Spurdog steal the show in South West winter sea fishing action

One winter species that appears when other fish seem to disappear is the Spurdog and in recent years they have become more prevalent on the South West coastline.

They are normally found in deep water but after storms can be caught from the shore. Boat areas to fish for them are on the north coast out from Ilfracombe, Minehead and Watchet, whilst on the south coast Portland and the deeper areas around the Skerries Banks out from Dartmouth.

The beaches can produce from the South Hams or the North coast from Minehead and Porlock. These areas are not exclusive and good fish can turn up anywhere.

Dave Phipps had several from the Skerries area with his best two weighing 16lbs 7oz and 15lbs 10oz. These fish fell to fish and Squid wraps on a running ledger. Luke Rodgers landed a great specimen of 14lbs 9oz from the shore during a night session.

Pollack, again a winter target for the boat angler, are not always found in the size and numbers of past year but travelling anglers are finding that the wrecks out of Falmouth are producing some good double figure fish for Lee Wicks and his boat charter boat Emma Kate. One angler getting amongst the better fish was Michael Toogood.

Martin Larkins, a well-known Plymouth angler, fished the South Hams for an early Mullet and was rewarded with a fine Thick Lipped weighing 5lbs 5oz. Mike Spiller, another angler known to many boats, fished the Bristol Channel, finding plenty of Rays, Bullhuss, Congers and a specimen Spurdog, all coming aboard charter boat Lorna Doone.

A couple of days later he fished the shore and found a few plump River Exe Flounders, nothing big but still worth catching.

Please don’t forget the Angling Trust Wyvern presentation night at the Royal British Legion Alphington on Saturday January 31, especially if you have a prize to collect, but even if you don’t, it is a great night to meet people, talk fishing, have a beer and enjoy the free buffet.

Spring Ponds held their first match of the year recently with only silver fish counting. The winner was Joe Jaques with a bag weight of 8lbs 3oz with Shane Harper not far behind with 7lbs 12oz. Third place was taken by Chris Packer with 7lbs 6oz. The next round is on February 4.

The fish of the month prize will be announced next week, so please get any last-minute entries in, or an early one for February where you can win a prize pack from Sidewinder lures or day tickets to Newbarn Angling Centre. They can be emailed to johnsherlockfish@gmail.com or you can find me on Facebook.