Fifty anglers fished Triple Hook Clubs Turkey Open on a bright calm winters day.
Winner was John Passmore with a flounder of 1lb 13oz.
2nd – Junior Angler – Lennox Pine flounder 1lb 12oz
3rd – Taz Wotton – Flounder 1lb 10oz
4th – Nigel Gullion – Flounder 1lb 10oz
5th – Kay Short – Flounder 1lb 9.5oz
6th – Joan Cairns – 1lb 8.5oz
7th – Julian Stainer – 1lb 8oz
8th – Mark Beer – 1lb 6.75oz
9th – Marilyn Wotton – 1lb 5oz
10th – Dennis Toleman – Flounder 1lb 5oz
Thirty-six anglers fished in Appledore Shipbuilders Christmas Competition on the Taw estuary and caught sixty-seven flounder most of which were returned alive to the water. Steven Kitto landed the winning fish scaling 1lb 135/8oz. In runner up spot was Liam Sumenar with a flattie of 1lb 121/2oz and in third James Atkinson with a flounder of 1lb 111/4oz.
In Triple Hook Clubs Ladies and Junior Open seventeen took part with Marilyn Wotton securing first in the ladies section with a fine flounder of 1lb 125/8oz second in the ladies section was Yasmin Beer with a flounder of 1lb 101/4oz. In the junior section it was Lily Gullin who took top spot with a flounder of 1lb 141/2oz. Yasmin Beer took second with her flounder of1lb 101/4oz and Levi Beer third with a flounder of 1lb 2oz.
There was an impressive entry in this Bideford and District Angling Clubs Christmas Match on the Torridge Estuary with 69 entrants casting their lines in search of flounder. Bideford give many thanks to their generous sponsors :-D+S Electric,Anglers Heaven,Summerlands Tackle,Honeys Butchers,The Bell Parkham,M.Watts and Sons,Ray Toms David Grigg+sons,Bideford Angling club,Kyile Blackmore and Ian Hooper.
Paul Downing+Lisa Downing worked extremely hard getting all the prizes together and thanks to Phil Vanstone for gathering the draw prizes and lovely food
Seniors
1st Lee Newcombe – Flounder 1lb 31/4oz
2nd Martin Johns – Flounder 1lb 23/4oz
3rd Howard Lewis – Bass 3lb 13oz
Juniors
1st Sam ray – Flounder 1lb 1/4oz
2nd Alyssa Williams – Flounder 141/4oz
3rd Tommy Taylor – 13oz
A Charity Competition based at the Rolle Quay Inn raised over £700 for Willand House. The flounder competition was won by David Jenkins who landed three flounder for a total weight of 5lb 123/4oz. The bag included a fine flounder of 2lb 61/2oz that won the biggest flounder of the day prize.
Steve Luxton was runner up in the competition with a three fish bag of 5lb 3/8oz and David Jenkins son Charlie secured third place with three fish for 4lb 61/4oz. Louis Rooke took the prize for smallest flounder of the day at 14oz.
Charlie Jenkins
Large numbers of flounder were landed over the weekend in the competition and by pleasure anglers taking advantage of excellent conditions following the recent floodwater tat has flushed out the bait robbing crabs and accumulations of leaves. John Shapland fishing a session on Monday November 28th landed a fine brace of flounder weighing 1lb 14oz and 1lb 10oz.
Dan Miles Redmore has landed one of the biggest flounder to be caught from the Taw estuary in recent seasons a huge flattie that weighed 2lb 10oz 3/8 on certified scales.
1st Taz wotton flounder 1lb 13 1/2oz 2nd Marilyn Wotton flounder 1lb 12 1/2 3rd Taz Wotton flounder 1 lb 9 3/4 Winner of the pool nearest fish to 1lb 10 was also Taz wotton Juniors 1st William Richards flounder 15oz 2nd Charlie Jenkins flounder 14 1/4oz 3rd William Richards flounder 9.7oz
Taz Wotton
Lee Watts said a massive thank you for the turn out Bideford & District Angling Club enjoyed on Sunday with 46 senior entry’s and 6 juniors. A very tough day for all competitors today with more wood in the river than fish. A massive well done to Taz and his mum cleaning up (lucky gits) and well done to both juniors for putting fish on the scales.
Our next open comp is the Christmas comp on the 11th Dec be great to see u all there!
Terry Dymond took top spot in Bideford Angling Clubs monthly rover with a flounder of 1lb 123/4oz. Paul Downing was second with a flounder of 1lb 10oz and Taz Wotton was third with a plaice of 1lb 81/4oz. In fourth was Andrew Clements with a plaice of 1lb 7oz and Lisa Downing was fifth with a flounder of 1lb 61/4oz.
(Above) Josh and James Atkinson
Appledore Shipbuilders monthly Rover attracted a field of 25 seniors and 4 juniors. Josh Atkinson won the competition with a fine flounder of 2lb 105/8oz. In second and third was James Atkinson with flounder of 2lb 75/8oz and 2lb 63/8oz. Junior winner was Nalani Knox with flounder weighing 2lb 4oz and 1lb 101/4oz.
Dennis Toleman secured victory in Triple Hook Clubs RBL Shield with a flounder of 1lb 65/8oz. In runner up spot was Mark Beer with a flounder of 1lb 45/8oz.
Flounder fishing in the Taw is now approaching its prime time with the obliging flatfish gaining weight before leaving the estuary after Christmas to spawn. Local clubs have been enjoying some action with Juniors and ladies joining in the fun!
Nalarni Knox
Yasmin Beer won both the ladies and Junior section with a fine flounder of 1lb 123/8oz. Second in the junior section was Lewis Rigler with a flounder of 1lb 5oz. Levi Beer took runner up spot in the club section of the Junior competition. Runner up in the ladies section was Debbie Rigler with flounder of 1lb 47/8oz.
Triple Hook Members in action
Ollie Passmore fished a local rock mark to land a personal best bull huss of 8lb 2oz.
Combe Martin SAC member Ian laird fished a North Devon Rock mark to land this brace of huss and smoothound
Whilst this should be the best time of year for shore angling it does not follow that it will always be easy. I have enjoyed two sessions this weekend one in hope of tope the other after the frustratingly difficult to tempt grey mullet. Mullet were present in good numbers a few big fish ghosting around ignoring the bread-flake offerings totally. Hundreds of tiny mullet attacking the baits if dropped into the murkier water.
My only catch was a shore rockling caught on a 6/0 hook and a squid and mackerel cocktail. Its leopard type markings unlike any I have seen previously.
The estuary has been on fine form for flounder enthusiasts but unfortunately did not fish well on the big tide fished by Triple Hook Club members on Sunday October 16th. Only three flounder were caught by the 12 anglers fishing the best to Julian Stainer weighed 1lb 23/8oz. In runner up spot was Dennis Toleman with flounder of 1lb 3/4oz and in third Steve Luxton with a flounder of 151/4oz.
If you have any news or good sea angling pictures please send to North Devon Angling News.
Daniel Welch took his children to the River Taw estuary where they enjoyed flounder fishing fun beneath the warm autumn sunshine. The humble flounder are ideal fish for Junior anglers to target as they are relatively easy to catch and give a pleasing tussle on light tackle.
Six year old Effie Welch ( Above)
Two and half year old – Solly Welch