Combe Martin SAC member Kyle Bishop continues to find specimen fish from along the North Devon Coast with conger, huss and spotted ray among his recent successes.
Above – Specimen Conger of 25lb 11oz and 20lb 
Conger, huss and ray for Kyle
PARADISE – SILVERBACK 55lb
SILVERBACK HAS BEEN CAUGHT
Massive congratulations to Nathan Snell who has caught a new personal best 55lb Mirror known as “Silverback” from the Kracking Carp Lake, smashing his previous PB of 46lbs which was also from the Kracking Carp Lake!
Nathan used a Dynamite Baits Sweet Tiger and Corn pop up fished over Sweet Tiger and Corn crumb.
A very sought after Fish and one that rarely comes out!
Appledore Shipbuilders – December Result
Thirteen fished the December rover today. Fishing was tough in the fresh NE Wind. Josh Atkinson won with a fine specimen Whiting of 1lb 11ozs. James Atkinson was second with a Whiting of 1lb 6 1/4ozs and Josh also secured third with another Whiting of 1lb 6ozs.
Several reported that Flounders seemed hard to find today with only one submitted at the weigh in.
James also caught an old warrior which was returned back to the sea after a quick photo and weighing. It pulled the scales to 8lb 3ozs!
Bideford – December Rover results
Bideford – December Rover results
1st Andrew Clements Flounder 1lb 8 1/2oz 76.562%
Next competition Bidefords Christmas open the prize table is looking brilliant, there’s a huge prize draw also.
Please Don’t eat farmed salmon this Christmas
In the lead up to Christmas, over 2 million farmed salmon are likely to die prematurely each month on farms along the Scottish west coast and islands. Farmed salmon has no place on our festive menus, and certainly not on sustainable ones.
Salmon Farming: why it’s not a cause for festive cheer
Since the 1970s, global populations of wild Atlantic salmon have declined by around 70%, from 8-10 million to just 3 million today. Open-net salmon farming has been shown to be one of the causes of this decline.
As salmon farming in Scotland continues to grow exponentially it spreads potentially fatal parasitic sea lice from farmed to wild fish. The threat to wild fish is further escalated by a rise in farmed fish escapes and as a result increased likelihood of extinction from genetic dilution.
In 2021, the Scottish salmon industry produced over 200,000 annual tonnes of Atlantic salmon. By 2030 it aims to produce 400,000 tonnes per year.
While the industry looks forward to increasing revenues, the true cost of producing this volume of farmed Atlantic salmon isn’t a cause for festive cheer.
Salmon farming wreaks environmental havoc
Salmon farming is not an environmentally-friendly menu option. It wreaks havoc on the surrounding environment, has severe costs in terms of resources and carbon use and it leads to the immense suffering of millions of fish – both wild and farmed.
The unsustainable practice of open-net salmon farming is a significant cause of the dramatic decline in populations of wild Atlantic salmon and the integrity of Scotland’s coastal ecosystems.
Cyril Petherick Flounder – Open Results – Found finds winning flounder
Cyril Petherick Flounder open results.
32 anglers fished with some quality flounder registered despite the significant amount of floodwater sweeping into the estuary from the Taw and Torridge river systems.
15 fish weighed
Top 3 spots
1st Stephen Found 1lb 11 1/4oz
2nd Andrew Clements 1lb 7 3/4oz
3rd Stephen Found 1lb 7oz
Best junior just missing out on the prize table was Ivy McCourt with a lovely flounder of 1lb 6 3/4oz.
Next open competition Bidefords Christmas open on the 11th fishing 09:30-14:30 its going to be a big one as usual!!!!!!!
Appledore Lifeboat – Safety Awareness for anglers
As we enter the winter season many keen sea anglers will be targetting the specimen fish that lurk within the waters off the North Devon Coast. Recent events highlighted the dangers that can be faced when fishing from this wild and rugged coast. The angler involved expressed his sincere thanks to the RNLI who undoubtedly saved him from a watery grave. Following on from this I was pleased to work with the local RNLI to promote the wearing of lifejackets and buoyancy aids.
On Saturday, November 26th, Pauline and I visited Appledore Lifeboat Station where my own lifejacket and our sons lifejacket were given a safety inspection. Both jackets failed to pass the criteria as both had inflation mechanisms that were past their use by date. New parts were promptly ordered from Summerlands Tackle at Westward Ho! Of the sixteen lifejackets presented for inspection 50% failed due to mostly minor defects. It has to be remembered that this vital equipment could save your life and failure at a critical moment could be as catastrophic as the brakes failing while descending a steep hill!
