Spurdog to 18lb and double figure bull huss are featuring in catches off Ilfracombe with John Barbeary’s ‘Bluefin’ taking anglers to the proven marks.
Off Shore Sport On Bluefin
Calm weather has enabled John Barbeary to take anglers off Ilfracombe to enjoy some frantic sport with spurdog and bull huss. Each winter huge packs of spurdog prowl the Bristol Channel hunting for whiting, herring and sprats. The commercial ban on fishing for these members of the shark family has resulted in a population explosion that is generally welcomed by anglers who return the fish to the water.
SPURDOG OFF ILFRACOMBE
Large packs of spurdog are on the hunt in the deep waters of the Bristol Channel off Ilfracombe. This 15lb specimen was tempted by John Passmore and was one of sixty plus fish taken early in the day!
Slade Pike
Norman Martin returned to Slader Reservoir with his pike fishing tackle after an encounter with a toothy critter during a recent North Devon Tackle Club Match. He was rewarded with this hard fighting mid double.
Spurdog off Ilfracombe – Bluefin Charters
Keith Armishaw enjoyed a Red letter day off Ilfracombe on Bluefin . Thanks to Keith for this report .. I had the chance to escape for days fishing with son Lee who had never caught a spurdog – so we got on board Bluefin out of Ilfracombe with John Barbeary. I took plenty of muppets seeing the difference they made to the catch rate last time out. We started trying for bass but only had a couple on the flood tide, so it was on to the spurdog. Lee had a two bait rig and I used a single bait and what a trip it turned out to be, we had around 90 on the boat between 7 of us with Lee catching 30 up to 14lbs against my meagre 18. Jonathan weighed in with a couple of good huss and a conger but what a session. We then tried for bass on the return trip catching around around 30, and only 5 dogfish caught all day. We even headed in early as we were all fished out and didn’t fancy an inshore mark after the bass as this is where the dogs were taken. An unbelievable day…
SPURDOG ARRIVE OFF-SHORE
Spurdog and bull Huss are giving sport off Ilfracombe with John Barbeary putting anglers on the fish. The early arrival of spurdog will bring hope amongst shore anglers that this season could be a good one for the species that have filled the winter gap in shore sport from diminished cod runs.
RAY ON A WET AND WINDY NIGHT
Autumn nights give the chance of a wide range of species with ray, tope, conger, bass and Huss all on the agenda. Shaun Quartly fished a wet and windy night at a popular Ilfracombe mark and caught a small eyed ray of 8lb 10oz.
South Molton Anglers take a trip aboard Bluefin
Eddie Rands of South Molton Anglers reports on their latest boat trip.
With a decent forecast we eagerly set off to ilfracombe.
We left on time and went to a nearby reef, tried a couple of drifts for a bass, nothing doing so off we steamed to Lundy.
We soon caught a few mackerel for bait and then proceeded to work our way round permitted area of the island with feathers and sidewinders drifting where we caught ballan wrasse, pollack,coalfish, pouting a few more mackerel and horse mackerel.
We then anchored up in some deeper water and caught a few dogfish, Huss and tope.
Stephen Baker, Matt Brady and Steve Edmonds broke their duck and landed at least 1 each.
We had a lovely day in a very scenic situation with a good bunch of chaps and again well looked after by John Barbery aboard Bluefin.
Looking forward to next time.
FUN FISHING 2019
FUN FISHING
ILFRACOMBE PIER
SUNDAY September 1st
1.30pm until 4.30pm
Special Guests:–
Dominic Garnett – Free Lance Writer and Angling Trust
Steve Dawe – Stroke Association – Species Fisher
Safe Fishing – With the coastguard
Fun Fishing Competition
Sponsored byHigh Street Tackle, Ilfracombe
(Below) last years winners
Young Effie tempts a tope
Daniel Welch and family headed out in their Private Boat to enjoy some sport afloat off Ilfracombe. Young Effie was delighted to boat fine tope. Bass, pollock and bull Huss also put in an appearance.
