Sea Angling News April 2019

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Sea Angling News Ltd. - www.seaanglingnews.com - editor@seaanglingnews.com - Issue 282 April 2019

SEA ANGLING NEWS THE UK’S ONLY FREE SEA ANGLING NEWSPAPER

SCOTTISH SKATE SEASON OFF TO A FLYING START

www.coxandrawle.com

The Scottish skate season has got of to a flying start, pictured above are a very small selection of fish caught aboard Size Matters skippered

by Kevin McKie. The biggest so far was caught by Mick Walsh weighing in at 232lb.

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NEWS

Sea Angling News, April 2019

ANGLING TRUST RESPONSE TO RESIGNATION OF FISHERIES MINISTER and fisheries, which are the first for half a century, as we have prepared the ground to restore self-government in this country.”

Angling Trust Policy Chief Martin Salter said:

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“This is a critical time for fisheries management in the UK and with an important Fisheries Bill currently going through Parliament we really could have done without losing an experienced minister who at least understood the key issues and was prepared to help us carve out a stronger role for recreational sea anglers in the future.

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HEAD OFFICE PROPRIETORS Keith & James Wigglesworth Sea Angling News Ltd 9 Hayfield Close Minehead, Somerset TA24 6DE

“Whoever succeeds George Eustice, it is vitally important that they honour the commitments given to the Angling Trust on both funding and the recognition of sea angling during the Committee Stage of the Fisheries Bill. Work must also continue to secure modern and sensible fisheries management in the UK, based upon sound management and strong sustainability principles, recognising the important role of recreational sea angling, both in terms of its economic value to the UK and the tourism opportunities it creates.

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SAN WRITERS Aurthur Savage, Dave Roberts Wayne Hand, Rob Miller, Lee Bolingbroke, Wayne Thomas Kevin Morgan Paul Whittall, Adam James Andy & Sam Cumming James Wigglesworth Craig Butler, John Skeggs Phil Higgins Scott Smy, Richard Saxby.

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The Editors decision will be final in all cases.

Martin Salter from the Angling Trust with Fisheries Minister George Eustice at a recent meeting to discuss Bluefish Tuna in UK waters

The Angling Trust is disappointed to hear of the resignation of the Fisheries Minister, George Eustice MP. In a statement triggered by the prospect of a delay in leaving the European Union, Mr Eustice said: “It has been an honour to work alongside

so many talented individuals at Defra over the past five years. Defra has phenomenal expertise and, more than any other government department, has embraced the opportunities posed by our exit from the EU. I have particularly welcomed the chance to craft two new Bills on farming

“As Minister, George Eustice had come to understand this and, although we had our differences, we were able to work collaboratively and constructively with him at times. We thank him for his support and look forward to welcoming the new Fisheries Minister and will seek to have the same constructive approach once they are in post.”

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Sea Angling News, April 2019

THAMES ESTUARY

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THAMES ESTUAURY

by Lee Bolingbroke

Well the weather is its usual boy stress self as always this time of year I am just back off holiday and just finished my first set of charters with some very good fishing to be had with rays to double figures one or two bass showing so its looking good so far other than having to cancel most of this week due to storms.

I have just finished a inspection by the powers of licensing and I will just let you know how frustrating it is.

Inspector boards boat after half hour drinking coffee finds the first fault a bulb out £1.50p later rectified fire extinguishers to be tested !!! they are all brand new Still to be tested. Compass deviation card missing hello we are in 2019 we no longer navigate by compass as in the sixties but we do have state of art plotters and gps inspector looks at me with one eyebrough elivated you still need a deviation card I could have pushed him in the drink but I doubt I would have past my mid term inspection.

Codling - Sophie Lea

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Thornback ray - Sophie Lea

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Thornback ray - Sophie Lea

Thornback ray - Sophie Lea

Tel. evenings 01255-821255 Boat direct 07774 492856

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BACK TO BASICS By Martin Wood Back to basics today is going to look at your tackle that you are using, It’s really tempting these days to buy cheap terminal tackle from online sources and from abroad but nine times out of ten this tackle is inferior to what you can buy from your local tackle shop dealer with recognised quality brands, I get that it’s a lot cheaper online but as I always say buy cheap ... buy twice.

I thought I would purchase some small amounts just for testing purposes and after trying random sellers online mainly from China off E-bay and Wish to mention a couple, hooks were not as sharp and some were even blunt!( see photo of blunt hook next to a named brand hook) A lot pulled/bent out of shape easily, some even turned up bent ( see photos) and some had dents or kinks in the hooks and this will cost you fish in the long run and if it’s a new personal best fish or a fish of a life time you’re not going to be happy when that hook bends out and it swims away or you haven’t hooked it as good due to not being as sharp as it can be and then losing the fish in the surf as your landing it!

As for swivels a lot pulled out well under what they claimed some were 80lb & 100lb fail which were failing at 30lb.... and 45lb (see photo) now imagine you’re about to power cast a bait out and you have other anglers around you... If that 6oz lead comes off mid cast it could go anywhere and cause a lot of damage, it could potentially even kill someone and again if you snag in some weed with a good fish on and you try and bully it through and your swivels give out you’ll curse yourself for not buying quality gear for maybe a pound more.

By buying online you’re hurting your local tackle dealers and make it harder for them to stay in business, yes I get they are sometime more expensive but they have more overheads and have to make a profit I’m sure they have a family or mouths to feed just like yourselves!

So why pay extra? Quality, Safety, Satisfaction it will do what it says! also Just remember your local tackle shop is a mine of local information as well as information on new gear & tactics and a whole lot more it keeps it local and a lot more personal which is always better, you can see gear first hand and give it a once over or test and hold rods or reels and see if it’s right for you.

I like my local tackle dealers and wouldn’t go anywhere else with Craig in Minehead & Steve in Watchet they know the local area so well and have some good hints and

Sea Angling News, April 2019

BRIXHAM / NEWS

OBSESSION - BRIXHAM

'The home of Biguns & Whoppers'

tips should you be fishing new areas you don’t know 100% plus any safety tips like the ocean cutting you off at some places!

As well as having quality tackle and baits all year around.

Sometimes items may be more expensive but you also have a face to contact should anything be wrong with any gear you purchase which is obviously not their fault as all manufacturers suffer a fault here or there from time to time.

So customer service to me in my opinion is needed and I value it!

Some of the larger brands (which I won’t name and shame) which I have previously bought rods from direct or online really couldn’t give two hoots if you have a problem as I did upon inspection a damaged end rod tip and a reel seat which took 5 months and a lot of emails and aggro to rectify!

You also get to meet other anglers in these shops as well as local charter owners.

It’s always advantageous and good to get to know other anglers the better ones you learn from and some that are not as advanced in their angling journey as you then you can help or pass on info you found helpful especially if it’s kids that are up and coming into the sport.

So whether you end up fishing together with new found angling friends or just get to learn new tips or just making new social circles with like minded fellow fish brains it’s worth buying tackle from local outlets for a little bit more.

Overall if you’re looking to be a responsible Sea angler then I would certainly put safety right up there at number one along with the wellbeing of the fish were catching.

So landing that fish and then safely releasing it back to the ocean instead of snapped off traces and terminal tackle possibly harming fish or snagging it so it can’t swim away is preventable just for a few pence more.

Not just that you’re keeping angling alive and well in the U.K for those in the future in your immediate area as well as the younger generation and supporting a local possibly family run business! This also brings trade to your town! We could go on but next time you think about ordering online pay a visit to your local tackle dealer and take a look around first.

SEE MORE OF WOODY’S BACK TO BASICS ON PAGE 11.

