IT’S FREE!
Sea Angling News Ltd. - www.seaanglingnews.com - editor@seaanglingnews.com - Issue 300 October 2020
www.coxandrawle.com
RECORD BEATING THRESHER SHARK
WINNER The big story this month is the report of the catch of a record-beating thresher shark by Dr. Stephen Hutchinson from his own boat over St Catherines Deep, South of the Isle of Wight. The fish took his mackerel flapper bait only 17 minutes after starting the drift, but it took nearly five hours to finally get it alongside the boat. It was measured at 112 inches nose to fork which matches a weight of around 630lbs. This easily surpasses the existing record of 323lbs
2 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com
SEA ANGLING NEWS
THE UK’S ONLY FREE SEA ANGLING NEWSPAPER
NEXT ISSUE COPY DEADLINE 15th OCT 2020
NEWS
Sea Angling News, October 2020
£150,000 OF NATIONAL LOTTERY FUNDING AWARDED TO ANGLING TRUST TOWARDS TACKLING OF INEQUALITIES IN SPORT AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Shops - If you don't receive your papers by the first Tuesday in the month please can you telephone to let us know:
07825 181 694
HEAD OFFICE PROPRIETORS
Keith & James Wigglesworth Sea Angling News Ltd 9 Hayfield Close Minehead, Somerset TA24 6DE
EDITOR / DESIGN & PRODUCTION Adam James Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com Tel.07523 254918
ADVERTISING
James Wigglesworth 07825 181694
Printed by (When not digital) NEWSQUEST MEDIA GROUP Southampton
SAN WRITERS
Aurthur Savage, Dave Roberts Lee Bolingbroke, Wayne Thomas Kevin Morgan, Gareth Mayers Paul Whittall, Adam James Andy & Sam Cumming James Wigglesworth Craig Butler, John Skeggs Phil Higgins, Martin Wood Scott Smy, Richard Saxby.
Copyright Notice All intellectual property rights (including without limitation, patents, copyrights, design rights, registered design and trade designs and trade and service marks, and right to apply for any of the foregoing) whatsoever, whereinsoever and whensoever subsisting in or to any invention, ideas or information or in or to any service, goods or works (including without limitation, drawings, sketches, artwork, typography and photographs) invented, devised, made, created, acquired or written by or for the Sea Angling News (whether or not in connection with any contract with the advertiser) shall be and remain the Sea Angling News absolute property. Neither the advertiser nor any other person shall have any licence or other rights whatsoever under or in any respect of the said intellectual property rights. The advertiser undertakes that it will not reproduce or authorise or procure any other person to reproduce any of the said artwork, typography, photographs or other works. The advertiser hereby assigns all its rights (if any) in and the said intellectual property rights to the Sea Angling News. The advertiser must ensure that he/she has obtained the appropriate permission to reproduce any artwork, logos, designs, trade names and trader service marks which he has supplied to, or asked the Sea Angling News to incorporate in any advertisement to be published in the Sea Angling News newspaper. Telephone calls made to the Sea Angling News may be taped to ensure the highest quality of customer service. The views expressed by contributors to the Sea Angling News are not necessarily the views of the editor but we do try to allow free speech.
RULES FOR ALL SEA ANGLING NEWS COMPETITIONS
All entries must be accompanied by a clear photograph. All entries must be weighed on accurate scales and witnessed. All entries will be judged on the size of the fish, tackle used and the quality of the photograph. Weights must be submitted in pounds and ounces, metric weights may be submitted in addition to imperial weights. The Editors decision will be final in all cases.
The Angling Trust has been awarded £150,000 of National Lottery funding from Sport England’s Tackling Inequalities Fund which aims to tackle inequalities in activity levels through working with its partners to reach those most in need as a result of the impact of COVID-19. The funding award will allow the Angling Trust to directly support community angling projects to remain operating. This will ensure that the priority groups who use their services can remain active and have access to the many health and wellbeing benefits that angling provides for them. The community angling projects will be wide-ranging and help a broad spectrum of people in various communities across the country. Typically, they include inner city angling venues in low social economic communities, people suffering from mental health issues including PTSD, those disadvantaged by disability, special needs, or illness as well as low-cost fishing opportunities and alternative education through angling-based activity. Sport England’s work and contribution to Tackling Inequalities focuses on reducing the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on activity levels in underrepresented groups, thereby ensuring that during this period, gaps do not widen between those who are active and those who are not.
With a strong understanding of the needs and issues in their areas, Sport England has initially channeled £3.3m through the 43 Active Partnerships across England to support community groups in their areas as a result of the impacts of COVID-19. They are also investing further funding through National Partner organisations that have specific expertise and reach to our target audiences. This funding and support will enable community groups working with target audiences – Lower Socio-Economic Groups, Black, Asian Minority Ethnic Communities, Disabled People and People with Long-Term Health Conditions – to continue to exist and engage with their communities with a view to keeping them active during both the lockdown and early recovery stages. Clive Copeland, Head of Participation at the Angling Trust said: "The £150,000 of Sport England funding is fantastic news. It means that hundreds of people will be able to remain connected with the exceptional work that funded projects provide in four significantly underrepresented groups. Absolutely anyone can go fishing, and our sport should be accessible regardless of ability, gender, income, race, demographic or place but insight suggests that COVID-19 is preventing that. This award will mean that their work can continue to allow
'angling for all'. We are extremely pleased that our bid to Sport England was successful at the maximum amount available. This, we feel, reflects the ability for angling to enable those sometimes less able to be physically active to take part in a sport that overcomes the especially divisive impact this virus can have on health and wellbeing." Tim Hollingsworth, Sport England’s Chief Executive, said: "We are proud to be able to provide funding and support to angling in this difficult period. This funding will help support our valuable community infrastructure that is so important in keeping the nation active and will also provide important connections and reconnections for people whose lives have been affected by COVID-19 and for whom remaining active is so important for their physical, mental and social wellbeing. We know from our research and data that there are existing inequalities between groups when it comes to activity levels and COVID-19 has re-enforced these. Thanks to the support of the National Lottery and its players, the Tackling Inequalities Fund will be both crucial and central to ensuring no-one is left behind when it comes to having the opportunity to be active during this period. This builds off the back of our £35m Community Emergency Fund that has already reached and supported over 7,500 community clubs and groups across England."
THAMES ESTUARY
Sea Angling News, October 2020
Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 3
REPORT FOR THE PORTS OF BRIGHTLINGSEA BRADWELL AND WEST MERSEA
By Lee Bollingbroke, skipper of Sophie Lea IT has been for me the busyest I have ever been from the ease of lock down we did not stop, the phone did not stop ringing every one wanted to get out fishing and leave all these problems behind at least for a day any way. Luckily we were also rewarded with some great fishing with bass hounds rays, bass were ecpecialy there in numbers and as you all know the weather was amazzing flat calm sunny skys and boy did we need it. There was a lot of confusion with regards the virus how many can we take keeping social distancing but this was easy achiev‐ able on the catermaran and I am sure the mono hull boys found a solution to this problem also we are a resourceful lot when we need to be.
Many uk charter boat skippers were get‐ ting in touch bouncing questions off each other asking us what we were doing how we were doing it we were all coming to‐ gether all over the uk and as best we could helping as much as poss. Back to the fishing which as I said for bass it was one of the best seasons ten fish a trip easy done plus some. Thinking later in the season we were over the worst Borris gave us a kicking with more restrictions and it looks like its six anglers per trip safe on the bigger boats and cats but not so good on a small mono but I am sure we will all survive if we get support from our customers and instead of loading the boats to full capacity to get the trip done cheaper its got to be a bit more expensive but safer for all .
BRIGHTLINGSEA, Essex Thames Estuary
“Sophie Lea” Bass - Sophie Lea
Bass - Sophie Lea
Fantastic New Fast Stable Cat Twin FTP Engines, On Deck Toilet, Massive Deck Area Heated Cab Seating. Fully Licensed & Insured for 12. Only 20 minutes from the A12. RNLI / Charter Skipper for over 20 years. Weekends & Weekdays SUPPORTING CANCER RESEARCH
www.Sophieleacharters.co.uk
Bass - Sophie Lea
Tel. evenings 01255-821255 Boat direct 07774 492856
4 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com
NEWS / BRIXHAM
Sea Angling News, October 2020
Sea Angling News, October 2020
NEWS
Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 5
PITSFORD RESERVOIR LAUNCHES NEW ACCESSIBLE BOAT IN MEMORY OF ANGLING LEGEND BOB CHURCH MBE
Bob Church’s family and Andy Beadsley, Director of The Wheelyboat Trust, on board the new C16 Wheelyboat. Credit Anglian Water.
Bob Church with a ferox trout caught in Ireland.
Disabled anglers can fish independently at this famous Midlands reservoir where Bob Church helped pioneer stillwater trout fishing
anglers to have hassle-free and independent access to their favourite sport. In his later years, Bob came to know this too and I think he would have very much approved of a new Wheelyboat being provided at Pitsford in his memory. Huge thanks to Jeanette who has been instrumental in raising the funds, and to everyone else who has contributed too.”
A brand-new specially designed angling boat – a Coulam 16 Wheelyboat – will be officially launched at Pitsford Reservoir in Northampton on Monday 21st September, allowing disabled anglers from the Midlands and beyond to fish there independently. The new boat is named the ‘Bob Church MBE’, after local angling legend, and has been generously funded by Bob’s family, friends and many of his admirers. A small, socially distanced group of six including Bob’s widow Jeanette and representatives from national charity The Wheelyboat Trust and Anglian Water will gather at Pitsford Reservoir on the 21st September to see the new Coulam 16 Wheelyboat set sail. Jeanette will christen the new boat with a bottle of bubbly, and Andy Beadsley (Director of The Wheelyboat Trust) will be the first disabled angler to take to the water. Bob was an angler of enormous skill and influence, encompassing coarse fishing for freshwater fish, sea fishing and game fishing for trout and salmon. He won Gold at the World Fly Fishing Championships in 1987 and again in 1988, was a renowned angling author having written over 20 books, held several records for specimen fish and was a pioneer of reservoir trout fishing, developing flies and techniques that are still used today. In recent years as his health sadly deteriorated from Parkinson’s disease, Bob relied on the old Mk II Wheelyboat at Pitsford Reservoir to get out fishing on the water he so loved. Now, the latest accessible angling boat available from national charity The Wheelyboat Trust – the Coulam 16 Wheelyboat – will replace Pitsford’s older Mk II Wheelyboat in a fitting tribute to Bob. The Wheelyboat Trust will then refurbish the old Mk II and will find it a new home. Andy Beadsley, Director of The Wheelyboat Trust, says: “As a wheelchair user myself, I know from first-hand experience how important it is for disabled
Jake Williams, Anglian Water’s Head of Parks and Conservation says: “We are delighted that the Church family have chosen to have a Wheelyboat in memory of Bob here at Pitsford Reservoir. Bob was a huge part of the angling family at the reservoir and was well respected by everyone. We hope many more people with limited mobility will be able to use the boat to gain access to the water as a lasting legacy to Bob’s passion and love for the sport.” Coulam 16 Wheelyboats are widely used on fisheries large and small across the UK and are hand built and fitted out to order by Jim Coulam of boatbuilders Coulam Ltd. The model is designed primarily for angling on stillwaters and is based on Jim’s standard 15’ and 16’ angling boats. It has built-in modifications for wheelchair users, including a hydraulic platform for step-free wheelchair access and a drivefrom-wheelchair tiller helm. Three anglers can fish together in comfort, including two wheelchair users, who have access to the entire reservoir in a boat that is easy to helm, safe to operate and has roll-on, rolloff access for boarding. Without specially designed Wheelyboats, the opportunities for disabled anglers to fish on large waters like Pitsford Reservoir are very limited, owing to the often steep banks and fluctuating water levels. The Wheelyboat Trust relies on donations from individuals and organisations and their work could not continue without the ongoing generosity they provide. To donate and help The Trust get more disabled people out on UK waters, or to find out more about, visit www.wheelyboats.org.
