Fuji CWDBSG line guide whipped on with Royal Blue "Guidebrod" thread and finished with "High Build" two pack epoxy by Mike Concannon 12th January 2008 Marbled finish on 20 lb class boat rod built by Mike Concannon Mid Blue, mixed with Cobalt base colour overlaid with mid blue lightened by a touch of chromium white plus a touch of pearlescent pigment, then some swirls of gold and copper pigments added to finish it off Call Mike on 01803 834341  or  07970 409938 or Email mike@fishingdartmouth.co.uk 8 foot 9 inch 2-piece 20 lb class boat rod by Mike Concannon. 12 x Fuji Concept guides under-whipped in metallic ice blue thread  Gunmetal Pearl Finish with multi-swirled coloured marbling on lower section 5th May 2009

I have several items of my own sea fishing tackle which I have decided to sell, as they are surplus to my personal requirements. If you would like to buy or view any of these items, please call me on 01803 834 341 or 07970 409 938 or Email mike@fishingdartmouth.co.uk I promise you that you will not be disappointed. All these items are little used and in pristine condition. Please Left-click your mouse on this button to view details Updated 2nd July 2009 SEE PRICE REDUCTIONS TO CLEAR THESE DESIRABLE ITEMS OF TACKLE

BBC COASTAL WATERS FORECAST FOR DARTMOUTH FOR NEXT 3 DAYS

Charter Dates - I constantly receive calls from anglers who would like to go "Fishing Dartmouth" so I've asked some of our most popular Skippers to provide some dates when they are happy to take individual anglers.  Thanks Dave, Ian and Chris.  Your support is greatly appreciated.

Just single left click your mouse on the photo of the charter boats below, to see a list of dates and trips when these very helpful Skippers are happy to take individual anglers or larger groups to fish for all sorts of varieties of fish and in various locations.  I know you will thoroughly enjoy a day aboard any of these excellent local charter boats.

Thursday 2nd July - Minister Confirms Sea Anglers Will Be Welcome In New Marine Conservation Zones - Press Release from Martin Salter MP - Extract from the 2nd Sitting of the Marine and Coastal Access Bill, Tuesday 30^th June 2009:

Recreational sea anglers have received a cast iron assurance from Fisheries Minister Huw Irranca-Davies MP that they will be able to fish and enjoy the benefits of the new Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) which are to be established as a result of the Marine Bill which is currently undergoing its committee stage in the House of Commons.

Parliamentary spokesman for angling Martin Salter has been pressing the Minister to put on the record his support for sea angling within the MCZs in order allay any fears or misapprehensions.

Martin Salter said:-

“The Marine Bill is of huge significance for all aspects of angling.

Fresh water anglers will benefit from the overhaul of our outdated fishery by-laws and sea anglers will see strict limits placed on the commercial exploitation of our in-shore waters.

This should see sea fish stocks refreshed and regenerated and, in the longer term, much improved sport for salt water fishermen.

However, it was important to secure an assurance that sea anglers would not be excluded along with commercial fishermen from the new Marine Conservation Zones.

In fact, the Minister went further and agreed with me that sea anglers have an important role to play in helping to enforce the MCZs and to protect their integrity.”

MC Commented:  Thank you Martin Salter MP for your support and hard work over many past years.  We truly appreciate your efforts on behalf of every Recreational Sea Angler.  Thank you to the Minister, Huw Iranca-Davies MP, for supporting this common-sense approach.

"Gemini Cod - Jamie Hopwood, a member of Brixham SAC, organised a trip out of Dartmouth, yesterday, aboard Dave Harrison's local charter boat, the big bright orange Blyth 33 catamaran, "Gemini", for several of his pals.  Everyone enjoyed their day and caught several Cod for Supper.  They fished two different wrecks.  "Sidewinder" soft lures proved to be the most effective.

It was Paul Flavel's Birthday.  Paul had a nice present when he caught his Cod. one of the best fish of the day.

Tuesday 30th June - "Gemini" Plaice on the "Skerries" - I spent a thoroughly enjoyable day today, in the best of company, aboard Dave Harrison's Dartmouth charter boat, the big orange Blyth 33 catamaran, "Gemini", chartering out of Dartmouth.

We fished the "Skerries" for Plaice in hot sultry conditions with a flat sea and 4 metre tide.  We caught a total of 24 Plaice between 7 rods,  All were of reasonable size.  We used cocktail baits of Lugworm, Ragworm, Prawn and Squid tip, presented on a size 1/0 hook, while drifting the edge of the shingle Banks.

We all caught Plaice, plus the occasional Whiting, Gurnard, Sand Shark and Mackerel, which greedily seized our baited hooks.

Jim Laing, President of Torbay Sea Angling Festival, and a member of Brixham SAC, my home club, caught 5 Plaice, including this fine example.

Andy Roberts and Julian O'Toole caught several good quality Plaice.

