Berry Head suffers setback in angling circles

Many of you will have heard about the recent problems at Berry Head caused by anti-social behaviour and alleged commercial fishing by non-locals. A gate has been placed across the road leading to the quarry in a bid to stop this and Torbay council are looking to allow access as soon as possible. The Angling Trust are getting involved as well as, I hope, are several angling clubs.

Berry Head is a great venue and one that can produce some good fish. I have suggested that a permit system may be the way ahead and perhaps it is something that should be looked at.

Smoothhounds are dominating catches in the sea with them showing on most beaches, whether north or south coast. It only seems to be me that cannot seem to catch one!

Brixham SAC member Martin Lobb and Honiton SAC’s Archie Sweetland both landed specimen fish this week at 9lbs 13 oz. Martin’s was a new personal best.

Chris Wagstaff has been fishing the shingle beaches of the south coast and catching some fine Smalleyed Rays, whilst Joe Drew and Joe Walton fished a mini Sole competition in the Bristol Channel and both caught fish weighing1lb 14oz.

Mackerel seem to be showing some days and not on others. Plenty of small to medium-sized Wrasse are being caught from local rock marks.

Archie Sweetland is gearing up for the home nations internationals in Montrose, Scotland, where he is representing England in the under 15 team.

Spring Ponds latest competition was won by Chris Packer on peg eight with a bag weight of 74lbs, Ethan Gilpin took second spot with 65lbs and Elliot Fay third with 50lbs. Successful tactics were pole and pellets.

Newton Abbot water are fishing well for both competition and pleasure anglers. Phil Read had a cracking Bream from first pond weighing 5lbs 9oz, whilst Bob Harris had a crucian Carp of a shade over 2lbs from Bradley Pond.

The latest match in the Tackle Trader Evening League was won by Dean Bradford with a weight of 52lbs 4oz, Sam Powell took second spot with 52lbs 2oz and Lee Dance third with 27lbs 10oz.

Newbarn Angling Centre is still producing some nice fish with both surface tactics and boillies fished on the bottom both producing Carp. Jack Robinson fished for silver fish and had a good net full on Willow pool which also produced a fine Bream of 3lbs for another angler.

Entries are still being taken for our fish of the month Competition kindly sponsored by Sidewinder Lures and Newbarn Angling Centre. Please email your pictures and catch reports to johnsherlockfish@gmail.com