HOOKED ON LURE FISHING The groundbreaking new hardback from Merlin Unwin Books (RRP £24.99) Packed with brilliant tips and ideas from Dom and saltwater lure fantatic Andy Mytton, this new book reveals a huge range of species to target and exciting tactics to try. Over three years in the making, it also features the amazing underwater photography of BBC Wildlife star Jack Perks. It is available now from various book and tackle shops, or signed from www.dgfishing.co.uk
6 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com
NEWS
Sea Angling News, October 2020
SAVE OUR TACKLE SHOPS
Martin Wood: Hi Jason its great to see everything is goung so well for your group and tackle shops campaign and kids comps can you tell me a little bit more about what you ‘ve been doing and whats happening! Jason Scott: So South of the UK Tackle shops cam‐ paign continued .... So lockdown hit us and we were unable to travel together for a long time but this didn’t stop us. We wanted to pick back up from where we left off and get back on the road so as soon as an opportunity came where we could travel again we was on it! Chris happened to be visiting Cornwall for a family trip so while there he kindly visited shops from Plymouth - Bodmin and all around Cornwall way which was a fantastic little journey and even scouted some new shops to join us which was really good as well. Once Chris returned from his mini travels we started to plan the last part of the journey which saw us pick up from where we left off and fill in and visit all the shops from Southampton - Plymouth and then up and back along the coast from Bod‐ min - Bristol. We arranged to stop in ST Austell and to meet up with another blogger called Joe from YouTube channel Sea Fishing Only and have a fish overnight to break up the journey. The trip was really good and successful and I even tried my first proper Cornish pasty, and caught my first bull huss which was amazing, being able to meet new people and network along the whole of the south of the UK has been really good, I have invited all the tackle shop owners to my Facebook group The Eastbourne Fisherman where they have been really supportive in helping answer questions group members have about certain areas they are thinking of visiting to fish which has had a really good positive effect on the group in general. Going forward in the future I hope to try to further my support to the tackle shops on our campaign by running competitions where the winners will be able to win vouchers to spend in their local tackle shops but this is a work in progress atm. Every shop we visited we followed the strict guidelines they had in place in re‐ sponse to covid. Some tackle shops we were unable to visit due to them being closed on the days we were travelling so we have fol‐ lowed this up with a phone call and post‐ ing of our posters to them personally. The support both myself and Chris have had while doing this campaign has been really positive and have received some really nice messages so thank you for them. The main reason for us doing this was to just say that together as a angling com‐ munity we need to do more to support the local tackle shops and retain them for future use. I personally know myself I wouldn’t want to see my shop disappear overnight like some have in other areas and we just hope people will think twice
about buying items online that can be purchased from local tackle shops. 9 times out of 10 we have heard of people buying fishing rods reels and other items online and then when they have re‐ ceived them it’s not fit for purpose or is the wrong item completely as they haven’t been able to have that hands on approach and feel and physically see what there buying. Please use your local tackle shop and help them be a permanent feature in your communities. Together we can make a change. We would like to thank the following shops on our campaign and fully wel‐ come any more in the south of the UK to join us by getting in contact and we will happily post out details SOUTHEND ANGLING CENTRE NJ FISH‐ ING TACKLE SHEPPEY ANGLING ABSO‐ LUTE TACKLE FISHERMANS CORNER CHANNEL ANGLING FOLKESTONE ANGLING DENS TACKLE MICKS TACKLE SEAGULL TACKLE SUES TACKLE CABIN HASTINGS ANGLING ANGLERS DEN POLGATE ANGLING TONYS TACKLE BAIT BUCKET TOOLS N TACKLE PEACEHAVEN ANGLER TACKLE BOX LAGOON BAIT & TACKLE PRIME ANGLING LITTLEHAMPTON ANGLING ALDWICK ANGLING SOUTHERN ANGLING SPECIALISTS LOCK STOCK & TACKLE MICKS TACKLE LURE LODGE POINGDESTRES DAVES TACKLE BAIT & TACKLE EAST COWES TACKLE WEST WIGHT ANGLING LURE FISHING TACKLE SHOP DAVIS FISHING TACKLE CHRISTCHURCH ANGLING CENTRE BOURNEMOUTH FISHING LODGE PURBECK ANGLING WESSEX ANGLING CENTRE POOLE SEA ANGLING CENTRE SWANAGE ANGLING CENTRE WEYMOUTH ANGLING CHESIL BAIT & TACKLE ABBOTSBURY FISHING TACKLE ANGLING CENTRE WEST BAY THE TACKE BOX EXETER ANGLING TAKE THE BAIT EURO ANGLING BRIX‐ HAM BAIT & TACKLE PLYMOUTH ANGLING CENTRE PETERS FISHING & SPORTS MARKET TACKLE & BAIT - PLYMOUTH LOWEN CHY ANGLING TJS FISHING TACKLE & BAIT LIZARD TACKLE & BAIT NEWTOWN ANGLING CENTRE MERMAID FISHING TACKLE WEST CORNWALL ANGLING SLING YOUR HOOK ANGLERS DEN HAYLE GWINEAR ANGLING PADSTOW ANGLING CENTRE THE ART OF FISH‐ ING - WADEBRIDGE SUMMERLANDS FISHING TACKLE NORTH DEVON TACKLE HIGH STREET TACKLE WEST COAST TACKLE WEST‐ COAST ANGLING CENTRE BURNHAM ANGLING FISHING TACKLE WARE‐ HOUSE REEL FUN FISHING BRISTOL ANGLING CENTRE. We do understand that we may have missed your local tackle shop if we have please let us know so we can invite them to join. We would also welcome anyone to join our friendly welcoming Facebook groups to do so, everyone is welcome whatever stage of your fishing journey. You can watch the full campaign & our journeys on the YouTube channel
SeaFishing with CJ and also follow the full campaign on both of the Facebook groups. This is only the beginning! The Eastbourne Fisherman Kids colouring Competition. For the months of June & July I ran a kids colouring competition on my Facebook group to try keep the kids upbeat during what was going on. We asked them to submit drawn or coloured pictures of fish and we would randomly draw winners out of a hat to make it fair for everyone taking part. We had lots of fantastic entries and managed to fully kit out 6 kids with fishing rod and reel bundles and some extra bits too. I’m looking forward to seeing their progress going forward and wish them all the best of luck in their fishing journeys. Winners were: Blake, Amy, Molly, Orlaith, Bella And our Irish winner Saorise Huge thanks to: Amazing fishing UK, B8m8 fishing Solu‐ tions, Anglers den, Tony’s Tackle Shop. For working together with me to make this possible Going forward I am hoping to help sup‐ port more kids into responsible sea fishing So come and join our Facebook group to keep up to date with all that’s happening
Sea Angling News, October 2020
NEWS
Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 7
ANGLING REMAINS A PERMITTED ACTIVITY - FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES AND STAY SAFE Following the Government's announcement, the Angling Trust is pleased that the government has not sought to place further restrictions on healthy outdoor activities such as angling. Through our ‘When We Fish Again’ campaign earlier in the year we demonstrated to ministers that by following sensible COVID-19 guidelines anglers could enjoy their sport in a safe and responsible manner. We have been delighted with the response from angling clubs, fisheries and the wider angling community and it’s important that nothing is done that would damage our
reputation for acting sensibly and in the wider public interest. Jamie Cook, CEO of the Angling Trust added: “We are still fishing and there’s no reason why that won’t continue as long as anglers remember to follow the Angling Trust COVID-19 guidance and remember to be careful and protect each other and our sport. By working effectively and responsibly the Angling Trust has ensured that angling is seen as part of the solution and not the problem - let's keep it that way. “
FISHERIES BILL UPDATE: LOOKS SET TO BE A WATERSHED MOMENT FOR SEA ANGLING
The UK’s new fisheries legislation is
UK’s fish stocks in future. The new
entering its final stages before it becomes
legislation is due to also provide funding
law and looks set to be a watershed
for the promotion and development of
moment for sea angling. Over the last two
recreational fishing. Earlier this month we
months, the Angling Trust has worked
provided
tirelessly briefing members of both the
committee reviewing the Bill in the House
House of Lords and the Commons to
of Commons and now await the report
make
stage in the Commons before the Bill
sure
recreational
fishing
is
considered in the management of the
written
evidence
to
the
becomes an Act of Parliament and law.
8 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com
Sea Angling News, October 2020
POOLE / DORSET
POOLE PORT REPORT SILVER SPRAY & SILVER SPRAY II Two modern catamarans from Poole. Fast and spacious boats fitted with twin engines. COP 60 miles for 12 anglers. Large heated wheelhouse with toilet. Hot drinks provided and microwave available. All necessary rods, tackle and bait available.
Available for wreck, reef, banks, evening trips, 4-day Alderney and 3-day Cherbourg trips. **Bass, turbot, cod, plaice, shark specials** Both boats available for charters and individuals. Owner/skippers Sam & Andy Cumming Phone 07787 375 386 www.silverspraycharters.com Email: info@silverspraycharters.com
NOW TAKING BOOKINGS FOR 2020 INCLUDING ALDERNEY, GUERNSEY AND SHARK TRIPS
POOLE REPORT by Philip Higgins What a month this has been superb weather, fine catches and several sightings of Blue Fin Tuna in Poole Bay, I was fortunate to witness one sighting of these magnificent creatures when a BFT jumped out of the water chasing a shoal of mackeral approx 40m behind the boat, no doubt it will not be long before one is accidently hooked by a boat fishing in Poole Bay. Shark fishing has produced some exciting times for anglers onboard San Gina 11 with lots of Porbeagles coming alongside, Tom was also fortunate to witness a Blue Fin Tuna jumping out of the water along the Purbeck coast. Bass fishing has produced many good fish in double figures and it is good to see the amount of Bass around specially the small ones. Chris Bowden bagged himself a fish of a lifetime a superb Bass weighing in at 12lb 10ozs. Cod although small are being caught whilst fishing along the beaches
and in Poole Harbour, Martyn Woodley landed his 1st Cod a lovely 6lb fish whilst Bream fishing close to shore. Plaice have dominated the catches with all boats recording good catches across Poole Bay, this is the month Plaice feed up before departing for the winter. Angling Trust team took a day out of the office for an on board meeting whilst fishing and had a great day catching some quality Plaice and Bass, John started the day by saying it would be a good day if he broke 2 PBs well he managed 3 Bass Plaice and Gurnard he was well chuffed.
Poole Sea Angling Centre are again running their open boat Cod and Flounder comps this year 22/11/2020 Cod Comp and 13/12/2020 Flounder Comp, for more details please contact Andy 01202676597. Philip Higgins
Chris Bowden Bass 12lb 10ozs - Mistress Linda
Martyn, Cod - Mistress Linda
Mistress Linda Fishing from Poole, Dorset Skipper Philip Higgins Fast Twin Engined DS Bullet 38 Fully Licensed & Insured for 12 Persons All the Latest Electronics Full On-board Facilities, Hot Drinks Provided
Tel: 07860794183
THE ANGLING CENTRE 01308 421800 One of the largest
Angling Centres on the South Coast LIVE AND FROZEN BAITS RODS AND REELS TERMINAL TACKLE CARP TACKLE AND BAIT BOAT BOOKINGS We try to supply all types of Fishing Tackle & Baits
Stockists of Shakespeare * Daiwa * Greys * Abu Garcia Masterline * Browning * Quantum Leeda Century * Rapala * Fox * Drennan * Mossella Speleo * Dynamite Baits * Sundridge * Shimano and lots more Open 7 days a week - please come in and browse
10a WEST BAY - BRIDPORT Tel: 01308 421800
6 High Street, Swanage, BH19 2NT Tel 01929 424989 Shakespeare – Abu Masterline Live rag – Frozen Bait Bookings taken for Deep sea Fishing Trips
Phil Thomas
Robin's 1st Ray
Angling Trust team - Mistress Linda
The Purbecks Premier Tackle shop
www.fishto.net
Email gill.higgs1@btinternet.com
Plaice for Jack - Mistress Linda
Steve Brewer plaice - Mistress Linda
Sea Angling News, October 2020
POOLE / DORSET
Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 9
IES FISHIN T T O G C TACKLE S
⁕ FULL RANGE OF FRESHWATER AND SEA TACKLE ⁕ ⁕ FRESH AND FROZEN BAIT ALWAYS IN STOCK ⁕ 25 SOUTHWICK SQUARE SOUTHWICK WEST SUSSEX, BN42 4FP
Tel: 01273 592903
Aquazid Studio Illustrations
www.coxandrawle.com SAN COMPETITION WINNERS IF YOU SEE A COX & RAWLE, RED GILL OR DEVON BAITS WINNERS BADGE IN YOUR PICTURE PLEASE CONTACT JAMES WIGGLESWORTH ON 07825 181 694 OR EMAIL
editor@seaanglingnews.com instagram : aquazidstudio and https://shop.spreadshirt.co.uk/aquazid-studio
10
Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com
CHESIL
CHESIL REPORT By Gareth Mayers What a fabulous month it's been along the big shingle beach for lots of anglers. The mighty Chesil is commonly known as the beach of broken dreams, that's generally because maybe 400 anglers can been seen along the more famous marks with so few land‐ ing fish, but this month has seen a big percent‐ age walk away with a big smile on their face! The key to Chesil is to get to know your marks, most people just see reports on social media etc and just expect that you can just rock up and catch double figured fish every cast. With the way social media is these days please spend time learning the mark you would like to fish, it's an 18 mile stretch of shingle with shal‐ low and very deep areas, which hold different species at different times of tides, weather and time of the year. Chesil is most famous for its Cod fishing which has come alive in the last few weeks, after a big southwesterly storm you can see many anglers targeting Cod all along the big beach, most anglers prefer fresh black lug & crab baits, the standard pulley pennel with a nice set of 3/0 or 4/0 can be seen to be doing the trick on these sort after species.
