Triple Hook Clubs Christmas Turkey Flounder Open is always a popular fixture for the North Devon angling community and this year was no exception with over forty anglers taking part. The flounder proved hard to find with plenty of freshwater rushing out with the ebbing tide. Despite this some quality fish were brought to the scales and it was good to join in and catch up with familiar faces from the angling community.
The top ten anglers all received a turkey dinner. The winner was Tony Gooch with a fine flounder of 1lb 10.5oz. Paul Ackland was runner up with a flounder of 1lb 93/8oz and Rob Hancock third with a flounder of 1lb 75/8oz. Forth was Mark Beer with a flounder of 1lb 71/2oz and fifth myself with a flounder of 1lb 63/8oz. Steve Luxton and D Willbey sixth equal with flounder of 1lb 6oz. Andy Joslin was eigth with a flattie of 1lb 57/8oz, Stefan Jones ninth with a flounder of 1lb 43/8oz and Ronnie Luxton tenth with flounder of 1lb 17/8oz.
The clubs ladies flounder competition was won by Sam Ackland with a flounder of 1lb 57/8oz with Amber Chapple runner up with a flounder of 13.5oz.
One of Sea Anglings greatest joys is the constant chance of the unexpected. Bideford Angling Club member Richard Jefferies found this out when he was fishing a Devon shore mark and caught a club record skate of 13lb 4oz.
Dave Oke also made a rare catch when he reeled in this cuckoo ray from a North Devon Rock mark. ( Below)
Jay Harper has banked what is believed to be the first carp over 60lb to be caught from Devon or Cornwall. The huge carp was tempted from Anglers Paradise’s Nirvana Syndicate Lake and tipped the scales at a fraction over 60lb. The fish was weighed and verified by fishery manager Joe Drury and sets the bar for anglers fishing the venue over the coming months. The carp was caught less than a month ago at a weight of 59lb 2oz and was believed to be Devon’s largest carp. Carp are very often at their top weights throughout the winter months and with a seemingly milder climate expectations are that potential weights for carp and other fish will climb over the coming years.
When I started fishing for carp back in the early 1980’s Winter fishing for the species was still looked upon as pioneering with the fish still regarded as a fish of the summer months. A combination of climate change and significant improvements in weather resistant bivvy’s and warm and waterproof clothing has revolutionised the sport. Anglers can now camp out in the wildest of weather with little discomfort. Modern effective self-hooking rigs mean that anglers can wait in comfort only dashing out when the bite alarm signals.
A group of eight anglers from Plymouth enjoyed their Christmas Social event at Bulldog Fishery banking two carp over thirty pounds and ten over twenty pounds. Such a catch from this sometimes tricky venue during early December highlights just how productive winter carp fishing can be.
Combe Martin SAC’s Christmas Rover was won by David Brooke with a bass of 5lb 13oz. Kevin Legge was runner up with a smoothound of 6lb 15oz and myself third with a bull huss of 6lb 3oz. Members caught dogfish, spurdog and conger.
Michael Hammett secured top spot in Appledore Shipbuilders monthly Rover with a bull huss of 9lb 9.5oz. Josh Atkinson was second with a huss of 8lb 3oz and Chris Slade third with a huss of 8lb 2oz.
North Devon Match Group fished their latest Match at Stafford Moor where members combatted challenging conditions with strong winds and heavy rain. Paul Morris won the Willow Lake section with 89lb 7oz with Warren Thornton runner up with 69lb 7oz. Tom Downing won the Oak lake section with 62lb 10oz with Dave Wood taking runner up spot with 55lb 2oz.
South Molton Angling Club fished their latest Mac Trophy Competition at Bulldog Fishery where Edward Rands was first to bag up with six fish by 9:30am including the biggest fish for the day a fine brown trout of 4lb 8oz. Breakfast was served up at 10:00am by which time some members had already enjoyed excellent sport.
Combe Martin SAC’s Christmas Rover was won by David Brooke with a bass of 5lb 13oz. Kevin Legge was runner up with a smoothound of 6lb 15oz and Wayne Thomas third with a bull huss of 6lb 3oz. Members caught dogfish, spurdog and conger.
Michael Hammett secured top spot in Appledore Shipbuilders monthly Rover with a bull huss of 9lb 9.5oz. Josh Atkinson was second with a huss of 8lb 3oz and Chris Slade third with a huss of 8lb 2oz.
