“Picked my tides and weather last month and fishing some new marks, payed off Nicely with four Tope to 37lb didn’t weigh the smaller ones nice smalleye and a pleasing white Huss”.
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”
Combe Martin SAC member Jamies Steward is having a good run at the moment tempting this fine specimen smoothound of 13lb 3oz on his latest trip to the coast. He also caught a specimen thin lipped mullet of 4lb 14oz from the Taw estuary.
Jamie and his family have been raising funds for the RNLI following a near miss on the coast during the winter. Jamie has organised various events including two raffles and a 100km charity walk that have raised over £1700 for the Ilfracombe RNLI. The local angling community have been generous in supporting Jamies efforts appreciating the wonderful work undertaken by the RNLI.
PUTSBOROUGH 2023
Ray and hound bonanza
As I share in the organisation of this event with Combe Martin SAC I always set out on the evening of the event with a degree of trepidation. Having set the date back at the start of the year there are always unforeseen circumstances that can cause issues on the night. The weather is always a major factor and this year it proved to be ideal for the venue with a light North Easterly breeze coming over our shoulders. We had also managed to miss any major clash with sporting or national events that have conspired in the past. The FA Cup Final, Derby and Cricket Test all completed well before competition start time! I remember one year when England qualified for a major football event! Now how could we predict that ! Fortunately, King Charles had scheduled his Coronation a few weeks early unlike her majesty who forced us to reschedule a few years ago with a golden jubilee celebration weekend.
The event is of course dictated to by the tide times with a small window of opportunity in early summer or late Spring when Low Water falls at a reasonable time coinciding with darkness yet not too late allowing everyone a few hours’ sleep before embarking on Sunday life.
I and CMSAC are always very grateful to the sponsors who invest in the event each year donating a wonderful array of prizes.
SAKUMA, QUAY SPORTS, BRAUNTON BAIT BOX & TEIGN BAITS
I must give special thanks to Craig of Braunton Baits who sorted the top ring of my rod at very short notice. On driving away from home; I noticed that the insert was missing from the top eye of my rod. I rang Craig who offered to repair the rod if I popped into his shop and workshop on the way to the competition.
I arrived at Putsborough and exchanged cheery greetings with Trevor on the gate commenting on how quick the past twelve months had flown past.
Club secretary Nick Phillips was already in place at the bottom of the car park greeting the keen early arrivals. As entrants trickled in it was good to catch up with familiar faces. It was surprising how many stated that it was their first trip out to the seashore in several months some even saying it was the first time since last year’s event. This surely highlights the importance of these fixtures in the local angling calendar. Fishing is of course highly contagious and enthusiastic trip plotting spread amongst the growing groups of anglers.
As the sun slowly sank beneath the horizon cast off time loomed and participants set up their stalls along the beach. At 10:00pm thirty nine anglers launched baits out into the retreating tide.
Nick and I had set up in the unfavoured zone close to the west end of the beach. On the first cast my rod tip nodded setting the scene for the rest of the evening during which I would reel in close to a dozen small dogfish.
The tide ebbed down to low water shortly after midnight and rumours of good fishing further along the beach started to circulate via mobile phone chatter.
It was a perfect night to be on the beach a gentle breeze, a flat calm sea and a strawberry moon rising above the hills behind illuminating the waters of the bay.
What’s in a name? That which we call a strawberry moon, by any other word would smell as sweet.
June’s full moon, also known as “strawberry moon,” is coming up Saturday evening, reaching its peak at 11:42 p.m. ET. It’s expected to be big, bright and golden — a fine way to celebrate the beginning of summer.
High on the hill above Woolacombe a ring of lights shone brightly and music from a Spring Festival event drifted out across the vast sandy expanse of Woolacombe and Putsborough. Anglers’ headlights twinkled at the water’s edge and I wondered what had been caught this year.
Put forty or so anglers on a beach and each year the results are different with the occasional surprise. I well remember one year when Kevin Legge caught a tope of over 40lb that I was privileged to help him land in the surf.
There is always the concern that few fish will be tempted but fortunately over the years there has never been a complete blank.
The species caught do fluctuate a lot and a regular event like this is useful in monitoring change in the marine eco system. When we first held the event close to forty years ago smoothound were seldom weighed into the match with small eyed ray and dogfish dominating. Surprisingly bass have seldom featured in results.
Nick and I made sure we were back at the meet up point before fishing was due to end and I hurriedly assembled the prize table layout.
As anglers arrived back the buzz was apparent and cheerful banter indicated good fishing had been enjoyed by many.