The Plaice & Sole fishing will slow down but don't be fooled, if you do manage to get one then the chances are it will be a specimen which there has been plenty of with Chesil regular anglers such as Till Hall, Ben Stockley, Kyle Blackmore and many others all catching some lovely fish. Most specimen fish are caught tar‐ geting cod so are usually caught in bigger worm baits. Kyle also landed a lovely double figure cod weighing 14LB well done! As the cold weather starts to come in the cod should start to appear more and approach our shorelines. Until next time good luck!
Sea Angling News, October 2020
Sea Angling News, October 2020
Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 11
TRONIX PRO
FEATURED BAITS
SANDEELS
UNWASHED SQUID
BLACK LUG
CUTTLEFISH
12 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com
NORTH DEVON
Sea Angling News, October 2020
NORTH DEVON REPORT By Wayne Thomas Reports have dwindled away a little as summer fades into autumn and the even‐ ings start to draw in. Those fishing rock marks after dark have tempted several specimen bull huss along with a few con‐ ger and bass. The beaches have provided consistent sport with small eyed ray and the occa‐ sional bass. The coming month often brings the seasons biggest bass with a big squid or mackerel bait anchored in the surf likely to bring success. Those prepared to scale down their tactics have caught some good grey mullet with several 4lb plus fish caught from open coast marks. Boat anglers off Ilfracombe have enjoyed some good catches of bass with live sandeel working well. A few tope have also been caught to over 40lb. There has also been a late run of porbeagle shark with rumoured sightings of tunny. The flounder fishing season is now under‐ way on the Taw and Torridge estuaries. A good spate and a few frosts will help to flush out crabs that can strip hooks within minutes. With water temperatures still high garfish and mackerel can still be tempted from the Ilfracombe area. The pier is an excellent venue to fish during the autumn evenings with the occasional sole and red mullet tempted each autumn. Deep water rock marks could bring suc‐ cess to anglers prepared to put in the hours for the hard fighting tope.
North Devon angler Jason Barrow with blue shark estimated at 109lb caught during a trip off Penzance aboard Loki Adventures.
Rob Scoines hold an 11lb 4oz bull huss
Rob Scoines with an 8lb 4oz bass
Dan Welch with 4lb 3oz grey mullet John Shapland with 4lb thick lipped grey mullet
Kody Chugg with pleasing bass
Rob Scoines 7lb small eyed ray Dan Welch with a 3lb 11oz grey mullet
Wayne Thomas with a lure caught bass
Jordan Choulse with a shore caught bull huss.
Andrew Clements with 4lb 5.75oz thick lipped grey mullet
Andrew Clemnets with shore caught small eyed ray.
Sea Angling News, October 2020
NORTH DEVON
Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 13
Rob Scoines 42lb 8oz boat caught tope
SAILING FROM ILFRACOMBE 6.9m series Cheetah Marine Catamaran. Engines: Twin Yamaha 60 H.P. Outboards Cruising speed 16 – 18 knots.
Wreck fishing for bass in Lyme bay, from the river Axe in east Devon.
Licensed for 6 persons. MCA Safety Code Of Practice Category 2
www.devonbassprocharters.co.uk
LUNDY, WRECK POLLACK, TOPE, BASS AND CONGER FISHING WINTER SPURDOG & COD TRIPS
Live and Frozen sea fishing baits and Top brands of tackle...
Tel 07854124880 Or leave a message on Facebook Ring and collect service... Authorised RockGrip Specialist
Braunton - North Devon - EX33 2ES
www.chillcheater.com
CALL JOHN BARBEARY ON 07968 419897 OR 01271 864957 FOR BOOKINGS WWW.BLUEFINCHARTERS.CO.UK
Official Stockist:
and can operate up to 40 miles offshore.
SPECIALISING IN LIVE SANDEELS
14 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com
NEWS / LANGSTONE
Sea Angling News, October 2020
LANGSTONE HARBOUR AREA BOAT FISHING REPORT By Neville Merritt, Southsea Marina Angling Club
You know September has arrived when someone somewhere says they had heard that a codling had been caught in the Solent. Then someone else jokes “That’s the one caught for the year then” and you secretly wonder if they are right. Well, a couple of small codling have been caught, the Southsea Marina Angling Club have opened their Cod Pool and also confirmed the annual Cod Open Competition, which will be held on Sunday 8th November. Prevailing Covid-19 rules will be observed and the prize table is still to be announced but going by previous years, it will be generous and will attract a lot of local boat anglers. Keep an eye on the local Facebook pages for further details. Looking back at the last month we have a couple of very interesting fishy stories to share. The first one isn’t a catch as such – a 396lb (180Kg) Atlantic bluefin tuna was washed up dead in Chichester Harbour and was recovered by the team at Thorney Island Sailing Club. Simon Horsfield kindly provide the photos of this huge fish which was in very good condition and showed no sign of damage. It was taken away for analysis by Sussex IFCA but no cause of death could be established. Although these fish are rare and it is illegal for anglers even to target them, it is rather exciting to know that they and possibly similar species are active in the local area. The second big story is the report of the catch of a record-beating thresher shark by Dr. Stephen Hutchinson from his own boat over St Catherines Deep, south of the Isle of Wight. The fish took his mackerel flapper bait only 17 minutes after starting the drift, but it took nearly five hours to finally get it alongside the boat. It was measured at 112 inches nose to fork which matches a weight of around 630lbs. This easily surpasses the existing record of 323lbs but isn’t as big at the largest
thresher recorded which was caught commercially in 2007 weighing 1,250lb. Dr. Hutchinson’s shark was released so cannot qualify for a record claim, and will join the list of other record-beaters caught locally which were released by conservation-minded anglers. Meanwhile, the rest of us were catching much smaller fish but having plenty of fun nevertheless. The summer plaice marks are still producing a few fish and the calm sunny days make drifting for them a very pleasant experience. Another tasty fish, the red mullet isn’t specifically targeted here but they are welcomed when they do turn up, either to add to a species tally or if they are big enough, to add to the pot. Rays can be relied on to put a good bend in a rod and the blond rays run to a good size – Clive Smith and Guy Chandler both caught blonde rays of 21lb and Ray Jen‐ ner one of 24lb. We have a good stock of undulate rays and thornback rays on the shingle banks and a good thornback ray can put up a worthy struggle as Chis Satow can confirm. Further offshore over the wrecks and banks anglers are still targeting bass. Kev Johnson boated a superb bass of 11lb 10oz on a scad livebait. The wrecks are where you will find bass and pollack but you will also catch other fish. Dennis Fuller caught not one but two of the much rarer John Dory, largest 2lb 8oz. After a dearth of mackerel during the sum‐ mer a few more are now showing up which is just as well because we need to stock freezers for winter bait. The whiting and hopefully even a cod or two will be here soon so I expect we’ll be including them in the next SMAC catch reports. Until then, Tight Lines and we’ll hopefully see you at the SMAC Cod Open on 8th November.
Dr Stephen Hutchinson Thresher 630lb
Chris Satow Thornback
IOW Thresher unhooked & released
Kev Johnson bass 11.10 Guy Chandler Blonde Ray 21lb
Mark Jackson Red Mullet
Clive Smith blonde ray 21lb
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
Dennis Fuller John Dory 2lb8oz
Anthony Hesse Plaice & Adam Curley Plaice
Sea Angling News, October 2020
EAST SUSSEX
Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 15
EAST SUSSEX DIARY By Kevin Morgan
DENNIS PUTTICK MEMORIAL MATCH This match was sponsored by Dan Puttick, Karl Puttick, Saxons club and Anglers Den and so all the entry money was donated to ST Wilfrids Hospice raising around £600. 35 anglers fished in Pevensey Bay in calm conditions, so finding sizable fish proved difficult. The winner David Tame managed 5 fish including an eel of 9 ½ oz and 4 whiting, for a total weight of 1lb 12oz. Second was Jason Anderson with 1lb 2oz and third Peter Fountain with 1lb. Peter also had the biggest flatfish, a flounder of 9oz. A good day with plenty of money raised for charity! So well done to all those that took part. SAXONS SEA FISHING CLUB On Saturday 29th August 14 anglers braved very rough conditions in a sole only match. Unfortunately only angler caught two sole with everyone else failing to catch. The winner was Joe Plumstead with 1lb 10oz. ANDERIDA FISHING CLUB On Tuesday 1st September 26 anglers fished in Pevensey Bay in calm conditions. The winner was Keith Hesling with 2lb 1 ½ oz including the biggest round fish, an eel of 13oz. Second was Les Glazzard with 1lb 12oz, including the biggest fish, a sole of 1lb 1oz. Third was Jim Whippy with 1lb 10oz and fourth Steve Merner with 1lb 8 ½ oz. On Wednesday 16th September 20 anglers fished in an easterly wind which made fishing very hard! The winner with a bass of 1lb 15oz was Joe Plumstead. Second was Jim Whippy with 1lb 2 ½ oz. Third Phil Taylor with 1lb 1oz and fourth Colin Isaacs with 10oz. The super pool for biggest fish was the bass of 1lb 15oz for Joe Plumstead and the heaviest round was a sole of 5oz for Jim Whippy.
Tristan Parsons with a nice bass__ caught on mackerel
EASTBOURNE NOMADS On Sunday 6th September 10 anglers fished a catch and release match at Langney Point, with the winner Junior angler Harvey Plumstead. Harvey had 3 fish for 47 points. Second was Rod Parris with 28 points. Third Trevor Rooney with 21 points and fourth Steve Kerr with 14 points. The biggest fish was a smoothound worth 28 points for Rod Parris. On Thursday 17th September 13 anglers fished a catch and release match at Langney Point. The winner was Joe Plumstead with 6 fish for 241 points. Second Gerald Sargeant with 64 points. Third Ivan Cox with 62 points and fourth Gary Ogden with 45 points. Biggest fish was a 68 pt bass for Joe Plumstead. GENERAL The fishing has been very up and down with the weather recently. When the boats were able to go out then there were mixed bags to be caught. Codling are beginning to show as well as plenty of black bream, some nice plaice bass and rays and Jake Wells caught a 3lb trigger fish out of Eastbourne. From the shore Quite a few mackerel showed early in September during the warm spell and Trevor Rooney caught some nice garfish at Seaford recently. A few codling are being caught along with some nice bass. The bass have been caught on bait such as the nice fish by Tristan Parsons using mackerel. And some on lures with Matteusz David with a 4.45lb fish and Jason Scott with his biggest at 5 ½ lb. Richard Leon Man caught a nice codling in Normans Bay, several other fish to over 3lb have been caught from Langney Point to Pevensey Bay. Alex Tsoflias caught a nice ray during the day recently from a local beach. Hopefully during early October more codling will begin to show as well as a few more thornbacks and some nice sole !!