Kevin

07964 053347

www.charterboats-uk.co.uk/obsession-brixham

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BRIXHAM REPORT

By Kevin Wyatt

Report from the famous fishing port of Brixham the home of biguns and whoppers,, well guys the wind finally let us out on the hunt offshore on the wrecks looking for them hard fighting pollock and found them we did but for how long can be sure as they will be getting ready for there migration soon back to the Irish sea, but hopefully the cod will show up in bigger numbers this season and give the angler's some good sport, its all to do with the water temperature, so fingers crossed guys ours are,, we are slowly seeing some bass on the wrecks and some other local boats have also reported seeing some beautiful

bass over 12lbs as well and this is always good to hear as well,, our inshore fishing has been steady with the blonde rays and spur dogs and smooth hounds and huss and our place fish is starting to get into the swing of things as well from the famous Skerries banks,, we are running weekly mid week trips for this guys,, so don't forget obsession is a one stop shop for all your fishing adventures ever thing from placie to sharks as Brixham is famous for it diversety in what it has to offer for the angler's needs,, just call the team or check out our website www.bigunsandwhoppers. co.uk.

Sea Angling News, April 2019

PLYMOUTH

PLYMOUTH CLUB SCENE

SIZE MATTERS

By Scott Smy

For the first time since I have been doing these reports in SAN I am really struggling to find anything to report or write about. A combination of the recent stormy weather combined with the lowest sea temps of the year has resulted in very few fish being recorded by those hardy enough to go out and brave the conditions.

With the weather now starting to settle down, many anglers’ thoughts will turn to the plaice. Whilst there are some fish now showing from South Hams beaches such as Beesands they are still very ‘few and far between’. I can personally vouch for this having just returned from a 9-hour session on Beesands with two other anglers and we never had a bite between us! However, I think it’s just a matter of time before numbers of fish start to show and local Plymouth angler Darren Eddy found an early season cracker of 2-9 which bodes

Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 5

well for the coming season.

Fishing Beesands you are always in with the chance of getting a good spotted ray and Ray Bryce of Pot Black SAC recently landed a cracker of 5-12 which was returned after weighing. Nice going Ray, ticketty boo!

Alan Hobbs of Roving Rods SAC proved there are still some good huss to be found during the recent rough weather by landing nice fish of 11-4 which was released after weighing and was one of 9 fish caught in the session.

Well that’s it from me for this month – short and sweet I’m afraid. With the clocks going back next weekend and longer days on the horizon I’m hopeful that we’ll have a bit more to report next month including some big monster plaice!

Happy Dipping

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Alan Hobbs Huss 11-4

Rob Batten Plaice

Darren Eddy Plaice 2-9

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Sea Angling News, April 2019

CHESIL BEACH / NEWS

CHESIL BEACH REPORT

By Gareth Mayers

With spring finally here its time to pack away the cod rigs and start pre tying those plaice rigs!

Plaice are the main target species this time of year and with the winter storms looking like they have finally passed there should be a lot more fish present. The water clarity is not at its best at the moment with the huge tides stirring the bottom but as they ease and the wind settles we should see a lot more numbers of plaice.

Anglers prefer to fish the western end of the beach when they do arrive like Cogden to Abbotsbury. This is because there are clay beds out there on which the plaice feed on.

People who cant really reach the distances of the clay are best trying west Bexington to cogden as the clay beds are not as far out.

I headed to the beach recently for a day time session for some flatties and managed

6 plaice but was very hard work as the dogfish fed throughout the whole day. The plaice seemed to switch on as the tide slackened off a little.

There was some spider crab activity aswell as some may water/rot which became a nuisance at times so just be aware of that when next heading down.

Jon Cleal with an undulate ray weighing 11lb 5oz

Kyle Blackmore with a 17lb blonde ray

Ollie Male’s plaice

There has been some cracking ray caught recently along chesil with some double figure smooth hound making an appearance aswell.

Steve Harder managed 4 blonde ray biggest going 19lb 15oz and Ben stockley also landed 3 species of ray including a very nice bull Huss weighing 10lb 11oz which is a huge Huss for chesils standards.

Things should start improving along chesil with better size tides and more settled weather so good luck if your out soon and tight lines!

Rob Coppin with a new pb undulate ray weighing 11lb 6oz

Ben Stockley with a Chesil thornback

Plaice

Alex Rowland with a hound weighing 10lb 14oz

A beast of a huss for Chesil standards, 10lb 11oz. Well done mate

Ben Stockley’s pb spotted ray 5lb 7oz

Young Harry with his first dogfish, well done!

Tom Chapple managed a nice bag of fish on an early tide producing small hounds and thornback ray

Rob Franklin’s plaice from a recent trip

Paul Bleh with a hound

Ben Stockley with a Chesil thornback

Steve Harder with a stunning blonde ray weighing 19lb 15oz

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Jack Hardwick with a pb Chesil plaice

Jack Hardwick with a pb Chesil plaice

Wreck fishing for bass in Lyme bay, from the river Axe in east Devon. www.devonbassprocharters.co.uk

Sea Angling News, April 2019

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EAST SUSSEX

EAST SUSSEX DIARY

By Kevin Morgan

ANGLERS DEN OPEN BEACH COMPETITION On Sunday 10th March the Anglers Den Open beach competition was held with 90 anglers taking part in strong westerly winds. A section was in Normans Bay with B and C in Pevensey Bay. It was fished on a catch on release basis with the over-all winner being taken out of the zone prizes. The winner winning £300 with 201 points fishing in C Zone was Brett Green. Brett caught 6 fish including a bass of 44cm.

A Zone winners 1st Paul King 138 pts. 2nd Darren Cramer 136 pts. 3rd Tom Wells 134 ppts. 4th Trevor Rooney 121 pts. 5th Scott Brown 106 pts. 6th Colin Crosby 94 pts. 7th Darren Bond 90 pts. 8th Tony Royall 87 pts.

B Zone winners 1st Rex Palmer 150 pts. 2nd Steve Hanks 100 pts. 3rd Chris Clark 75 pts.

4th Ian Hopper 50 pts. 5th Anton James 49 pts. 6th Steve Sargeant 38 pts. 7th Joe Wales 37 pts. 8th Gerald Sargeant 36 pts. C Zone winners 1st Mark Hinxman 159 pts. 2nd Nick May 156 pts. 3rd Ben Arnold 121 pts. 4th Gary Banfield 113 pts. 5th Dan Wood 111 pts. 6th Malcolm Payne 84 pts. 7th Paul Curtice 73 pts.

8th Ian Dancey 64 pts.

Biggest round fish was a bass of 44cm for 86 pts for Brett Green. 2nd biggest round was a whiting for 26 pts for Gerald Sargeant. Biggest Flatfish Nick May with a plaice for 74 pts. 2nd biggest flatfish a flounder for 37 pts for Barry Sinden.

EASTBOURNE NOMADS The 3rd Slater cup was held on Sunday 17th February, at Langney Point. 29 anglers found fishing very hard with only 5 weighing in. 1st Mick Webb with 1lb 6oz. 2nd Joe Plumstead 1lb 5 ½ oz. 3rd Joe Wales 1lb 2 ½ oz. 4th Gerald Sargeant 1lb 2 ½ oz and 5th Matt Cox 9oz. Heaviest flat was a plaice of 13oz for Joe Wales with no round fish caught.

On Monday 4th March The first round of the presidents cup was fished and again fishing was hard with only 5 f the 11 anglers weighing in. 1st was Matt Cox with 2lb 12oz. 2nd Paul King with 1lb 4oz. 3rd Paul Parsons 14oz. 4th David Elstone with 3oz. Heaviest fish was a dogfish of 1lb 6oz for Matt Cox. ANDERIDA On Tuesday 19th February the fourth match of the season was fished, with 17 anglers fishing in Pevensey Bay. 1st Gary Banfield with 1lb 13 ½ oz. 2nd Keith Hesling 1lb 9 ½ oz. 3rd Les Glazzard 1lb 1 ½ oz and 4th Colin Isaacs 14 ¼ oz. The heaviest fish was a plaice of 11oz for Kim McGreevy and the heaviest round a whiting of 6 ½ oz for Kevin Morgan.

On Tuesday 5th March 16 anglers fished a match in Pevensey Bay. The winner was David Tame with a lovely bass that at 69cm on the catch and release chart registered at 6 lb 12 oz, although the actual weight was probably nearer 8lb as it was a very stocky fish. 2nd Tim Lane with 2lb 7 ½ oz. 3rd Glyn Morgan with 2lb 4oz and 4th Matt Cox with 1lb 8 ¼ oz. the heaviest flatfish was a plaice of 11oz for Glyn Morgan.