I always find the collection and sorting of results stressful. This year the entry forms flooded in with fish galore written hurriedly upon the crumbled forms. It was immediately apparent that this had been a fishing bonanza. Each fish had to be checked against its relevant specimen rating. Not made easy when some had registered their weights in metric ounces! Fortunately, everyone at least adopted proper pounds and ounces.
With close to forty anglers eager to get the results and get home to bed there was a certain pressure as we filtered the results from highest to lowest. I am fully confident that we got the top three right but concede that there might have been one or two minor errors as we announced the descending order. Apologies for any but I feel sure everyone entitled to a prize received one and all bundles were great value.
We have learnt a few points for next year’s competition when we hope all will come together as summer arrives once again.
The top seventeen anglers received prizes: –
Full Results :-
1st – Steve Liddle – Smoothound 10lb 4oz – 102%
Recieved £100 plus a choice of prize and £39 pool for best specimen.
2nd – Antony Smith – Smoothouind – 8lb 10oz – 86. 25%
Recieved £50 plus choice from the prize table.
3rd – Craig Mcloughlin – Blonde ray – 10lb – 83%
4th – N. Penney – Smoothound – 8lb 2oz – 81.25%
5th – Daniel Welch – small eyed ray – 8lb 1oz – 80.625%
6th – Ross Stanway – small eyed ray – 7lb 13oz – 78.437%
7th – John Johnson – smoothound – 7lb 11oz – 76.825%
8th – Daniel Welch – small eyed ray – 7lb 10oz – 76.25%
9th – Ross Stanway – small eyed ray – 7lb 7oz – 74.375%
10th – S. Springwell – smoothound – 7lb 5oz – 73.125%
11th – John Johnson – smoothound – 7lb 5oz – 73.125%
12th – Martyn Hunton – small eyed ray – 7lb 5oz – 73.125oz
13th – J. Sendell – blonde ray – 8lb 12oz – 72.917%
14th – T. Honeywell – smoothound – 7lb 4oz – 72.5%
15th – Steve Liddle – smoothound – 7lb 4oz – 72.5%
16th – John Johnson – smoothound – 7lb 2oz – 71.125%
17th – Daniel Welch – small eyed ray – 7lb 2oz – 71.125%
Combe Martin SAC member David Brooke caught this stunning Bull Huss weighing 15lb 2oz on a recent session. The fish is just 1oz short of the club record set in 2011 by Jon Patten.
Combe Martin SAC hope you enjoy this open competition with kind permission of the landowner.
The club is very greatfull to local tackle shops and Sakuma for supporting the event.
SAKUMA, High Street Tackle, Quay Sports and Braunton Baits.
The weather as is often the case has proved a concern with a big swell pushing into the North Devon Coast. The conditions should be fishable but challenging. It will be the same for all competitors and big fish often show when there is a bit of movement. Whilst it is breezy this is due to drop off and it is from the West so Putsborough will be sheltered. Whilst two rods are allowed it might prove more effective to fish one rod well than to fish two rods and get tangles as a result of the possible undertow.
Competitors should take great care when wading as there can be a strong undertow and rip tides. Far better to keep shallow and cast from a firm base the fish will come in surprisingly close.
Fishing is for single best specimen, with £100 for first place and £50 second plus pick of the prize table and so on. There is an optional £1 pool foir the best specimen. There will be prizes for the top fifteen fish.
Small-eyed ray are the principal target and can show up anywhere — so pick your spot.
Sandeel is generally best but fish can be tempted at times with a whole squid or mackerel bait. Bass will show if there is some surf, the obliging dogfish is usually around — along with the odd small turbot, conger, smoothound and occasional blonde ray.
Low water is 10:15pm and the best period to fish is usually two hours either side, with the last hour-and-a-half of the ebb and first hour of the flood often proving the most productive. There are some small pits and sandbanks along this beach, so if you can spy one out it might be worth heading for…
For the purpose of this competition two rods and four hooks may be used, with a pennell rig counting as two hooks. Combe Martin Competition size limits apply.
Please leave a space of approximately 20 yards between yourself and the next angler — it’s a large beach!
When you catch a fish, please check it against the sizes overleaf and complete the capture form, before showing it to another competitor and asking them to witness it.
[Witnesses: Please also print name so you can be identified if need be!]
Steward’s decision is final. All complaints must be issued in writing to organisers before the scales close.
Please do not bring fish to the scales in water, unless the intention is to release them alive. Each angler is limited to two fish per species, but we would ask you to minimise killing of fish and endeavour to keep only your single best specimen.
Please respect the beach and do not leave litter, discarded line or old tackle behind and do not start fires.
If possible, please ensure your vehicle is parked at the bottom of the car park to the far right.
https://www.putsborough.com/surf-cams/
A few images from previous Putsborough Competitions.
