Monster Carp fuelling fishing thrills in the Specimen Pool

With news filtering through the Carp fraternity that some new big fish had been stocked into the Specimen Pool, many anglers decided to try to be the first to catch one of these fantastic fish.

After a quiet weekend it took until Monday morning for regular angler Jack Lord to hit his first run after only an hour. He soon realised that he had hooked into something special and when landed, it appeared to be the largest of three new fish, weighing a staggering 36lbs 8oz.

The other two have yet to be caught but I’m sure that it won’t be long, as this is proof that they have settled in well are feeding. There are plans to build two more huts around the pool and to facilitate this, day-ticket prices are rising to £12, which is still fantastic value for the quality of fish available to be caught.

Rich Park tried his luck again this week and managed two good fish to around the 20lb mark. The bailiffs recommend that to avoid disappointment you book your place on the pool by using the go-catch app or speaking to a bailiff on 07848 377114.

Sea anglers have had a quiet week with continued stormy conditions, however I managed to get a trip aboard Tom Wright’s charter boat Lorna Doone out of Watchet with my fishing mate Scott Harris in somewhat uncomfortable conditions, a nasty South Easterly giving choppy seas and wind against tide.

Fishing was mixed with Smoothounds, Spurdogs, Congers, Bull Huss, Pout, Whiting, Blonde Rays and Thornback Rays coming to the boat. My best fish was a Bull Huss of 9lbs 7oz.

From the shore, I have only had two fish reported this week, the best being a Whiting falling to the rod of Brixham SAC’s Jason Upham, weighing 2lbs 8oz. This was caught from Plymouth’s Mountbatten Breakwater. The other fish was a beautiful Spotted Ray weighing in at 2lbs 15oz for another regular in this column, Luke Rossiter.

Newton Abbot Fishing Association held their latest match at Bradley Pond, one of the Tackle Trader Winter League series, where Matty Parsons took the honours with a bag weight of 33lbs 40z, Sam Powell was a close second with 32lbs 6oz.

The other recent match was the Wednesday Rover Sweepstake match, also fished on Bradley where Nick Jones took the honours with 26lbs 13oz. Gary Webber finished second with 22lbs 4oz and Duncan Arnold in third with 19lbs 2oz.

Members are advised to take care around the Rackerhayes complex, as it is flooded in places due to the recent amount of rain.

Entries are still being taken for our fish of the month competition kindly sponsored by Sidewinder Lures and Newbarn Farm Angling Centre. Please email entries to johnsherlockfish@gmail.com