As is normal in our sport, just as things are starting to go right, something comes along and changes things.
A few good Plaice were starting to be caught from the South Hams beaches along with some Rays and then the Spider Crabs decided to put in an appearance. Not only do they get on the baits before the fish but they have a nasty habit of snipping off the line just above the hook resulting in a loss of tackle.
Mackerel are showing and the first of the Githead Bream has been landed from one of the South West’s estuaries. Rock anglers are finding plenty of nice sized Ballan Wrasse.
Boat anglers have been faring much better with the both the Bristol Channel and the South coast producing some good fish. Pete Gregory took the trip to Minehead, where he fished aboard Teddie Boy skippered by Michael Webber-Griffiths and had a brilliant day, landing many Smoothhounds, as well as plenty of Huss and Rays.
Honiton SAC fished their monthly trip out of Beer and turned it into a species hunt fishing aboard Sambe skippered by Kim Aplin and Orca skippered by Stuart Pike, with the catch ranging from Corkwing Wrasse to Pollack weighing in at around 10lb, plus a surprise Turbot for Nick Fox.
I finished in second spot on my boat, thanks mainly to a heavily scoring Grey Gurnard. Paul Millman and Harry Temple, fishing from different boats in Start Bay, reported a surprise by-catch of an odd Octopus. Harry also excelled with Blonde Rays up to 15lbs, plus Bull Huss and small Eyed Rays.
All of the South West Lakes Trust waters are fishing well, with our local Water Kennick reservoir on the edge of Dartmoor producing Rainbow Trout up to 7lbs and a healthy rod average of 4.6. Intermediate or sinking lines are proving the most successful, although if you fish with floating lines and a long leader, this will also work. The best flies are Damsels, Diawl Bachs, Buzzers, Tadpoles, Blobs and Boobies.
Please send reports and photos to johnsherlockfish@gmail.com fish of the month competition, kindly sponsored by Sidewinder Lures and Newbarn Angling Centre.
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