Expect the unexpected from an autumn on the waters of South Devon

A peculiar month! There have been plenty of fish caught, many species, but not many fish worthy of our fish of the month competition.

The notable fish have been Bull Huss with members of Brixham SAC catching them. The Cooper family have had more than their fair share of them with both dad and son catching really good fish.

On this occasion, dad misses out and is beaten by his 13 year-old son Henry with his fish of 11lbs 6oz. His prize from sponsor Sidewinder Lures will be on its way to him shortly.

Entries are now being taken for our November competition also kindly sponsored by Newbarn Angling Centre. Please email your pictures and catch reports to johnsherlockfish@gmail.com or send them via Messenger.

A new sea League has been started between the Dartmouth Angling and Boating Association and Dartmouth Sea Anglers. The first competition was held last weekend on a South Hams beach in forty plus mph winds.

Fourteen Anglers fished with the best specimen being a dogfish of 2lbs 10oz for Luke Rossiter. Jai Prettyjohns landed a Red Mullet, which is quite unusual for the area.

I hear that plenty of Bass are being caught around our coast and estuaries, although they all seem to be as little on the small side. The best of the week being a fish of 3lbs 6oz falling to the rod of Chris Hawkes. A few Flounder are also now showing from our estuaries, although again nothing of size has been reported.

With the mild temperatures that we are experiencing at the moment, Carp are still showing in reasonable numbers from both Newbarn Angling Centre and Newton Abbot FA’s waters. Tom Stebbens, fishing Island Pond at Rackerhayes, managed a Common and a Mirror Carp in his recent session.

A couple of recent results from NAFA’s latest matches are the Silver Fish League at Bradley Pond, won by Dave Pattie with a bag weight of 11lbs with Tom Rangecroft second with 7lbs13oz and Mike Hadley in third with 6lbs 11oz, and the latest Wednesday Sweepstake also fished on Bradley, which was won by Mike Hadley with 18lbs 4oz with Nigel Jeffery and Ethan Gilpin second and third with weights of 17lbs 6oz and 11lbs 8oz.

With the winter months well on their way, many freshwater anglers turn their attentions to fishing for predators in the form of Pike and Perch.

Pike fishing is mainly restricted to the NAFA waters, Exeter and Tiverton Canals but perch can be found in many other waters. Two of our day-ticket waters both hold Perch in excess of 4lbs in weight and they are Newbarn Angling Centre and Spring Ponds.

Some restrictions on methods may be in place but for the price of a day ticket, there is always the chance of landing the fish of a lifetime.