THE NEWHAVEN AND SEAFORD SHORE FISHING CLUB On Thursday 21st February the match was held at Seaford. The winner was Chris Allen with 1lb 14 ¾ oz. 2nd Keith Morley with 1lb 1 ¼ oz and 3rd Barry Sutton with 14 ¾ oz.

PEVENSEY BAY ANGLING CLUB On Sunday 24th February the second comp of the season was held in Pevensey Bay with 36 anglers fishing!! Unfortunately only 6 anglers managed to weigh in. Joint 1st both with an 11oz plaice were Colin and Gerald Sargeant.

3rd Ian Hopper with 9 ¼ oz. 4th Paul King with 6 ¾ oz and joint 5th Jason Scott and Vernon Vivian with 4 ¾ oz.

OVER FIFTIES Another great turnout for the 4th Over fifties match with 28 anglers fishing at White Horses!

The winner was Colin Sargeant with 3lb 2oz including a lovely plaice of 1lb 12 ¼ oz. 2nd Ian Hopper with 2lb 10 ½ oz. 3rd Gary Banfield with 2lb 1oz. 4th Terry Taylor with 1lb 11 ¾ oz. The biggest flat was Colins plaice and the biggest round a bass of 1lb 6 ¾ oz for Terry Taylor.

On Monday 11th March 23 anglers fished at White Horses and the winner with a good bag for 4lb was Tony Bush. Tony’s catch included the biggest fish a whiting of 1lb 2 ¼ oz. 2nd Ralph Crosby with 2lb 13 ½ oz. 3rd Paul Parsons with 2lb 8 ½ oz and 4th John Ryder with 2lb 6oz. Including the biggest flatfish, a plaice of 11oz.

GENERAL The fishing has been a bit like the weather !! all over the place ! with some nice plaice and good early bass being caught as well as a few nice whiting and flounders. Darren Gardner caught a trio of sizable plaice at Langney Point recently well done Darren. Ian Hopper caught a lovely 67cm bass whilst fishing a Sunday match recently unfortunately the bass didnt count but at 67cm was well over 6lb.Glyn Morgan fished at Seaford a couple of weeks agao and caught a couple of nice plaice to 37cm. With the more settled weather on its way a few more nice plaice will show and then maybe a few rays as well !!

Jim Whippy caught a lovely 50lb Amberjack whilst fishing on holiday in Florida ! nice fish and healthy tan well done Jim !!

Anglers Den Open beach winner Brett Green with organiser Glyn Morgan

David Tame Anderida match winner

Gary Hazelgrove with a nice plaice.

Colin Sargeant with his 1lb 12oz plaice

David Tames 69cm bass that won him the Anderida match returned alive estimated 6lb 12oz using points system.

Heather Moule with a 31cm plaice

Ian Hopper with a 67cm bass of 6lb 6oz caught in Pevensey Bay on Sunday 3rd March

Glyn Morgan with a nice plaice

Darren Gardener with 1 of 3 plaice caught at whitehorses

Anglers Den Pairs winners Brett Green and Nick May

Jim Whippy with a 50lb Amberjack caught on holiday in Florida

Paul King 2018 Anderida club champion

2018 Anderida trophy winners

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POOLE / DORSET

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Sea Angling News, April 2019

POOLE REPORT

by Philip Higgins

What a month March was it started out with the traditional ‘March Winds’ (storms Freya and Gareth) creating havoc across the country but on the rare day when the weather allows us to get out the fishing offshore has been amazing with many anglers setting new PBs. Blessed with good weather the old Mervs Tuesday Club headed out for a day offshore and were rewarded with plenty of Spurdogs to 23lb, Tope to 34lb , Rays, Huss and several other species. The most rewarding part of that trip was finding out it was Philip Butlers 86th birthday and his wish was to catch a specimen fish that day, he was granted his wish with a cracking Spurdog around the 16lb mark.

Albion SAC also had a good day offshore with Dan Jenner setting a new PB Tope of 24lb along with some good Spurdogs up to 17lb. Ian Honeyman had a cracking Tope to the side of the boat after it had given him the run around snagging most of his fellow anglers lines but before it could be netted the trace was bitten through, at least we saw the fish which would have been the best of the day. On a Sea Fishing Poole singles trip one lucky angler landed a superb specimen Bass of 13lb 8ozs. During the bigger tides we have turned to Plaice although they are not at their best condition, they are starting to be caught in numbers with Keith Trim landing 18 up to 1lb 4 ozs . We have seen the 1st of the Bream

being landed by commercial fishermen in the last week of February, usually they catch them approx. 3 weeks before anglers start to see them and near enough to form the 1st rod caught Bream was landed on the 20th March aboard a private angling boat.

The wrecks have started to produce a few decent sized Pollack up to 16lb, we hope they will fish better than last year. Poole Sea Angling Centre owner Andy Robbins has announced his competition dates for this year = Bream comp is 12/5/2019 and his Cod comps are 17/11/2019 and 8/12/2019 for more details please call Andy on 01202676597. The date for the very popular and highly competitive Poole Species Comp 2019 is Friday June 7th 2019 for more info contact Sarah Medley ‘pinkdolphin75@hotmail.co.uk’.

The Fishermen’s Cafe at 5 Poole High Street is under the new ownership of Claire and Mike who wish to carry on the early morning breakfast tradition for the anglers using only quality locally sourced products and I can certainly vouch for the excellent quality of their cooking, if you need an early breakfast please call 01202673899 or email – fishermancafe@gmail.com and Claire has promised to be open or just pop in for a coffee and enjoy the new pictures, never know you may even be on their ‘wall of fame’.

Alan with a spurdog - Mistress Linda

Andy with a spurdog - Mistress Linda

Mistress Linda Fishing from Poole, Dorset

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Dan, spurdog - Mistress Linda

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Ian Honeybun - Mistress Linda

Email gill.higgs1@btinternet.com

James, Thornback ray - Mistress Linda

Phil Butler, spurdog - Mistress Linda

Sea Angling News, April 2019

POOLE

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SILVER SPRAY REPORT

By Sam Cumming

This year’s wrecking has got off to a solid start with the spring pollack arriving at the end of February in good numbers. Longer traces seem to be working better than regular length and also smaller lures, like the 4 inch redgill evo, have been catching some of the better fish around slack.

Biggest fish so far goes to Jed with a fine pollack of 17lb caught on a sidewinder. Due to poor weather conditions and large tides we haven’t done a great deal of anchoring.

Last day spent targeting rays and spurdogs

was at the end of February and was pretty full on with 28 spurs coming to the net, all returned, along with tope, smoothound, blonde rays, congers and bull huss. A large tope at this time of year is usually a freak occurrence but we have managed 4 in as many trips this year. We aren’t sure what’s brought them on but they are a most welcome bit of sport on the 12lb class gear.

Over the next few weeks we should see the first cod of the year, hopefully, and our first trips to target plaice, turbot and brill.

SAN COMPETITION WINNERS IF YOU SEE A COX & RAWLE, RED GIL OR DEVON BAITS WINNERS BADGE IN YOUR PICTURE PLEASE CONTACT JAMES WIGGLESWORTH ON 07825 181 694 OR EMAIL

editor@seaanglingnews.com Jed 17lb pollack silver spray II

14lb pollack for Rob Newcombe silver spray II

Pollack - silver spray II

14lb pollack for Rob Newcombe silver spray II

Michael 13lb pollack silver spray II

Pollock - silver spray II

14lb pollack for Rob Newcombe silver spray II

The boss with a nice pollack

Dean Lodge 21lb spur silver spray II

www.coxandrawle.com

10 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com

NEWS

Sea Angling News, April 2019

11th & 12th January 2020

ENTRY FORMS AVAILABLE FROM JUNE 2019

Sea Angling News, April 2019

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Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 11

BACK TO BASICS By Martin Wood So I will cover this subject over a few articles as it is such a massive area... One of the main things if you’re new to sea angling and want to catch fish yout really need to learn about is hook lengths and presentation of the baits quite simply it’s quintessential if you want to catch those targets you’re striving to get. So with that I figured the first thing we should look at is hook lengths and the presentation of the bait on them.

