The Veals Mail order Team enjoyed a fantastic day Tope fishing out of Ilfracombe with Daniel Hawkins of Reel Deal Charters
Simon Lynch relays that the day started off well with numbers of small Tope around the 20lb mark, along with a few Bullhuss. After a couple of hours Dan decided to up the anchor and move off. He suggested big mackerel baits at the second mark and we were soon rewarded with some lovely Tope around 30lb, it was non stop action all afternoon with double shots on-board. Simon Lynch landed a new personal best of 41lb.
I joined South Molton Angling Members on a trip out off Clovelly aboard Shimano sponsored ‘Independent’ Charters skippered by Doug Walls.
We met at Clovelly at 8:00am all keen to head out for another adventure at sea that commenced with the transfer of anglers and gear from the pebbly foreshore to the waiting boat a hundred or so yards offshore.
All on board and Doug gave an outline of the days plan. We would be venturing past Hartland Point to sample the fishing grounds West of Hartland at the Mouth of the Bristol Channel expectations were high for a variety of species. I have fished these grounds in the past and know full well that they can give excellent sport.
The journey to the mark is an integral part of any day at sea and spirits were high as we rounded Hartland Point race where several porpoises were showing in the surging waters. The cliffs from Clovelly round to Morwenstow are wild and for the most part inaccessible those parts that can be accessed carry a rich vein of history including many a shipwreck.
The first stop was to a reef where we drifted for pollock, mackerel or bass. First into action was Mike Good who swung aboard a pleasing pollock of around 4lb.
(below) Mike Good with a 4lb pollock.
After a few drifts and a few more pollock Doug decided to drop anchor and see if we could entice a few tope, bream or huss. Within minutes of the baits hitting the bottom rods were nodding as a succession of bull huss seized our baits.
There were a variety of tactics employed with some choosing big baits for tope or huss and others small baits for bream and other species. Black bream are great sport and good eating and it was great to see one of these come aboard to Ed Rands who was using back lug and squid baits.
After an hour or so the tide eased and sport tailed off. A move to a mark further West was Doug’s choice and we steamed several miles before once again dropping the anchor. Soon after settling Mike Good hooked the best fish of the day a fin perfect black bream of 2lb 8oz.
(Above)Steve Edmunds with a pleasing bream
A couple more bream followed but sadly it was not a good as we had hoped for and bites were few and far between. I always feel for the skipper at times like this for they have put the anglers on good ground but the fish are either not there or not playing the game. As time and tide ebbed away there were a few flurry’s of action with Ed Rands boating the biggest fish of the day a bull huss of 8lb 8oz. The day ended with ten species caught including, bull huss, dogfish, corkwing wrasse, mackerel, scad, pollock, smoothound, pouting, poor cod and black bream.
Robert Kingdon boated a smoothound with an unusual tail deformity.
(Above)
I hope to return to waters off Clovelly next year with the South Molton anglers and enjoy a day afloat with Independent Charters. Doug kept us supplied with tea and coffee all day and did his best to put us on the fish.
(Above)Double Hook up for Dan Welch and Ross Stanway
Combe Martin SAC Club members are competing for top quality lure fishing prizes donated by Ilfracombe’s High Street Tackle. Shop owner Danny Watson is a keen lure angler and is keen to promote this growing branch of angling that is receiving a big boost with this summers clear waters ideal for this method. Entry into the competition is free for paid up CMSAC Members. The competition ends on September 2nd to coincide with the clubs annual fun fish on Ilfracombe pier.
(Above) The current leaders in the bass fishing section are Daniel Welch and (Below)Jonathon Stanway fish of 55cm. Dans was tempted on a surface lure. and Jonathon’s on a Black Fillish minnow This is Dan’s third fish entered into the category.
(Below)Fellow member Ross Stanway is close behind with a bass of 53cm!
Chris Bonds leads the best fish other than a bass with this stunning boat caught pollock of 11lb 3oz tempted on a sidewinder sandeel.