Alex Tsoflias with a nice ray__ caught from local beach
Jake Wells with a 3lb Trigger fish
Jason Scott with a lure caught 5lb8oz bass
Matteusz David with a lure caughht bass just under 5lb
top 3 in Memorial match David Tame Peter Fountain Jason Anderson
Joe Plumstead with his winning bass
Richard Leon Man with a nice codling
David Tame winner of the Dennis Puttick memorial match
Trevor Rooney with a couple of nice garfish from Seaford beach
16 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com
BURNHAM / GEAR REVIEW
Sea Angling News, October 2020
BURNHAM ON SEA REPORT By Richard Saxby The last month has been a bit quiet but when boats have made it out the fishing has been ok. There are still lots of hounds in the bay but the average size seems down on recent years. We still haven't managed to hold a competition this year but hopefully that will change over the coming weeks. The season seems to be on the turn and it definitely feels a bit au‐ tumnal, the nights are drawing in and it won't be long before we all starting think‐ ing about a cod or two. July 31st gave Jamie and Anne a chance to get out on their new boat again al‐ though conditions weren't ideal. This didn't matter to much as they fancied try‐ ing for a sole in the river behind Stert Is‐ land. Not many people target sole out of Burnham but they are caught regularly off the local beach but none showed up on this trip. The small size 6 hooks loaded with worm found plenty of rays, a few straps and a clonking bass of 11lb 9 oz to Jamie. With some time off work and a family holi‐ day in Burnham we managed to get Four Buoys out for a short one over high. This was only our 4th outing this year, we would normally of been out a dozen or so times by now. Joining me were brother Stephen and my 2 children Ava and Jack. With small tides we fished at Lilstock and it was action from the off with hounds,
rays and straps and only a couple of dog‐ fish. Biggest hound went just under 10lb. I also had a day out on Kelly's Hero from Brixham skippered by Dave Saunders. I struggled on the day missing a lot more plaice than I landed but did have a nice bass for tea and plenty of mackerel. August 16th Ian Tench and his family took their new build Ultra Tide out for it's maiden voyage. Joining them were Ultra Mover and Team Lock. With a decent fore‐ cast they steamed down to Porlock to fish the clearer water. The fishing was a bit be‐ low par but all managed some hounds, thornbacks, straps and of course doggies. Fish of the month winner for July was Jamie Lock with a superb bass of 11 lb 9 oz and 145%
Roy Saxby whiting
Next competition is our 12 hour species hunt on the 30th August. We don't normally have a club meeting in August due to holiday season but hope‐ fully by the time we get to the September meeting we will be able to have a get to‐ gether. You can keep up-to date with latest news and catches and all things fishy on our facebook page and website Burnham Boat Owners Sea Angling Association.
Nigel Devey witch and plaice
Fred Saxby blue shark. Inset: Simon Stroud hound
Ant Georgiou huss
Martin Quinn undulate
Pete Nicholson tub gurnard
Nigel Devey conger
Pair of plaice
Richard Saxby blonde
Stephen Saxby blonde
Martin Quinn turbot
Anne Lock plaice
Martin Quinn blonde ray
Sea Angling News, October 2020
BRISTOL CHANNEL / WATCHET
Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 17
BRISTOL CHANNEL SHORE REPORT BY CRAIG BUTLER The Bristol Channel has continued to fish well over the past month. A variety of spe‐ cies up and down the channel have given anglers plenty of options. Codling, sole, bass, small eyed ray, spot‐ ted and Thornback Ray a few bull huss and lots of conger eel are all making up regular catches. The upper reaches around Portishead and Clevedon has produced some nice sole, Thornbacks, bass , congers. Sandpoint at Weston super mare has plenty of Thornback Ray and the potential of a few good bass on the cards. Brean and Burnham beaches have contin‐ ued producing Thornback rays, a few sole and bass and as we move into October the codling should start to feature. The reefs between Hinkley point and Watchet have lots of small strap congers at this time of year making targeting the rays and bass hard work at times but the rewards can be worth it with some good bass in amongst the gullies.
Blue Anchor offers easy and comfortable fishing and often produces some nice rays, bass along with dogfish, pout and whiting and a few codling. The autumn codling are making more of an appearance along the Shallow beach between Minehead golf course and Dun‐ ster beach. The gas works beach at Minehead has continued to produce some good ray fish‐ ing for mainly small eyed Ray with a few spotted ray and odd thornback. The same prospects are available over low water down at white mark. Bossington and Porlock weir has been fishing well for good mixed bags with the odd Smoothound, along with bass, cod‐ ling, huss and congers. The month ahead should continue to pro‐ duce some great fishing. As always it’s the tides and weather conditions that play the biggest part of success. Tightlines and happy hunting
RECENT CATCHES ABOARD LORNA DOONE
Spotted ray Lorna Doone
Blonde ray Lorna Doone
Hound Lorna Doone
Hound Lorna Doone
Huss Lorna Doone
Blonde ray Lorna Doone
Bass Lorna Doone
Tope Lorna Doone
Blonde ray Lorna Doone
WEST SOMERSET HOTEL Watchet’s best angler friendly family run Hotel Bed & breakfast , Drying room Freezer facilities , Packed lunches in request And a great harbour town pub for a drink after a hard days fishing West Somerset Hotel Swain Street Watchet TA23 0AB
Tel: 01984 634434
18 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com
Sea Angling October 2020
BRISTOL CHANNEL / MINEHEAD
BRISTOL CHANNEL BOAT REPORT September has been a noticeable month of change and somewhat of an in between month. Marks routinely visited for much of the summer have begun to either be not as productive or see a marked change in the species being regularly caught and with the onset of autumn boats have begun their quest for autumn rays and the pos‐ sibility of an early season Cod. East of Watchet has been producing many Thornback Rays along with some reason‐ able Conger Eels. Immediately in the vicin‐ ity of Watchet the number of Smoothhounds has reduced and catches have been made up of Conger Eels, Thornback, Spotted and Blonde Rays, Bull Huss, Baby Tope and Dogfish.
Blue Anchor through to The Gables with its many different types of seabed on offer has produced a good variety of fish. Vast amounts of Eels have been accompanied by all four species of Ray (Blonde, Spot‐ ted, Thornback and Small Eyed), Whiting, Bull Huss, Dogfish, Bass and Codling. The sandbanks around Minehead have produced many small Eyed Rays at times with some good Blonde Rays also. Porlock has at times held a lot of Eels and Dogfish but as ever with the area, almost anything that swims in our section of the Bristol Channel can and will be caught there. Smoothhounds, Rays, Huss, cod‐ ling, Bass and Tope have all been taken over the month. Offshore, low water marks have produced the more sizeable fish.
Katie Roberts bull huss AlyKat
Martyn Pratt with a fine brace of bass Alykat
Blonde ray for Dave Parr
Steve Ridout blonde ray
Liz Roberts smoothound
Alykat
AlyKat
Alykat
Blue Shark - Teddie Boy Superb blonde ray fishing for the Yeovil SAC boys, AlyKat
Terrible trio with some fantastic small eyed rays Alykat
Ballan wrasse - Teddie Boy
4lb black bream for Mick Arrowsmith AlyKat
Tradition Local Fishing Boats
MV. EDWIN JOHN & MARY ELLEN Owned & skippered by D.E. James & M.J. James Fishing trips 6-8 Hrs £180 Licensed for 7 anglers per boat
FREE CAR PARKING AVAILABLE FREE FROZEN HERRINGS FOR BAIT Fishing area 10 mile radius from Minehead Harbour
Bass - Teddie Boy
Huss - Teddie Boy
Bass - Teddie Boy
Bass - Teddie Boy
Tel: 01643 702207 / 07977930549
OSPREY CHARTERS
Smalleyed ray - Osprey
Bass - Osprey
Blonde ray - Osprey
Fast 10m Blyth Cat operating from Minehead Harbour
DONT MISS OUT! BOOK NOW FOR WINTER COD FISHING...
● All the latest electronics ● Tea & coffee provided ● Full on-board facilities ● Tackle & bait available ● Experienced anglers & beginners welcome ● Full tuition provided
Call Steve on 07967 362132
Teddie Boy Charters Teddie Boy is a fast stable 9m AMC cat fully licensed and insured, code of practice 60 miles. Equipped with all the latest marine electronics. Tea & coffee, gas hob and flushing toilet. Experienced anglers, beginners and ladies very welcome. 4 hour trip £25 per person, 8 hour trip £40 per person
Rods, bait & tuition are available.
For all bookings and enquiries call Mike
07894536672
Email: teddieboycharters@gmail.com www.teddieboycharters.co.uk
Smalleyed ray - Osprey
Smalleyed ray - Osprey
Sea Angling News, October 2020
BRISTOL CHANNEL / MINEHEAD
Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 19
Historic Harbour-side Venue ●Newly refurbished iconic pub and hotel with its fantastic Minehead harbour-side setting. ●Fine ales & river cottage style food & traditional hospitality at its best. ●Fishing parties welcome.
TELBOY'S TACKLE AMLWCH, ANGLESEY SHAMROCK TACKLE - FULL RANGE NOW AVAILABLE OP E N E ARLY 7 DAYS A W E E K T E L : 0 1 40 7 8 3 2 96 5 www.telboystackle.co.uk
Free Postage and Package on orders over £10
Tel: 01643 703 516 www.theoldshipaground.co.uk
ERL E Y V A W GUEST HOUSE
Proprietor: Ian Daniels 10 Tregonwell Road, Minehead TA24 5DT www.bandbminehead.com Email: idaniels@btconnect.com
ANGLER FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION TEL: 01643 703193
20 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com
Sea Angling News, October 2020
NEWS
www.lastlaughcharterfishing.co.uk
I
S LEY ’ HE R O L E NORTHNEY MARINA II K HAYLING ISLAND
Tel. Ian or Bex on 07795 538933 Email: iandale@kelleys-hero.com
11m South Catamaran with twin 330hp Iveco Turbo Charged Diesel engines. She has a top speed of 26 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots. The boat is fully coded to MCA CAT 2, and is licensed to carry 12 passengers.
RECENT CATCHES ON KELLEYS HERO
Individuals / Small and Large Groups Catered for Email: johntomkat1@hotmail.com Mob: 07796023881 Owner: John Skeggs. Port: Lymington FREE PARKING! Now taking bookings for winter Cod fishing! A full day targeting Cod / Whiting, or you can split the day for Cod / Bass. Plenty of options!
LAST LAUGH CHARTERS By John Skeggs
Another cracking month, we were blessed with settled weather and good fishing. The calmer days have proved to be better for the autumn Plaice fishing .You can’t go far wrong if you have a trace loaded with plenty of bling, loaded with some lug and rag-worm tipped with squid or prawn. Bass fishing is at its best with some good size fish being landed. Float fishing,Port‐ Hound - Kelleys Hero
Undulate ray - Kelleys Hero
Hound - Kelleys Hero
Undulate ray - Kelleys Hero
Spotted ray - Kelleys Hero
Thornback - Kelleys Hero
Huss - Kelleys Hero
Bass - Kelleys Hero
Bass - Kelleys Hero
Bass - Kelleys Hero
land rigs,Lures or baits, are all working well. So far this season the biggest bass landed aboard “Last Laugh” / Lymington is 10lb 8oz caught and returned by Brian Vincent. The conger’s have arrived in the gulley’s, a sure sign of autumn, along with the odd Cod, Rays and Pollack.
Sea Angling News, October 2020
PRIVATE VENTURE
NEWS
Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 21
VALK YRIE CHARTERS Skipper Glen Cair ns O f f ice: 02392 4 61717 Boat : 07831 878669 Valkyrie 6 & 7 are based at Northney Marina with easy access just across Langstone bridge plus FREE secure parking. Specialising in Wreck, Reef, Pollack, Cod, Bass fishing. All the facilities you would expect onboard a modern catamaran heated cabin, seating, cooking facilities. Licensed for 12 + 2 crew 60 miles fully insured. www.valkyriecharters.co.uk | Email valkyriecharters@hotmail.co.uk
Fast Cat out of Lymington fishing the Needles area. Channel wrecking, reef fishing, 3 to 7 day Channel Island trips. Needles cod - bass fishing. evenings - individuals - parties
Tel: Arthur Savage 02380-897111 Boat 07702 607216 Tope - Valkyrie
Bass - Valkyrie
Huss - Valkyrie
LAGOON BAIT & TACKLE NOW UNDER THE NEW OWNERSHIP OF BRETT LOMAS FORMERLY OF THE BOGNOR REGIS ANGLING CENTRE Brighton and Hove's largest selection of fishing tackle for all types of fishing specialising in sea fishing.