Presentation and bait are key aspects of sea angling and getting these right is more important than anything else if it’s badly presented fish may ignore it completely or you may not get a good hook up or they may feel something is wrong and eject your bait before you get the chance to set the hook in the fishes mouth.

So today I’m going to focus on Presentation of bait in the water regarding hook lengths.

How do they sit in the tide? Ever thought about it? Knowing your watercraft will certainly push your knowledge further here. If traces are too long in the wrong tide your bait will be flapping around and become unpredictable and may not look right or natural if it’s too short fish may feel the resistance to early and fish like cod and bass can eject a bait with no hassle or if a fish is a shy feeder it may again feel the resistance and leave the bait.

It’s about getting hook lengths right along with the tides and the ground you’re fishing.

One thing you want to make sure about is keeping your lead on the bottom make sure you have enough weight!

So with this in mind I figured I would break this down into two areas deep water and shallow water from the shore although both can apply from a boat as well.

DEEP WATER: You have to remember that at the bottom of the ocean the tidal flow is usually a lot less than what’s happening up top or strong currents you find on the way down. If you’re using a long trace say a 3 foot trace for Rays or smooth hounds you would think that the current and tide would pull that Hook length out straight when in reality a lot of the time it is not as strong at the bottom and so it all lays in a heap on the bottom which may put off a fish or you may miss the bite altogether due to the trace not being extended and not registering on your rod tip and then you’ll be sat there with an un baited hook whilst a Smooth hound is dining on that crab you so kindly just gave away.

So to counter this after casting out when you feel the weight hit the bottom a lot of anglers will lift the lead back up and pull it in a couple of feet gently or if over clean ground wind the lead in a couple of feet (non gripper weights) which in turn straightens out your hook length and gets you set for action which means bites will be seen due to the trace at full extension which in is showing you what’s happening at the hook point.

SHALLOW WATER: So in shallower waters although the tidal force can be stronger the long trace although is far more likely to be extended as we need it to be... We also have the problem of the bait in the tidal flow which if it’s too strong and the hook length is too long it will move around a lot or bounce around as baits are generally smaller when shore fishing and if it’s bouncing wildly it will make your bait look unnatural as well as

it being unpredictable which in turn means fish may ignore the bait or miss it altogether especially with a lot of marks that I fish on the Bristol Channel because they are approaching by smell and not vision due to churned up waters keeping it murky, my advice would be get online and see how a fish takes bait in a current rays and flat fish too... Once you see it then you totally get why you want your bait anchored hard and easier for the fish to hit!

This can also be achieved by shortening the hook length and keeping it closer to the sea floor which produces less movement within those stronger currents rays are made for the bottom as are flat fish and don’t like to venture off the sea floor so won’t hit a bait moving wildly off the floor up to 3 foot + and other fish approaching by smell and vision may well miss a wild flapping bait.

Fish will swim against the tide, hit the bait and then turn and reset themselves in the current picking up speed and momentum and so hooking themselves if larger fish or giving a good bite indication on your rod tip which gives them less chance of ejecting the bait due to basic physics of their momentum hitting a static target. Rays and flatties…. The flatties tend to suck the bait in and chomp away and rays will sit over your bait due to the underslung mouth and then chomp away on it both of these latter types of fish like predictable meals on the sea floor.

So recapping movement is good as it can be a visual making fish strike and also creates vibration but not in excessive amounts.

So sometimes we need hook lengths a bit shorter and anchored well to the sea bed.

I know a lot of anglers use 3ft plus hook lengths but I find I rarely need one over 2ft occasionally I will go to 2 1/2 Ft (30 inches) for rays but personally I have found longer hook lengths tend to make you miss more bites.

With all being said different venues and some larger fish require differing lengths on different rigs but the combinations can be endless, so if you look back at a previous article about beach craft look for currents and where they may be heavy or rip through an area like around rocks or ends of a groin or through certain channels or a gulley and adjust your rigs accordingly.

It’s the same for your watercraft how strong is the currents? What state and size is the tide is there a large coefficient? Is it slack water? All of this contributes to your presentation of your baits.

These lengths are not definitive as all anglers have their own preferred lengths and ideas but these have been refined by myself from standard lengths I was taught and found over time and testing get me good consistent results and less dropped fish and missed bites and with most of the fish always a good clean strong hook up.

So here are some of the lengths that I generally use for certain species I like to target when out and about and get good results on with a lot of them hooking themselves.

Bass 10-12 inches, Cod 14-16 inches, Conger 20 - 24inches, Dabs 8-10 inches, Flounder 8-10 inches, Rays 20- 30 inches, Smooth hounds 14-18 inches, Soul10-12 inches, Turbot 10-12 inches.

Best of luck and tight lines!

12 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com

ILFRACOMBE / NORTH DEVON REPORT

Sea Angling News, April 2019

NORTH DEVON REPORT

By Wayne Thomas

It’s been a quiet time along the North Devon Coast with angling effort low as the seasons move from Winter into spring.

There have been some good catches off Ilfracombe with spurdog, bull huss, conger and early smoothound. There are plenty of opportunities to sample the fine sport on offer with Bluefin, Wild Frontier and Reel Deal all offering trips. Spurdog sport should continue for a while with huss and conger.

The first porbeagle should show soon to anglers prepared to travel down to the North Cornish marks.

Higher than average water temperature for this time of year has brought confidence that there could be a few early bass. Kody Chugg landed an 8lb specimen just before I sent this report so they are about. I even heard of a few bass sighted in the Lower estuary during the warm weather at the end of February.

few small eyed ray with specimen sized fish often caught early in the season. Ilfracombe Pier is worth a try for spotted ray and the occasional plaice.

Rocky marks will bring sport with bull huss, conger, rockling and the inevitable dogfish.

The occasional good pollock can also be tempted from deep marks adjacent to a bit of tide run.

Grey mullet have been present at some marks all through the winter and will give good sport for those anglers prepared to scale down with a little finesse.

Pete Gregory with fine spurdog on Bluefin

These are undoubtedly changing times and it is often difficult to predict what’s going to happen next and I would urge anglers to think a little out of the box. The estuary could well produce a few early gilthead bream this year with water temperatures favourable after a mild winter.

The surf beaches should start to produce a Steve Dawe with smoothound caught off Ilfracombe on Bluefin

Steve Dawe with a spurdiog on Bluefin off Ilfracombe

Combe Martin SAC members at their presentation night

Kody Chugg with an early bass of 8lb

Spurdog on Bluefin

bull huss caught on Wild Frontier Pete Gregory with 14lb bull huss of Ilfracombe on Bluefin

Ollie Passmore with fine small eyed ray of 10lb 4oz

Sea Angling News, April 2019

NORTH DEVON / NEWS

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NEWS

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Sea Angling News, April 2019

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Report on the Evening 2019.

Prize

Presentation

Nearly three dozen Lymington & District Sea Fishing Club members and guests attended their annual prize presentation evening on March 8th at their clubhouse.

After the splendid buffet provided by Hel’s Kitchen, President Derek Smith thanked everyone for coming along and supporting the event, before presenting the prizes and trophies.

He was proud to say that on a national level club member Steve Batchelor was now a reserve in the England Boat Squad; and on an international level Malcolm Stote managed the Youth England World Team, which came 6th out of 18 teams in the World Championships held in South Africa, where club members Tom Bagnall and Callum Graham finished a respectable 4th in the Pairs Teams. He finished by thanking everyone who had helped in laying on the event, in particular Robert Flicos in his role as Docket Steward; and Rod Thomas, who after 10 years as Cup Custodian, was stepping down from his role.

