30 Jan 2022

BAIT DISASTERS

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On arrival home from fishing my first trip is generally to the shed to return unused bait to the freezer. I take my bait to the shore in a freezer bag so if its not too mild some of it can be placed back in a semi frozen state. I had carried out this ritual after last week’s competition.

The freezer bag and a couple of old traces lay on the floor when I prepared for my next session close to a week later. It seemed slightly iffy as I picked up last weeks trace and went to lift last week’s bait wrappers. I winced as my fingers felt a soft and slimy week old bluey! Its pungent aroma was certainly far from pleasing.

This isn’t my first bait disaster and probably won’t be the last. Smelly old mackerel, squid and peeler crabs have all caused offence in the past.

Amongst my worsts disasters came a few years ago whilst fishing the Hampshire Avon. My good friend Rupert and I returned from the river after a long day with rain beating down. It was good to be heading back for a good meal. Several pints of maggots sat in a bucket in the back of the car but they would be fine until morning!

We had overlooked the fact that the bucket had got wet. Next morning upon opening the boot we found maggots everywhere! We mopped up what we could the following day and went fishing. On arriving back home I removed the spare tyre to find hundreds of maggots in the well. A good old hoover and I hoped all was good; bloody maggots infiltrated the entire car burying into the carpets and every nook and cranny. For weeks after every warm day saw a hatch of flies within the car! Pauline was far from amused!

 

 

25 Jan 2022

Hectic Spurdog Sport off Ilfracombe

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John Barbeary’s Bluefin has been taking anglers to deep water marks off Ilfracombe where packs of spurdog are giving great sport along with huss and conger. Catches exceeding one hundred spurdog per day between eight anglers is not unusual with plenty of fish into double figures. Pete Robinson boated one of the biggest so far this season at 17lb. Craig McCloughlin also joined a party of anglers taking numerous fish to 15lb.

Craig McCloughlin spurdog 15lb
Pete Robinson – spurdog 17lb

24 Jan 2022

Huss dominate Combe Martin SAC Competition

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David Brook left with a huss of 7lb 13oz & Wayne Thomas with a huss of 6lb 10oz.

Combe Martin SACs January Rover was fished by ten club member with a wide range of marks fished. Bull huss dominated the result with David Brook (above left) securing first place with a huss of 7lb 13oz. Shane Pavio Hookway was runner up with a huss of 7lb 10oz and myself third with a huss of 6lb 10oz ( Above right).

Shane Pavio Hookway with a huss of 7lb 10oz

The recent settled weather has resulted in clear water along the coast and a lack of quality fish close inshore. With this in mind I joined Kevin Legge and Dave Brook at a remote rock mark that gave access to thick kelp and seriously rough snaggy terrain. At times I questioned the sanity of clambering around the slippery and jagged rocks at the age of sixty but in truth I have no intention of giving up just yet. It is good exercise after all and I still love being out there in the dark night casting out in that mysterious dimension wondering whats lurking beneath the waters surface?

Strong tackle is a must with 25lb b.s Berkley Big Game Line,  a single strong catfish hook and a rotten bottom. Tackle loses can be high but in calm clear conditions getting in amongst the rough stuff can pay dividends. It is very much a case of tightening up the clutch and giving it plenty of stick when a fish is hooked. With luck if a good fish is hooked it can be bullied clear of the snags if it gets stuck it will often come out after leaving the rod in the rest for ten minutes. if not more often that not the rotten Bottom link will break allowing the fish to be retrieved. I personally tend to use one rod in these situations with a second rod all set up ready to cast out if the gear is lost.

 

 

19 Jan 2022

DISCOVERING A LONG LOST MARK

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Watching the news this morning took me back to a wonderful time in the early eighties when for seven days we would wander the North Devon coast in search of specimen fish. The Ilfracombe & District Angling Association organised a popular angling festival each summer that was well attended by both locals and visiting anglers. The ignition for these memories was sparked by the mention on BBC news of one of North Devon’s famous rock marks.

Back then as we competed against each other to catch the biggest fish and successful marks could be a closely guarded secret with some going to extreme lengths to discover these marks. Spotting a known anglers car parked adjacent to a coastal access point was a common giveaway or a quick glance through the window would give a clue if it was an angler’s car with associated fishing bits a giveaway. Back then all cars also displayed a tax disc giving a clue as to the angler’s residential area.

