle shop where I suspect the lures catch more anglers than fish.
(Above) A fine selection of lures in Ilfracombe’s High Street Tackle
Fished A North Devon surf beach early hours this morning. Smashed my pb hound! Poor quality pictures as I was on a solo mission and had to strap my phone to my seat box! a couple doubles landed along with dogfish and this beauty weighing 21lb! Caught on spider crab and squid. I actually missed a couple good runs whilst dealing with dogfish so decided to fish with my reels in gear, this paid off as the fish hooked its self in the corner of the mouth, all be it nearly ripping my rod out the rest
Rob Harris has landed a huge shore caught smoothound of 21lb 1/2oz to set a new Club record for Bideford Angling Club. The was an easy winner in the clubs 24 hour rover that was dominated by smoothound. The above pictures are not the best but they do give a good indication of the proportions of this very special fish. It has been an unprecedented start to the season with the potential for more outsize specimens over the coming months.
1st – Rob Harris smoothound 21lb 1/2oz
2nd – Lee Watts – smoothound 12lb 71/2oz
3rd – Andrew Clements Smoothound 11lb 73/4oz
All the smoothound were released alive after weighing and photographing.
Cameron Atkinson and his boat partners caught around 30 hounds between them with the biggest falling to Cameron a new personal best weighing 16lb 12oz. I have also recieved a report of a huge shore caught hound that I hope to report on later this evening.
Dan Welch enjoyed a Cracking day out on his private boat catching loads of fish, pollack, Huss, smoothies, and ray. Had a couple crackers as well a Blonde ray 15lb 6oz and a smoothie of 14lb 3oz.
SEA FISHING – The fishing at Combe Martin is varied and excellent; and not the least delightful aspect is the opportunity afforded the visitor of seeing from a new angle the magnificent cliffs. Motor boats and rowing boats are available in good weather at any state of the tide: though it is sound policy to listen to the expert advice of the local boatmen as to the most suitable conditions and the most profitable fishing hours. With the constantly varying tides of this channel they are perfectly familiar; and their favourite fishing marks are productive of good sport.
Bass, pollock, pouting (locally called “glowers”) wrasse,codling, tope, conger, grey mullet, plaice, dabs, and mackerel are taken in spring and summer.
The herring season is from mid-September to Christmas. Cod, large conger, skate, ray and dogfish are caught in winter. bearded rockling and whiting also occur: sea-bream has been scarce of late years and hake has not been obtained for several years past. A weever was caught off Ilfracombe in 1932 and a sturgeon near Clovelly. Sunfish are sometimes seen resting on the surface. Small sharks, seals and porpoises come up the Bristol Channel at times. Lobsters, crabs and prawns may be added to the list. Squids are fairly plentiful.
A conger of over eighty pounds was caught about 1880. Two halibut were taken on “long lines” one night in early December, December 1919, one weighed 60lb., the other about 16lbs. This is the only occasion remembered for halibut locally. A bottle nosed shark sixfeet long and about three hundred weight, was caught in herring nets, November 1931. A skate (“rooker”), five feet across and weighing one hundred weight, was caught on December 2nd 1931. An angler fish was taken some years ago and a strange fish, possibly another angler, was washed ashore dead on February 7th 1933.
FLY FISHING – Fly Fishing may be had at Hunters Inn. Tickets being obtainable at the hotel; and on Slade Reservoir. Ilfracombe’ permits being issued at the Municipal Offices, Ilfracombe. Good fishing is also available on the East Lyn, the Barle and the Bray. For fishing on the Exmoor Reservoir apply at the Ring Of Bells Inn, Challacombe.
Perhaps if we had taken good care of our fish stocks we would no longer need to go to Norway to catch a halibut!
Whilst having a tidy up I came across an old holiday guide to Combe Martin. The back cover advert below gives a fascinating glimpse of the past. Reading through sections of this book brings thoughts as to what we have lost in the seas off North Devon. I was born in Combe Martin and can see see glimpses of my youth within the pages of this old guide within which I can frustratingly find no publication date. My guess is that it is early 1950;s. It is a sad reflection that the waters off our coast once held fish that we now travel to far off shores to catch.
There is of course much that has not changed along the majestic North Devon Coast and for this we should ensure that we pause to savour what remains and reflect upon change and what the future holds.
COMBE MARTIN (Scene of Marie Corelli’ s Mighty Atom)
For SUNSHINE and HEALTH and the Ideal Sea Side- Country Holiday.
UNRIVALLED MILD WINTER CLIMATE
Express Train 51/2 hours London – Ilfracombe, thence Motor coach connection (20 Minutes) Direct Booking.
Jack Pike boated this stunning smoothound of 18lb. Its been a great start to the smoothound season so far with plenty of double figure fish from both boat and shore.
The best specimen of the day turned out to be a fine small eyed ray that gave a spirited tussle before reaching the net that was expertly wielded by Skipper Steve Webber,