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Collecting their trophies and prizes on the night were: Junior Awards. Flora Munden (Highest number of sizeable fish on competitions, Best Specimen Flounder, Highest Points for 5 Junior Competitions, Highest Number of Points in Club Events by a juvenile member, the Wayman & Shepherd Perpetual Challenge Cup, Highest Number of Points on Shore Championship Competitions, and Best Specimen by a junior); Finlay Munden (Highest Number of Attendances on Club Events and Highest Number of Points by a first year junior). Adults (Shore): Denise Donaldson (Highest Number of Points on Shore Championship Competitions) Roland Blomfield winner of the Flounder Open, heaviest Flounder and Plaice in Club Competitions; David Flicos (Heaviest Whiting); Dan Panks (Heaviest Bass, Sole and Whiting, joint winner Highest Number of Sizeable Species on Club Competitions, Highest Aggregate on Shingle Bank League Competitions, Highest Aggregate Weight in all Club

Events, Best Number and Proportionate Weight of Nominated Species, and Fish of the Month for May, June and July; Keith Panks (joint winner Highest Number of Sizeable Fish on Club Competitions, Highest Number of Species caught on Shingle Bank League Competitions, and Heaviest Whiting; Malcolm Stote (joint winner of the Heaviest Fish caught on Shingle Bank League Competitions, and Fish of the Month for January); Keith Warren (Fish of the Month for February); Paul Watson (Heaviest Bream from Shore, Highest Number of Sizeable Fish on Club Competitions, Best Specimen on Shingle Bank League Competitions, winner of Win-Sum League Bonus Competition, and Fish of the Month for September) Adults (Boat): Roland Blomfield (Winner of specified competition, Best Specimen, and Fish of the Month for January and February, and new ‘Catch & Release Record’ for Spurdog and Baillon’s Wrasse); Robert Flicos (Best Proportionate Weight of Nominated Species, Heaviest Mackerel, Thornback Skate and Sole, Heaviest of Nominated Species, and Fish of the Month for June, August, September and October); Malcolm Gerrish (Highest Number of Different Species on Large and Shallow Boat Competitions); Harry Gray (Heaviest Bull Huss); Arran Harmer (Highest Number of Sizeable Fish on Large Boat Competitions, Highest Number of Species Points on Large Boat Competitions, Large Boat Champion Runner-up, and new ‘Catch & Release Record’ for Spotted Ray); Tony Knight (Heaviest Dab); Alan Martin (Heaviest Bass from the Solent, Boat or Shore); Adrian Moody (Heaviest Cod and Turbot, new ‘Catch & Release Record’ for Small Eyed Ray, and Fish of the Month for March); Phil Morgan (Senior Small Boat Champion); Alan Rutter (Heaviest Fish caught in the Solent, and new ‘Catch & Release Record’ for Blonde Ray); Derek Smith (Heaviest Conger on Nominated Competition, and Heaviest Pout in Competitions). Alec Harmer, Chairman and Treasurer, was presented with The Clubmanship Award for his services rendered to the Club during the year.

Afterwards, Roland Blomfield presented cash prizes to the Shore Competition winners.

Sea Angling News, April 2019

Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 15

LANGSTONE

LANGSTONE HARBOUR AREA BOAT FISHING REPORT

By Neville Merritt, Southsea Marina Angling Club Langstone Report featuring Southsea Marina Angling Club and Eastney Cruising Association Fishing Section.

If February is the doldrums between the winter and spring fishing seasons, March should in theory see the start of the spring species being caught. Unfortunately a number of factors get in the way of that theory. Many owners of private and charter angling boats take them out of the water for their annual antifoul and service, instead of fishing. I have noticed that the cleanest they will be all year is in the hours before relaunch - they’ll never look as good after a few fish have come aboard. Other friends have taken the opportunity to travel to fish in warmer climes instead of on a bleak Solent. The luckier ones have sent back some amazing photos of catches, but as this is not a Florida Fishing Report I can’t include them. The third reason is the number of storms: we have had a procession of them tailgating each other for three weeks as they roll up the Channel from the west. Those factors haven’t left much time for fishing or people to fish.

Nevertheless some of us have grabbed a day or two here and there and we have a few fish to indicate what is out there. First up is Mark Banks, showing that quality pollack can be caught from the Channel

wrecks although some days can be tough.

Marks offshore produce the usual range of rays. Conger are now moving back to their holes in rocks and wrecks and are less of a pest on open ground. Wayne Comben shows off a nice spurdog of 16lb and a bull huss of 7lb. Inshore we are having a run of plaice. Some days they can be fairly plentiful (by today’s standards) and other days they are hard to find. But if fishing was predictable I would have nothing to write about. Here are some photographs from recent plaice trips including a very late codling for Dick Stubbs and a surprise early bream for Dennis Hayden on the same trip, which neatly bridges the two seasons.

Steve Kelly is waving both a plaice and a species competition card so it looks like he is going for it this year.

Steve Bellinger Plaice to 2lb 8oz

April is drawing near so we should soon be reporting smoothhound and bream in numbers. The bass restrictions change on 1st April for the summer and the opportunity to keep one fish per day may tempt more anglers to target them. The first garfish tend to arrive with the spawning bream and mackerel appear soon after. The tope will follow them in. The seasonal pattern certainly gives us plenty of variety in this area, if only we have enough weather windows to fish. Roll on summer, preferably one like last year.

Tony Skinner Plaice

Bob Harris Plaice to 2lb 4

Steve Kelly Plaice for the species comp

Wayne Comben Bullhuss 7lb

Dennis Hayden Bream and Plaice

Wayne Comben Spurdog 16lb

www.coxandrawle.com Dick Stubbs Cod 3lb Plaice 2lb10

Mark Banks Wreck Pollack

16 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com

NEWS / WALES / BURNHAM ON SEA

Sea Angling News, April 2019

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BURNHAM ON SEA REPORT

By Richard Saxby

Due to constant winds in the west to north direction over weekends no one has managed to get out from Burnham since my last report. There have been reports of the start of a spring run of codling further up channel and an increase in thornback numbers so it's looking promising. Bass should be starting to show anytime now and the hounds won't be to far behind.

A few club members did make it out today 23rd March on a pollack trip from Weymouth aboard Supanova. Fishing was tough with very big tides but we all managed to find one or two with the best just under 10lbs to Terry Garrett.

Fish of the month for February sponsored

by Thyers Tackle of Highbridge was won

by Martin Quinn with a cod of 5lb 6oz and 30%.

The next club comp is the Vicoue trophy on the 7th April.

The next club meeting is our presentation evening on Thursday 18th April at Burnham Motor Boat and Sailing Club on the sea front, pop along if you are interested in joining a friendly club.

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.

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Sea Angling News, April 2019

Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 17

MINEHEAD BOAT REPORT

By Dave Roberts

RECENT CATCHES ABOARD SEAFIRE II

Minehead boats now beginning to feel the effect of the February doldrums. A cold snap during January coupled with some nasty easterly winds seems to have knocked the fishing considerably. A typical sign of this seasonal situation is a distinct lack of conger eels. Up to Xmas, eels were prevalent on all marks even becoming a nuisance when targeting other species.

All this has now changed as the eels are nowhere to be seen, or caught! Still quite a lot of tiny codling showing on many inshore marks but very few of any size. The saving grace here at the moment is the abundance of spurdogs. These shoal fish are providing

Alan with a fine blonde Alykat

great sport on light tackle but you really need to get out into the deep water to have a good chance. One or two decent rays continue to show from local sandbank areas with some good blondes to around 20lb. The whiting shoals that have graced our catches over the past few years have sadly failed to materialise, with just a few solitary individuals turning up. Though we like to remain optimistic, I can’t help thinking that the next few weeks are going to remain difficult. Having said that, it won’t be long before we are out in force targeting the rays and smoothies!

Cod for Dave Fountain Alykat

Well, what can you say! Alykat

Hayden with a bullhuss.Inset: Bonio with a bullhuss . Seafire II

Julie with a spotted ray, Seafire II

Woody with a double figure Thornback ray, Seafire II

Dave Watson blonde ray Alykat

Good Huss for Dave Fountain Alykat

Nigel Northern cod Alykat

PJ Smith good blonde Alykat

18 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com

Sea Angling News, April 2019

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Sea Angling News, April 2019

BRISTOL CHANNEL

Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 19

BRISTOL CHANNEL SHORE REPORT

By Craig Butler

After what has been a positive winter of fishing in the Bristol Channel for a variety of species and specimens. It all came to a grinding halt with a couple of weeks of antisocial weather and winds. One thing slightly disappointed and worrying this winter was the absence of the double figure cod that migrate in the channel. A handful of doubles were caught but nothing like what we have come to expect. Hopefully it’s just a migration thing and not a serious stock issue.