Many thanks to Owen Atkinson, David Inwood and Simon McCarthy for their expertise, advice and a fascinating insight into the valuable work undertaken by the RNLI.
RNLI Education Volunteer Matt Cox offered useful advise for anglers and other water users and discussed the merits of modern lightweight bouyancy aids.
The RNLI carry out many rescues throughout the year and undoubtedly encounter many who are Ill-informed about the risks that are ever-present at the waters edge. I know that many believe that they will get away with it and that nothing will happen to them. On average I believe around ten anglers drown each year making angling a statistically dangerous sport.
The key messages to anglers are :-
Always wear a life jacket when fishing from shore or boat
Modern Automatic lifejackets are lightweight and comfortable. Those who wear them often forget they’re wearing them. Remember to regularly check and service your lifejacket inline with the manufacturers recommendations.
Always carry a means of calling for help on your person.
Whicever device you choose to call for help, you must be able to reach it Easily in an emergency. Consider taking a mobile phone with the Safe Trx app.
Always check the weather forecast and tide times
Anglers should check the tide times and predicted swell forecast. This is particularly important for shore anglers to reduce the risk of being swept away or cut off by the tide.
Tell someone else where you’re going and when you’ll be back
They can raise the alarm with the coastguard by calling 999 or 112 if yiu are overdue.
It is reassuring to know that the coastguard are there to work with the RNLI to rescue those who are in difficulty and do so without judging those they rescue. Chatting with those at the lifeboat station it is very apparent how passionate and dedicated they are to ensuring the safety of those who interact with the sea for recreational reasons or to earn their livelihoods.
Flounder Competition
Jennets Carp
24lb 2oz lb carp caught by Steve Parker on Oxford Baits LTK at Jennetts Reservoir
Anglers Paradise – Lure Fishing Weekend
THE WINNER OF THE 2022 LURE WEEKEND IS JOE SIMS
Joe Won with 5 Species consisting of Pike, Perch, Rudd, Rainbow Trout and Blue Trout.
He went home winning a massive bundle of Prizes from Fox Rage, Okuma, Rapala, Fortis Eyewear, Catch and a Week’s Holiday for 2 at Anglers Paradise.
CONGRATULATIONS AND WELL DONE JOE! MASSIVE THANK YOU TO THE SPONSORS FOR THE ABSOLUTELY AWESOME PRIZES!!!
THE WINNING CAPTAIN AND TEAM OF THE ANGLERS PARADISE LURE WEEKEND 2022 IS…
Team Drennan with Captain Dave Drake with Mark Bloxham, James Durkin, Emily Durkin, Alan Dicks, Liz Dicks, Simon Blatch and Joe Sims winning with 8 Species caught as a Team.
So, Ben Humber has had his Crown taken away, this year was Dave Drake’s Year as Winning Team Captain and to make it even more special – his first ever Lure Weekend Win! A Massive Congratulations to Dave and his Team, they all fished their socks off till the final whistle and Captain Dave lead them expertly to victory and without a doubt deserved to win. The Species consisted of Pike, Perch, Tiger Trout, Blue Trout, Rainbow Trout, Rudd and Golden Tench. They were the only Team to catch Golden Tench too which is pretty special!
MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS TO TEAM DRENNAN AND OUR 2022 WINNING CAPTAIN DAVE DRAKE!!
BIG Thank You to Fat Mammoth, Rapala, Fox Rage for the awesome Team Prizes – they all looked like the Cats that got the cream!
IN 2ND PLACE OF THE ANGLERS PARADISE LURE WEEKEND IS…
AARON CHUCK with 4 Species consisting of Pike, Perch, Rainbow Trout and Rudd, with a length of 146cm.
Congratulations and Well Done Aaron! Aaron was the Winner of the last Lure Weekend we held in 2019, so to come as Runner Up is quite an achievement!
Massive THANK YOU to Fox Rage, Drennan, Okuma, Rapala, Fortis Eyewear and Catch for the amazing Prizes!
IN 3RD PLACE OF THE ANGLERS PARADISE 2022 LURE WEEKEND IS…
STEVE SELF with 4 Species consisting of Pike, Perch, Rainbow Trout and Rudd with a length of 126cm.
Congratulations and Well Done Stevie!
Thank you to Fox Rage, Rapala, Fortis and Catch for the great Prizes!
