Fishing through the storms

It’s great to see some pictures of junior anglers coming in at last, writes JOHN SHERLOCK.

This week. we have young Frank Heather with a tub gurnard caught from a private boat. What is also noticeable is the fact that he is wearing a life jacket. Safety at sea is always important.

The wind and rain continue to make conditions difficult and only the hardiest of anglers are hitting our beaches.

Chris Wagstaff braved Chesil beach finding a few fish with a small cod making the effort worthwhile.

The estuaries are seeing more anglers targeting the flounders with Daniel Patrick and Saleem Ali getting among them.

Bass are always likely to take a bait meant for flounder, as they found with a fish of 4lbs 9oz being landed among several smaller ones.

Tony White of Totnes has been out and about with his lures again, finding several bass during the hours of darkness.

Axmouth SAC hosted the Chris Chappel Memorial competition at Seaton in awful conditions with south westerly gales and a big swell. A few good fish were caught including bass and dogfish.

Congratulations go to the prizewinners. Burt Collins in first place with Paul Munday and Pete Fone joint second. £100 was raised for the two charities, Battersea Dogs' Home and the RNLI. Details of next year’s competition will be published in the new year.

Exmouth SAC held their Chesil Rover Charity Shield event recently with Tim Parsons taking first place. Alex Webb and Dylan Reeve took second and third spots.

Sunday, January 15, is the date for the angling Trust Wyvern Region open shore competition at Slapton.

Sign on is at Street Gate car park from 11am and fishing is from 1pm to 6pm with the weigh in from 6.15pm. There are many sponsors with Torquay’s Anyfish Anywhere among them. The first prize is £200, with prizes to at least 12th place.

The fish of the month winner for October is Tristan Rowe for his shore caught bull huss of 10lbs14oz. If you think you can beat this. please email pictures and details of capture to johnsherlockfish@gmail.com. Our kind sponsors for this are Sidewinder Lures and Newbarn Angling Centre.