Freshwater fish waking up for the summer

This week, the first Carp of the year at Newbarn Angling Centre was caught to a surface fished bait, a superb fish of 18lbs falling to the rod of fishery regular, Scott Bryant. Scott was fishing with a monster test pop up.

Mackerel are a good sign that summer is approaching and the first few have been caught by Alexander Kennedy, fishing at the picturesque Plymouth Hoe. Hopefully, they are moving East and will soon show around the Torbay Rock marks or Babbacombe Pier, which often produces early fish.
Smoothhounds are being caught on the North Coast and should soon be caught from the south, along with Gilthead Bream in the estuaries.

After his recent exertions boat fishing, Saleem Ali fished the local shoreline with Lugworm baits, his reward was a decent Flounder and a small Turbot. Boat anglers, meanwhile, have been making the most of the calmer weather.

Honiton SAC member Tom Travers fished a private boat and found plenty of Cuckoo Wrasse eager to take his Sidewinder jig the best weighing in at 1lb 7oz. He also landed a decent Squid as a pleasant added bonus.

Both Mike Spiller and Pete Gregory travelled to Minehead, where, on different boats, they had excellent fishing with Mike catching Thornbacks and Small eyed amongst the plague proportions of Dogfish, and Pete landing a double figure Bull Huss, one of his favourite species.

Beer SAC fished their monthly Species competition out of Beer with the best fish a Brill of 7lbs 11oz being landed by Phil Cocker.

This month’s Fish of the Month is awarded to Newton Abbot angler Harry Temple for his fantastic Spurdogog 19lbs 4oz caught at the beginning of the month. A pack from our kind sponsor Sidewinder Lures will be on its way to him soon.

Please send your entries with weight and catch details, if possible, to johnsherlockfish@gmail.com Freshwater fish are also accepted and the sponsor for the competition is Newbarn Angling Centre.

Phil Cocker with a 7lb 11oz Brill (Image: John Sherlock)

Mike Spiller with a Small Eyed Ray (Image: John Sherlock)

Saleem Ali with a Flounder (Image: John Sherlock)

Pete Gregory with a Bull Huss (Image: John Sherlock)

Tom Travers with a 1lb 7oz Cuckoo Wrasse (Image: John Sherlock)