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.
David Atkinson fished on teddie boy out of minehead today and broke the Appledore Shipbuilders Angling Club Boat record with this 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.
Havnnes Handelssted101lb halibut – Craig Butler – Fish of the Week!!Midnight SunRob Scoines 20lb plus coalfishOne of several 20lb plus coalfish tamed on a St Leger Renegade Lure Rod
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?
Tope continue to provide exciting sport off Ilfracombe as Ian Tyldesley director of Ammo Baits discovered when he traveled up from St Ives to fish aboard Ammo Baits sponsored boat Reel Deal. Dan Hawkins put the anglers on the fish despite breezy conditions that made fishing a little uncomfortable for some of the party. In addition to tope the anglers also landed several bass.
David Brooke took top spot in Combe Martin Sea Angling Clubs fish of the month competition with a specimen smoothound scaling 15lb 1oz. In runner up spot Dan Spearman with his thin lipped grey mullet of 4lb 15oz and in third Derek Ferrett with a smoothound of 11lb 14oz.
Anglers are enjoying some great tope sport off Ilfracombe with these hard fighting predators now abundant. Tope have been landed up to 37lb with every chance of bigger fish as the season progresses there is even the chance of one of these fish from shore marks if anglers are prepared to set their stall with a big bait and wire trace.
Craig McCloughlin of Braunton Baits with fine tope off Ilfracombe on John Barbeary’s BluefinTope caught on John Barbeary’s ‘Bluefin’
Tope caught on John Barbeary’s ‘Bluefin’ by Toby Bassett
Tope caught on .’Reel Deal’ off Ilfracombe by Toby Bassett
Craig McCloughlin of Braunton Baits with a 37lb tope caught on John Barbeary’s BluefinDanny from Ilfracombe’s High Street Tackle with a tope caught on Bluefin
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.
