Stefan Jones, Matthew Druce and Sam Longhurst enjoyed a successful boat trip off the North Devon coast with Sam a newcomer to angling landing his first ever bull huss.
The trio enjoyed a great day afloat landing around twenty tope to 25lb, numerous huss and a few conger. All the fish were tempted using frozen Ammo mackerel. The day was made extra special in the presence of dolphins, porpoises and gannets.
Sunday September 4th
1.00pm until 4.00pm
Special Guests: –
Libby Ross – IFCA
Safe Fishing – With the coastguard
Fun Fishing Competition
Sponsored by
When the weather permits private boat anglers are enjoying some fine sport off the North Devon Coast with tope the main target species. Recent rough weather has clouded the water encouraging some species to feed hard with lower light levels. Stefan Jones headed to a mark off Woolacombe in his Private boat and enjoyed a great days sport landing nine small eyed ray between 5lb and 7lb plus smoothound and bull huss. The successful bait was Ammo sandeel wrapped in squid.
Ollie Passmore – bass 7lb 1oz
Ollie Passmore enjoyed a session on Ilfracombe Pier landing a fine bass of 7lb 1oz that was carefully returned to the water after a quick photo. The fish was tempted using a large mackerel bait. The water clarity is reduced along the coast now and as a result bait anglers are enjoying improved sport with mackerel squid or crab baits best.
When the water clears lure anglers will start to catch again. I visited High Street tackle recently and was impressed with their wide selection of bass lures both soft and hard plastics from top brands.
Thin Lipped mullet have been hard to find in the estuary over recent weeks but Combe Martin SAC member Graham Snow persisted and located a specimen thin lip of 3lb 9oz despite strong winds making fishing difficult.
South Molton Anglers boat trip off Clovelly aboard Independent charters saw members enjoy a variety filled day with several species coming to the boat including tope,mackerel, horse mackerel, bull huss, pollock, bass, black bream, pouting and the inevitable dogfish. Club sea trip co-ordinator Eddie Rand’s declared ‘good weather and good company!’
Boat anglers are enjoying some top tope sport off Ilfracombe with packs of these hard fighting fish hitting baits. The season is shaping up to be a good one for the species with mackerel numbers encouraging the fish into the Bristol Channel. Toby Bassett was one of the anglers to share in great days sport aboard John Barbeary’s Ilfracombe based Charter boat ‘Bluefin”. The anglers landed in excess of 80 tope the best scaling 34lb to the rod of John Passmore.
Daniel Stone
Daniel Stone fished aboard James Gubb-Fradgley’s boat off Lynmouth and landed a personal best tope scaling 36lb. They also landed bull huss to 15lb, conger to 25lb, several smaller tope and numerous mackerel.
Combe Martin SAC Member Derek Ferret fished a local beach to land this superb bass scaling 13lb 3oz. The fish was tempted using Ammo Frozen mackerel and was returned alive after weighing and photographing. This is the third big double I have heard of so far this season a promising omen as we are still early in the season regarding bass with the best yet to come!
I hope to have better pictures of this fine fish in a couple of days.
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 community.
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-
Liam Stevens has landed one of the biggest bass so far this season a fine specimen of 15lb 8oz that was landed from a shore mark in the Ilfracombe area. The fish was tempted using mackerel presented on a 3/0 hook on a running ledger set up. Liam had persisted after suffering from a large amounts of weed fouling his line the previous night. The fish was weighed and witnessed by Peter Read and photos taken by Ben partridge. Liam is a member of Combe Martin Sea Angling Club.
The remaining months of the year are sure to turn up large specimen bass with many marks along the North Devon coast capable of producing fish to make anglers dreams come true.