Combe Martin SAC member Daniel Welch is keen mullet angler and has enjoyed recent success tempting specimens of 5lb 1oz and 4lb. 
FUN FISHING 2022
Combe Martin SAC hosted their annual Fun Fish on Ilfracombe Pier in conjunction with the 2022 Sea Ilfracombe festival. The event was once again a resounding success with several families taking part in the Fun Species competition.
Special guests on the day included Mat Mander Chief Officer of Devon & Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority and the Ilfracombe Area Coastguard. The event gave the opportunity for members of the public the talk with the guests about the valuable work that they do.
The event was generously supported by High Street Tackle, The Angling Trust and Ilfracombe Aquarium.
The whole aim of the event is to give the opportunity for young anglers and their families to participate in angling. The Angling Trust provided Certificates, Angling books and caps. High Street Tackle provided a top prize for the overall winner of the event along with numerous prizes for all who took part. Ilfracombe Aquarium gave a family entry to be used by the winning family at a time of their choosing.
The competition started promptly at 3.00pm as the tide receded from the landing stages. Close to twenty anglers of all ages cast out and fish came regularly from the start. Eight species were registered including, pollock, ballan wrasse, pouting, corkwing wrasse, rock goby, tompot blennies, Shanny and dragonette.
Smiling faces lit up what was at times a grey afternoon as dark clouds drifted above with occasional drizzle.
Small ragworm baits proved most effective with mackerel and squid also producing good numbers of fish.
The competition closed at 5.00pm with the prize presentation at 5:15pm.
The winning individual was Effie Welch who was presented with a superb Rockfish LRF rod and reel donated by High Street Tackle. The winning family were the Stanway family, Ross, Charlie and Jake who received a family ticket for Ilfracombe aquarium.
All junior anglers who took part received a prize and each family were presented with a book on Angling from the Angling Trust.
The club hope to host the event again next year and thank all those who made the effort to attend.
SEA ANGLING CLUB – RESULTS
Bideford Angling Club September rover results
1st Stephen Found thick-lipped mullet 4lb 2oz 103 125%
2nd Andrew Clements thick-lipped mullet 3lb 10 1/2oz 91.406%
3rd Stephen Found thick-lipped mullet 3lb 4oz 81.250%
Appledore Shipbuilders September Rover
Andrew Atkinson secured 1st place with a Bull Huss of 8lb 8 3/4ozs. Oliver Whitmore was 2nd with a Trigger Fish of 2lb 0ozs.
COMBE MARTIN SAC MIXED BRACE COMPETITION RESULTS
The July and August Mixed brace competitions were won by:-
July – Ali Laird gilthead bream 7lb 4oz & smoothound 11lb 8oz
356%
August – Mark Jones – porbeagle 280lb & small-eyed ray 10lb 6oz
263%
Many thanks to our sponsors High Street Tackle & Braunton Baits
Combe Martin SAC Lure Fishing Competition New leader
An early morning session produced just the one take in weedy waters on a flooding tide. The bass of 68cm was tempted on a weightless mega-bass spindle worm and propels Wayne Thomas into a narrow lead in Combe Martins SAC’s Lure fishing competition sponsored by High Street Tackle.
1st – 3 bass 68cm 66.5cm 64cm Total 198.5cm. Wayne Thomas
2nd – 3 bass 68cm 66cm 61cm Total 195cm Daniel Welch
3rd – 3 bass 58cm 58cm 57cm Total 173cm Solly Welch
Biggest bass – Daniel Welch & Wayne Thomas. = 68cm
COMBE MARTIN SAC LURE COMPETITION UPDATE
A bass of 66.5cm caught on a mega-bass spindle worm has moved Wayne Thomas into second place in Combe Martin SAC’s Lure Fishing Competition that runs until the end of October. The fish was one of two bass caught during a short evening session.
Lure Fishing Competition Standings :-
1st – 3 bass – Daniel Welch – 195
2nd 3 Bass – Wayne Thomas – 181.5
3rd 3 bass – Solly Welch – 173
Biggest bass – Daniel Welch – 68cm
Combe Martin SAC Mixed Brace Competition
LURE FISHING
I joined South Molton Angling Club for an evening at Instow where members tried their luck with both Fly and lure tactics. It was an enjoyable evening but no bass were tempted. Fortunately the Cricket Club gave a chance for members to discuss tactics for next time over a welcome pint.
http://www.highstreettackle.co.uk
The following night I headed out onto the coast where I enjoyed more success. Early into the session I tempted a small bass on a surface lure and went on to tempt four more after dark on a soft plastic. The best of these a nice fish of 64cm that will be enjoyed pan fried with just a sprinkling of pepper.
Combe Martin SAC Lure Competition – fish registered so far.
Daniel Welch. three bass total – 167.5 cm
James Corner two bass – 122 cm
Wayne Thomas two bass – 115 cm
Peter Robinson one bass – 62 cm
Ross Stanway – One bass = 53 cm
Combe Martin SAC – Lure Competition Latest
Daniel Welch has extended his lead in Combe Martin SAC’s lure competition with a boat caught bass of 58.5cm bringing his three fish total to 167.5cm.
COMBE MARTIN SAC Lure Competition Update
Daniel Welch has secured a lead in Combe Martin SAC’s Lure competition with three quilifying bass totalling 159cm. It is very early days in the competition that runs until October 29th and is sponsored by High Street Tackle. With the settled conditions and big tides over the coming weeks I expect several bass to be registered. It could be that a glut of spider crab will result in the bass moving away from the lures for a few weeks.
The clubs is also running a best mixed brace competition throughout July sponsored by Braunton Baits.
CMSAC – Lure Competition Latest
Combe Martin SAC member Peter Robinson registered this 62cm bass into the clubs lure competition. The fish was tempted on Peters Private boat and was tempted using a Savage Gear Sandeel.
Daniel Welch = 107cm
Peter Robinson – 62cm
Ross Stanway 53 cm
Biggest bass – Peter Robinson 62 cm