WE ONLY STOCK GREAT BAIT! New opening hours 8am to 6pm monday to Saturday. 8am to 12 noon on Sundays. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @Lagoonbaithove for catch reports and special sale items. Bring this advert into the shop and redeem your 10% discount (Limited time only, bait not included)
327 Kingsway, BN3 4LD Brighton - TEL: 01273 415879
22 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com
September experienced some superb weather and it was often difficult to believe we were in the English Channel with so many dolphins around us along with a number of dramatic sightings of large tuna breaking the surface on flat calm, very hot days. With so many restrictions and problems over fishing charters, the Weymouth and Portland Fleet were given a very welcome and helpful season saving opportunity with up to ten cruise ships anchored in Weymouth Bay including the Cunard fleet’s ‘Three Queens’, Victoria, Mary and Elizabeth. Many trips included lengthy dolphin sightings which made this excursions increasingly popular. Angling Boats are Passenger Carrying Vessels and so owners will readily turn their businesses to cater for whatever might throw them a lifeline in these very difficult times. Fishing has taken place with reduced numbers aboard. After many years of groups trying to fill boats, there has been a realisation that having fewer people on the boat does have advantages to offset the extra cost. Tangles are far fewer and individual catch rates are much higher and of course there is the bonus of enjoying the extra space aboard the vessel. There has been good fishing especially with bass (always better with a smaller group), bream and general rough ground’ reef fishing producing plenty of conger and a good mixture of rays. The sessions aimed at ray fishing have been outstanding with an impressive number of small-eyed and thornbacks along with good sized undulates and blonde rays. Wrecking has taken a back seat as the inshore fishing is at its best in September and October but reports of a few reasonable size pollack and a run of bass has made the offshore trips worthwhile. Congering at anchor has been lively but the problem has been finding enough mackerel for fresh bait….perhaps due to the number of large predators around this year. October is known for its bass fishing, especially in the Portland Race. With the smaller groups onboard, expectations are high for some extra special bass sessions. The ‘joey’ mackerel tend to arrive this month which are the best bass baits imaginable but in their absence, lures will work well. Many of the commercial bass anglers have long given up on live baits and concentrate on a variety of lures to suit the state of tide. Slow jigging using fixed spool reels has increased in popularity along with the more usual dragging of lures at high speed in fast tides. Slack tide can often be productive so good quality feathers and a pirk as an attractor are useful items to keep handy. The Shambles Bank should see an ‘Autumn Run’ of brill along with the turbot with these fish being taken during bass sessions when the drifts concentrate of
WEYMOUTH
the banks rather than the Race area and mussel beds. These later months are the best for species events with so many different fish available. Events this year, such as the WIBAC (Weymouth International Boat Angling Competition), have not taken place because of the Covid restrictions but are deliberately scheduled for the September-November months because of the variety of inshore species. A competition winner would expect to catch in the region of 13 to 15 different species to take a Boat Win so no now is the time to enjoy this kind of angling. At the moment, the Pairs Competition held in November as organised by the Weymouth Angling Centre (01305 777771) is still going ahead and would welcome your entry. October sees the first arrival of a few whiting, usually from west side marks such as the reefs off Abbotsbury and the famous Stennis Ledges. These fish will appear during the general reefing sessions along with the smaller species such as pout, gurnard, mackerel, dogfish, scad and garfish taken on the lighter rigs or on the paternosters presented on the popular ‘one-up, two down rigs’ used on such marks.
Sea Angling News, October 2020
Turbot - Fish On 2
Bass - Fish On 2
Turbot - Fish On 2
Bream - Fish On 2
Undulate ray - Fish On 2
Red Gurnard - Atlanta
Red Mullet - Atlanta
Bream - Atlanta
Pollock - Atlanta
Thornback - Atlanta
Huss - Atlanta
Needless to say, the local skippers wish to voice a big thank you for your much needed support over this year and which, I fear, will be even more needed over the coming months.
Bream - Fish On 2
WEYMOUTH
Sea Angling News, October 2020
Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 23
OFFSHORE REBEL CAT, Cop 60 miles, licenced/insured for 12 anglers, Channel Islands, wrecking specialist fishing trips Tel: JAMIE PULLIN Mobile: 07886 931406 Phone for free newsletter & individual list Contact my web site on:
http://www.deepsea.co.uk/boat/offshore_rebel
Skipper - Keith Brown Brill - Fins Up
16lb turbot - Fins Up
TO ADVERTISE IN THIS SPACE CALL JAMES ON 07825181694
ATLANTA Reef, Wreck, Shambles & Kidney Bank fishing. Individuals, Parties, Beginners welcome. 60 mile COP, Licensed & Insured. Tel: DAVE PITMAN 01305 781644 Boat 07721 320352
Offshore Wrecking, Reef, Bank and Alderney Fishing Trips
FISHING CHARTERS FROM PORTLAND/WEYMOUTH MARINA Gilthead bream - Fins Up
Turbot - Fins Up
Blonde Rays - Fins Up
Black bream - Fins Up
Free Parking Refreshments Professional Tuition Tackle and Rod Hire available Beginners, Experienced and Families All Welcome
SKIPPER - DAN CLARKE (01308) 488515 / 07734383440 WWW.FINSUP-CHARTERS.COM @finsupfishingcharters
NOW TAKING BOOKINGS FOR 2021
24 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com
NEWS
Sea Angling News, October 2020
WEST SUSSEX By Alan Brown
Bass have been caught in good numbers right along West Sussex beaches The local rivers have seen plenty of sizable fish in the lower reaches with fish to 6lb com‐ ing out. The beaches on occasions are still seeing fish to lure anglers mainly fish‐ ing over low water along Worthing beach and church norton. There has been good catches of Sole, mostly during darkness or when the water is coloured and again this year there has some quality fish caught. Flounders catches are mostly frequent in and around the Shoreham Harbour area and nearby beaches. Most worm baits will catch flat‐ fish throughout West Sussex.
Carl Golding with a east beach selsey undulate ray
Luke Danny hinshelwood with a nice codling from selsey East beach
Kevin Barnacle with a 10lb undulate ray from East beach selsey
Lewis wakeford with a nice bognor pier undulate ray
Codling catches have dropped compared to the start of the month as the water has cleared out but there has still been a few caught mainly at night. Catches should improve over the next few months with evening highs as well as some of the biggest tides of the year. Shoreham. Pagham and Selsey should see better fish as the winter takes holds Undulate Rays also can be expected around Aldwick, Pagham, Selsey and Shoreham all worth a try, fishing fish baits during darkness. A few small thornies and odd smalleyed and spotted will also show in catches
Andy Golding with a nice undulate ray from East beach selsey
Philip A Lee with a codling from worthing pier
Jamie Austen with a cracking sole from shoreham
Other species featuring in catches include Black Bream that have been here in large numbers last few months and can make it difficult for those targeting better fish, but next big blow should see them move off This week after the water clarity improved, has seen plenty of mullet up the rivers and open beaches Squid could start to show once the water is clear for a reasonable period of time and can be caught with jigs and can be tar‐ geted from worthing pier, bognor pier and Selsey bill.
Glen Austen with a codling from shoreham back at the start of the month
A surprise turbot for Jamie calver while fishing shoreham
Glen Austen with a surprise thick lipped mullet while fishing East beach selsey
George Ball with a bass while down Selsey fishing for rays
A very nice 13lb undulate ray for having eason from shoreham East arm
Kyle Homer with his 1st ever undulate ray from aldwick
Wayne gaffney with a nice undulate ray from East beach selsey
Dean Martin Adams with a early season codling
Sea Angling News, October 2020
BACK TO BASICS
Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 25
BACK TO BASICS By Martin Wood
So with summer now past and we officially have autumn well under the way we can have some of the best fishing there is to be had as we have some summer species hanging around for a bit longer due to warmer spells of recent and yet we have winter species moving in thus giving us a large overlap and gives us a great variety as well. A lot of larger fish will be moving into our waters like the larger Cod from up north or colder waters to move in with our smaller codling which of late has been showing good numbers and catches in the Bristol Channel my cod season is well under way. With species like whiting moving in now and the numbers only getting bigger which also brings more big fish that prey on these food sources as they gorge on them before making a long trip or breeding... So is a great time to use large fish baits and the fresher the better to get some lunking fish landed. So looking at using some larger baits, let us look at what rigs will help on that front! So depending on your ground and species you are going for obviously presentations change but the first thing with any rig to help you with your bait presentation is you want to Pennell your hook whilst with some species like a toothy fish that likes to get a bit bitey for instance you sometimes prefer a single hook but that Pennell hook gives you another hooking point to double your chances of hooking a fish when it goes to take your bait. Not only is it advantageous to have a second hook it will with a large bait hold it better and look better when its laying or hanging in the water acting a lot more nat‐ ural in the tide. Good rigs to use are: Up & over rigs for baits on the bottom but that you can clip down and get more dis‐ tance with as it will be neater on casting and more streamlined which then presents with a running ledger format. Also on the retrieve it keeps the lead in front of the fish. Pulley drop down: Again for baits that you want held hard on the bottom and great in any place with a strong tidal flow as the bait can move 360 degrees with the tides so it always looks natural in any tidal flow direction. Again it sits all streamlined behind the lead enabling you to be able to cast further with your large bait. Also on the retrieve the lead again sits in front of the fish.
Pulley Pennell rigs: Nice simple rigs to make and effective too especially over rough ground it can keep you bait on the sea bed or just off it and like the two rigs above when you reel in with your fish on the end it keeps the lead in front of it stop‐ ping it snagging up on rough grounds. It presents differently in the fact it’s not hard on the seabed it can waft in the tide now and then with the tide which allows controlled movement. Clipped down paternoster: Another great simple rig that you can clip down to keep streamlined for casting distance. Also like the pulley rig it has a similar presentation letting the bait waft in the tide you can keep the bait on the bottom with a longer trace or just off the bottom with a shorter trace. Leads: Try and use a lead that has a poin‐ ted and weighted front (C.O.G) to cast well and also a larger girth at the clipping point like the Namix leads as they allow a larger bait to sit behind them making the whole streamlined approach better through flight being aerodynamic as it creates a larger slipstream that enables the bait to travel with the lead with less resistance resulting in better distances for you. Hooks: Using larger hooks a good advant‐ age is having a hook with a longer shank and a good sized gape to enable the hooking point to remain visible and prone from the bait increasing your hook up chances. Everyone has their favourite brands they prefer like I prefer a Mustad uptide Viking hook, a friend likes the Sakuma manta range. But whatever your preference is use a hook with a longer shank and wider gape to aid holding the bait and keeping any teeth away from the line. Sometimes it makes no difference with lar‐ ger baits and you end up with small fish managing to get on there still... but then sometimes it makes all the difference! Larger fish tend to prefer hunting for one meal instead of many so right place right time good presentation will result in larger fish. So get out there and try some larger baits and see if the size of your fish increases good luck!