Abigail Underhill, proprietor of Tavistock Trout Fishery, www.tavistocktroutfishery.co.uk enjoyed her day at sea and caught a couple of Plaice, including a personal best around 2 lbs 8 ozs, which was the best specimen fish on the boat today.

I managed to catch 4 Plaice, with my best specimen around 2 lbs.

Thank you Dave for inviting me along and thank you all, for your company and friendship.

Monday 29th June - "Gemini" Brixham College Plaice Trip on the "Skerries" - Dave Harrison, who charters his bright orange coloured Blyth 33 catamaran, "Gemini" out of Dartmouth, Emailed late this evening.  Dave took a group of students from Brixham College out to fish on the Skerries.  Well done Dave, those are the anglers of tomorrow.  I reckon we all need to do everything we can to encourage the Junior anglers.  Here's what Dave said:

I was out on the "Skerries" banks again today, with a group from Brixham College.  The Students were all very well behaved and a credit to the school.

We caught Plaice, Whiting, Gurnard and Mackerel, on Lug and Rag Worm with Prawn and Squid tip.

Top rod was Adam Penfold, with a Plaice of 2 lbs 8 ozs, a personal best.  Adam showed his Dad, Rob Penfold how to do it, when he also caught another Plaice around 2 lbs.  Adam's best two fish showed his Dad how to catch the big ones.

Rob Penfold, (a mature student),  Jake Pitman and Mark Adams  all caught these Plaice on the same drift .

Jasper Porter caught several good plaice including this fine specimen.

Many thanks to Richard Rubensatt for organising the trip.

Thanks to Rob and Mark for helping out on our excellent day afloat.

Huge Brill from Wreck Scour on White Sidewinder Lure - I received an excited 'phone call earlier today from my good pal, Steve Howell, from Weston-Super-Mare, with whom I often go angling aboard boats out of Dartmouth.

Another very good mate, Rodger Leviston, from Clevedon, Emailed a photo today of Steve, holding his specimen Brill, 10 lbs 2 ozs, which he caught from a wreck scour, while fishing a 4 inch white coloured "Sidewinder" soft lure on a flying collar rig, aboard Mike Deem's charter boat "Blue Thunder", out of Exmouth.

Steve, you put in the time.  Your good fortune is commensurate with the amount of time you spend out fishing.  Well done.  You jammy git !

Brixham SAC Junior/Senior Competition Results - My good pal Russell Farley Emailed late this afternoon.  many thanks Russell, your input is most welcome and thoroughly appreciated.  Here's what Russell said:

Ciaran and I fished various marks at Kingsbridge on Sunday to catch 16 Thin Lipped Mullet.

Ciaran had the best at 2-10-11 , while I could only manage 2-3-1.

We won the Brixham Junior/Senior Competition and Ciaran was really happy with his catch.

Jason and Shay Upham were the runners up with Thin Lipped Mullet caught from boat - Shays was a new Club Junior Record.  I think his weighed 1-7-10, but you will need to check that out with Jason.

Jason Upham, another good friend also Emailed later in the day.  Thanks Jason, your input is always greatly appreciated.  Here's what jason said:

I went fishing with 2 of my Sons on Sunday in the Brixham SAC Senior / Junior competition.   We went Mulleting in a small boat and found a few Thin Lipped Mullet.  After a lot of trying we managed to catch a couple.  I had one 1-13, just a little shy of the senior boat record of 2-0-12.

But my eldest lad Shay got one 1-7-10 which has now taken the vacant slot for the Brixham SAC Junior boat record

We saw some fish up to about 4 lb also so we'll be back for those.

A few days earlier my other lad Corey had a nice Thick Lip Grey Mullet in Brixham Harbour, which weighed 3-10-3.

Commercial EEC Fish Subsidies - The EEC recently published figures of subsidies paid to fishing boats in the UK for their catch.  The most recent figures for Brixham are 2007.  Brixham does not yet appear in the 2008 or 2009 statistics, probably because of substantial grants which are in the pipeline to re-model Brixham Fish Market.

I was interested to see that during 2007 Brixham based commercial fishing boats received a total of €4,285,972 in fish subsidies.  You can see a detailed list of subsidy monies paid to each respective commercial fishing boat via www.fishsubsidy.org/GB/ports/BRIXHAM   It's no wonder that our marine stocks are hammered so hard by the commercial boats.

Meanwhile, although as a sector of the largest participation sport in the UK, recreational sea anglers generate far more revenue and dwarf the total revenue and support more jobs [19,000 compared to 12,000] than that generated by the UK commercial fishing fleet [source Drew Report 2004 - published by DEFRA], we  fish sustainably, but we get virtually no economic support from Sport England or the EEC.

It's little wonder that the commercial sector can generate such an effective publicity machine.  They have the funds to do so.

