Smooth-hounds dominating the Devon fishing waters

Smooth-hounds once again dominate catches this week with fish into double figures being caught all along the coast from Chesil beach to Budleigh Salterton. One of the best fell to Tim Mitcham weighing in at 10lbs 7oz.

Tristan Rowe landed a fish of 8lbs 7oz and this area is also producing plenty of Mackerel, along with Bass and Rays. The open beaches of South Devon are also producing Bass with Totnes lure specialist Tony White landing fish of 6lbs and 6lbs 8oz. Mark Boyce and Scott Clarke travelled to the North Coast in search of an even larger predator, the Tope, and found several fish each up to 33lbs 4oz.

The estuaries still continue to produce Gilthead Bream with Honiton SAC member Mike Spiller finding them from his boat along with Dogfish, Gurnards and Plaice. Daniel Patrick continues to find them from the shore along with Bass to 3 1/2lbs, while Steve King landed a fine Thornback Ray of 12lbs 13oz.

Brixham SAC are running competitions every Wednesday evening throughout the summer along the breakwater. The entry fee is only £2 with under 16’s £1, with cash and voucher prizes. Sign on from 6.30pm, fishing from 7-9pm with weigh in following at the club hut near the lifeboat.

From the boats, all the usual summer species are being caught in good numbers with Tom Travers and James Trevett fishing a private boat and finding plenty of Dogfish and thornback Rays. Harry Temple and Paul Millman fished out of Penzance, finding plenty of Pollack up to 15 ½ lbs.

Spring ponds held their latest match in uncomfortable thundery conditions with the top weight of 35lbs being caught by Jason Fay, his second consecutive win. The next two places going to Steve Barrel and Elliot Fay. Pellet was the most successful bait fished on the pole or waggler. Newbarn Angling centre continues to produce plenty of Carp to boillies or surface fished baits depending on the conditions.

I am writing this column this week from South Ayrshire in Scotland and visited one of the many growing coarse fisheries, Broomhill Fishery and had a pleasant day catching Carp up to 11bs 5oz.