When anglers did get the odd window of rest bite from the winds, catches resumed.

With pretty much the first half of March being a right off, it was a relief to get some settled weather again and with this came some great fishing. Big Huss, decent rays, plenty of codling mainly small ones with a good splattering of 2.5-4.5lb fish Amongst them. The bass numbers are on the up with regular fish in the 4-6lb being reported here and there.

Now with the spring is well and truly on us, and the sea temperatures already being a couple of degrees warmer this winter compared to last winter, we can expect better ray & bass numbers to increase further still. Along with some good spring codling continuing through April we can be sure of more positive prospects ahead when conditions are on side.

With numbers of smoothounds increasing on the Minehead charter boats. It’s possible by the end of the month we may see the odd hound from the shore to the east of Minehead. Saying that it’s still a bit early to be a target species.

The prospect for the coming month are positive with plenty of good options open from all parts of the channel from the Severn bridges to the north Devon shoreline. Hope the weather will be good to us and some lovely fish will grace the rods. That’s all for this month. Tight lines & Happy hunting

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RECENT CATCHES ABOARD KELLEY’S HERO

Sea Angling News, April 2019

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LAST LAUGH CHARTERS

By John Skeggs

We have been stuck in port for 2 weeks after gale force winds pounded the South coast. The coming week is showing a high pressure weather system building and a most welcome settled period. First trip of the week, we are going to target some quality Pollack on the mid channel wrecks, followed by a day inshore fishing for Plaice.

Turbot - last laugh

Pollock - last laugh

Fishing on the wrecks was on the slow side although the Pollack they did land were a nice size. The plaice trip was quite productive, although a lot of small ones the signs are quite encouraging. Pete Stotesbury did manage a 10lb Thornback on the Plaice gear.

Plaice - last laugh

Plaice - last laugh

Thornback ray - last laugh

Sea Angling News, April 2019

WEST WIGHT

Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 21

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NWASAC 1st Round of NWASAC Personal Members Championship 2019, Sun 24.2.19, John Atkin Memorial Match, Kinglake Promenade, Wallasey (41 rods).

A calm mild day over high water on the Mersey Estuary and a healthy turnout set the scene for this curtain raiser for the new championship. There were small codling on most pegs with a sprinkling of whiting, flounders, plaice, dabs and dogfish; the rough ground to the left was generally more productive.

2018 Junior Champion, Danny Parker, now an England Youth Squad member, caught fish steadily to mainly worm baits on his home venue and took the win from Zone A. Third at this match in 2108, Steve Bonner went one better this time, with runnerup place. His Zone B winning catch was notable for being taken from sandy ground.

Steve included a dogfish in his total but the fish of the match was undoubtedly young

Tye Crowder’s 1040 gms codling taken at close range from Zone A. Results and series after one round (scored in continental style from 2 zones): Daniel Parker (Wallasey), 23 codling, 248 pts. (Zone A) Steve Bonner (Wallasey), 10 codling, 1 dogfish, 1 flounder, 1 dab, 175 (Zone B) Mike Flanagan (Wallasey), 17 codling, 235.

Joe Perry (Litherland), 10 codling, 2 whiting, 1 flounder.

Tye Crowder (junior, Wallasey), 6 codling, 185.

Gordon Thornes (Connah’s Quay), 8 codling, 86.

Mike Hughes (Bangor), 9 codling, 173.

Les Trish (Crosby), 7 codling, 1 flounder, 85.

Kieron Price (Rhyl), 12 codling, 1 whiting, 155.

Alan Price (Rhyl), 4 codling, 1 whiting, 63.

Flatfish Pool: M. Parker, flounder, 480 gms Roundfish Pool: T. Crowder, codling, 1040 gms.

Part of this month was spent out of the water, with the boat having a polish and paint, plus the five year survey, but all going well. Prior to lift out the fishing was as expected for this month with the off shore wrecks producing some good Pollock up to 14lb, a little bit patchy at times but enough to keep everyone happy. Inshore we still have the Plaice over the banks to the west, this month should see the numbers increase and the bigger fish move in. The outer banks are producing some really good Spurdog and Rays plus the occasional Turbot, and we should see our first early Tope

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22 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com

WEYMOUTH

Port Report This month’s report is slightly different as it is entitled Weymouth and Portland Port Report rather than the usual Weymouth Port Report. Portland normally has it own report written by Dan Clarke, skipper of the very fine Portland Marina based charter boat Fins Up. Boats from Weymouth and Portland fish the same marks. The Harbours are a 15 minute drive apart but access to the local fishing grounds are the same distance. Portland Marina has a number of advantages over Weymouth Harbour for the visiting angler.

Firstly the parking area is vast and free.

Yes….you can park all day….for free! And you will never struggle to find a place.

The Marina supplies trolleys again free (you need a £1 coin; redeemable when you return the trolley) to load your gear into and wheel down the ramps onto the pontoons where the various charter boats are moored. There are well appointed showers and WC facilities.

Taylor’s Messdeck offers a fantastic breakfast and will make up fresh rolls for packed lunches for your day at sea and, on your return, there is the famous Boat That Rocks restaurant often offering live music to welcome the seafarer on his return along with a fully stocked bar which includes outside seating and a splendid view across the Portland Harbour.

It’s always easy to find fault with anything and everything. It is never the intention of this report to do that preferring instead to always look at the positive and good things on offer. There’s a lot of good things on offer for the angler at Portland Marina with nearby accommodation available if you fancied staying of a couple of days or more. There’s also a range of activities in the summer months for other non-fishing members of the family with Board Paddling a current favourite along with Kayak Hire, dingy sailing and nearby wind surfing.

So…give Danny of Fins Up a call and consider Portland Marina as an alternative base to Weymouth from which to enjoy your charter boat experience.

Sea Angling News, April 2019

Whiting - Duchess II

Spurdog - Fish On II

March’s charter boat fishing in the Weymouth and Portland Sea Area has of course been badly affected by the wind and cold. There have been a few trips made with a couple of offshore wrecking trips seeing good returns of pollack. The mid month annual pollack competition was postponed until April 1st so the results of this event will be published in May’s SAN edition.

Inshore fishing has been all about waiting for gentler weather conditions with The Shambles Bank producing some turbot, a couple of plaice, a variety of rays, dogfish and gurnard. General fishing adds strap conger, occasional pollack, an isolated bream and spurdogs.

Pollock - Fish On II

But now, as you read this report we are in April. April is all about pollack out on the wrecks with the chance of a first ‘early season’ cod. (The cod season in the Weymouth/Portland area is May through to July….although sometimes continuing right into early September).

The first Channel Island trips will take place giving anglers to fish the distant wrecks nearer to Alderney. The main Channel Islands target species is of course the turbot along with brill but this season a welcome return is the availability of bass at one per angler per day from April1st to October 31st. Bream and tope are the two other main species but expect huss from the same rocky marks.

The Shambles Bank will improve for turbot plus rays, especially during anchoring sessions, and the mussel beds south and west of the Shambles will be searched in the hope of plaice. General bottom fishing can be hard work but tends to improve as the month progresses with conger, rays, huss and hounds filling the ‘big fish’ slot and bream arriving in better numbers towards the end of the month.

Pollock - Fish On II

Pollock - Fish On II

Pollock - Fish On II

Pollock - Fish On II

It’s been another tough winter and so, as ever, the genuine thanks of the skippers is expressed towards you anglers who support the charter fleet of both Weymouth and Portland. Good Luck in April to everyone!