"Samuel Irvin 3" Diving - I spent Saturday and Sunday aboard Ian Noble's Dartmouth charter boat "Samuel Irvin 3".  We took a group of 8 divers on Saturday, to dive a deep water wreck in mid-Channel.  They enjoyed a wonderful dive, over the slack water, with visibility around 6 metres 200 feet down on a sunken wartime wreck, victim of a torpedo attack.

Yesterday we took the same group of divers to visit another wreck in around 150 feet of water.  They dived at high slack water, the visibility in the higher layers of water was excellent, but around 30 metres down, it changed to a black murk, with lots of silt or plankton in the water.  They very soon surfaces although a couple of them groped their way around the wreck, an armed merchant vessel, also torpedoes in World War 1.

What causes this localised clouding of the water.  Might it be the effect of trawlers or scallop dredgers having been recently working an area?  How far might the silt that they disturb be carried by the tidal flow?

I wonder if this phenomenon may be the reason why sometimes a wreck will fish well and the next day, although you can see fish on the sounder, they are not feeding.  Can they see the lures in such murky conditions?

All was not lost, we took them to dive on a reef in around 60 feet of much clearer water.  On surfacing the divers reported seeing several good sized Plaice and another bigger fish, which from their description was probably a Brill.  I reckon we might have to fish that mark at anchor, but it's another one for our future appointments diary.

"Gemini" Pollack and Plaice - Dave Harrison, who charters his bright orange coloured Blyth 33 catamaran, "Gemini" out of Dartmouth, Emailed late yesterday evening.  Dave sent some photos and details of fishing out of Dartmouth during the past couple of days.  Thanks Dave, as always, your input is greatly appreciated.  Here's what Dave said:

Saturday 27th June, we were fishing on the wrecks, but there was no great size to the Pollack or Cod today.  Liam Jessop, a Junior angler was delighted when he caught his welcome brace of Pollack on two consecutive drifts.  Liam caught both of these fish on "Storm" shad soft lures.

Sunday 28th June, we fished on the "Skerries" banks, which lie around 4 miles out of Dartmouth, with a new group of anglers from Birmingham.  They used our boat rods and reels and clearly enjoyed themselves as they caught several prime Plaice on Ragworm, Lugworm, and Prawn cocktail baits.

Alan Yates caught several good Plaice, including this one.

His brother, Bernard Yates, kept pace with him and caught several quality Plaice of his own.

Jack Morris caught his own nice Plaice.

Jack's Dad, Mike Morris, kept up the pressure and kept pace with his Son, catching his own prime Plaice.

Kevin Richards enjoyed his day afloat and caught good quality Plaice too.

They enjoyed it so much that they've booked another day aboard "Gemini", during November.

"Anglo Dawn III" Salcombe Ling and Pollack - Chris Roberts, who charters his golden yellow hulled Evolution 38, "Anglo Dawn III" out of Salcombe Emailed. Thanks Chris, your input is very much appreciated.  here's what Chris said:

Michael Gwynne caught his 20 lb Ling on a "Rhubarb and Custard" coloured "Sidewinder" soft lure.

Michael Gwynne then bettered this with another Ling which weighed 22 lbs 7 ozs.

Michael's brother, Martin Gwynne thoroughly enjoyed himself.  Martin's best Ling weighed 21 lbs 13 ozs, and he caught it on a whole Mackerel bait.

Craig Evens caught a fine Pollack around 14 lbs, again on a "Sidewinder".

"Anne Clare" Cod and Pollack - Kevin Tate, who charters his golden yellow twin hulled Blyth 33 catamaran, "Anne Clare" out of Torquay, Emailed yesterday.  Thanks Kevin.  It's good to know that you are still getting amongst those big fish.  Here's what Kevin said:

Dean Roberts, who works at the Osborne Hotel as Catering Manager, caught one of the better Cod, while drifting over an off-shore wreck.  Dean used a small white "Shad" lure with a good deal of success on the day.

Jim Warne, from South Wales came to Devon to catch some Cod, as he said they are far and few between of late in his home waters.  Jim found a number of fish, with small white "Shad" soft lures again doing the trick.

Mark North, also from South Wales, had a number of Cod on a recent trip aboard "Anne Clare", but his heaviest catch was a cracking Pollack, which was around the 20 lb mark.  We have seen a number of very good Pollack over the last few weeks.  Almost all of them have been caught high in the water, while reeling in before going back for another drift.

Here's another of the guys, clearly enjoying himself, with his rod bent well into a big fish.

Saturday 27th June - You've just put fishing in more peril, M'lud -

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6590688.ece

From The Sunday Times - June 28, 2009 - Charles Clover

Cornwall still trades on its romantic past of pirates, smugglers and excise men. When filming a seemingly interminable court case about the landing of “black fish” in the port of Newlyn last year, we drove round the promontory and found ourselves, to some hilarity, faced with two life-sized statues of pirates outside a tourist shop. We had inadvertently reached Penzance.

