Torbay Shield triumph for Teignmouth SAC as coastal catches impress

October each year sees the battle for the Torbay Shield. Originally a competition for the angling clubs of Torbay, Teignmouth and Dawlish, it now includes clubs from as far afield as Axmouth, following the demise of some local clubs.

The competition is fished across five shore zones and one boat zone. This year’s host club was Sidmouth SAC. The beach zones were fished at Branscombe and Seaton, while the boat used was Stuart Pike’s Orca, based at Beer.

This year’s victors were Teignmouth SAC with 24 points, while Sidmouth SAC and Honiton SAC shared second place with 18 points each.

Last weekend saw the annual Dartmouth Fishing Festival. Unfortunately, I don’t yet have the full results. However, Keith Nath and Steve Doidge shared the trophy for the best Bull Huss, with fish weighing 12lb 8oz. Steve also had the best fish of any other species, a Triggerfish weighing 3lb 11oz.

Ken Skinner had the best fish from a wreck, landing a fantastic turbot weighing 18lb 14oz from his own boat, The Rodfather. A fish of this size is a rare catch these days, so it was great to see.

Elsewhere around our coast, Jason Upham landed a bass weighing 6lb 10oz from the shore, while James Tevett headed west in search of tope but landed a very nice spurdog instead.

The boats around Torbay are reporting some good catches of bass from the wrecks, with many anglers aboard Torquay’s Silver Halo catching the legal limit of three fish per angler. Other licensed boats are fishing for tuna and enjoying some fantastic sport, with all fish hooked being carefully revived and released.

Exmouth SAC held a month-long ray competition, with Dylan Reeve taking the honours. Neil Yeandle and Alistair Reed finished in second and third places respectively.

In freshwater news, Saleem Ali has been out in search of some early-season pike and has landed several, all weighing under 10lb. I’m just waiting for a photograph of a fish over 20lb — or perhaps even 30lb, if we’re really lucky!

Spring Ponds held the first round of their winter league, with Chris Packer taking the honours on Pond One and Jason Fay winning on Pond Two. The winning weights were 51lb 8oz and 39lb 8oz respectively.

Newton Abbot FA held the latest round of its Tuesday Rover Sweepstake on Bradley Pond, with Shane Harper and Nigel Jeffrey sharing first place with weights of 14lb 2oz each. Steve Morris took third place with 12lb 2oz. Steve also landed the biggest perch, weighing 1lb 8oz.

Please keep those pictures coming in for our Fish of the Month competition, kindly sponsored by Newbarn Farm Angling Centre and Sidewinder Lures. Send your entries to [email protected]