Smouthound - Atlanta

Wrasse - Atlanta

Undulate ray - Atlanta

TEL: JOSH SIMMONDS 07554434338 OR FACEBOOK.COM/FISHONWEYMOUTH Turbot - Duchess II

Turbot - Duchess II

Whiting - Duchess II

NOW TAKING BOOKINGS FOR 2019

WEYMOUTH / NEWS

Sea Angling News, April 2019

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

DUCHESS II

ATLANTA

Wreck, Reef, Shambles & Bank Fishing Individuals, Groups & Novices Welcome 60 Mile COP Licenced & Insured, Operating All Year 4, 6 & 8hr trips Skipper/Owner, Jeff Clarke Tel-01308425494 / 07778315778 fishonduchess2@btinternet.com

Reef, Wreck, Shambles & Kidney Bank fishing.

Individuals, Parties, Beginners welcome.

60 mile COP, Licensed & Insured.

Tel: DAVE PITMAN 01305 781644 Boat 07721 320352 www.deepsea.co.uk/boats/atlanta

y An n J o l l a S

Skipper Colin Baker Wreck, Reef, Shambles & Bank Fishing 60 Mile COP, Licenced & Insured Tel: 07814301708 www.sallyanncharters.co.uk Offshore Wrecking, Reef, Bank and Alderney Fishing Trips Free Parking

FISHING CHARTERS FROM PORTLAND WEYMOUTH MARINA

NOW TAKING BOOKINGS FOR 2018

Refreshments Tackle and Rod Hire available Beginners, Experienced and Families All Welcome

SKIPPER - DAN CLARKE (01308) 488515 / 07734383440 WWW.FINSUP-CHARTERS.COM @finsupfishingcharters

Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 23

RECENT CATCHES ABOARD FINS-UP

24 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com

BRIGHTON / COSTA RICA

Sea Angling News, April 2019

www.oceanwarrior3.com

2 - 4 - 8 HOUR TRIPS

Specialising in offshore wreck and ground fishing. Fish in a spacious twin engined 500hp 38ft Aquastar.

Full time owner and skipper Dave Elliott.

60 mile D.T.I, fully licensed and insured.

Hot drinks and rod hires available.

Ring Dave on boat direct 07966 377145 or evening 01444 230882 Email dave@oceanwarrior3.com

www.coxandrawle.com

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

Sea Angling News, April 2019

CONSERVING GREY MULLET

By Wayne Thomas

A fellow Combe Martin Sea Angling Club member contacted me recently asking me to write a few words about grey mullet and why they should be given more respect.

I have put a link below to the National Mullet Clubs page that gives plenty of scientific data explaining why the grey mullet is so vulnerable so I suggest you read through that after reading my personal comment.

I started fishing for grey mullet during the early 1970’s whilst on holiday with my parents in Looe on the South Cornish coast. As a teenager who also coarse fished I found the grey mullet that haunted the harbour a great challenge and relished the hard fight they gave on the light tackle used. When I returned home to Combe Martin I was amongst a small number of anglers who targeted the species from many marks around Combe Martin landing numerous fish to over 4lb. Even back then I only kept the occasional fish for the

Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 25

NEWS

table as fresh mullet from the sea do make good eating. I am ashamed to admit that I also killed fish to weigh in at competitions something I have not done now for at least ten years.

Whilst I believe anglers should have the right to take the occasional fish for the table I no longer do so. I value the fact that mullet provide exciting sport and whilst they can be very frustrating to catch at times they are also one of the most satisfying fish to catch.

I have seen a dramatic decline in numbers of mullet in some areas and know that the fish are very vulnerable to overfishing. I visited Alderney in the Channel Islands on several occasions when mullet where prolific and grew to a large size. From what I hear there has been a dramatic decline on this Island and on the nearby Island of Sark that we fished over several seasons catching several specimen mullet and glimpsing

fish far larger. In the past grey mullet were often overlooked by commercial fishing but dwindling stocks of other species due to overfishing has increased interest in these fish. Grey mullet are very slow growing fish not maturing to breeding size until close to ten years old. The fish also return to the same haunts year on year making them extremely vulnerable.

If you value the sport that mullet provide then please return them carefully to the water. If you don’t value them don’t fish for them.

I have memory’s of sad days in the past when I witnessed the despicable act of snatching mullet using large treble hooks.

To see these fine sporting fish impaled on hooks dripping blood was a sad sight and gave genuine anglers a bad name.

When fishing for mullet handle the fish with care. Unhook carefully use a weigh sling or plastic bag to weigh the fish and don’t let the fish flap about on the rocks where they can dislodge scales increasing the risk of infection.

Summary The current need for management measures as the consequence to the gross overfishing for bass can be argued in exactly the same way for grey mullet – the factors which make the bass population vulnerable are not only applicable to grey mullet but arguably apply in even greater measure to them: • Mullet aggregate to spawn in areas that make them very easy to find and exploit.

• Grey mullet have a very slow growth rate and mature at a relatively old age.

• A proportion of the mullet population may only spawn every two years.

• They are very easy to net in

harbours and estuaries especially with monofilament gill nets.

• They have high site fidelity resulting in fished-out areas being slow to recover.

• Minimum landing sizes are either non-existent or inadequate.

• No other management measures exist as they have always been considered to be of limited commercial value.

• Commercial fishing is increasing due to the restrictions on bass fishing and that they are targeted as a means to justify a high bycatch of bass.

• As commercial fishing increases, the stock decreases leading to increased value which further increases fishing pressure.

The available data on the populations of the three native UK grey mullet species (Chelon labrosus, Liza aurata and L. ramada) is limited compared with that for more southerly populations (which tend to be faster growing and earlier maturation).

However, enough is known to conclude that their slow growth and late maturation will not support high levels of commercial activity, as is evident from the large decline in catches, both commercial and recreational, and other evidence. Tulkani (2017) argues that there are no quotas set and there are no management plans currently in force to regulate either fishery.

Clearly future research work should focus on providing the biological data required for the development of sustainable exploitation plans. As research takes time, which grey mullet arguably have not got, then the precautionary principle should be that rigorous measures are taken now to severely curtail, if not eliminate, commercial activity.

Credit:www.northdevonanglingnews.co.uk

THIS MONTHS FEATURED BAITS

SANDEELS

UNWASHED SQUID

BLACK LUG

CUTTLEFISH

26 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com Honiton SAC A sell out evening was had on friday night for the club presentation and carvery. Over 100 awards were made on the night.

A couple pictures of the junior members collecting their awards.

First picture is Jack Travers 2nd Davis Wyatt 3rd Jack Squance 4th Archie Sweetland.

All were champions in one way or another.

RESULTS / NEWS

Ray, he caught the fish on a pulley pennel rig baited with mackerel, well done Tony good fish.

1st most fish points: Tony Colls 13pts 2nd best fish ( longest length): Tied between Steve Harwood & Charles Davies, both had a dogfish of 62cms 3rd most species (2) Ken Martin Dogfish & pouting Species caught in the match were undulate Ray, dogfish & pouting

EFSA Wales Shore Championships 2019 This year, the weather had relented for most of the important fishing competitions and it didn’t for the first leg of the EFSA Wales Shore Championships fished on a Saturday in February at the Mumbles.

It had been due to be fished at |Aberavon but, not for the first time it was blown off to the reserve venue. But for the second leg, fished 2 weeks later at Dale beach it was much more clement, being balmily warm with very light winds though it was very foggy, which matters not to the fish.

Unfortunately, once again the entry was not high, for various reasons; it seems that no time of the year is ideal to get maximum attendance at these events, a shame really or, like most other outdoor pursuits is interest waning, especially among the younger brethren for whom indoor computer activities can sometimes seem the order of the day.

West Bay SAC

The first day, at the Mumbles, in the dark, fishing 2 up 2 down over high water saw all anglers catch, numbers ranging from 1 to 10 of fish over the 20cm minimum size being measured and released. They were Whiting, Lesser Spotted Dogfish, Dabs, Rockling and one Codling of 29cm, caught

by Andy Young (Llanelli), in contention for the longest round fish pool. The Dab of 27cm for Tina Lustig meant she was favourite to take the longest flatfish pool as flats were not expected to be caught at Dale. The leader after this first day was Andy Young with 10 sizeable fish to put him on 430 points. Second was Steve Lewis (Penally) also with 10 fish but for 388 points with Stan Kucyj (Milford Haven), who had 8 sizeable fish for 318 points in third, there being one point per centimetre of length and five points per fish.

