Santa on the shores as sea angling clubs wrap up for Christmas

As Christmas approaches and another year comes to an end, sea angling clubs have been busy with their Christmas competitions.

Last Saturday saw Slapton Sands illuminated with lights and decorations with even a few Santa’s casting their baits into the dim distance, trying to catch that one last big fish before the festivities begin.

The Red Army, aka, Honiton SAC were fishing for a great array of hampers that were lucky enough to catch fish amongst the other shenanigans on the beach.

The fish caught includws a new personal best Small Eyed Ray of 10lbs 8oz for Paul Inkpen. Several other Rays were landed, along with some nice Huss in near perfect conditions. The winner on the night was Ben Bradstock with 217% of Specimen weights.

Paignton Sea Anglers fished their festive competition, also at Slapton, but in less favourable conditions with mainly Dogfish being caught, although the winner, Adrian Arscott, landed a surprise Smoothhound.

Exmouth SAC were also running a competition with hampers for the winners, the victor of this one for the second year running was Dale Morrish, with the best fish a Bass of 6lbs 9oz being caught by Malcolm Attrill.

Pleasure anglers have also fared well with Barry Hawkins and Paul Down fishing the North Coast and having a bumper day landing 18 Thornback Rays to 10lbs 14oz.

Tony White continues to catch plenty of Bass on his favourite Lures but what I feel is the best fish of the week fell to the rod of Chris Wagstaff, a Bull Huss weighing 13lbs 4oz from Slapton Sands. This is a great fish from an open beach.

Flounders are still a target for many anglers and are being found in slightly higher numbers than in recent years. So keen was I to get out and fish my club competition that I went out a week early, having looked at last year’s club handbook, so it was probably just as well that I caught nothing and saved it all for next week!

This will be my last report of the year, once again I have enjoyed telling of the great, and sometimes not so great catches of the readers of this column. I thank you all for your contributions throughout the year, without your help I could not continue to promote our great sport. Please continue sending them in next year.

I would also like to thank the sponsors of our Fish of the month Competition for their continued support, Sidewinder Lures and Newbarn Farm Angling Centre. Entries for the competition are being taken right up to the end of the month, so please send them in over the festive period to johnsherlockfish@gmail.com

A reminder that Wyvern Region Open shore competition is on Sunday, January 4 with the sign on at Street gate car park from11am.

Finally, I hope you all have a very happy Christmas and a great New Year, and I hope to see you out there catching those monsters next year.