Graham Snow took the top two places in Combe Martin SAC’s Fish of the month competition with a fine thick-lipped mullet of 4lb 15oz and a thin-lipped mullet of 4lb 1oz. In third place was Kevin Legge with a bass scaling 9lb 2oz. Club member Ross Stanway got August’s competition off to a good start landing a fine specimen rockling of 1lb 13.5oz.
David Atkinson won Appledore Shipbuilders Monthly Rover with a fine gilthead bream scaling 4lb 53/8oz. Runner up spot was secured by Steve Ford with a gilthead of 4lb 2.75oz and in third was Josh Atkinson with a smoothound scaling 6lb 15oz. In the Junior section it was Chelsea Babb that took the prizes with a ballan wrasse of 3lb 3.75oz.
Top fish of the week was a stunning bass taken from a local beach scaling 12lb 9.75oz by Paul Downing.
Dear All,
Devon and Severn IFCA are holding a number of events to publicise the proposed Netting Permit Byelaw. Please join Officers at the promotion trailer that will be at the following venues between 1600hrs and 2000hrs. This is your opportunity to ask questions and find out more information. Large charts showing estuaries and coastal areas will be on display as well as the byelaw and permit conditions. Copies will be available for you to take away. Please advertise this as widely as possible within the fishing and angling communities.
Churchfields car park, Appledore, EX39 1RL 15th August 2016
Cove car park, The Cove, Ilfracombe, EX34 9EN 16th August 2016
Fish Quay, Sutton Harbour, Plymouth, PL4 0LH 17th August 2016
Imperial Road Recreational Ground, Exmouth, EX8 1DB 18th August 2016
The Den, Den Crescent, Teignmouth, TQ14 8AA 19th August 2016
Quay West car park, Quay West, Minehead, TA24 5UP 22nd August 2016
Entrance to Sailing Club, The Promenade, Clevedon, BS21 7QU 23rd August 2016
Manor Road car park, Sidmouth, EX10 8RR 24th August 2016
Car park, Creek boat park, Gould Road, Salcombe, TQ8 8DU 25th August 2016
Freshwater Quarry car park, Blackball Lane, Brixham, TQ5 8BA 26th August 2016
The byelaw, permit conditions and charts can be viewed in advance on our website: www.devonandsevernifca.gov.uk/public-consultation-
POLITE NOTE: Please do not send responses to this email address. Responses are to be sent to [email protected] AND [email protected]
The public consultation closes on 22nd September 2016.
Kind Regards,
Laura Bullock
Enforcement Officer
Devon and Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority
Brixham Laboratory
Freshwater Quarry
Brixham
Devon
TQ5 8BA
Tel (office): 01803 854648
Website: www.devonandsevernifca.gov.uk
Twitter: @DevonSevernIFCA
A huge thresher shark has been boated by Nick Lane fishing aboard Dan Hawkins Ilfracombe based Charter boat Reel Deal. The shark calculated by formulae at 368lb was tempted using a whole mackerel hook bait and was landed after a powerful struggle lasting over an hour the fish leaping from the water twice before eventually being brought into the boat where it was measured and photographed before being released. The fish was taken from a mark off the North Cornwall coast around a two hour steam from Ilfracombe. Dan told me the fish swam away strongly, a wonderful sight for all on board.
The fish exceeds the present British Record of 323lb caught back in 1982.
Eighteen anglers fished Appledore Shipbuilders Bass comp at Westward Ho. Fishing was made difficult with large amounts of weed fouling the lines. Despite this four fish were landed with Paul Downing the winner with a bass of 6lb 61/2oz. In runner up spot was Cameron Atkinson with a bass of 5lb 1/2oz. In third place was Steve Ford with a bass of 4lb 14oz.
Stephen Found was targetting thick lipped grey mullet in the River Torridge estuary when his bread flake presented on a size 8 hook to 6lb b,s line was seized by a fine specimen bass of 9lb. The fish battled for 25minutes before being successfully landed. Stephen is a member of Bideford Angling Club and lives in Holsworthy.
Over the years I have landed numerous species of fish whilst targetting mullet with bread flake including bass, wrasse, black bream,pollock, garfish and mackerel. The capture of big bass in the estuary is often accidental which raises the question of how many would be caught if anglers actually targetted them.
Combe Martin SAC member Kevin Legge landed this fine bass of 9lb 2oz from a local beach. The fish was tempted using Ammo mackerel and returned alive to the sea. I expect to see a few double figure fish caught over the coming months on both lures and baits. Big baits after dark on the beaches have a proven track record though there is plenty of room for experiment with bass that can be tempted using a wide range of tactics. Big bass venture into surprisingly shallow water where free-lined baits on light tackle can bring surprising results?
A quick round up of the last weeks news received whilst I was away fishing in Norway where we sampled some supreme sport landing many fine fish. Mackerel are now starting to show in greater numbers with several quality bass landed. There is news from the Welsh shoreline of a shore caught porbeagle shark an amazing feat of angling. It was good to see that the anglers released the fish at the waters edge resisting the temptation to drag it ashore for a trophy shot. A porbeagle from the shore has to be a possibility from the North Devon coast but would require time, determination and a slice of luck. I remember reading article on Jack Shine who famously landed several porbeagle from the West coast of Ireland.
Nathan Clements secured the top two places in the latest North Devon League heat landing a fine smoothound of 13lb 1/4oz and another of 12lb 21/4oz. Third place was taken by Graham Snow with a thin-lipped mullet of 3lb 121/4oz. Nathan and Graham were both fishing for Bideford “A” team.
David Atkinson fished on Teddie Boy out of Minehead and broke the Appledore Shipbuilders Angling Club Boat record with a fine smoothound of 20lb 8ozs.
Bideford& District Angling Club member Nathan Clements enjoyed an action packed session after smoothound landing six fish including four double figure fish the best two weighing 12lb 15oz and 12lb.
Combe Martin Sea Angling Club member Graham Snow fished the Taw estuary to tempt a fine brace of thin lipped grey mullet scaling 4lb 1oz and 3lb 13oz. Fellow club member Shaun Quartly also enjoyed success landing a personal best bass of 9lb 1oz. Kevin Legge landed a bass of 9lb 2oz that was tempted using Ammo mackerel.
Apologies for the lack of updates over the past week normality will return very soon with all the latest news from North Devon plus a summary of a fabulous trip to Havnnes Handelssted in Northern Norway. A blog will also follow. Special thanks to Craig Butler for organizing the trip to all at Havnnes for there kind hospitality and to the group of anglers whose company made it extra special. Thanks also to Jon Patten for a wealth of advice prior to the trip, to Alex McDonald at Sakuma for providing some quality tackle, Veals Mail Order for great service and to St Leger Custom Rods for the use of three quality rods that performed beyond all expectations. Full write up to follow soon when I have sorted the tackle and caught up with all the latest from the North Devon fishing world.
Jon Patten traveled from Barnstaple to the Welsh coast to fish the Celtic deeps aboard Andrew Alsop’s famous boat Whitewater. He was fortunate to enjoy a great days fishing landing his first blue shark of 85lb along with a small porbeagle of 45lb. As is often the case the highlights of the day were about more than just fish with Jon reflecting on the sights of dolphins and a whale circling the boat. It would be very interesting to know what could be caught from the waters several miles to the West of Lundy if a prolonged effort was made?