Personal best bonanza for anglers across Torbay and the South West

Once again, it’s all about the Bull Huss putting a bend in anglers rods. Russell Cooper has broken his personal best for the second time in a month with a fabulous fish of 11lbs 11oz.

Another personal best fell to the rod of Jack Cockram, which tipped the scales at exactly 11lbs. Mike Johnson, however landed the biggest of the week at 13lbs 8oz, winning him the Paignton SAC club competition.

Any of these fish could win our Fish of the Month competition kindly sponsored by Sidewinder Lures and Newbarn Farm Angling Centre but with this weekend left to fish, could there be something even better out there?

The weather seems to be easing with the temperatures warming a little and it is good to see anglers travelling a little to find some decent fish.

Saleem Ali fished the dirty waters of the Bristol Channel and was rewarded with a nice Thornback Ray of 9lbs 9oz. Ian Bryce Travelled to Plymouth in the hope of finding a good-sized whiting before they all disappear and landed a great fish of 2lbs13oz.

Mike Spiller of Honiton SAC found a window in the storms and fished out of Weymouth with the Boat Species League and landed some good Spurdogs to well into double figures.

Martin Larkins has been fishing some local estuaries in search of some early Mullet and has landed some nice fish, although the bigger fish are yet to show. Jamie Quinn landed a great Bass of 8lbs 2oz also from the Plymouth area. The fish was, of course, returned in line with current regulations.

The first of the year’s Smoothhounds from the shore has turned up at Slapton Sand, falling to the rod of Luke Rossiter of Dartmouth SAC in a club competition and weighed in at 7lbs 2oz. The other sea fish of note was a Conger Eel of 12lbs 7oz caught from Torquay’s Haldon Pier for Dylan Harris.

Freshwater anglers have been doing a bit better this week with Exeter’s Pete Gregory having an early season session on the Tiverton Canal and finding seven good-sized fish. Kevin Elliot also managed a new personal best Tench of 6lbs 3oz from an undisclosed venue.

Carp anglers are also managing some good early season fish with Joe Jatzer also landing a new personal best from Newbarn Farm Angling Centre this week with a Common Carp of 22lbs.

The latest round of NAFA’s Wednesday Rover series of competitions was fished on Bradley Pond with Nick Jones taking the honours with a bag weight of 23lbs 10oz.Nigel Jeffery was second with 17lbs 4oz and Chris Morris third with 14lbs 5oz.

Water levels are still high on many ponds and lakes, so please take care.