The flounder fishing season is in full swing with last weekend’s BBT Dan Miles Redmore Open attracting over one hundred competitors who raised over £1200 for Children’s Hospice South West. The competition was won by Mario Manley with a fine flounder of 1lb 15oz. David Atkinson was runner up with a flounder of 1lb 14oz and David Jenkins third with a flounder of 1lb 10.5oz. The best brace was caught by David Atkinson with two for 3lb. olive Atkinson was top junior with a flounder of 1lb 5oz with AJ Woodger runner up with a flounder of 1lb 4.5oz.
Bulldog Fisheries November Trout Fishing Competition was won by Ian Conabear with six rainbow trout for a total bag weight of 15lb. Aiden Revie was runner up with six for 14lb 15oz and Nick Tamlin fourth with six for 14lb. The biggest fish of the day was a fine tiger trout of 6lb 14oz to Aiden Revie.
Bulldogs monthly trout competitions are very much a social occasion with plenty of coffee, biscuits, bacon rolls to start the day with burgers and chips for midday lunch. The events are limited to twelve anglers and generally sell out quickly. Novembers competition was blessed with sunshine and light winds which may not have been ideal for the trout but were certainly perfect for the competitors.
Bideford Angling Clubs latest Rod and Reel Match on their home water Tarka swims was won by Colin O Hagan with 39lb 2oz. Runner up was Ian Sedgewick with 24lb 9oz and third Keith Copland with 23lb 15oz.
Anglers Paradises Lure Fishing weekend was hotly contested with a wide range of species tempted from the complex. Sixteen year old Harrison Woodham was the weekends champion landing seven different species including pike, rudd, common carp, mirror carp, perch, brown trout and rainbow trout. Runner up was Scott Way with five species. The biggest pike of the weekend was caught by Nikki Williams and measured 89cm. The biggest perch of 35cm was caught by Matthew Colegate. Nat Worsfold banked the biggest catfish at 78cm. Thomas Wilson caught the first chub to be tempted during the lure fishing competition. Fox Rage were the winning team with nine species. The event was generously sponsored by Capital Angling, Rapala, Fortis Eyewear, Fox Rage, Okuma Europe, Devon Baits and Okuma Freshwater UK.
November can be a great month for angling full of opportunity. But as is often the case these days I struggle to get out to the waters edge as often as I would like.
Late afternoon flooding tide.
Mullet fishing in late Autumn and at night would once have been unthinkable.
Not that mullet always take the bait.
A big Spring tide and a full moon casts its light across Lynmouth Bay. Its sights like these that make it worth getting out there.
Out with Kevin and the big rods… dogfish, small conger and hopefully one of those nights something better…
An afternoon on the rocks where once there were cod…..
A trout competition at Bulldog Fishery to end the month….
The local angling community came together to create another great annual BBT Dan Miles Redmore Memorial Flounder competition.
Over 120 entrants
Stacks of fish caught
Over £1200 raised for Children’s Hospice South West.
Barnstaple Bait & Tackle give huge thank you to all who took part, everyone that turned up on the day to help out, David Jenkins for all of his hard work and organisational skills, all of the local businesses that donated raffle prizes and of course The Ebberley Arms for their hospitality!!
All images from BBT
Adults
1st Mario Manley 1.15lb
2nd David Atkinson 1.14lb
3rd David Jenkins 1.101/2lb
4th Mark Hancock 1.91/2lb
5th Shaun Passmore 1.09lb
6th Kev Hancock 1.081/2lb
7th Nick Braunton 1.08lb
8th Dick Talbot 1.07lb
9th Steve Baker 1.061/2lb
10th Marcus Horrell 1.061/2
Ladies
1st Nikki Atkinson 1.071/2lb
2nd Samantha Ackland 1.06lb
Juniors
1st Olive Atkinson 1.05lb
2nd AJ Woodger 1.041/2lb
3rd Bella Mitchell 1.031/2lb
4th Riley Donnie 1.031/4lb
5th Jude Seels 1.931/4lb
6th Noah Mcluskey 1.93lb
7th Tyler Mckeowen 1.023/4lb
Brace
1st David Stkinson 3lb
2nd David Jenkins/Mario Manley 2.14lb
Here’s to next year, 4th October 2026…..pop it in your diaries!!
Back in 2019 I was proud to have my book ‘I Caught A Glimpse’ Published by the Little Egret Press. Six years later I often skim through the book to refresh my mind on local fishing history. I believe there are a still limited number of copies left from the original limited print run. These are available at https://thelittleegretpress.co.uk/product/i-caught-a-glimpse-ltd-edition-hardback/