The smugglers and pirates were long gone by the time Gilbert and Sullivan wrote their comic opera. Indeed, part of the joke was that The Pirates of Penzance was set in what was by then a placid seaside resort. But Cornwall’s isolated position still means it has its modern equivalents of smugglers and excise men and that became all too clear when the seven-year court case about illegal fishing in Newlyn concluded earlier this month. In one of the biggest prosecutions for illegal fishing ever brought by fishery inspectors, the trawler-owning firm of W Stevenson and Sons was ordered to pay £776,000, including costs, for its part in a massive illegal fishing scam during six months of 2002.

The company’s systematic deception involved six owners and skippers of fishing vessels and an auctioneer. They disguised the landings of valuable species such as hake, sole, monkfish and cod by describing them as turbot and ling, or fish for which there were no restrictive quotas. The firm provided an outlet for this black fish through its Newlyn auction and falsified sales records to match the false declarations made by the vessels’ masters.

In all, W Stevenson and Sons pleaded guilty to 45 specimen charges of falsifying fish sales documents, yet the company still dominates the port of Newlyn and the southwest. During the investigation it operated 35 vessels and owned salerooms, auctioneers, fish merchants and fuel suppliers. Elizabeth Stevenson, who represented the trawler-owning family throughout the case, also chaired the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations. Given this was one of the biggest black fish cases in Britain in recent years and a fraud perpetrated by one of the leaders of the fishing industry at a time when 90% of European Union fish stocks are in trouble, you might expect a judge to throw the book at the Stevensons. Wrong.

The sentence gave a very mixed message. Judge Philip Wassall authorised a confiscation order allowing the seizure of £710,000 worth of assets — the amount of profit the firm was calculated to have made by its deceit. However, for the 45 charges admitted by the company, the judge gave a two-year conditional discharge and imposed no punitive fines. To add to the comicality of the case, it now seems he may not have been allowed to give a conditional discharge and may have to impose nominal fines.

Was he right not to punish the Stevensons? Certainly, Cornwall’s fishing industry believes so. Elizabeth Stevenson and the Newlyn skippers put up a defence with as many good lines as a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta. A thousand people signed a petition against the use of proceeds of crime legislation — set up to seize the assets of big-time drug dealers and gangsters — to punish fishermen. The skippers argued that if EU rules had been observed, fishermen would have had to throw millions of fish back into the sea, dead.

As the judge said, there was enough quota available to be bought or rented for them to have landed all the fish they caught if they had wanted to. The fishermen had simply maximised their profits by not buying it and by the end of the year the quotas for threatened stocks were overfished more as a result of their deceit.

Last week Elizabeth Stevenson again argued that the boat owners and auctioneers caught in the investigation were not criminals living off the proceeds of crime, although the law says they were. Many will sympathise with her views on the EU’s bankrupt fisheries policy and her shrinking industry’s plight, although this, ultimately, will not do. Nor will the argument that punitive fines would have undermined the viability of W Stevenson and Sons and, by extension, of Newlyn’s fishing industry. This is where I think the judge got it wrong.

The reason was lying in a box the last time I was on the firm’s market floor: a porbeagle shark, critically endangered in EU waters and one of the species of ocean shark last week reported as being threatened with extinction. By continuing to fish after their legal quotas had been reached, the W Stevenson vessels were likely to catch more endangered species such as this porbeagle. What the Stevensons did was indeed a crime for which they should be penalised. The victims are the oceans and fish populations that are the birthright of their fellow citizens.

Fishing in Cornwall faces a choice between the industrial model — represented by W Stevenson’s trawlers and the pair trawlers for bass, with their by-catch of dolphins — and a newer, selective, more sustainable model of fishing, represented by a handline fishery for bass, pollack and mackerel, the last of only a handful in Britain to be independently certified by the Marine Stewardship Council. Which way do we consumers want fishing to go? I think we know the answer. The trouble is that this judgment has made it harder to get there.

Charles Clover is author of The End of the Line, now a documentary film.

Thursday 25th June - "Anglo Dawn III" Pollack, Ling and John Dory - Chris Roberts, who charters his excellent golden yellow coloured Evolution 38, "Anglo dawn III" out of Salcombe, Emailed late last night, after more successful trips with his anglers.  Thanks Chris, as always, your input is greatly appreciated.  Here's what Chris said:

Here are some photos of fish we have caught aboard "Anglo dawn III" out of Salcombe, over the last week or so.

Wednesday 24th June - Sea Anglers Selling Fish are Cast Adrift - Regular visitors to this web page will have read the extensive correspondence of several months ago on this thorny issue.  I have been in favour of keeping recreational sea angling an amateur sport for many past years.  I first wrote extensively on the subject back in May 2000.