COMPETITION BEST LURE CAUGHT FISH PRIZE The Red Gill is for the heaviest lure caught fish. The editors decision is final. The claim will have to be backed by photographic evidence and weighed on accurate scales. Full name and address will be needed plus details of where the capture was made. If you wish to have your photo returned please enclose an S.A.E. Entries to Red Gill competition, Sea Angling News 102 Periton Lane Minehead, Somerset TA24 9BP or email: editor@seaanglingnews.com. Usual competition rules apply
26 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com
LRF REPORT By Richard Salter A few months ago my mates Ben Bassett, Joe Mole and I booked a bit of time off to go fishing in Cornwall for a long weekend. We chatted about it for quite a bit and when we mentioned our trip to other fellow lerfers, quite a few were interested in joining us or meeting up at some point over the weekend. We thought that maybe it could be a bit more than a road trip at this point, maybe a less competitive version of the furloughed CLF. A celebration of LRF, which we could make as accessible as possible by inviting people to take part from wherever they were in the world by means of social media. Ben came up with the name "The Big Lerf" and got our pal Neil Sutherland of Aquazid Studio to do us a cool logo... The Big Lerf was born.... So, after much anticipation, September 18th arrived, the first of 3 days of a collective effort to catch as many species as possible using light lure gear, either in the salt or freshwater. Those that couldn’t make it to Cornwall could enter their catches via social media from wherever they were in the world whilst Ben, Joe and myself headed down to Cornwall, ready for an official start time of 12pm. Our first destination was Looe, where we hoped to tick off a couple of goby species fairly quickly before moving on. We met our first fellow Big Lerfer, Dave Taylor here and headed off in search of our gobies. Bumping jigheads and scented lures along the rocks alongside a footpath here was very comfortable fishing and we’d soon all picked up black and giant gobies whilst Joe and Ben also nabbed a sand goby each fishing the cleaner ground just beyond the rocks. The black and giant gobies were very aggressive and we spent a bit of time chucking a variety of lures at them to see what they’d take, the answer was pretty much everything! Our next destination was Mevagissey, a popular LRF mark, but we were concerned that the easterly winds that had developed over the last day or so would make things a bit tricky! When we arrived we bumped into Matt Barnsley and Danny Hill who informed us that there was a big swell running and very murky water so were moving on. We walked on to have a look anyway where we met Will Pender, who had also been a big help with organising the Big Lerf and Joe Bartlett, they were also heading off due to the conditions though! We decided to have a go on the sheltered side of the harbour anyway, this wasn’t very successful although Joe somehow managed to pluck out a small pollock and a shanny from the murky mess that was churning around below. It was time to move on and try and find some shelter, so we made the call to head for Polkerris and its tiny harbour. On arrival it was a relief to find we were much more sheltered from the wind here. Our main target was tub gurnard initially. The tubs here are usually pretty small, so we opted for dropshot and carolina as the best
LRF / NEWS
method of attack. Ben got his target pretty quickly whilst the rest of us struggled a bit with lost fish and quiet spells. A mackerel was kind enough to take my dropshot rig, which was welcome as it was another species to add to the tally although we’d be sure to find more during the weekend. We were joined by Josh Fletcher and Luke Fox at this point, along with hoardes of youngsters harbour jumping all around us! The harbour jumpers were pretty well behaved and the fishing began to improve, Joe and Ben picked up their garfish on metals whilst Josh had a mackerel that seemed to get stronger the longer it was hooked! I had changed to a carolina rig at this point, hoping to tempt a tub gurnard by fishing my bit of isome as tight to the bottom as possible. There was an outside chance of bream here too. The first fish to take my lure though, was a scad, which often show up for us lerfers as the light begins to fade. As always, the fish put up a great scrap before being landed. I continued to work my carolina rig across the sandy bottom of the harbour mouth and had another fish take my lure, it felt like a scad initially, hitting the lure and wriggling off at speed in one movement. Josh spotted the fish before me and said it looked like a bream, which got me quite excited. Then he said it looked like a couches bream, which got me really excited! Josh was right and I soon had my first ever couches bream in my hand, a stunning fish and one I really never expected to catch. My fellow anglers continued to catch a mixture of gurnard, mackerel and small wrasse. I toiled away and eventually got myself a little tub gurnard, always a welcome catch! I then started getting some rattly little bites and eventually connected to one, which to my delight turned out to be a black bream. Ben caught one himself straight after. It had been a really productive and enjoyable session, but it was time to move on. Having booked into our accommodation and refuelled on pizza, Fowey was our next stop and again we bumped into some of our fellow lerfers along the way, including Mervyn Jones who’d already enjoyed a Will Pender night game masterclass and caught bass and scad himself. Hopes were high of some good fishing under the lights in Fowey, Ben very quickly got himself a bass followed by a small flounder. Despite this, the fishing was actually slowing down a bit, aside from a few small pollock. Our attention turned to the mini species at our feet by a slipway. Amongst the many prawns, there were tiny gobies. Ben had already targetted these before and knew they were painted gobies. Ben got his after some patient work before I had a go. I could barely see them so needed some help from Ben to talk me through what was going on as I inched my lure into position! Eventually, I’d caught my first ever painted goby, I was almost excited about this as I was about the couches bream earlier! We moved on and bumped into Matt and Danny again, who were enjoying catching a mixture of scad, mackerel, pollock and even some herring before heading off. We
Sea Angling News, October 2020
also had a few mackerel, pollock and the odd scad, but sadly no herring. As low tide approached, Will, Ben and Joe went on a bit of a micro adventure along the tide line, catching some tiny turbot and dragonet, in barely an inch of water right at their feet. My eyes were not up to tying a size 22 hook at this stage of the night and made do with playing with the mackerel and scad in slightly deeper water! We eventually called it a night at about 3am and headed back to our modified shipping container to get some much needed sleep! The next morning arrived all too quickly and it was time to set off again. A quick stop for a sausage and bacon bap and coffee helped lift the energy levels before we arrived at Charlestown Harbour. Unfortunately the easterly winds had taken their toll and there was a big swell running which in turn made for very limited water clarity. A quick try for weevers was unsuccessful, so we turned our attention to the inner harbour in search of flounder. It was soon clear that the harbour was full of small pollock which wouldn’t have given the flounder much of a look in if they were about. I did manage to get myself a tiny bass to add to my own species tally though. We were joined at this point by Scott McCarthy, who’d made the long trip from Wales to enjoy a couple of days of Cornish Lerfing. With Charlestown fishing slowly, we made the call to head for some north coast rockpools to try and find some special little blennies... With our chosen rockpool located, we set about trying to entice our tiny target with size 22 hooks and specs of isome. The challenge here is to get a lure past the dozens of shannies that dominate these pools. Ben found his target quite quickly the montagu’s blenny is a tiny but stunning little fish, a prized catch for the species hunter. Joe got his next whilst Scott and I continued to be plagued by shannies and the odd rock goby. I was close to admitting defeat when a couple of montys came creeping up over the ledge of the pool in pursuit of my tiny isome offering. I got my fish and pointed Scott towards where I’d caught it and he eventually got his too with some help from Ben. With Montagu’s ticked off for everyone, it was time to move on again, to Hayle. We’d not fished this mark before so were unsure what to expect but on arrival we bumped into Matt and Danny again who told us they’d had a good session. Will was on the other side of the estuary, undoubtedly catching a few fish himself too. It didn’t take long to discover there was plenty of life down the walls of the harbour and we quickly caught a mixture of gobies, wrasse and Tompots on our split shot and dropshot rigs. Our final destination of the day was Falmouth, our main target was poor cod and sand smelt with the outside chance of a topknot. The poor cod were strangely frustrating although we did find a few gobies and Tompots along with a scorp for Ben. The highlight though was Joe catching a Dragonet on a metal, very cool! We saw Matt and Danny yet again who suggested a different location for poor cod as they’d had a few there. Whilst we couldn’t find our poor cod there, we did
get whiting, sand smelt and scad. Meanwhile, Matt went to the spot we started at and promptly pulled out a topknot first drop, great work! With energy levels seriously sapped, we called it a day somewhere around 1am. The final morning saw us back at Fowey. Pasties and coffee were consumed whilst Scott caught a mackerel from Town Quay that a seagull tried its best to swallow tail first. I tried to help out only for my own line to get wrapped round another gull and go kiting up the estuary! Thankfully the line slipped off my gull and it was no worse for wear whilst Scott won his own battle with the hungry herring gull. A move again found us on another quay, I needed a dragonet so modified my dropshot rig so it had a snood which meant I could fish my lure tight on the deck for the little dragons. I got my dragon and a scorp whilst the guys played around with metals, Ben hooking and losing a garfish before we made the call to move again. Our penultimate location found us fishing from rocks onto sandy ground in search of weever fish and potentially turbot. Casting metals tipped with isome out onto the sand and bumping it back, Joe and i got our weevers fairly quickly whilst Ben and Scott were hampered by thick weed. Whilst we were casually bumping our metals around, we saw and heard a big splash about 100 yards out. We weren’t sure what it was, but on checking my gopro footage when I got home, it turned out to be a huge bluefin tuna, an amazing sight so close to shore in shallow water! After scratching around in the rockpools for a while, which saw Scott catch his first ever giant goby, we headed for the final spot of the weekend, Mevagissey. Meva was still pretty churned up from the easterly winds and there was a lot of weed and debris on the surface which made things tricky. I was hoping to find garfish here but was out of luck despite Ben hooking and losing a couple and seeing a few chasing his lure in early on. Despite that, we had some last minute action with the odd mackerel showing along with scorps and wrasse. Scott caught his first ballan, doing it in fine style with a 10g slow jig! Meanwhile, Merv Jones had a fine ballan of 2lb 8oz on his slightly heavier gear on the inside of the harbour. Sadly, 6pm arrived all too quickly and it was time to call it a day, but it had been a memorable weekend. I’d finished on 21 species whilst Ben had been on fire and had an amazing 24 species. Joe had a very respectable 16 species on his first ever Cornish species event whilst Scott had 10 species over the 2 days he fished, 7 of them brand new for him, brilliant stuff! It was fantastic to see so many anglers getting involved with The Big Lerf, either in person down in Cornwall, or adding their catches online from wherever they were in the world. The final collective tally was 43 species, with everything from topknot to grayling caught by anglers up and down the country. There were even entries from as far afield as Sweden and Bulgaria! Thanks to all that got involved and supported the event. Tight lines all!
