Angling with John Sherlock: Angler Aaron's shock as small cod takes his bait

Anglers are a pretty hardy bunch but this hot weather is causing a few problems.

Some coarse and game fisheries have closed for short periods to protect fish stocks, the heat causing low oxygen levels and beach anglers fishing at night when it is more comfortable.

Those who are braving the heat are finding mackerel in good numbers although some days are harder than others.

Aaron Colhoun fished Chesil Beach this week on a night session and was a little shocked when a small cod took his bait, there have been reports of more anglers taking this fish which is normally associated with cold water.

Also at night, Alex Webb found bass feeding on the south coast while Kev Madeley and Adam Houghton travelled to the north coast in search of smoothhounds but had to settle for the consolation prize of thornback rays up to 8lbs 5oz.

There are three good competitions worth a mention this week.

Firstly, on Wednesday, August 24, the regular evening match will be in aid of the lifeboat, sign on is at the Brixham SAC hut next to the lifeboat station from 6.30pm with the weigh in at 9pm.

The entry fee is just £3 for adults and £1 for juniors – go along and support a great cause and win a prize.

The Angling Trust Wyvern small boat championship will be held on September 17 and 18 at Salcombe.

Sign on from 8am on September 17 at the boat park. The entry fee is £12 per day, or £20 for both, and there are more than £2,000 of prizes to won with tackle, vouchers and marine electronics.

The biggest competition in the area is the Torbay Festival taking place this year from 7.30pm on Friday, September 2, and 7.30pm on Sunday, September 11.

The top prize for the best specimen fish is £550 with a prize table of more than £9,000.

The competition is fished from inshore boat, wreck, and shore with it boundaries being Start Point in the west to the Dorset/Devon border.

The entry fee is £7 per day, or £45 for the week.

Last year, there were 26 species weighed in with the winning fish being a bass of 17lbs 4oz landed by Torbay angler Simon Kingshott.

Spring Ponds’ latest competition was held in difficult hot conditions and shown by the lower bag weights.

The winner was Kev Wells, with a weight of 29lbs 12oz of carp caught on paste in the margins.

Elliot and Jason Fay took the next two places with weight of 27lbs and 26lbs 6oz, both fished the pole with either pellet or corn.

No notable fish have been entered for our fish of the moth competition – kindly sponsored by Sidewinder Lures and Newbarn Angling Centre – yet. Email photos and catch reports to johnsherlockfish@gmail.com