The now defunct National Federation of Sea Anglers would not grasp this particular nettle.  I, amongst others, raised the issue with the the newly formed Angling Trust, which has subsequently discussed the matter at national level and released their pronouncement today.

I would particularly wish to thank Stuart McPherson, Chairman of the Marine Committee of Angling Trust, and John Brooks, the Cornish representative, together with all the others who have supported our efforts to resolve and clarify this matter.

It’s a very good reason to join the Angling Trust as a personal member fro just £20 per year.  You can easily do so on- line via www.anglingtrust.net

While as in any sports there will be those who choose to cheat, by submitting fish for recreational competitions, which were caught during a trip where the catch, or any part of the catch,  is intended for market, it will now enable those individuals to be properly dealt with when such matters do come to light.

Sea anglers selling fish are cast adrift

The Marine Committee of the Angling Trust meeting in June agreed that they would only represent recreational sea anglers. The meeting confirmed that the EAA definition of Recreational Sea Angling formulated in 2004 should be their criteria:

“Recreational sea angling is the activity of catching or attempting to catch fish, principally by rod and line, pole or hand-held line for non-commercial purposes; recreational anglers do not sell the fish they catch.”

Whilst it was agreed that angling can be both commercial and non-commercial, recreational sea angling can only be non-commercial, as recreational sea anglers do not sell, barter or trade their catch. Recreational sea anglers may return or retain their catch, providing it is above legal minimum size, and consume it within the family. It was discussed that recreational sea angling is pursued for many purposes and a multitude of highly diverse motivations. These include challenge, sport, recreation, achievement, relaxation, etc.

To help clarify their its position, the Marine Committee explained that if a boat sets out and any part of the catch from that trip is sold, then it is a commercial trip and not recreational sea angling. It was agreed that a charter boat derives its income from offering a service to take anglers out to catch fish for an agreed fee and that the income for a trip does not depend upon the amount of fish caught that trip. There is no problem with commercial fishermen using their boats for recreational sea angling, providing they comply with the points outlined above.

John Brooks, the Cornish Regional Representative, said “This has been a thorny problem for some time, and no doubt there will be some sea anglers who are unhappy with our decision. However, with the advent of proposed regulations such as Article 47, it is imperative that the Angling Trust Marine Committee decides precisely who they represent, and that Government and other marine stakeholders are aware of this when we are in discussions and negotiations.” He continued, “We also hope that it will help clubs, competition organisers and fish recorders decide which fish they can accept and which they cannot for competitions and specimen fish awards.”

Marine Bill Debate in the House of Commons - Having decided that I no longer wish to involve myself in the politics of recreational sea angling, unless it is something over which I might just be able to exert some influence, I received this release of the discussions regarding the Marine Bill yesterday from the House of Commons, of which I believe you will all wish to be aware.

Every recreational angler has much to sincerely thank Martin Salter MP for his unwavering support:

Part of yesterday's debate on the Marine Bill

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2009-06-23a.696.0

Martin Salter MP

A few days ago, in my capacity as chair of the all-party angling group and my party's spokesman on angling, I convened a meeting with the new governing body for angling, the Angling Trust, which brought together representatives from coarse, game and sea fishing. It discussed several issues, some of which have already been mentioned. I welcome the demise of the sea fisheries committees—they were unbalanced—but we must ensure that there are at least as many recreational sea anglers on the new committees, the IFCAs, as there are commercial fishermen. If county councillors who have links with the commercial sector are on those committees, that must be declared; otherwise, we cannot get the balance right.

I am delighted that officials in DEFRA have announced that, by and large, recreational sea angling will not be banned in the MCZs—it will be banned only in some of the marine protected areas. We have a unique opportunity to help with the enforcement of the MCZs. Recreational sea anglers would welcome the opportunity to fish in the buffer zones on the edge of the MCZs. Those would provide excellent fishing and it would also assist in enforcing the MCZ. It is all very well drawing imaginary lines in the sea, but unless anglers—who have a vested interest in reporting illegal commercial fishing—are there as the eyes and ears, we will have made policy in a vacuum. I want to see on the face of the Bill a definition to improve, develop and maintain fisheries, and to enhance their social and economic contribution through recreational angling.

Finally, I turn to the freshwater part of the Bill—the bit that will enact the review. There is and has been an ongoing problem with fish thefts, especially in public fisheries. It is difficult to define who owns a fish or a stock of fish in, for example, the River Thames, much of which is tidal. The current system of byelaws is arcane and unenforceable. Yesterday, the Environment Agency began consultation on new legislation to make it an offence to take fish without permission. We have had problems, especially with people from other cultures who take fish for the pot and do not recognise our catch-and-release culture. I welcome the fact that we can overhaul outdated fisheries legislation and I am delighted that the Minister has agreed to use this Bill as a mechanism for delivering that review. I am also delighted that we will have an opportunity to protect eel fishing—eels are under particular threat at the moment. Finally, I ask the Minister to think again about the nonsense that the new sea fisheries committees would have responsibility for enforcing the tidal limit. That cannot be right.

