Bonito are members of the Tunny family.
Combe Martin SAC Member Daniel Welch tempted this 3lb 12oz thick lipped grey mullet from a local harbour. The species offer exciting sport on light tackle and the next four months offer the best opportunity to target them from a wide variety of marks.
Back in February Combe Martin SAC member Shaun Quartly contacted me regarding an unusual fish he had caught whilst fishing for ray from a beach near Minehead. I suggested that he should preserve the fish by freezing after weighing it and document every detail carefully as I it seemed that the fish was a very rare capture. This proved to be the case and after following all due protocol the fish has been ratified as a new British Record. In addition to being an accolade for any angler these records are also valuable in monitoring and recording species for science.
Braunton Baits Sponsor Combe Martin SACs Fish of the month competition for the best mixed brace. First prize is a T-Shirt from Ocean Daze
Heavy rain dampened the spirits on the weekend that signals the start of the summer holidays. At the meetu p and committee meeting that followed the competition members discussed the huge shoals of mackerel that are providing some exciting fishing along the coast. These fish are undoubtedly attracting larger predators like tope, shark and bass. Other agenda items included the upcoming Fun Fish a run down recent competitions includng the Putsborough Open and Open Lure competition. Fish conservation and protocol regarding shark fishing were also discussed. Summer is always a time of low attendance at club meetings and it is important that anglers get together to plan and air issues.
Combe Martin SAC member Kyle Bishop has caught a massive shore caught tope weighing 61lb 9oz. The huge specimen was tempted from a North Devon rock mark and is the biggest tope caught from the North Devon shoreline in thirteen years. This year is proving to be an exceptional year for predators with large amounts of bait fish in the region and some excellant shark fishing off-shore. Congratulations to Kyle on landing such a superb specimen and getting an excellent picture of the fish. Below is Kyles own account of the capture of a very special fish.
“Well after not sea fishing for a few months putting a few hrs in on the flyrod, I was getting the bug to chuck a few big baits, early last month got on phone to Tyler Roffey after seeing some bad weather coming through big swells and strong sw winds, we set out on a short window before it got to rough to fish a local mark. Got on the mark just as it was getting light set up 1 rod blasted big maki bait out for tope, set fly rod up for bass after 15mins Tys shouting my rod was going, running across the rocks to find rod in full arch and line peeling off, first run was incredible put some drag on and managed to turn her, after a back n forth battle Ty went down and put it straight in the net, I dropped down to give him a hand when I realised what we had, quickly sorted scales and sling, she went 61lb 9oz first cast back in to the big blue and a new personal best 
quick pic and back she went, fish of a lifetime still buzzing now and believe I’m only the second ever person to have a 60lber from the shore on the north Devon coast line yes now top man Ty for landing it and pics”
Mark Jones has extended his lead in Combe Martin SAC’s members bass lure competition catching an open coast bass of 63cm.
Present standings are :-
Mark Jones bass – 63cm, 63cm, 71cm – Total – 197cm
Shaun Quartly bass – 72cm, 60.5cm, 56cm – Total – 188.5cm
Reece Woolgar bass – 57cm, 59cm, 64cm – Total – 180cm
