Monster fish landed off the fertile shores of Brixham

One of the prettiest fish in British waters is undoubtedly the Gurnard. Three varieties are regularly caught with the Grey Gurnard being the smallest then the Red Gurnard and lastly the biggest, the Tub Gurnard.

All Gurnards can be caught from the shore around our part of the coast, although to catch anything bigger than about a pound and a half, you need to fish from a boat, and for the largest specimens, preferably over a wreck.

Ross Parham, skipper of Brixham charter boar Spot On took a break from Tuna fishing and spent a day on the wrecks where, amongst the usual Pollack, Cod and Bass, two absolute monster Tub Gurnard were boated.

The first weighed 5lbs but the monster was a fish weighing a fantastic 8lbs landed by Welsh angler Rhys Wadley.

Last week, I promised an update on the Angling Trust Wyvern Area small boat open, which unfortunately was shortened to one day because of the weather and then fished within the confines of the estuary at Salcombe.

The results are decided by the percentage of specimen weight from an anglers two best fish. If two fish were not caught, then it was down to the percentage for just one fish.

The winner I can confirm was Salcombe angler Kevin Allen with a Mullet and couches Bream combination, giving him 95%. Second was Justin Weeks with a single Mullet of 89% and Third Wayne Harwood with another Mullet for 86%. The prize for best junior was not won and will be carried over to next year.

A couple of upcoming competitions are the delayed Chesil Championship, which is on Sunday, October 5 with the sign-on at 9am at Bridport Football Club and the ASG Kingsbridge Estuary Flounder Competition on Saturday and Sunday, December 14 and 15. Entry is £20 and the first prize is £1,000.

Pleasure anglers have been finding plenty of hard fighting autumn Bass, with the best of the week falling to a Savage gear paddle tail lure on the rod of Tony White and weighing a shade over 7lbs, with another weighing 4lbs 1oz falling to the rod of Chris Hawkes.

Freshwater anglers are still finding Carp with the regulars at Newbarn Farm Angling centre finding plenty of good-sized fish. Tom Stebbens fished the NAFA waters at Rackerhayes and landed a 25lb Linear Mirror Carp, known as the friendly Lin.

The latest matches were the Bradley Feeder, where the winner on the day and overall league winner was Chris Gray. Spring Ponds latest match was won by Jason Fay with 65lb of fish with Joe Jacques in second with Damien Brading in third. Feeder and pellets were the most successful tactics.

There is still time to get a good fish in for our Fish of the Month competition kindly sponsored by Newbarn Angling Centre and Sidewinder Lures. Please email pictures and catch details to johnsherlockfish@gmail.com