Notice is hereby given that the 2023 AGM will be held at the Bideford Conservative Club on Friday 17th November 19:30 – 20:00 sharp.
Please note that all proposals for changes to our rule’s or applications to join the committee need to be received by our secretary before midnight on Friday 27/10/2023.
Rule changes need a seconder.
Proposals for committee membership must have the agreement of the person, with a proposer and a seconder in writing.
All proposals must be with the secretary via email at [email protected]
Combe Martin Sea Angling Clubs annual Lyn Fish competition concludes each year at Lynmouth with the meet up afterwards in the pub. This year’s meet up was in the Ancient Mariner where members were pleased to retire to the warmth of the bar after fishing around the harbour as a cold North Wind swept in.
October is generally a good month for targeting thick-lipped grey mullet and most members who fished the competition concentrated on these wily grey ghosts fishing several of the weekend’s tides.
I ( Wayne Thomas) was fortunate to win the competition with a mullet of 3lb 4oz and added a brace of mullet weighing 3lb 3oz each to secure the top three places. Dan Welch also caught several mullet to 2lb 9oz using float and feeder tactics. I was also surprised to catch a pollock of around 1lb 8oz using bread flake as bait.
I was saddened to read of the death of Mike Millman a prominent angling Journalist whose words and pictures have been published throughout my angling life. I have chatted with Mike on a few occasions over the years and his passion and knowledge of angling history always shone through.
Times have changed dramatically since Mike Millmans younger days of angling adventure. He would certainly relish the influx of tuna into South West Waters.
“My interest in angling began during the war years when as a ten year old equipped with a ten foot bamboo rod purchased for 2d at a local seed merchants,thick cuttyhunk line, which was tied directly to the end of the cane, and a somewhat rusty hook, I would join with other boys and men too old for military service in pursuing mackerel from an old jetty.
Those were halcyon days when thousands of mackerel could be relied upon to arrive each summer evening, on the making tide, to feed on millions of brit that would form into huge ball for protection in the corner of a tiny harbour. Even now I can picture the predators slashing into the mass of tiny wriggling fish and feel the jerk on the line as one made a mistake and grabbed my hook, whch was wrapped in silver paper and dangled close to the ball.”
Extract from Sea Angling Supreme by Mike Millman publsiehd in 1979
He celebrated his 90th birthday on March 26 2023,
Through this passion and skill, combined with his love of fishing, he built a hugely successful career. Born in Plymouth in 1933.
Combe Martin SAC member Kyle Bishop braved stormy conditions to bank a superb brace of specimens including a new club record bull huss of 15lb 5oz and a tope of 46lb 2oz.
Banging trip out last month in the 50mph storm headed to ruff ground mark in search of a big Huss on my own , giving 4m swells I armed my self with a life jacket and a shit load of leads , after losing a load of gear was gonna head home when my rod arched over and line peeled off after a good few attempts to land the tope I finally managed to get a grip on its tale in between the massive swells she went 46.2 , quick pic and back she went ,next cast I landed an absolute beast of a Huss going 15.5 and new pb after struggling to land that as well I was happy to call it a day as swells were to dangerous , take some beating a trip like that on my own.
The Summerlands Dan Miles Redmore Memorial Trophy attracted fifty four competitors who raised over £400 for Little Bridge House Children’s Hospice. The bright sunny conditions made for a very enjoyable mornings fishing. The event was generously sponsored by Quay Sports, Tesco, Wetherspoons. Blackmore Barbers, Mattys Barbers and Gratton’s Butchers. The winner was Simon Fewings with a flounder weighing 1lb 5.75oz. Marcus Horrel was runner up with prizes awarded down to 10th place. Max Chappel won the junior prize with Albi Clements runner up. Many thanks to Ebberly Arms for hosting the event.
Credit goes to David Jenkins of Bullet Bait and Tackle for organising the event that looks set to become a popular feature on North Devons angling fixture list.
Simon Fewings – Winner
1st Simon Fewings 1lb 53/4 oz
2nd Marcus Harrell
3rd Liz Squires 1lb 4oz
4th Peter Harris
5th Nick Braunton
6th Anthony smith
7th Julian Stainer
8th John Cardew
9th Dick Talbot
10th Rob Harris
Juniors
1st Max Chappel
2nd Album clements
Best brace Simon fewings
David Jenkins with the cheque for Childrens Hospice South West
Boundaries – Iron Bridge at Rock Park, Barnstaple to The White House, Crow on either side of the river. Flounder must be at least 12” with prizes for the heaviest fish weighed in, only heaviest fish per angler counts. Maximum 2 rods per angler with total of 3 hooks.
