Beating back Bert with just a fishing rod

Storm Bert hit anglers hard last weekend, making most beaches unfishable, although a flounder competition in the estuary at Salcombe and Kingsbridge saw many brave (or daft) anglers are facing the elements in search of silverware and a cash prize.

Honiton SAC recently held their monthly species competition out of Beer, where the day started with flat seas and sunshine and ended with the boats going in early in a force six westerly.

Fishing was pretty good on the two boats, Sambe and Orca, with some of the notable fish being Blonde Rays, Small Eyed Rays, Red Gurnard and a late Smoothhound for Mike Spiller who continues his unsuccessful quest for an Undulate Ray.

A couple of anglers concentrated on the Suid aboard Orca and finished the day with a tally of around 40. The best fish of the day fell to the rod of Nick Fox, a cracking Small Eyed Ray weighing in at 11lbs 8oz. Tom Travers on his own boat found some nice late Tope, Conger Eels and some nice Bass.

During a recent social meet at Beesands, Paul Hale landed a nice Small Eyed ray of 11lbs 50z on what was a difficult day’s angling with few fished landed.

Newbarn Angling Centre have announced this week that Mirror Lake is now again open after being partly drained and netted for the removal of some silver fish. The Carp and large perch population remain unaffected.

The tackle shop is well stocked at the moment and has some quality second hand gear for sale, so with Christmas coming, now is the time to grab a bargain for the budding angler in your family.

Newton Abbot FA waters continue to produce some good fish. Jason Craven landed a Common Carp of 38lbs 6oz from First Pond, whilst Paul Cox landed one of 30lbs. Winter Pike fishing is beginning to pick up with several being landed, the best I have heard of so far is a fish of 15lbs falling to the rod of junior angler Freddie Smith.

Their club Matches are continuing with the last two Wednesday Rover sweepstake matches fished on Bradley Pond. Nigel Jeffery won the first with a weight of 11lbs 12oz with the next two places going to Gary Webber and Paul Taylor.

Gary Webber also had the biggest Perch, a fish of 1lb 10oz. The second was won by Tony Potter with 6lbs 13oz with Paul Taylor and Nigel Jeffery very close behind with only 13oz separating them.

The other competition was the NAFA bonus classic, also fished on Bradley Pond. The winner of this match was Daryl Pattie with aa weight of 12lbs with Gary Webber in second with (lbs 10oz and Lee Dance in third with 8lbs 2oz. Jamie had the biggest Perch at 1lb 4oz.

Entries are still being taken for our Fish of the Month competition kindly sponsored by Newbarn Angling Centre and Sidewinder Lures. Please email your pictures to johnsherlockfish@gmail.com