Sea Angling News, October 2020
PICTURES FROM THE BIG LERF
LRF / NEWS
Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 27
28 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com
NEWS
ROVING RODS - MONSTER HUNT By Martin Wood With summer now on the way out and some good fresh autumnal weather setting in I’ve been out on the crisp nights starting on the codling run... then last week at one of my marks I started getting funny plucking type bites that would lead to nothing when I would strike, So thinking it may be small fish I left the fish bait with a 5/0 out there to either develop or let the small fish jog on... that was until the rod tip went crashing over of which I grabbed the rod lifted into the bite and it was fish on! It was a large fish at that! It bent the WR300 ninety degrees to the beach and I could feel the weight on the end! Correction not fish on but monster on! I could see the face of Chris as well as he real‐ ised it was a serious fish on the end then a few minutes into the battle and it was a battle! Of gaining some line it bit through the trace of 60lb mono. On bringing it in I inspected the hook length and you could see the serrated edge to the mono where it had bitten me off. Not one to be beaten I replaced the hook length straight away with some 80lb mono I keep for heavier leader when needed at some marks I fish and put another 5/0 hook on, I re‐ loaded my fish bait running the mono through the bait to afford as much protection as pos‐ sible as its all I had on me and I fire it out again. Twenty minutes on and I was anxiously waiting to which I thought the fish had moved on it was high water and slack tide and miffed that I’d lost out on this fish. When suddenly it star‐ ted again puck pluck pluck SMASH! With the rod tip going right over the clutch screamed out and paid out line, as I was already by the rod from the plucking I had the rod in hand set the hook and it was hooked again. Reeling in the taken line like a man possessed relatively easy it was swimming towards me catching up finally I got in front and the tip bent right over again and could feel the weight of the fish pulling on the rod in my right hand just above the reel. This is a very healthy fish feeling like a large ray sat in a tide refusing to come up and then two then three really heavy nods translating into the rod with big heavy dips Chris now by me as well knowing this is going to require a possible second man looking at each other with a mix‐ ture of Holy S*£% and come on!!! I’m retrieving line with no let up in the rod bend at all. I feel the back end of the monster hit the now shallow boulder seafloor and I’m on the highest point possible to keep the fish hooked then it all goes slack as the rod tip flicks up again, thinking I’ve been bitten off again I swear like a sailor possessed and growling un‐ der my breath and grumbling to myself for los‐ ing it again, but upon reeling in the rig I can see the fish has shirked the hook and teeth have serrated the 80lb line which wouldn’t have taken much more abuse. I once again re-tie the hook length with fresh 80lb mono using this time a slightly larger hook with a wider gape and longer shank trying any‐ thing to keep the teeth away from the line. The rest of the night past and it never re‐ appeared. Last year at around this time and also earlier this year I had been bitten off on 100lb hook lengths as well so assuming this is the same fish with residence here it’s now become a monster hunt! The mark is heavy going ground with some lighter patches so likely a large eel or possibly a large tope with lots of smaller bait fish passing through and ignoring huss as the weight is just too much! But from the info I have and being on this mark I’m leaning to‐ wards a very large eel just due to the sheer weight on the end of the rod and I’ve lost an eel after snagging here with friends that reckon we were looking at 40lb plus from what they saw of the fish as approaching landing and it
doesn’t strip line like a tope normally would. So now the challenge is on! I made some really heavy duty rigs with wire trace and some with very heavy mono of 200lb taking no nonsense at all now. I want this fish and it isn’t too shy about taking the baits so willing to sacrifice some presenta‐ tion in the process to enable myself to go heavier on tackle. I know the tides were not 100% right as they were now getting large around 12.4M I went out gunned up as much as possible 50lb whip‐ lash 100lb rubbing leader ( I know a lot don’t like leader but I trust my knots and I’ve never had an issue at all or lost out because of a mono leader on braid) and my heavy duty rigs plus heavy duty tope rigs from Sean Cassin of All rigged up which are great rigs with quality gear and prices I head out with the heavy rods. After a short drive and then a 30 minute walk to the mark I set the rods up one lot heavy with a spare trace ready alternating the wire trace and mono of 200lb leading to heavy duty Cox and Rawle hooks with large fish baits on cast‐ ing out around 50-60 yards to the required area I set the rod in the stand and adjust the clutch so line can be paid out with no problems. I also have another rod with me for some gen‐ eral fishing of which I had decided I wanted the best of both using a paternoster and a running ledger so used a Wessex rig with 3/0 hooks baited with Squid to scratch about and see what else was about. The large baits were out and set, I cast out the Wessex rig to see what else is about tonight as I can’t normally fish a large tide here as the weather makes it unsafe but there is no wind about so allowing play tonight. With everything all set and out I decide it’s time to have a coffee. Steaming away in my hand with the smell wak‐ ing me up whilst just appreciating the scenery around here all of a sudden the tip of the TTGSM gives a good two solid dips on the tip! Putting the go go juice down rapidly and lifting into the rod its fish on its lazy and no issue and is on the surface in no time at all... it’s codling! Happy days! A good start to the session coming in at 37cm its one for the table so a quick dispatch and quickly gut and wash out, I place it in the cool bag. With the bait not damaged as such just moved a bit I elastic it a bit and just tip it with a fresh broken bit of squid and cast it all back out. A couple of hours go by with a just a few small eel bootlaces and straps trying to tangle up my rig and not a nibble on the larger baits I rebait all rigs again and fire them back out two minutes later my general rod is rattling away thinking it s a doggy I hook in and with no fight it’s actually a small Bullhuss but of dog size chucking him back as the water is now up near not having to move lazy fishing commences haha A few small huss and dogs later the rod goes quiet, I think I’ve run out of all the small fish here in the area to catch but also grateful for the rest and leaving me some bait. But all of a sudden the rod takes line peeling away off the reel making it scream out! I’m thinking to myself please no not the mon‐ ster on the small rig! Upon picking it up and feeling it fight I know it’s a better fish but not the main target of the night with a sigh of relief. I start to think it’s a bass as it takes away with the tide until I feel the head shakes which con‐ fuses me as its feels like a hound... but I’ve never had a hound here from this venue ever before in 6 years of fishing it all states of tide. Taking a bit of line now and then I get it in close and it tries to run with the tide horizontal to me clarifying in my mind it is a hound! It runs in close and out she pops a cracking little
Sea Angling News, October 2020
hound which has made my night after all the small huss, dogs and eels that had plagued me all evening. The hound was the last fish and species of the session that night and the best fish of the ses‐ sion which saw the scales taken to 8lb 2oz. The session saw me land 5 species over all so it was still a good session as far as fishing goes. I decided to miss the next night due to the weather and the tide being so large would be a bit too dangerous but the night after there was no wind due at all just a cold night as far as the weather has been of late. Being back at the mark I have exactly the same set up as before including the one rod for just general fishing for something else to do whilst awaiting the nemesis and fishing it away from the other baits. All set up and a brew in hand I can’t help but notice just how eerie it is the moon is so low it hasn’t risen up to cast any light on the mark here due to hills and the air is still and crisp with it dropping seeing my own breath in the low light of my headlamp and the cold starting to bite on the tip of my nose and cheeks, the sea is lapping the shore here so gently you’d be forgiven if you thought you were lake fishing and it’s so quiet with no wildlife movement at all, you could literally hear an owl fart at 30 yards! Casting out the first bait is a bit later tonight as we are already in darkness with my lamp on its dimmest setting of 8 lumens the first cast was into darkness on the scratching rod and I only had to wait ten minutes for the first piece of action it was again two large nods of the rod tip with no warning at all, so jumping too and lifting into the rod I can feel the gentle weight of the fish on the end, reeling down into it and lifting up the rod I can feel another nod on the end and then there was no fight as it was pulled up to the surface after a few seconds there it was laying there in all its golden glory white belly up on the edge of the shore line with a neat hook in the mouth. Again another take home fish but only just at 36cm and a skinny 36cm at that so I decide he’s to go back and get bigger, so sent him packing to come back another time. Whilst baiting the rod up again I saw a twitch‐ ing on one of the large bait rods... Stopping everything else and putting the rod down I watched it play out... False alarm unfortunately and it goes back to being still again. To aid with the presentation tonight I don’t have the rod tips bent over with the line tight and have the bait fishing hard on the bottom with virtually no movement in the sea which is as flat as a pane of glass but being such a large tide there is still movement underneath going on. Preparing the next big baits with a coffee cool‐ ing down next to me steaming away and just finishing of whipping up a fish bait and making sure the hook point is proud, I get the scissors and lop the tail off and scored one of the flanks, just as I look away and put the knife down the rod tip starts flickering away getting stronger something has clearly hooked itself on my bait and I suspect a small dog or huss as the rod isn’t going anywhere yet as it keeps banging away. Getting up and putting the baits down I start to reel in and sure enough it’s the first of the small huss they seem to come in waves here one minute you’ll get the small huss, then the strap eels and then whatever else the night decides to bring you. And sure enough for the next hour this is how it goes with every cast sometimes with the Wessex coming back with two fish at a time. Its gone past high tide and slack water and I’m starting to run low on bait due to small fish nabbing it every single cast and even smaller fish that shouldn’t be getting on the hooks do‐ ing so, even a couple of tenacious dogfish just holding onto the bait all the way in and not hooked and still require me to get them to let go!
I’m just about to pack the general rod away and thought sod it I’m here so I may as well throw it back out one last time and then pack it all down together. By the time I had baited back up and cast it back out there again they must have either got bored and moved on or bullied off the trail, I emptied the last of the coffee onto the stones and packed it away when the silence and gentle lapping of waves was broken by a screaming reel making me turn at light speed to look at the rod and almost giving myself whiplash in the process I see the TTGSM bent over paying out line it must be another hound! Get on! Fish on! Lifting into the rod the line was darting away all over the show pumping the rod tip as it wanted more line but I wouldn’t give it, then the hound came towards me in this streaming ebbing tide even small hounds feel good in this tidal pull under the calm water close in. As the hound gets closer I bring it in to the left side of me as the beach dips back and creates a small eddy and then a slack water area which was doubling as a landing pool for me tonight to make life a touch easier as I’m on my own. I guided the pocket rocket into here and then I easily popped the hound onto the beach. On collecting I gave the hound a quick weigh and it came to 7lb 11oz once again catching hounds here was new to me and had once again it made my night. The big bait rods hadn’t moved except through some bait changes and a few little rattles which were small fish trying it on and quitting. Unfortunately the monster isn’t back yet but this is now a dedicated mission of mine to be completed, I’m determined to land this fish whatever it is and may touch on this again in the near future depending what happens.... Monster hunt is on!
Sea Angling News, October 2020
ROVING RODS
Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 29
30 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com LDSFC
Shingle Bank League Competition 8th September. On Tuesday evening 8th September Lymington & District Sea Fishing Club held a Shingle Bank League competition. This competition was for the Peter Tybinkowski Memorial Shield trophy which is held an‐ nually in memory of Tiby who was a good member and angler of the club. The weather for the evening was good with a light breeze so 14 club members signed on and 11 weighed in fish consist‐ ing of black bream, dogfish, pouting, sole and undulate rays. 49 fish in total were weighed for a total weight of 57lbs 12oz. The best fish of the evening was an undu‐ late ray weighing in at 10lbs 5 5/8oz caught by Malcolm Stote. All fish on these competitions are weighed and measured and then returned to the sea immediately. Results. 1st M.Stote 23lbs 9oz, 2nd O.Hopkins 8lb 15.4oz, 3rd C.Ellis 8lb 8¾oz, 4th A.Hop‐ kins 3lb 3.6oz, 5th S.Pitman 3lb 1.8oz, 6th K.Panks 2lb 14oz, 7th L.Woodford 1lb 15oz, 8th E.Taylor & D.Panks 1lb 13oz, 10th D.Rose 1lb 11.2oz.
LDSFC
Shore Competition 12th September. On Saturday evening the 12th Septem‐ ber Lymington & District Sea Fishing Club held its 10th shore competition. This was held at Warren Edge, Southbourne and the weather for the evening was dry with a light southerly wind. Eight club members signed on and only three weighed in fish which were all sole. Five fish in total were caught and weighed for a total weight of 1lb 15 1/8oz. The best flat fish of the evening was a sole weighing in at 10oz caught by Keith Panks. Results: 1st Keith Panks 1lb 3oz, 2nd Danny Panks 7oz, 3rd Luke Woodford 5 1/8 oz. The best round fish pool was not won so is a rollover of £8.00. The best specimen pool is also a rollover of £25.00 until the next competition.
LDSFC
Shallow Boat Competition. On Sunday 13th September Lymington & District Sea Fishing Club held its 9th Shallow Boat Competition. It was to be a day of trials and tribulations. Due to the heavy swell one member of one boat be‐ came unwell so it was decided to return to shore. During the return the engine star‐ ted to play up and it was a slow limp home. The remaining boat had a much more successful day despite the difficult condi‐ tions. 1st Adrian Moody with 11 fish for 60 points, 2nd Alan Martin with 6 fish for 23 points. On these competitions all fish are returned alive to the sea and points awarded.
Adrian Moody
RESULTS
LDSFC
Adrian MoodyLymington and District Sea Fishing Club, Vernon Everitt Match Boat League Series. On Saturday the 15th of August the Club held the second match of the league, kindly sponsored by Christchurch Angling Centre. For once the weather was absolutely fantastic with flat calm seas, allowing the skippers alot of flexibility to fish different areas. The idea of the league is to test your ability as an all round angler, with different points awarded to different species (up to a maximum of 10 per species) and further points awarded for the number of species caught overall. An added skill is the man‐ agement of your bait throughout the day. Due to the numbers of members wishing to fish, this match was held aboard charter boats from the ports of Lymington (Voyager and Last Laugh) and Poole (Blue Duo). Those fishing from Lymington focused their attention on drifting for plaice (also finding numbers of garfish, gurnards, scad and mackerel) and areas of rough ground which produced a good variety of species including wrasse, bull huss, con‐ ger eels, rays, quality bream and mini species. Overall, the species count from Lymington ended in 22 species with Arran Harmer and Ben Daniels winning their boats with 380pts and 391pts respect‐ ively. Meanwhile those fishing from Poole had an equally good day trying a variety of locations both within the harbour, catching plaice, gurnards and wrasse; as well as several marks around Poole bay, further increasing the species list with rays, bream, more plaice, scad and a multitude of mini species. Overall the species tally from Poole ended on 17 with Paul Hollyoake coming out on top spot with a very respectable 508pts. Results by boat: Voyager: Ben Daniels 100% (391 pts) Martin Bobbett 85% (335pts) John Bellamy 83% (325pts) Robin Lane 68% (267pts) Rod Giles 54% (214pts) Total species- 18 Last Laugh: Arran Harmer 100% (380 pts) Richard Day 78% (300 pts) Cliff Newbold 75% (285pts) P. Wilson 69% (265 pts) G. Smith 51% (195 pts) Karl Bates 46% (176pts) Total species- 18 Blue Duo: Paul Hollyoake 100% (508 pts) Chris Rogers 71% (363 pts) Chris Ellis 65% (335 pts) Andy Southwick 51% (262 pts) Mark Duncan 35% (181 pts) Total species- 17
Sea Angling News, October 2020
guessers forecast lighter winds) With only one of each of specified species allowed to be weighed in, several species includ‐ ing Plaice, Bream, Pollock, Mackerel, Red Gurnard and Spotted Ray were caught. Decided against Angling Trust ‘specimen’ weights the first day winner was Paul Fisher, aboard Lyme Regis charter boat Pegasus, with a magnificent Red Gurnard of 147%, second place Wayne Harwood, and third Ben Bradstock, both from the Honiton club. The second day saw 26 fishing, including a second junior, on a calmer day. A greater variety of species were caught, including three types of Ray (Blonde, Small-Eyed and Thornback), and for the first time in a very long time a Turbot of 3lb 4oz by Ray‐ mond Nutbeam aboard Pegasus. Day two winner was West Bay SAC chairman Rod Barr, with two Rays totalling 180%, second Wayne Harwood and third Joe Fisher. The overall winner, decided by their best 2 different species over the two days, was Rod Barr with 180%, second Paul Fisher with 173%, and third Wayne Har‐ wood with 149%. There were also prizes for the most different species over two days, Rod Barr with 6, and both juniors who both caught fish. Thanks to Coastal Nets, Bridport for sponsorship of first prize, and The Durbeyfield Guest House for the use of their premises. Day One: 1st: Paul Fisher 2nd: Wayne Harwood 3rd: Ben Bradstock Day Two: 1st: Rod Barr 2nd: Wayne Harwood 3rd: Joe Fisher Overall Result: 1st: Rod Barr 180% 2nd: Paul Fisher 173% 3rd: Wayne Harwood 149% Most Species: Rod Barr 6 species
Anyone wishing to fish the league please contact Robin Lane on 07876 471901 for more information.
