Carp giants arrive at Newbarn as anglers battle for big catches

Fantastic news has come in this week for Carp anglers around Torbay and particularly regulars at Newbarn Farm Angling Centre.

Three new Carp have been introduced to the water. These fish have never been caught and weigh in at just under 30lbs, 32.8lbs and a massive 37lbs.

No doubt they will lose as little weight whilst they acclimatize but should be back to their normal weight very quickly. The fight is on now as to who will be the first to catch these fish and have the privilege of naming them.

A late entry came in at the weekend for our Fish of the month competition kindly sponsored by Newbarn Angling Centre and Sidewinder Lures. This was a massive Whiting caught from the shore weighing 4lbs 8oz and landed by Luke Rossiter of Dartmouth SAC.

Successful tactics were double Sandeel bait fished on a pulley pennel rig. A prize pack will be on its way to him shortly.

I love to see young anglers out and about and about catching fish and two who haven’t been put off by the recent weather are brother and sister Hunter and Liara from Sidmouth SAC who have both landed Whiting and Conger Eels on recent sessions.

Mike Spiller from Honiton SAC managed to find a window in the weather and fished out of Ilfracombe in the deep water with Spurdogs as the target species. He was not disappointed with plenty of fish up to around 20ls coming to the side of the boat. These will be my target this week, fishing out of Watchet if the weather holds.

I had the pleasure of attending the annual presentation evening of the Angling Trust Wyvern Area at Exeter at the weekend, I also had the honour of being asked to be guest speaker in my other role, that of watchkeeper at Torbay with the National Coastwatch Institute and to present all the certificates and Trophies.

Congratulation go to Dan Burt of Castaways SAC who took the top prize, The Castle Trophy with a Gilthead Bream of 8lbs 5oz.

Clubs around the bay did very well with Brixham SAC picking up many Fish of the Month winners and Runners up Certificates in both senior and junior competitions. Denise Stacey of Torbay and Babbacombe SAC took two major awards. Best specimen by a Lady angler and best Bass with just one fish, weighing 12lbs 15oz.

Entries are now being taken for February’s Fish of the Month competition, please email me your pictures at johnsherlockfish@gmail.com