Bideford Angling Club
March Rover results
1st Andrew Clements Smalleyed Ray 9lb 5oz 103.472%
2nd Nathan Clements Bull Huss 7lb 3 3/4oz 72.343%
Combe Martin SAC
SPRING ROVER
1st Wayne Thomas – Thick lipped grey mullet 3lb
Marine Management Consultation
There is an opportunity for anglers and commercial fishers to take part in a consultation regarding fishery management plans. As is often the case North Devon has missed out to some extent but there is an opportunity to engage on-line.
Upcoming Engagement Events – (NQS) FMP Tuesday 7th March 9am – 12pm Weymouth – Quayside (outside Weyfish the fish shop) 6pm – 8pm Lyme Regis – Fishing College 4pm – 6pm Online* 7pm – 9pm Falmouth – Chainlocker Pub Wednesday 8th March 9am – 12pm Newlyn – CFPO office 10am – 1pm Lyme Regis – Quayside (The Cobb) 2pm – 4pm Newlyn – Quayside 3pm – 5pm Axmouth – Quayside Thursday 9th March 9am – 12pm Fowey – Mission to Seafarers 9am – 12pm Exmouth – Quayside 2pm – 5pm Looe – Fish Market 6pm – 8pm Plymouth – Quayside 7pm – 9pm Looe – Social Club Friday 10th March 10am – 1pm Mevagissey – Social Club 10am – 12pm Brixham – Quayside *For online events, please email [email protected] for link
Trip away in search of that big one. – Ollie Passmore writes-
Many thanks to Ollie Passmore for his article on wrasse fishing.
After a few successful trips away this winter targeting the ballan wrasse a window of prime conditions was forecasted. I knew a rough area that I believed could chuck up a big fish. All set to go with fresh crab and hand dug rag and prawns was our chosen bait. Arriving at the mark with very simple rigs that consist of a 3 way swivel with a short 80lb hook length and a 2/0 chino hook. Using a rotten bottom set up clipped up with a 15lb line so losing your lead is easily done. This is essential for fishing for wrasse. Wrasse are found generally in rocky areas and getting snags are often part of this fishing. Losing the lead is the best way of getting your kit back and also not tethering these fish up. 70lb braid is what I use for wrasse fishing so almost every time you get snagged you manage to get your trace back with either a bent out hook or lost lead. From first cast to last, baits where getting smashed. Lost count on the amount of fish we had over the two sessions. Most fish being around 3lb, and all being a variety of colours and patterns. Kody and myself where releasing the fish at sea level. This is important for the fish to go back well as they are fragile and tend to belly up if not treated correctly. Deep hooked fish I have found that it is best to just cut the hook length as they will often float away if you start digging around inside to try get your hook back. Wrasse are very important fish for our oceans as they keep the reefs and coral healthy and free from parasites and other things. But with a bit of fish care these fish will go back to carry on doing there important job that they were designed to do. Best fish of the session was a 4lb 4oz and a PB for me of 5lb 6oz. Kody landed lots of 3lb fish and some close to 4lb. It was a shame he didn’t get that 4lb fish. All in all, it was a trip to remember and has continued my passion and eagerness to get back out at the water’s edge targeting these very special fish that we have in our UK waters.
COMBE MARTIN SAC – Six Hour Rover Result
David Brooke secured top spot in Combe Martin SAC’s six hour rover landing a spurdog of 9lb 12oz. Runner up was Daniel Welch with a dogfish of 2lb 6oz. A cold North East Wind made conditions difficult at many marks along the coast. Several Bull Huss and large numbers of dogfish were landed by club members who have their early Spring Rover next weekend.
Bideford Angling Club – 48 Hr Results
Late February and March can be difficult months for sea anglers with rockling, dogfish, dabs and pouting often winning competitions. The beaches could be worth trying for ray with the chance of an early bass. Big huss are likely to be caught from rock marks. It was hard going for Bideford Club members with just one fish tempted above the 70% qualifying criteria. Spotted ray and rockling were caught to just under the 70%.