"Gemini" Cod - Dave Harrison has had his Dartmouth charter boat, the bright orange coloured twin hulled Blyth 33 catamaran "Gemini" out of the water for it's 6 monthly maintenance, over the past 5 days.  I'm pleased to report that she is now almost ready to go back in the briny and plying for charter once more this coming Friday 26th June.

Dave Emailed this afternoon, to report on his last sea angling adventure which was on Sunday 21st June.  thanks Dave, much appreciated.  here's what Dave said:

Forgot to send you pictures from last trip aboard "Gemini" to the mid-Channel wrecks.  No big fish today, best was a Cod, only 13 lbs.

Today's fish were caught on a mixture  of "Shads" and "Sidewinders".  It's good to see my faithful crew, Mick Hallam, out and about, fishing again, after his op.

"Anne Clare" Cod from the mid-Channel Wrecks - I was at sea again yesterday, Tuesday 23rd June, aboard Kevin Tate's Torquay charter boat, the bright golden yellow twin hulled Blyth 33 catamaran, "Anne Clare".

Kevin has asked me out for a day several times over recent months, but what with prior commitments, operations and occasional poor weather wreaking its havoc, I only managed to get there on Tuesday.

I temporarily parked my car and unloaded my gear, close to Kevin's boat, behind the Princess Theatre in Torquay, at 6.45 am.  I was joined by my good pal Jim Laing, President of Torbay Sea Angling Festival.  Together we put our tackle on-board then went off to park our cars a little way away in an area of Torquay where we did not need to pay the considerable public car park charge.  We quickly made our way back to the boat.

We chatted to fellow anglers from local areas and from Wales, while we waited for the last couple of guys to come aboard, then we were off.  Kevin gunned the throttles of the twin 330 hp diesel engines as they throbbed to around 1,900 rpm and we set off at between 16 and 19 knots, for a 40 mile outbound voyage, over a beautiful calm sea, on a big 5 metre tide.  The breeze just ruffled the surface of the ocean, but that was all.  We enjoyed several large mugs of hot steaming sea en route, while we tackled up and talked tactics.  The time slipped by and very soon, we were there, over our first wreck mark, rather further up-Channel than is usual  for me.

I fished a reddish orange coloured plain 4 inch "Shad" soft lure on my own home crafted 20 lb class 6 foot carbon Kevlar boat rod, fitted with an "Accurate" twin speed B2-270 reel and 30 lb B.S, braid line.  I used a plastic tube boom and a 10 oz weight, with my lure on a trace which was just 5 feet 11 inches long, to catch the first fish of the day, a small Cod around 6 lbs.

As I was still playing my fish, I heard excited cries from around the boat, from other anglers, of "I'm into a fish", or. "I'm on";  "Hit me on the bottom 3 turns up, Orange Shad".  I saw that 7 Cod, up to around 14 lbs came to the rods on the boat on that first drift over the last of the flood tide.  The next drift was much the same, with another 5 fish caught between the 10 anglers aboard.  I found myself kept quite busy taking photos.

On the next drift I found time to fish again and caught a better Cod, around 12 lbs, although only two were caught on that drift.

It was good to see that Kevin was going around the anglers, helping out those that needed it; netting fish; and then gutting them, while they were still fresh, which is a great help to the captors, before putting them in a large "Icey-Tek" chiller box with a hinged lid, to preserve them for the angler's own table.

As the tide died away, we hopped around a total of 5 different mid-Channel wreck marks in an effort to find that elusive big fish.  We caught plenty more fish in the process, but none of the "Lunkers" Kevin's anglers have caught over recent weeks.  My best fish was another Cod around 15 lbs, which fought well.  I also caught a small Tub Gurnard, which I gratefully returned alive.

Jim Laing, fishing next to me caught 5 Cod during his day afloat.

Francis Payne from Dunford caught what was probably the best Cod of the day, a fish around 16 lbs, amongst his several good fish.

Barry KIngwell bent his trusty Hardy boat rod into 9 good Cod to be the most prolific angler on the boat.

Carl Erikson, a Teacher from Exeter, caught several good fish.

Carl's Dad, Sven Eriksen, (honestly, that's is his real name, but he's not the chap from the world of soccer), bent his rod into half a dozen Cod.

All the while, Kevin busied himself helping anglers of lesser skill to catch fish.  I saw Kevin help 3 others to hook a fish, by gently encouraging and advising them.  This is a side of Kevin I was not used to.  He's obviously mellowing as he matures.

It was obvious to me that as the breeze strengthened from the East, it made "Anne Clare" drift with the 5 metre ebb tide too fast to present the lure for sufficient time to interest the bulk of the fish.  The fish were there in good numbers, I could clearly see them on the screen of Kevin's fish finder.