This was of course long before the days of social media where anglers post their catches and often try to disguise marks using clever photo shop techniques. Not sure if there are more or less anglers these days but there are probably less fish. Coastal access has however become an increasingly problematic area. The increase in coastal walkers and those using the coast for recreation has undoubtedly increased considerably and this has in some cases impacted upon free access.

The introduction of fishing permits to gain access has been an unwelcome trend generated in part by a lack of respect for private land and the ongoing issue of litter.

Coastal erosion is also playing its part with once popular marks like Sillery Sands now inaccessible due to landslips.

In truth there are still many miles of accessible coastline that allow free access even if a long walk is required. A day walking the coast can reveal potential marks as can a survey of Google Maps often revealing areas worth exploring.

Those chasing specimen fish often follow the crowd trying to catch the fish that were caught yesterday. Whilst being at the right place at the right time is paramount there are plenty of fish in the sea! Many marks have become popular due to the reporting of good fish a major factor for the more people who fish a mark the more will be caught. Perpetuating the myth that it is the must visit mark.

I fully understand the reason for being careful with informing others of where fish are caught. We all like to have our favourite marks to ourselves but in many cases with a bit of thought it’s not hard to get away from the crowds.

Like most things in life many will always follow the crowd. Back in those days fishing the North Devon Coast during the Ilfracombe Festival I fondly remember the smirks as the competition organisers voice echoed across the harbour. Today’s winner is “ Bullshit Bov , with a fine specimen wrasse of 6lb from “ Fraggle Rock”.

 

Fraggle rock a popular childrens TV programme has been relaunched. It ran from 1983 until 1987.

17 Jan 2022

North Devon Match Group Result

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Fished our North Devon Match Group club match yesterday and with spaces in even more demand than a Feedermasters ticket all 33 spaces were filled. Venue was the lovely Wooda lakes near Holsworthy. With a full turn out the usual 3 lakes were utilised and in addition 9 pegs were also put on the specimen lake. At the draw I felt lake 4 was the preferred choice but also fancied a crack at the speci lake as my one previous encounter on there produced a lake sin and match second. In went my donny and out popped peg 18 which was lake 4 so happy with that outcome.
A few chucks to the island and one missed bite and a few liners as Ian Gray to my right did the same and had 3 quick fish then I managed a small stickie. After 30 minutes I switched to the pole and had a couple of quick fish then nothing, meantime Ian Gray continued to catch on the tip whilst I couldn’t get a sniff on it. I could hear Andy Grattan catching the other side of the island out of site but kept plugging away on the pole as everyone else seemed to be struggling. It was a funny old match where you catch a couple then the vanish but it has given me an idea for another match in 4 weeks time on there. At the all out Andy Gratton had clearly walked the lake with 70lb and myself and Ian Gray had a great side by side battle which he popped by 44lb to my 40lb so well done him and those tip fish kept him just in front. Elsewhere Nathan Undereood had caught well on the speci with 60odd pound whilst everyone else had struggled for bites and the other 2 lakes had fished reall tough with Craig Lames taking lake 3 with just under 40lb I think it was and The old war horse Martin turner taking lake 1 with 20lb. Overall a great day with some good banter and a 4th overall for myself I think it was so some good league points.
 Thanks to Ian Croxton for the report .
17 Jan 2022

Sea Angling News

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Sea angling seems to have entered the doldrums with calm conditions resulting in quiet fishing on the open coast. A good storm is undoubtedly required to stir things up a bit. The results of local shore competitions speak for themselves. It might pay to experiment a little during these conditions and scale down the tackle in search of dabs and smaller species that can get overlooked.

It’s always interesting to take a look at whats on the shoreline as there can be clues as to the species that can be found beneath the waves.

Mermaids purse- bull huss egg

Bideford Angling Club – Twenty Four Hour Competition Result

Many thank’s to Nathan Clements for the report.

24 hour results 

12 angler’s fished 

3 fish caught 

1st Antony Smith Dog 2lb 1oz 68.750%

2nd Andrew Clements Dog 2lb 0 1/2oz 67.708%

3rd Stephen Found Pouting 1lb 66.666%

Fishing didn’t exactly meet expectations but well done to the 3 that caught something big enough to weigh in.

Fingers crossed things pick up 

Next competition 

Codling comp 29th/30th Jan

Appledore Shipbuilders monthly Rover Result
Many thanks to Andrew Atkinson for the report.
6 members fished the January heat of the winter league .
Only one fish of size was caught.
Winning with a Whiting of 1lb 2 1/4ozs was Josh Atkinson. Anglers reported catching Small codling Congers other Whitings and Poutings.
Well done to all that fished.