Jon Patten was fishing for spurdog from a North Devon shore mark and was surprised when a smoothound grabbed his fish bait presented on a 6/0 hook. Smoothound traditionally arrive in early May. Recent seasons have seem them caught right up until Christmas. So the question I pose is early or late?
Kyle Bishop landed this specimen bull huss weighing 12lb 5oz whilst on a trip to a local rock mark where Dan Spearman also enjoyed success landing a fine pollock of 4lb 7oz and a plump pouting of 1lb 2oz.
Ben Partridge went out after the tope and thought he was into one when the clutch screamed off, turned out to be a decent smooth hound weighing 9.2 picture taken and back she went! ( Below)
Chay Boggis landed a personal best smoothound of 10lb 3oz. The fish was tempted using a whole dirty squid hook bait.These hard fighting members of the shark family have been staying in North Devon waters far later than they used to a welcome boost to sport.
Combe Martin SAC member Ian Laird – 9lb 15oz smoothound
Smoothound have been a regular feature of sea angling catches during the autumn months in recent seasons with hounds landed right through into December. This could be a result of numerous factors including climate change? It is however difficult to speculate. Trigger fish became common for several seasons and this was seen as a clear sign of global warming; they have been virtually non existent this year though?
Combe Martin SAC member David Brooke landed what I believe to be the biggest smoothound from the North Devon coast so far this season. The specimen hound weighed an impressive 15lb 1oz. Fellow club member Derek Ferret fishing with David also enjoyed success landing a specimen smoothound of 11lb 14oz.