9lb14oz pollock – Dan Welch
(Above) Beautiful evening lure fishing landed 2 lost one the biggest was 43cm caught on a sexy brown fiiish lure. Daniel Welch
Robin Bonds caught this specimen 4lb 14oz gilthead bream from the Taw & Torridge Estuary. The fish was tempted on peeler crab and is one of several caught in recent weeks. These are one of the hardest fighting fish in British waters and their numbers would appear to be increasing though many hours are often invested before getting a reward. Peeler crab, razor fish and lugworm are the best baits.
A shore caught tope by Rob Harris took top spot in Bideford Angling Clubs 24 hour rover a good omen for the coming months. It was good to see a golden grey mullet secure third place I suspect these fish are more common on our surf beaches than is generally perceived.
Chris Bonds enjoyed a successful weekend landing a boat caught pollock of 11lb 3oz using a sidewinder sandeel and a shore caught bass of 9lb 1oz using peeler crab. The pollock takes the lead in Combe Martin SAC Lure Competition or species other than a bass.
Globe trotting Zyg Gregorek sent this account of his recent adventure in Cape Verde,
I have just returned from Cape Verde after Marlin. We had nothing on the
first couple of days on the third day I am proud to say I had the biggest,
longest and fattest Marlin I have ever seen.
It took the mackerel lure and sped off into the sunset , after well over an
hour and a half of being in the fighting chair the fish jumped many times.
After having three fish over 900 lbs in the past this was the most
aggressive. We managed to get it close to the Boat the crew managed to get
hold of the leader the fish then turned and nearly yanked him over board so
he had to let go This happened a couple of times eventually we managed to
get it alongside, grab the leader and held on ,as I turned to get my camera
the Marlin again thrashed out and straightened the hook and escaped .
The next day gave us a couple more Marlin. Jim Williams had his fist ever
Blue Marlin estimated at around 500lbs and Stan Paradowski had another Blue
Marlin about 700lbs.
Four days fishing we blanked for two day and had three Marlin in the last
two days all being personnel best fish
Paul Hutching’s and Andrew McKenna enjoyed a three hour session at a North Devon Rock Mark catching a dozen smoothound. Andrew landing a new personal best of 8lb and Paul a fine specimen of 13lb.
The Lynmouth Open Competition was a week long event suggested by Lynton angler James Gubb Fradgley to run in conjunction with the Lynmouth Regatta and Maritime Festival. Promoted by North Devon Angling News and Combe Martin SAC the first three prizes were cash prizes of £100, £50 and £25. The proceeds were to be shared between Combe Martin SAC, Lynmouth Sailing Club and Lynton Primary School.
The presentation was held at The Ancient Mariner at Lynmouth where large crowds had assembled to celebrate with a party atmosphere prevailing as live music drifted across the harbour.
The winning angler was Daniel Welch who caught a boat caught tope of 38lb 2oz, grey mullet of 4lb 7oz and a spotted ray of 4lb 8oz. (296%)
In runner up spot was James Gubb Fradgley who caught a tope of 37lb 2oz, bull huss of 9lb 10oz and a small eyed ray of 9lb 10oz. (260%)
Very close behind in third place was Ross Stanway who caught a tope from the shore of 35lb 7oz, a bull huss of 8lb 10oz and a dogfish of 2lb 5oz. (259%)
The prize for the best specimen of the week went to Ross Stanway for his shore caught tope of 35lb 7oz.
A raffle was held at the presentation that boosted funds raised for the Lynmouth Sailing Club and Lyntom Primary School. Many thanks to the Ancient Mariner for hosting the weigh in.
Combe Martin SAC plan to repeat the competition next year encouraged by the enthusiasm of competitors. It is to be hoped that sponsors can be found to boost the prize table.
(Above)Ross Stanway(Left) and Daniel Welch at the presentation
Globe trotting Zyg Gregorek sent this account of his recent adventure in Cape Verde,
