Jon Dickman fished a middle Torridge beat and tempted a fine salmon estimated at 13lb. The fish took a holo silver cascade on a size 10 double. The fish was the reward of a six hour car journey and was the result of the first cast of the session.
Bideford & District AC Evening Comp No. 4 Tarka swims :
Results 1st Steve Johnson 31lb 4oz
2nd Steve Ashton 18lb 9oz
3rd NathanUnderwood 15lb 7oz
4th Richard Jefferies 13lb 1oz
5th Kevin Shears 12lb 14oz
6th Antony Bentley 12lb 4oz
19 fished.
Mild evening with rain showers , has produced some good weights , the best was Steve’s superb bag of silver fish on caster over groundbait on peg 21, Steve’s maggot on pole catch included several good bream from the margins on peg 16 took 2nd place , Nathan’s peg 6 catch of skimmers was third and ensures, that approaching the halfway point , he retains his league lead. Richard has caught late on the method feeder for 4th.
Specimen thick & thin lipped mullet
Dan Spearman is dedicated thin lipped mullet angler and landed this fine 4lb 1oz specimen on his seventh trip of the season.
Dan Followed by landing this fine thick lipped mullet of 4lb 4oz that also took a baited spinner showing that fish do not always follow the text book approach.
The Reel Deal Team
Dan Hawkins has been operating his charter boat Reel Deal out of Ilfracombe for several years and has built a deserved reputation for putting anglers on the fish especially porbeagle shark. Dan has expanded on the waters fished out of Ilfracombe making the most of the boats capability to explore waters far to the West of Ilfracombe even venturing out into the Celtic deeps to catch blue shark.
Good news for anglers is that the Reel Deal experience has been expanded with Archie Porter joining Dan to skipper sister boat “Predator 2”. Seventeen year old Archie Pike has been assisting as deck hand for close to five years during which time he has undoubtedly been tutored well. I first met Archie as a keen junior angler participating in one of Combe Martin SAC’s popular fun fishing events. It was apparent then that he had a keen interest in sea angling and I am delighted that he has takin this opportunity to help ensure Ilfracombe’s long term future as a charter boat destination.
I was due to join Dan on Reel Deal for a day with my camera capturing a few images for features. As is often the case circumstances dictate a change of plan and the need to fit a new engine into Predator 2 meant that young Archie was to skipper Reel Deal and was lumbered with me for the day.
On arrival at a busy Ilfracombe harbour, I was greeted by Dan and Archie who were chatting with Ilfracombe Sea Safaris the hot topic of the day being an invasion of Twitters eager to reach Lundy and tick off a rare warbler that had been sighted. Ilfracombe harbour is becoming increasingly popular as a destination for Wildlife watching and diving, operating as the stepping stone to Lundy.
Archie was taking myself and a party of anglers from the Weston-Super-Mare area. Chatting with them I found that they ranged from experienced boat anglers to relative newcomers to the sport. Jerry Day, Raymond Galivlins, Igor Fursous, Matt Burns, Alec Hughs and Alec Gelasvili immediately made me very welcome.
As luck would have it the weather forecast was a bit iffy offering strengthening winds later in the day and low cloud. We set out from Ilfracombe and I was impressed as Reel Deal bounced across a moderate sea powered by twin Suzuki 325 engines that can push Reel Deal at a top speed of 45 knots cruising comfortably at 30 knots.
The familiar coastline West of Ilfracombe passed by quickly the cliff tops shrouded in mist. The first mark was a rocky reef close to Baggy Point where pollock and bass were on the wanted list. After several unproductive drifts it was clear that the fish were either absent or not feeding.
I could sense that Archie was frustrated by this lack of action and overheard his enquiries as to conditions further afield. We were soon heading towards Lundy Island where we could drop anchor and target the tope that had been showing in good numbers.
https://www.northdevonanglingnews.co.uk/2021/06/07/tope-feeding-frenzy/
We spent an hour drifting with lures with a few wrasse and small pollock getting the fish count underway. The steep granite cliffs shrouded in mist created an exciting Jurassic park feeling to the vista. Guillemots were abundant along with a few puffins.
As the tide eased towards low water it was time to embark upon the days main event and target the tope. We anchored at the favoured mark with a mixture of sand and broken ground. Large frozen mackerel baits were favoured by most and were sent to the sea bed. The rods set up in holders in anticipation of rod bending tope.
After a few minutes rod tips started to nod as a succession of bull huss and dogfish found the baits. A whiting tempted on baited feathers was attacked on the retrieve by what was undoubtedly the target species. The encounter being all too brief with the whiting showing deep lacerations on its flanks where the topes teeth had cut into the flesh.
As the tide eased towards low water bull huss came frequently each one boasting an impressive pattern of leopard like spots.
By now there were only five anglers participating in the day as one had been struck down by a particularly bad bout of sea sickness.
As the tide began to flood the fish once again went off the feed and we headed closer to the misty cliffs once again for the last session of the day. With a few small pollock added to the tally it was time to steam back to Ilfracombe.
