Combe Martin SAC member Jamie Steward enjoyed Spring ray action from a Bristol Channel Mark landing a personal best blonde ray scaling 13lb 9oz.
Big huss for Combe Martin SAC member
Combe Martin SAC member David Brooke caught this 11lb 8oz specimen bull huss on a recent trip to the shoreline.
North Devon Smoothound
Combe Martin SAC Member Shane Hookway fished a North Devon Rock mark to tempt this smoothound of 9lb 7oz.
SCOTTISH TREK BRINGS SUCCESS WITH HUGE SKATE
Combe Martin SAC member Kyle Bishop made the long trek to Scotland in search of the huge skate that reside in the deep waters. He enjoyed success from the rocky shoreline bring two huge specimens to the shore estimated at 189lb and 187lb.
BIG CHANNEL BLONDE
Combe Martin SAC member Dan Spearman fished a Bristol Channel Shore mark (English side) to tempt this fine specimen blonde ray scaling 16lb 6oz.
SPRING RAY
Combe Martin SAC members Kody Chugg and Dan Spearman have enjoyed early spring success with small eyed ray. Kody beaching fine a specimen 11lb 5oz and Dan Spearman a specimen of 10lb 5oz.
The early bird catches……………….the
Combe Martin SAC member Ross Stanway set his alarm for the early hours of 2021 and embraced the icy conditions to get his angling year underway. Fishing from a local rock mark spurdog, bull huss, conger or cod were the expected catch. The first fish to rattle the rod was small conger of around 6lb. Then Ross hooked into a good fish that fought hard and swam deep in the water. Ross was hopeful that he had hooked a rare double figure cod. To his surprise the culprit was a specimen smoothound scaling 12lb 9.5oz a fish more often associated with the spring, summer and autumn!
Rare skate from Bristol Channel shore mark.
Jamie Steward fished an up Channel mark and hooked into a surprise fish in the shape of a rare skate. The skate believed to be a blue skate (Common skate) is a very rare catch from the South-West of England and sets a new club record for the Combe Martin SAC. The skate weighed 8lb 3oz which its not big in skate terms as these fish grow to over 200lb’s. I wrote about the huge skate that were once caught off Lynmouth and the North Devon in my book “I Caught A Glimpse”. coast it would be exciting if these fish could once again establish a population in our region. I have made enquiry’s to try and establish a definite identification of the skate and will update this story when I have further expert opinion.
The skate has a large chunk missing from its wing indication that it has been attacked at some point by a large predator.’possibly a seal or shark. This is of course one of sea anglings great attractions in that you never know what lurks pithing casting range.
Jamie was fishing with fellow club member Ali Laird who caught a 20lb 3oz specimen conger.
Big Conger for CMSAC member David Brooke
BIG CONGER REQUIRE STRONG TACKLE
Combe Martin Sea Angling Club member David Brooke fished a North Devon rock mark to tempt a fine specimen conger scaling 26lb 10oz. Large conger are to be expected over the winter months and can turn up at many marks and are often the source of tales of the one that got away. Strong tackle is required to give a good chance of securing these powerful fish that often dwell in the snaggiest of lairs. Whilst conger of over forty pounds have been landed from the North Devon shoreline larger specimens of over fifty pounds undoubtedly exist and offer a significant challenge to the shore angler.
Anglers fishing during the winter months require top quality waterproof clothing to ensure that can enjoy their long vigils beside the murky surging waters of the Bristol Channel. Local company Chillcheaters based in Braunton provide outstanding quality clothing that I have been using for several seasons.
Double Figure Bass
Combe Martin SAC Member Kevin Legge tempted this fine 10lb 12oz bass from a North Devon Beach using an Ammo baits Joey mackerel.
The bass was carefully returned after this quick photo was taken.
bass