Smoothound dominated Bideford Angling Clubs forty eight hour rover with Andrew Clements winning with a smoothound scaling 14lb 9.25oz. Andrew Clements was runner up with a smoothound of 14lb 2oz and Stephen Found third with a smoothound of 13lb 15.75oz.
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.
1st Antony Smith Smoothhound 12lb 2 1/2oz 121.250%
2nd (junior) Jenson kiff Smoothhound 8lb 2oz 81.250%
3rd Richard Jefferies smoothhound 8lb 1oz 80.625%
4th (junior) Jenson kiff smoothhound 7lb 70%
Well done guys especially well done to jenson are first junior we have had In a sea competition for a long time.
Julien Stainer won Bideford Angling Clubs forty eight hour rover with a smoothound of 11lb 10.5oz. Runner up was Antony Smith with a smoothound of 8lb 10oz and Paul Ackland third with a smoothound scaling 8lb 1.5oz 
Thomas Cooper is an up and coming Junior angler who has caught several smoothound and a ray during recent visits to North Devons beaches,
Richard Jefferies caught the is 16lb 1oz smoothound whilst fishing for bass at a North Devon rock mark. The fish was tempted using a large spider crab hook bait. Richard told me that the fish siezed the bait within seconds of tbe bait hitting the bottom almost dragging him off his feet. As he was landing the fish a large bass seized the bait that was hanging free from the hound. The bass came off! The fish was one of several hounds and double figure bull huss caught.
August 24 hour results 13 angler’s fished 8 fish caught
1st Tony Gussin smoothound 13lb 14oz 138.750%
2nd Andrew Clements thick lipped mullet – 4lb 8.25oz 112.890%
3rd Tony Gussin smoothhound – 10lb 4oz 102.500%
Many thanks to Andy Sanders who sent me this stunning image of his first double figure smoothound scaling 10lb 3oz. Really sums up summer beach fishing.