The second leg at Dale, also in the dark fishing 2 up 2 down over high water, again saw numbers of fish, Whiting and Lesser Spotted Dogfish, but no flatfish, enough for the first 2 places to change though not enough for others to catch the first 3. So, at the final whistle, Steve had won the coveted Gold Pin, Andy the Silver and Stan the Bronze Pin. As expected Tina picked up the longest flatfish pool with her Dab of 27cm and Stan also won the longest round fish pool, managing to winkle out a 38CM Whiting.

21st February 2019, Thursday Night West Bexington 19:00 - 22:30.

February's Thursday night match took place at West Bexington, the evening was chilly and anglers were greeted with a typical Chesil swell, fishing proved to be hard work for most angler's with only a few dogfish and pouting being caught. Tony Colls however decided to show us all how to do it, by catching a 11lb 14oz undulate

Pictured (Left to Right) are EFSA Wales Chairman and EFSA Shore Festival Officer and the winner Steve Lewis (Picture Tina Lustig)

Sea Angling News, April 2019

LDSFC

4th Shore Competition.

On Friday evening the 1st March Lymington & District Sea Fishing Club held its 4th Shore Competition at Friars Cliff, Mudeford.

The weather for the evening was a light southerly wind with a few showers. 18 club members signed on and 14 weighed in 29 fish consisting of whiting, pouting, 5B rockling, dogfish and flounder for a total weight of 8lb 8oz.

Best round fish of the evening went to Ed Taylor with a dogfish of 14oz. Best flat fish went to Keith Panks with a flounder weighing 7oz. Best specimen pool is a rollover until the next competition which is on the 27th April fishing at Poole. Only edible fish are retained. All other fish are returned gently to the sea after weighing.

Results: 1st Ben Daniel with 7 pouting for 1lb 14oz, 2nd Ed Taylor with 2 pouting, 1 dogfish for 1lb 3.2oz, 3rd Keith Panks with 1 flounder, 1 5B rockling for 0lb 11.6oz, 4th Gavin Sloper with 2 pouting, 1 whiting for 0lb 11oz.

5th Michael dawkins with 2 pouting for 0lb 8.2oz.

6th John Sloper with 2 pouting for 0lb 7.2oz.

7th Chris Ellis with 1 5B rockling for 0lb 7.2oz.

8th Rod Thomas with 1 whiting for 0lb 7oz.

9th Sue Thomas with 1 5B rockling for 0lb 6.6oz.

10th Paul Watson with1 pouting, 1 5B rockling for 0lb 6.2oz.

Southampton SAC The results from 24th Feb 2019 at Shoreham near Brighton. On a very sunny day 11 seniors and one junior fished the beach and 5 senior members caught 11 fish comprising of Bass ,Rockling and Plaice. 1st Mick Teague 5 fish (converted weight) 6lb and 10oz 2nd Paul Strange 2 fish (converted weight) 2lb and 1oz 3rd Bill Baynes 2 fish (converted weight) 1lb 15oz and 4th Jason Cotton 1 fish (converted weight) 1lb.

Last week was our trophy presentation night pictured below is Chris Barnes our new club champion and ruby Allan our junior champ with John fell or president other winners were bill Baynes, mick Teague ,paul strange,Terry Stewart,Simon stone, Alan hayball, Barry instrell, Alex doe, Reece miller

Angling Trust and The Wheelyboat Trust launch their project to provide seven clubs and fisheries across the UK with new Wheelyboats The Wheelyboat Trust and Angling Trust have partnered together to part-fund seven new Coulam 16 Wheelyboats that will enable clubs and fisheries across the UK to provide disabled anglers, and wheelchair users in particular, with access to their waters and the fishing. The project will be divided into two parts with the first round in Spring 2019 providing four Wheelyboats and the final round in Autumn 2019 the other three Wheelyboats.

Applications from clubs and fisheries are now being invited for the first four Wheelyboats in the Spring round.

Purpose-built angling boats, both the Coulam 15 and 16 are already widely used on fisheries all over the UK. The Coulam 16 Wheelyboat is identical to the standard Coulam 16, but is built with a hydraulic platform amidships that lowers the angler from gunwale height to floor level. The angler wheels up a short ramp onto the platform and a lever is pressed that lowers the platform. At floor level the angler can then position themselves at the bow or stern. The Coulam 16 Wheelyboat can be driven from a wheelchair and, once on board, the disabled angler can operate the Wheelyboat entirely independently.

The Coulam 16 Wheelyboat is best boarded from a floating pontoon or jetty, but boarding from the bank is possible with a longer ramp. It has a maximum capacity of three people and the maximum outboard motor speed is 10hp. It is designed for angling on still waters on the drift, or at anchor. Its wide beam makes it unsuitable for rowing very far, but it can be used on a river if motored to the swim or pool and anchored up. For salmon fishing, where a boatman rows and the angler fishes from the stern, then a Coulam 15 Wheelyboat is recommended. Two of these accessible boat operate on the River Tweed and applications can be made for this model instead of the Coulam 16 Wheelyboat.

The Wheelyboat Trust has raised £35,000 in grants from the Peter Harrison Foundation (£30,000) and Lord Barnby’s Foundation (£5,000) to support this initiative. It is with huge thanks to them both that the seven Coulam Wheelyboats will each be discounted by £5,000, bringing the cost of each boat down to the same price as the standard, non-accessible, version of the Coulam 16.

The application process is now open at https://grants.anglingtrust.net/ where detailed information about the project and what is funded is also available. The closing date for applications is Saturday 30 April.

Sea Angling News, April 2019

FIXTURES / NEWS

Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com 27

MATCH PLANNER BOGNOR REGIS AMATEUR ANGLING SOCIETY BRASS 55 boat bream festival catch and release Sunday May 19th fishing from 0930 to 1630 alternative date Sunday 2nd June fishing 0730 to 1430 booking in at braas felpham boat compound admiralty gardens po22 7ad one hour before start time with Steve Lawson on 07521 308714 cost adults £15.00 juniors £ 7,00 Littlehampton boat users and all details available from tony chant 07766 078977 t.chant11@btinternet.com Saturday 29 June 1830 to 2330 catch and release to be fished at west end beach Bognor Regis booking in and draw for pegs from 1730 at west end beach opposite waveley pub po21 2qa entry cost £8.00 senior £4.00 junior pool flat £1.00 round £1.00 Christmas pagham open beach competition Sunday 15th December 0930 to 1430 catch and release to be fished at pagham beach booking in and draw for pegs from 0830 at pagham yacht club 1 west front road PO21 4SY entry cost £8.00 seniors £4.00 junior pool flat £1.00 round £1.00

Tel john small 07799 762377 after 5 pm both are penn points competitions and cash prize subject to entry

www.coxandrawle.com READERS GALLERY Some recent noteworthy catches from our readers...

TO ADVERTISE CALL JAMES ON 07825 181694

WINNER Dan Hale 14.10.0 thornie out the Bristol Channel

Luke Fogden 21lb ray caught out of Littlehampton on board Chiquita with west Sussex sea fishing club

28 Email: editor@seaanglingnews.com

Sea Angling News, April 2019

TACKLE SHOPS DIRECTORY

READERS GALLERY

TACKLE SHOPS DIRECTORY

Some recent noteworthy catches from our readers...

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 Bream of 4lb and 4lb 4oz caught aboard Anna II, Jersey

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 VEALS FISHING TACKLE, Brunel Rooms, Unity St. Bristol, BS2 0JP. 01179 260790 THYERS FISHING TACKLE, 1A Church Street, Highbridge 01278 786934 Fax 792397 Whiting caught aboard Anna II, Jersey

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 74 Brighton Rd, Worthing BN11 2EN Phone:01903 821594 www.primeangling. co.uk/

WALES TELBOY’S TACKLE Amlwch, Anglesey Tel. 01407 832965 www.telboystackle.co.uk

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 Turbot caught aboard Anna II, Jersey

Turbot caught aboard Anna II, Jersey