A good Skipper can organise most things perfectly and Kevin lived up to that role.  However, time and tide waits for no man, and although I continued to catch fish, all too soon, it was time to head for home, with more tea to drink, and tales to regale our in-bound voyage.

Back in Torquay Harbour, it was a delight to allocate the fish to their captors, thank you to Kevin and his continual gutting of them, it was a simple task.  The fish were in pristine condition for our own table.

Thank you Kevin and thank you all you chaps aboard "Anne Clare" today for your excellent company.  I know that we will certainly do it again.

You can find Kevin's contact details to book your own trip aboard "Anne Clare" on this web site at www.fishingdartmouth.co.uk/charter_boats.htm

"Samuel Irvin 3" Fishing "The Patch" mid-Channel - I was out at sea from Dartmouth, on Monday 22nd June, with a group of anglers from many different places, who were keen to fish a distant off-shore mark, several miles up-Channel from the mid-Channel Light Vessel.  It is far closer to the Channel Islands than it is to Dartmouth.  We were all aboard Ian Noble's Dartmouth charter boat "Samuel Irvin 3", bright and early.

I could tell you that we were on board for the 45 mile outbound journey at 6.50 am, which we made in light winds on an oily calm sea, with quite a big flood tide around 4.9 metres to assist us.

I could recount how we all enjoyed tea and coffee, together with hot bacon rolls which Patsy, my Wife had made for us before we set off.

I could tell you that one of our number, no names - I promised, kindly got out his pen and paper and went around the "Skipper" and all the other anglers, writing down their orders for drinks and breakfast at the non-existent Café, which I told him was situated on the mid-Channel Light vessel.

I could tell you that everyone caught fish, Cod and Pollack.  I was  one of just two anglers who caught Pollack but no Cod.  I had a wonderful day, in great company, returning to Port at Dartmouth, around 7.30 pm that evening.

You all must get very tired of my clap-trap, so I'll publish the account by Paul Davis, from Bristol, who was aboard for his first serious wreck fishing trip.  Paul thoroughly enjoyed his day which is very clear from his account, courtesy of Veale's web forum.

I'll add some piccies I took of various anglers with some of the better fish.  I really look forward to doing it again very soon.  Here's Paul's unbiased and independent account of his day aboard "Samuel Irvin 3":

Paul Davis said: Fished aboard "Samuel Irvin 3" on Monday, with Skipper Ian Noble and top local angling guru Mike Concannon of "Fishing Dartmouth" fame, plus 9 other anglers - see www.fishingdartmouth.co.uk for Mike's excellent site.  Those who know, Mike will know what a great guy he is, who cannot do too much to assist those among us that need help and advice - thanks Mike, you're a gent.

My first offshore trip saw us heading out from Dartmouth at 7am with a 3 hour steam ahead to the "Patch".  For those that don't know, the "Patch" is a natural reef, at a depth of approx 240ft, some 44 miles off Dartmouth and around14 miles short of Alderney.

The target species for the day were Cod, hard to the reef, plus Pollack, up in the water, with my aim of getting a personal best double figure Cod, having previously only managed Codling from the shore.

With Mike's expert advice I had a new Shakespeare Ugly stick 12/20lb Braid rod, Penn 320 reel loaded up with 30 lb Power Pro braid, plus a selection of "Storm Shads" and "Sidewinder" soft lures.

We were fishing by 10am.  On the first drift, I hit a hard fighting, head shaking Cod on a pink "Shad", that sportingly fought hard on the well advised tackle, taking plenty of line, before finally coming to the net.  The fish was the first of the day on the boat and went 14 lbs, so objective number one had been realised!

Despite the early success the fishing initially proved slow for all the anglers on the boat, although the odd Pollack obliged.  That included a couple of fish around the 10 lb mark, of which I was fortunate to catch one, again on the pink "Shad".  Objective number two had also been met and we were less than an hour into the trip!

With very little drift over the period of slack water, the boat moved too slowly and the fish were having none of it, so despite our best efforts and numerous changes of some odd looking and various coloured lures, nobody was catching a great deal.

The afternoon proved more successful, as the drift picked up, with mainly pink "Shads" and pink "Sidewinders" accounting for a steady number of Cod and Pollack up to approximately 14 lbs.

I finished the day with 3 fantastic Cod between 12 and 14 lbs, a couple of tidy Pollack up to 10 lbs, and a foul hooked little Red Gurnard, that successfully went back!

We headed for home at 3.50pm having thoroughly enjoyed our day in bright, sunny and calm conditions.  Thanks to Ian and Mike.  I will be back !

Thank you Paul for your unsolicited and honest report, which Ian and I greatly appreciate.  Thank you all for your excellent company.