Juniors (6 – 16 years) must be accompanied by an adult. Decision of the Weighmaster is final
Please call Mark Beer 07796230674 if you have any queries
Triple Hook Fishing Club 2023
Open Flounder Competitions
Sunday 8th October
Sunday 29th October
Sunday 5th November
Sunday 10th December
Sunday 17th December
8am – 1pm
£5 each event
Book in with Dennis Toleman tel.07815009260 or any committee member together with the entry fee before the event. Please ensure you leave contact details.
Must be back and present fish at weigh in by 2pm at rear of Barnstaple Social Club (formerly Royal British Legion), St.Georges Road, Barnstaple
Boundaries – Iron Bridge at Rock Park, Barnstaple to The White House, Crow on either side of the River Taw
Flounder must be at least 12” with prizes for the heaviest fish weighed in, only heaviest fish per angler counts
Maximum 2 rods per angler with total of 3 hooks. Juniors (6 – 16 years) must be accompanied by an adult
Decision of the Weighmaster is final
Please call Mark Beer 07796230674 if you have any queries
Combe Martin SAC member David Brooke tempted this stunning bass of 12lb 6oz. The fish was tempted on a whole joey mackerel presented on a 6/0 Seadra Octopus hook. The fish was caught on one of the biggest tides of the year following a recent storm.
The tide was flooding rapidly into the River Axe estuary when I arrived to park up and I took note of what looked like a potential mullet fishing venue. This was confirmed later as I chatted with the skipper John Wallington.
The cliffs were shrouded in grey mist giving a truly Jurassic atmosphere to an early October day as we motored out of Axemouth aboard https://www.devonbassprocharters.uk/
There is always something particularly exciting about visiting a new fishing destination. I had been invited by Snowbee ambassador Jeff Pearce who had brought along a few Snowbee Deep Blue Rods to test out. https://www.snowbee.co.uk/sea-fishing.html
There were six of us fishing on the boat Jeff and I knew none of them but as always anglers are a little like super glue gelling quickly to become friends sharing an adventure within a short time. Names are banded about at the start of the day, Mark, Martin, Mick and Zee but in truth I am terrible with names and by the time we left the harbour they could have been Uncle Tom Cobley and all.
Those grey mist shrouded cliffs of the Jurassic coast soon faded into the distance as we headed out to wrecks deep beneath the grey waters of the English Channel. Bass were our target with the chance of pollock. I always find it fascinating how many Skippers have their own approach and special tricks. John is very keen on safety and had given a very thorough briefing before leaving the port. Focussing on how to use the ship to shore radio if he was to become incapacitated a factor that I have often thought of but never actually asked any skipper about.
John explained how we would be drifting the wrecks using lures on long traces of up to 6 metres. The ball weights used must be inserted into their holders when the fish is retrieved and the fish is then handlined carefully to the waiting net. Flailing weights can be dangerous. When lowering the tackle into the water the weight is lowered first the lure held carefully until the weight has taken up the slack in the trace.
( take care not to get hooked by the inertia of the sinking weight- It hurts! ) The set up incorporates a simple anti tangle tube with the weight attached to a weak link. ( Well, mine was as I was using 50lb b.s braid mainline!) The other technique/protocol that was different to many charter boats was that we were all to fish on the same side of the boat with the lines all trailing away, ensuring none of the tangles associated with lines coming under the boat.
It was a very grey murky day but fortunately the sea was calm with just a gentle breeze. John spotted a few tuna leaping from the water. Gannets soared gracefully in the dark sky.
After forty minutes or so we reached our first wreck with the shoreline now hidden by mist. We sent our lures to the sea bed and followed the drill. On reaching the sea bed wind up slowly for thirty or so turns then send it back down and repeat. If a fish started to attack the lure keep retrieving until all locks up and then thump the hook home by lifting the rod positively.
A Red gill hybrid !
The morning started slowly with a few bass and pollock from the first two or three wrecks. I was pleased to get off the mark with a decent pollock and bass.
The fishing was steady then as we covered a couple more wrecks. As the tide eased the breeze dropped away and we were entranced when pods of dolphins appeared to play around the boat passing within a few feet clearly visible in the clear water.
Several martins flew overhead as they headed South on their migration to Africa. A warbler of some type circled the boat another tiny migrant heading south its survival surely against the odds.
Sport began to pick during the afternoon as the tide picked up with each drift bringing multiple hook ups keeping a smiling John busy with the net.
Despite dark skies and intermittent rain, we were all surprised when a flash of lightning was followed by an impressive rumble of thunder. The storm persisted for around fifteen minutes with huge thunderclaps and some spectacular flashes of lightning. We fished on in shock and awe. This failed to deter the fish that were hitting our lures with gusto.
Not sure how many bass and pollock we eventually caught but I ended with seven bass and three pollock. I did lose a very good fish that hit my lure hard putting an impressive bend in the Snowbee Rod, the reel screaming before the hook pulled free.
We headed back to Seaton bouncing across a dark grey seascape as gannets plunged into the water. We all climbed from the boat a little weary and said fond farewells thanking John for a great day.s sport.