overall winner Rod Barr with a small eyed ray of 98% that helped him win
West bay SAC
LDSFC
The West Bay SAC 2 day Jurassic Open Boat competition took place over the weekend of 5th/6th September, having been postponed from July due to COVID restrictions. 25 anglers took part on the first day, including 1 junior, setting out on an uncomfortable sea (the weather
Having not been able to get afloat at all so far this year due to Covid-19 and bad weather, it was with a feeling of relief that six Lymington & District Sea Fishing Club members were at last able to enjoy a trip aboard Private Venture, skippered by Art Savage. A stiff northerly breeze gradually
eased throughout the day and the sun eventually broke through to warm things up. Sport was steady rather than manic. The morning was spent at anchor a few miles off the Needles. It was a pleasant surprise to see whiting so early in the sea‐ son. Although small, they were very wel‐ come and hopefully a sign of better things to come later this year. The turn of the tide signalled a move to Christchurch Ledge in the hope of some bream. Unfortunately the few that were caught were only just sizeable and were returned. The decision was then taken to drift for plaice, which unfortunately only produced a few. Never‐ theless, it was an enjoyable outing and just great to be back out fishing again. Species caught were bass, conger, pout, scad, whiting, plaice, black bream and dogfish. Results. 1st Alec Harmer 59 points; 2nd Roland Blomfield 54 points; 3rd Jane Hop‐ kins 43 points; joint 4th Nelson Phillips and Malcolm Gerrish 29 points; 5th Mark Duncan 35 points.
LDSFC
Adult Win – Sum League Competition. On Wednesday evening the 11th March club held its 1st Adult Win – Sum League competition at Calshot. 1st Paul Watson 281pts, 2nd Glyn Savin 256pts, 3rd Chris Ellis 60pts, 4th Colin Saunders 57pts, 5th Pete Chamberlain 53pts, 6th Luke Woodford 48pts. The longest round fish pool of £6.00 was won by Paul Watson with a dogfish of 59cm. The longest flat fish pool was not won so is a rollover of £6.00 to the next competition. Adult Win – Sum League Competition. On Wednesday evening the 22nd July the club held its 2nd Adult Win – Sum League competition at Southbourne. 1st Chris Ellis 860pts, 2nd Ben Daniel 758pts, 3rd Luke Woodford 518pts, 4th Paul Watson 482pts, 5th Pete Chamberlain 302pts, 6th Marc Duncan 111pts. The longest round fish pool of £6.00 was won by Ben Daniel with a scad of 39cm. The longest flat fish pool of £12.00 was won by Chris Ellis with a sole of 30cm. Adult Win – Sum League Competition. On Wednesday evening the 19th Au‐ gust the club held its 3rd Adult Win – Sum League Competition which was on the Lymington Sea Wall. 1st Ben Daniel 541pts, 2nd Luke Wood‐ ford 449pts, 3rd Billy King 397pts, 4th Chris Ellis 365pts, 5th Paul Watson 264pts, 6th Colin Saun‐ ders 216pts, 7th Marc Duncan 166pts. The longest round fish pool of £7.00 was won by Ben Daniel with an eel of 55cm. The longest flat fish pool was not won so the £7.00 is a rollover till the next compet‐ ition.
West bay SAC
The junior members fished their first match since the March lockdown, as a club we were unable to fish during the summer months because though we could safely make sure are juniors were socially distanced and covid 19 safe on the pier, we could not guarantee that the
Sea Angling News, October 2020 holidaymakers wouldn't crowd round them especially if they caught a fish, and as safety of our members is paramount we could not allow junior matches to go ahead. The juniors enjoyed a sunny day, but there was a bitterly cold northerly wind blowing. The sea was flat calm in the lea of the land and very clean, we had hope that maybe a few garfish or mackerel may have shown up but alas none arrived. The competitors
RESULTS / FIXTURES
did manage to catch some fish, with the eventual winner Aaron catching a sizable ballan wrasse. Species caught on the day were; tompot, pout, wrasse, shanny and pollock, in all twenty-two fish were caught. Results. 1st Alec Harmer 59 points; 2nd Roland Blomfield 54 points; 3rd Jane Hop‐ kins 43 points; joint 4th Nelson Phillips and Malcolm Gerrish 29 points; 5th Mark Duncan 35 points.
Position Name Sizable Weight Non-Sizable Weight Total Weight 1st Aaron Chambers 378g 300g 678g 2nd Eden Lynham 575g 575g
Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 31
PLEASE MENTION THE SEA ANGLING NEWS WHEN REPLYING TO ADVERTS
Red Gill Tel – 01305 789297 E Mail – sales@redgill.co.uk www.redgill.co.uk
MATCH PLANNER BOGNOR REGIS AMATEUR ANGLING SOCIETY OPEN CHRISTMAS BEACH COMPETITION DAY COMPETITION SUNDAY 29 NOVEMBER 0800 TO 1300 CATCH AND RELEASE TO BE FISHED AT WEST END BEACH BOGNOR REGIS BOOKING IN AND DRAW FOR PEGS FROM 0700 AT WEST END BEACH OPPOSITE WAVERLEY PUB MARINE DRIVE WEST PO21 2QA ENTRY COST £8.00 SENIOR £4.00 JUNIOR OPTIONAL POOLS FLAT £1.00 ROUND £1.00 POOLS HIGHEST SINGLE FISH POINTS Aaron with his winning fish a Ballan Wrasse of 378g
CASH PRIZE SUBJECT TO ENTRY - TEL JOHN SMALL 07799 762377 AFTER 5PM
ANGLING TRUST WYVERN REGION DATES FOR 2020/2021 LDSFC
Adult Win-Sum League Competition. On Wednesday evening the 16th September Lymington & District Sea Fish‐ ing Club held a Win-Sum League compet‐ ition at Warren Edge, Southbourne in absolutely perfect conditions, a really good evening. Eight club members signed on and five caught fish consisting of scad, sole, plaice, smoothhound and blonde ray. As this is a measure and re‐ turn competition eighteen fish were
caught and measured for a total length of 556cm. All fish are measured and re‐ turned immediately to the sea. The longest round fish pool went to Ben Daniel with a smoothhound of 52cm. The longest flat fish pool was also won by Ben with a plaice of 29cm. Results: 1st Ben Daniel 218cm, 2nd Chris Ellis 141cm, 3rd Billy King 78cm, 4th Paul Watson 77cm, 5th Pete Chamberlain 42cm.
IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO HELP US OUT ON THE WYVERN COMMITTEE PLEASE GET IN TOUCH. WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR HELP TO PUT ON OUR OPEN EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. 12TH/13TH SEPTEMBER 2020 SALCOMBE SMALL BOAT FESTIVAL. WYVERN AGM 11TH NOVEMBER AT THE RBL, ALPHINGTON. 8PM SAT 30TH JANUARY 2021 PRESENTATION EVENING AT THE RBL IN ALPHINGTON, EXETER. 8PM SUNDAY 3RD JANUARY 2021 WYVERN OPEN SHORE AT SLAPTON. (TBC) CONTACT DETAILS FOR ALL WYVERN EVENTS IS MIKE SPILLER 07779308093.
32 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com
NEWS
Sea Angling News, October 2020
TACKLE SHOPS DIRECTORY DEVON SEAVIEW ANGLING 14/15 Faraday hill, Plymouth PL4 0ST. Tel: 01752269698 SEATON ANGLING CENTRE The Harbour, Axmouth, Seaton Devon EX12 4AA Tel: 01297 625511 www.seatonanglingcentre.co.uk HIGH STREET TACKLE, 153 High Street, Ilfracombe, Devon EX34 9EZ info@highstreettackle.co.uk Tel: 07516 730749
DORSET SWANAGE ANGLING CENTRE 6 High St., Swanage BH19 2NT Tel. 01929 424989 email martin@swanageanglingcentre.co.uk The Angling Centre, 10a West Bay, Bridport tel. 01308 421800 www.fishto.net WEYMOUTH ANGLING CENTRE 2-3 St Edmunds Street, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8QU Tel 01305-777771 Email: wac@weymouthangling.com ABBOTSBURY FISHING TACKLE Rodden Row, Abbotsbury Weymouth DT3 4JL Tel 01305 871199. Delivery service to beach available.
JERSEY MORNING WATCH TACKLE St Catherines Breakwater, St Martins Jersey JE3 6DD 01534854359
HAMPSHIRE ALLAN’S MARINE 143 Twyford Ave., Portsmouth Tel 02392 671833 www.allansmarine.co.uk ROVERS FISHING TACKLE 178a West St., Fareham, Hants PO16 0EQ Tel. 01329 220354 Fax 01329 829040 roverstackle@yahoo.co.uk POINGDESTRES Unit 11, Southampton Trade Park, Third Avenue, Southampton, Millbrook SO15 0LE 023 8077 2958 www.poingdestres.co.uk
SOMERSET
MINEHEAD LOGISTICS & FINANCIAL SERVICES LTD. ✔
Warehousing
✔
Shipping
✔
Office Furniture
Veals Fishing Tackle, Brunel Rooms, Unity St. Bristol, BS2 0JP. 01179 260790 THYERS FISHING TACKLE, 1A Church Street, Highbridge 01278 786934 Fax 792397 WEST COAST TACKLE The Quay, Minehead Tel. Craig 01643 705745 WEST COAST ANGLING CENTRE 53 Swain St, Watchet Tel. Steve 01984 634807
SUSSEX THE ANGLERS DEN 6 North Road, Pevensey Bay, East Sussex BN24 6AY Tel: 01323-460441 LAGOON BAIT& TACKLE, 327 Kingsway, BN3 4LD Brighton - 01273 415879 SCOTTIES 25 Southwick Square, Southwick, Brighton BN42 4FP Phone:01273 592903 PRIME ANGLING 26 Marine Parade, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 3PT. Phone:01903 821594 www.primeangling.co.uk/
WALES TELBOY’S TACKLE Amlwch, Anglesey Tel. 01407 832965 www.telboystackle.co.uk
Tel/Fax: 01643 705225 The Angling Trust is the representative body for game, coarse and sea anglers in England and Wales. Our members support the campaigns and legal action we carry out to protect fish stocks and our programmes to increase the number of anglers fishing for fun and in competitions. We're fighting for the future of YOUR fishing, but we need YOUR support to do more. If you want to protect your fish and fishing, for now and in future, join your representative body today.
All advertising shops are automatically included, but any other shop wishing to be listed can be for just £20 per month. This will give you your shop's name, address and phone/fax number and a bundle of the Sea Angling News each month. PHONE : 07825 181 694 OR EMAIL: EDITOR@SEAANGLINGNEWS.COM