John Barbeary’s Bluefin has been taking anglers to deep water marks off Ilfracombe where packs of spurdog are giving great sport along with huss and conger. Catches exceeding one hundred spurdog per day between eight anglers is not unusual with plenty of fish into double figures. Pete Robinson boated one of the biggest so far this season at 17lb. Craig McCloughlin also joined a party of anglers taking numerous fish to 15lb.
Aaron Brooker took the top two places Combe Martin SAC’s week long Blow Away the Excess competition. A fine specimen spurdog of 13lb 15oz taking first and a 23lb 11oz conger taking the runner up spot. Shane Pavio Hookway was third with a specimen bull buss of 11lb 3oz.
Shane Pavio Hookway – bull huss 11lb 3oz
North Devons boat anglers have the opportunity to enjoy winter fishing off Ilfracombe this winter.
Kyle Bishop has smashed Combe Martin SAC’s spurdog Club record with a huge specimen spurdog scaling 18lb 1oz. The fish was caught at a popular North Devon shore mark.
Kyle also tempted a specimen small eyed ray on a subsequent trip to the North Devon coast weighing 10lb 4oz.
Combe Martin SAC member Kody Chugg tempted this 11lb 9oz specimen spurdog on a recent trip to the North Devon shoreline.
Jon Patten fished a local rock mark to tempt this fine double figure spurdog.
Dan Spearman tempted a fine brace of spur dog during a recent session on the North Devon coast. The spurs scaling 11lb 4oz and 11lb 2oz are reward for many hours spent on the dark rocks waiting for that distinctive rattle of the rod top.
Ollie Passmore landed this specimen 13lb Spurdogs from a popular North Devon shore mark. The fish was returned after a couple of pictures and swam away strongly.
Shore anglers have been finding a few fish over recent high tides with conger, huss and spurdog for those putting in the hours. There is every chance of an outsize conger from deep water rock marks with thirty pound plus specimens likely.
Combe Martin SAC member David Jenkin’s fished a popular North Devon shore mark to tempt five spurdog to 13lb 19oz. Spurdog packs have been few and far between close to the shoreline this winter but if you find a hunting pack sport can be fast furious. Wire traces are essential to stand a good chance of landing the fish that have razor sharp teeth.
