Kevin Legge secured first and second in Combe Martin Sea Angling Clubs Spring Rover landing a fine brace of bull Huss scaling 13lb 101/2oz and 11lb 8oz. The fish were tempted during heavy rain and were caught on consecutive casts. 
Both fish were retained in a large rock pool and returned after weighing and photographing in line with the clubs catch and release ethos.
George Hunton secured victory in Combe Martin SAC’s Winter Rover 2 landing a Bull Huss of 8lb 7oz. In runner up spot was Mark Jones with a thornback ray of 8lb 8oz. Plenty of other fish were caught by the nine anglers who fished including dogfish, conger and rockling.
1st Antony Smith spotted ray 4lb 8 1/2oz
1st Paul Ackland – Golden Grey Mullet 1lb 8oz 75%
2nd Dick Talbot Dog fish 2lb 2oz 70.833%
End of season results
1st Dick Talbot dogfish 2lb 2oz 70.833%
Thirteen anglers fished CMSAC’s six-hour rover on February 1st and the fishing proved hard going with strong winds and heavy rain throughout much of the night. Dogfish dominated catches with Jonathon Stanway securing top spot with a dog of 2lb 3oz. In runner up spot was Daniel Welch with a doggie of 2lb and Mark Tossel third with a doggie of 1lb 14oz.
Appledore Shipbuilders travelled far and wide across the South West to find their fish and fish more associated with the summer months won.
1st -James Atkinson – mackerel 1lb 5/8oz
2nd – Kevin Pike – bass 5lb 3oz ( returned in line with current regulations)
3rd – James Atkinson -mackerel 14oz
Sea Anglers are having to dodge the storms to find quality fish along the coast. Great care needs to be taken when choosing where to fish during these difficult conditions with long handled nets and sound warm waterproof clothing essential.
Kevin Legge won Combe Martin SACs Winter Rover 1 with a fine specimen Bull Huss scaling 11lb 7oz. Mark Jones was runner up with a small eyed ray of 9lb 3oz and Kevin third with another Bull Huss of 8lb 11oz. Fishing was generally hard going with quality fish hard to find. Nick Phillips caught a pleasing pollock of 3lb 9oz for forth place and David Jenkins targeted estuary flounder to take fifth place with a flounder of 1lb 61/2oz. Members also caught codling, whiting, pouting, rockling, small conger and the inevitable dogfish.
BIDEFORD COD COMPETITION
Dick Talbot secured first and second place in Bideford Angling Clubs cod competition landing codling of 2lb 0.5oz and 1lb 12oz.
Once again many thanks to Matt Jeffery for I report on the CMSAC Boat Trip
Teddie boy 02/01/20
this was our 2 nd trip out after the elusive cod.
a little more blowy and the conditions today oozed cod.
with some fresh blood on the boat spirits were high once again,this was also boosted by the news that Michael webber had netted two cod to nearly 14lb the day before which is always good to hear !.
we managed to get conger eels to the boat within the first 15 minutes and the odd dog. The constant top up of tea and coffee from the ever vigilant skipper ( a knock off from the old block!.)plus bacon and sausage rolls.
Some decent fish came to the boat with Rob Scoines getting the first blonde to the boat of 14 lb
then young Jack Phillips picking up a whiting of 1lb 10 oz
the best fish of the day went to John Shapland with a 19lb 14oz blonde ray
Mark Jones and Mark Jones also got in to the action on the blonde to double figures
and Jamie Steward managed a decent eel at 22lb 6oz
other ray were caught by all, so we at least all had something other than small eels and dogs.
alas there was no cod, again it was not for the lack of trying, even with Michael stretching our 8 hr trip to 9hrs to give us every last glimmer of hope of the capture of the elusive unicorn mud pig !!!!!!!.. we will be back piggy……..
Combe Martin SAC Boat Trip
Many thanks to Matt Jeffery for his report on CMSAC’s latest boat trip out of Minehead.
Osprey trip..30/12/19
Spirits were high as we pulled out of the harbour today with Steve Webber at the helm , all of us busily making our rigs and hoping to trick that big one into snaffling it up off the sea bed .
I for one was very pleased to be greeted by a calm morning as we pulled out of the harbour, and i wondered to myself was today the day ?.
with the usual teas and coffees made by young William Webber and also the cooking of bacon and sausages by Steve Webber it was a pleasent day
Unfortunately it wasnt to be today and it wasnt for the lack of trying either might i add ….
a few decent fish were caught through the masses of conger eels to 15lb…….
Louis Rooke managed a nice blonde
Peter Robinson had a spotted ray of 3lb 2oz
many thanks to Steve Webber for trying his best to get us on the fish ,and good on the club members for never giving up with those big cod baits ……
Combe Martin SAC members Jonathon Stanway and Ross Stanway got their New Year off to a great start catching a variety of fish from a North Devon Rock Mark. Ross’ landed smoothound of 8lb 6oz a catch that would have been considered a summer species a decade ago. This ponders the question is it an early hound or a late hound?
