Eighteen seniors fishing in Appledore Shipbuilders monthly Rover that was won by Jazza John with a bull huss of 10lb 2oz. James Atkinson took second and third with small eyed ray of 8lb 8oz and 7lb 7oz.
Bideford Angling Clubs Rover was won by Paul Downing who caught a smoothound of 9lb 10oz. Stephen Found was runner up with a bull huss of 9lb 4.25oz and Tarrant Wotton third with a smoothound of 8lb 12oz. Forth place went to Tom Downing with a smoothound of 8lb 6oz and fifth Tony Gooch with a huss of 7lb 2oz. Pail Ackland was sixth with a smoothound of 6lb 13oz.
Ian Laird and Ali Laird enjoyed a hectic session targeting smoothound landing over twenty of the hard fighting hounds the best weighing 12lb 9oz and 10lb 8oz.
Dan Spearman enjoyed a successful session targeting thin-lipped grey mullet banking fish of 4lb 13oz, 4lb 2oz, 3lb 13oz and several other mullet of around 3lb. The session followed on from several blank sessions during the hot weather.
Bideford Angling Club members are saddened at the death of Arthur Johns aged 71 who had been a keen member since joining as a junior in the early sixties. He was a keen sea angler and specialised in catching the wily grey mullet. He was the secretary of the North Devon Sea Angling League for over twenty years and I enjoyed my regular chats with him when collating reports for the NDJ.
Many thanks to Bideford Angling Clubs Pete Skinner who sent me this warm tribute to Arthur.
(Above) Michael Squires (Left) and Arthur Johns – Two greatly missed members of Bideford Angling Club.
Arthur (Art) Johns 1949 – 2020 (71) Arthur first joined the club in the 1960s as a junior before joining the merchant navy, he rejoined in the mid 70s and has remained a member ever since. He was a hard worker for the club and held many posts in his time including junior cup organiser, Xmas comp and festival organiser, fish recorder and cup custodian, Chairman , president and Vice President the post he held when he passed away, he also worked hard for the club when we had our clubhouse behind the bar and various other jobs. He was secretary of the North Devon Sea Angling league for over 20 years, a job he was very proud of. Arthur was a keen sea angler, fishing a lot with his great friend Mike Squires, another Angling club stalwart who sadly passed away a short time ago, after which Arthur stopped fishing, he told me once that it wasn’t the same anymore, Arthur liked all types of fishing but he particularly enjoyed the intricacies if mullet fishing at which he excelled, winning many club competitions with specimens of the species. He was a great member of the club, with a keen interest in encouraging youngsters into our sport, he will be sorely missed.
Ross Stanway has enjoyed a sublime evening off the North Devons spectacular coastline landing pollock and wrasse on his latest sortie.
The 3lb 3oz Ballan wrasse picture was tempted using a black minnow lure bounced along the bottom and sets a new boat caught Ballan wrasse record for CMSAC
Combe Martin SAC members Daniel Welch and Ross Stanway have enjoyed some great inshore boat sport from their Private Boats fishing out of Ilfracombe boating Pollock and smoothound.
Dan Welch with 12lb 8oz smoothound(Below) Ross Stanway – 6lb + pollock