It had been a hard day’s fishing as is sometimes the case. Despite this spirits were surprisingly high as future trips were planned with those on board eager to replicate their previous success on Reel Deal a few weeks prior to this trip when they had found the pollock in a cooperative mood smashing into their lures to result in a bulging fish box to take home for the freezer.
Lets hope my next venture out with the camera coincides with good light and plenty of fish.
Big Bass on Dirty Squid
Martyn Hunton fished a North Devon beach last and landed a beauty of a bass weighing in at over 12lb.
The fish was tempted using Braunton Bait Boxes dirty squid recently vac packed.
Bass on the lure
As settled weather improves water clarity lure fishing will start to take off with bass top of the agenda. Ross Stanway has got his season underway with an eying lure fishing catching three bass to 6lb 6oz.
Stafford Open Match Result
Colin Horwood bagged himself 203lb 8oz from peg 20 on Tanners lake to win the latest Open Match at Stafford Moor. In second place was Ben Evendon with with 164lb 2 oz from peg 15 on Woodpecker Lake. In third place was Dave Parry (lodge guest) with 176lb 1oz from peg 2 on Tanners Lake.
Upper Tamar Carp
Luke Whitaker took advantage of some fish in the margins at Upper Tamar and went stalking for a couple of hours. This 24lb mirror was backed up by three fish of 19lbs!
Bideford Angling Club – Evening Match Result – Heat 3
Results :
1st Nathan Underwood 24lb 15oz
2nd Steve Johnson 16lb 14oz
3rd Tom Downing 14lb 10oz
4th Martin Turner 11lb 12oz
5th Kevin Shears 11lb 7oz
6th Steve Ashton 10lb 7oz
19 fished . Warm , overcast conditions led to another close match, Nathan bettered his 2 second places with a win on this, the 3rd match of our evening series. He has caught a great net of silver fish shallow on the pole on peg 19 and added a decent carp late on. Steve’s peg 12 has produced some better skimmers for second, Tom made a long overdue return and promptly took 3rd prize on peg 8 another net of good quality skimmers on meat.
TOPE FEEDING FRENZY FOR SOUTH MOLTON ANGLERS
With a calm day forecast it was great to arrive at Ilfracombe harbour and climb aboard John Barbeary’s Bluefin with members of South Molton Angling Club. With bottom fishing a little slow close to Ilfracombe John had suggested a trip to try the prolific fishing grounds close to Lundy Island. A trip out to fish in the vicinity of this rugged granite outcrop twenty five plus miles from Ilfracombe is a sortie I always relish as the scenery is spectacular and adds a welcome dimension to the fishing.
With reports of a few early tope showing first stop would be to anchor up and fish over low water with big baits. It was misty as we sailed out of Ilfracombe and headed West towards Lundy. As we looked back the morning sun started to burn through the morning mist and illuminate the Bristol Channel. A porpoise rolled in front of the boat. We all chatted enthusiastically about fish, the lack of fish and life in general as John delivered hot coffees and teas.
By the time we arrived at the banks and dropped anchor the sunshine had broken through and we were sat upon a mirror calm sea of blue. A variety of large fish baits were sent into the deep clear water impaled upon large strong hooks attached to wire traces or strimmer cord!
Within minutes Matt Brady was in action as a hard fighting tope seized his bait putting a healthy bend in his rod. Over the next hour or so over the low water slack a succession of tope hit our baits in a feeding frenzy giving exciting tussles and a few frustrating tangles. In total 16 tope were boated along with a few bull huss to 11lb a couple of smoothound and one or two inevitable doggies.
By the sound of the voices echoing across the water anglers were enjoying similar sport a short distance away in another Charter boat.
As the tide started to pick up general consensus was that we should try drifting for other species using lures and baited feathers.
Drifting the West side of Lundy gave an opportunity to view the spectacular granite cliffs that were in parts decorated with patches of pink thrift. Cormorants stood drying their wings and seals basked in the warm sun. We even caught sight of a few puffins with their bright clown like beaks.
The fish finder showed plenty of fish close to the bottom yet action was slow as we drifted over the numerous peaks and pinnacles that lie to the West of Lundy. Sidewinders brought a few hard fighting pollock up around 4lb and baited feathers attracted more pollock a solitary small coalfish and some brightly coloured cuckoo wrasse.
John worked hard searching the reefs but it was obvious that the fish were not feeding well. This could have been due to the small tide we were fishing, light values or even lure choice. The complexities of angling are many and as I often say this all part of this intriguing game.
It was an enjoyable cruise back to Ilfracombe on a calm sea. The beautiful North Devon coast looked splendid with its steep green cliffs punctuated with vast sandy beaches that were undoubtedly packed with families, surfers and sun-worshippers.
The sizeable pollock were filleted a tasty and healthy reward for the day afloat.
We soon glided into Ilfracombe harbour dominated by the conversation stimulating statue Verity. Tourists were abundant and it was good to sense a feeling of normality returning to the seaside town.