Mark Jones secured first place in Combe Martin SAC’s Breath Of Fresh Air Winter Rover landing a specimen small eyed ray of 11lb 1oz.
Runner was Dan Miles Redmore with a spurdog of 8lb 8oz.
Wayne Thomas was third with a dogfish of 2lb 2oz and Dan Welch forth with a thornback ray of 6lb 15oz. Jack Phillips was fifth with dogfish of 1lb 12oz and Mark Jones 6th with a codling of 5lb 13oz.
The fourteen members fished marks covering a wide area from Somerset down to Bideford Bay. Fishing was generally hard going with dogfish and small conger prolific in some areas.
I fished a local mark and the highlight of the trip was a visit from a hungry shag that was so tame it took bits of bait straight from the hand. Whilst cormorants cause a great deal of damage inland and on rivers I delight in seeing them on the coast where they belong. Gannets were also swooping over the water indicating food fish potentially close to the surface.
Combe Martin SAC members assembled at the White Lion Inn, Braunton for their AGM where close to twenty members were in attendance. The clubs officers reported on a good year for the club with a significant upturn in membership. Nick Phillips and Wayne Thomas continue in their roles as Secretary and Chairman (a position we have shared for close to forty years). The club thanked Graham Snow for his sterling service as Cup Custodian over many years. The position has been taken by Rob Scoines. Young Jack Phillips has taken on the role of club Webmaster.
The club are considering joining the Angling Trust to take a greater role in consultations that affect Sea Angling and support the National Governing body. This will also offer insurance for club members. The membership endorsed joining the Trust if the committee sanction the move following a meeting with an Angling Trust coordinator. The club will remain in The BCFSA.
A full calendar of events was discussed and will be drafted and published in due course.
Contact details for membership can be found on the clubs website : www.cmsac.co.uk
CUP WINNERS 2019
Cod Trophy James Gubb Fradgley Cod 12lb 3oz
Bass Trophy Nick Phillips Bass 10lb 1oz 125.78%
Mullet Cup John Avery Thick-lip 5lb 1oz 119.118%
Conger Cup Rob Scoines Conger 39lb 130%
Flatfish Cup David Jenkins Flounder 2lb 4oz. 112.15 %
Shore Shield Robin Bond Gilthead bream 5lb. 166.667 %
Medway Cup Rob Scoines. Conger 39lb. 130%
Ray Shield Mark Jones. Thornback. 14lb 8oz. 131.818%
Burgess Trophy – Solly Welch / Charlie Stanway
Wrasse Trophy Ross Stanway Ballan Wrasse 3lb 12oz.
Scouse Shield Alex Mcleish Rockling 2lb
OOL. – Rob Scoines – Blonde ray – 21lb 11oz = Dartmouth
D Kyte Award – John Shapland 6 Mullet – 628.395
Merit Award – Mark Jones Outstanding catches including a skate of 193lb
Club Record –
Mark Jones Turbot 4lb 4oz. Shore
Robin Bond = Gilthead bream – 5lb
Top Six –
| Mark Jones | thornback | 14lb 8oz | 131.818 | S |
| Mark Jones | small eyed ray | 13lb 2oz | 131.25 | S |
| Mark Jones | bull huss | 13lb 6oz | 133.75 | S |
| Mark Jones | spotted ray | 5lb | 111.111 | S |
| Mark Jones | smoothound | 9lb 2oz | 91.25 | S |
| Mark Jones | Blonde ray | 15lb 3oz | 125 | S |
|
Total 724.179
Rob Sciones |
rockling |
1lb 10.5oz |
94.643 |
S |
| Rob Scoines | wrasse | 3lb 9oz | 79.167 | S |
| Rob Scoines | thick lipped grey mullet | 4lb 7oz | 104.412 | S |
| Rob Scoines | small eyed ray | 9lb 13oz | 98.125 | B |
| Rob Scoines | conger | 39lb | 130 | B |
| Rob Scoines | bass | 8lb 8oz | 106.25 | S |
| 612.597 |
The flounder fishing season is in full swing in the estuary with several competitions this weekend. Results were mixed during the competitions with flounders prolific in some areas and very scarce in other areas. A few bass were also caught and returned in line with present regulations.
Matt Jefferey secured the top three places in Combe Martin SACs Flounder competition winning the competition with a fine flattie of 1lb 12oz.
1st Matt Jeffery 1lb 12oz
2nd Matt Jeffery 1lb 7oz
3rd Matt Jeffery 1lb 5oz Joint
4th with 1lb 2oz Jamie Stewart Dave Jenkins Daniel Laird
1st Tracey Phipps 1lb 4oz
2nd Tracey Phipps 15oz
3rd Tracey Phipps 14oz 3rd Ian Anderson 14oz
John Passmore secured victory in Triple Hook Clubs Open flounder competition with a flounder scaling 1lb 105/8oz. In runner up spot was Mark Beer with flounder of 1lb 101/8oz and third Joan Cairns with a flounder of 1lb 71/2oz.
1st John Passmore – Bull huss 11lb 51/8oz and dogfish 1lb 11.5oz