Bideford Angling Clubs
February’s 48-hour results
1st Andrew Clements – Pouting 1lb 2 3/4oz 78.125%
Bideford Angling Club – Presentation Night
Bideford and District Angling Clubs annual presentation night was held at the Conservative Club where members enjoyed an evening filled with good humoured banter and a celebration of a succesful years angling.
A big well done to all the winners of 2022 who have all been recognised and celebrated at the clubs annual presentation night. Guests Wayne Thomas, Simon McCarthy, and Chris Connaughton for presented the trophies and awards.
Club man of the year was Nathan Clements who does a sterling job running the clubs shore fishing section.
COARSE FISHING AWARD WINNERS
Monthly Competition Champion : Nathan Underwood
Runner-up Craig Lamey
Third Keith Mountjoy
Midweek Series: Winner Nathan Underwood Runner up Martin Turner
Best bag in competition Richard Jefferies
Pairs winners Nathan Underwood and Darren Polden Junior series winner Imogen Babb Runner up Hope Polden.
SEA ANGLING AWARDS
Valentine bowl – most points in the Monthly Rover.
Andrew Clements 54 points
Keira short trophy – most points in 48 hour rover.
Julien Stainer + Andrew Clements 13 points
Stephanie Vanstone – Best specimen caught from the shore.
Stephen Found thick-lipped mullet 7lb 175% 5th August
Jason Talbot memorial plate – Best specimen ray caught from the shore.
Antony Smith Thornback Ray 12lb 8 138.888% 2nd October
Snake Plate – best specimen Conger caught from the shore.
Richard Jefferies Conger eel 22lb 8 112.5% 21st August
Best round fish from the shore
Stephen Found thick-lipped mullet 7lb 175% 5th August
Best specimen flat fish caught from the shore ( no ray)
Stephen Found Flounder 1lb 11 ¼ 86.156%
Best specimen shark from the shore.
Andrew Clements Bull Huss 15lb 11 ¼ 157.041% 29th March
Winner of end of season competition
Stephen Found spur 14lb 1 ½ 140.937% 29th January 2023
Big Mike Memorial vase
Nathan Clements bass 4lb 27th August
GAMES FISHING SECTION – Competition League
1st- John McCulham 34pts
2nd- Dan Lock 32pts
South Molton and District Angling Club AGM
I joined fifteen members of South Molton and District Angling Club at the Coaching Inn South Molton for their AGM. As always the event ran smoothly thanks to the sterling work undertaken by the club’s officers. Club Chairman Eddie Rands and Secretary/Treasurer Roger Bray gave their reports to the membership reflecting upon a year plagued by low water levels. The environment and river health were top of the agenda throughout with grave concerns regarding pollution from agriculture and South West Waters numerous sewage treatment works.
South Molton Club is a small friendly club that welcomes new members at a very reasonable cost offering superb wild brown trout fishing on five miles of the river Bray. The club also organise forays to the coast with both boat and shore fishing events.
https://www.southmoltonanglingclub.co.uk
(Below) The cup winners for 2022.
From left to right
Richard Power 30lb tope, Wayne Thomas bass just under 10lb,Steve Bendle 5lb rainbow and Steve Edmonds 7lb pollack.
After the meeting I was priveleged to deliver a talk on my fishing and the variuos paths it has taken me on.
Spurdog Specimens
Combe Martin SAC members Martin Huntingdon and Stef Jones enjoyed some exciting spurdog fishing on a Private boat off the North Devon Coast. The best at 16lb 8oz fell to Stef with Martins best scaling 15lb 8oz.
Stefan also enjoyed some excellant pollock sport off Beer aboard Orca Charters boating a pollock of 9lb 2oz.
SPURDOG PACKS OFF ILFRACOMBE
Charter boats Reel Deal and Predator 2 are taking anglers to the deep waters off Ilfracombe where huge numbers of spurdog are intercepting baits. Bull huss and conger are also featuring in catches.
Rare Bluemouth Caught by Combe Martin SAC member
Combe Martin SAC member Shaun Quartly fished a beach in Somerset targetting ray and was surpised when he reeled in a small red coloured fish that swallowed the hooks down deep. The fish is believed to be a bluemouth a rare visitor to English waters. The fish weighed 6oz and is the first one ever recorded by a club member.
Shaun also landed a spotted ray and a dogfish.