Mike "Harry" Potter Blonde Ray from North Devon Shore - Lee Waring, who is fish recorder fro the Newton Abbot based Cormorants SAC, sent this tale and photo on Monday.  Thank you Lee your input is very much appreciated.  I reckon "That's magic".  Here's what Lee said:

It was our monthly "Cormorants SAC competition on Sunday 21st June.  Members travelled far and wide as it was a Rover.

Mike "Harry" Potter and his good lady went up to the North coast.  It was all made worth while when on his first cast, he had this beauty , a cracking Blonde Ray, from shore, which weighed 14 lbs 8 ozs on the competition scales, but an hour later went 15 lbs 0 ozs 2 dr on the calibrated club scales for a new Cormorants club record.

Kory Jamshidi Bull Huss 13-0 From Shore - Email received on Monday from my good pal Jason Upham, a fellow member of Brixham SAC.  Thank you Jason.  I appreciate your excellent input to this web site.  It's the wide diversity of sources and species which keeps it interesting.  Here's what Jason said:

I went Hussing with Kory Jamshidi at the weekend, from a local South Hams shore mark.  It was steady fishing and I had a 7 lb'er.

Kori went one better and had a new personal best Huss  of 13 lbs, which he was well pleased with.   It was returned alive and well to the water, after a quick photo

Tuesday 23rd June - Lots More to See - I was at sea yesterday, fishing the mid-Channel Reef, up several miles, from the mid-Channel Light Vessel, aboard "Samuel Irvin 3".  The lads caught some fine Cod and Pollack in perfect sea conditions.  I have some excellent photos which I will put on here first thing tomorrow.

There are not sufficient hours in the day, or days in the week.   I'm driving via Totnes very early this morning around to Torquay, for a day fishing in mid-Channel, aboard Kevin Tate's excellent charter boat, "Anne Clare".

Tomorrow, I'll also add all the fine stories and photos I received yesterday from my many good angling pals.

Please be patient.  There will be lots of new reports to read on this web page tomorrow.  I apologise for the delay.

Monday 22nd June - "Samuel Irvin 3" Divers in Re-Breather Equipment on Mid-Channel Deep Water Wrecks - As a young man I was a keen diver.  In those days back in the early 1960s we just used compressed air in aqualungs.  Our protective clothing was of a different age too.  The modern sport diver has much in common with anglers.

I enjoy helping Ian Noble, who was also a keen diver, aboard "Samuel Irvin 3".  Ian also takes parties of divers, who use very modern and sophisticated equipment costing several thousand pounds per person, involving gas mixtures such as compressed air with helium or nitrogen and re-breathers which remove the Co² by scrubbing the air they breathe underwater and allowing them to re-use it.

For the past 2 days we have been out with  group of visiting divers, who dived some of the larger mid-Channel wrecks at depths of up to 240 feet.  I know it isn't fishing, we're back angling again today.

Here's some video footage I shot yesterday.  Sorry I haven't got an underwater camera, but I can show you just a snippet of what diving involves above the water on a modern charter boat.  We do also get to learn a lot in the process about the condition and marine life on many of our local marks in significant detail.  Enjoy.

Saturday 20th June - A Star is Born - I got my 15 minutes of fame, on Phil Tuckett's show on BBC Radio Devon at 5.0 pm this evening.  I spoke about recreational sea angling from boat.  I listened to Phil's program while still far out at sea, returning to Port with a group of divers aboard Ian Noble's Dartmouth charter boat "Samuel Irvin 3".  We had taken them to dive a distant deep water wreck in mid-Channel, using very sophisticated re-breather equipment.

Thanks Phil on behalf of every caring recreational angler for presenting our sport, so fairly, in a positive light, to a wider audience.  Your support and interest is much appreciated.

"Gemini" Plaice on the "Skerries" - Email received this evening from Dave Harrison, who charters his bright orange coloured Blyth 33 catamaran "Gemini" out of Dartmouth.  Dave was at sea again today on the "Skerries" shingle banks which lie around 4 miles out to sea off Dartmouth.  Thanks Dave, as always, your input is very much appreciated.  Here's what Dave said:

We were out again today aboard "Gemini", fishing the "Skerries" Banks again.  It was Andy Weston's annual charter.  I had to ask my good friend, Brian Coles to help me out on this one, as we had some of my boat rods out today and had to rig all 10 with Plaice tackle.  We did 5 hours on the Plaice and an hour on the Mackerel.  The lads had a great time and want to do 2 trips next year, with one of the days fishing the off-shore wrecks.

Bruce Du Prezz is Cox of the Portishead Independent Lifeboat.  Bruce thoroughly enjoyed his day on the "Skerries" aboard "Gemini" and caught some good Plaice.

Matt Clements caught his own quality Plaice.

So did Tom Wakefield too.

Thanks Brian for being a great crew for the day.  Brian must have being doing something I didn’t see, judging the size of his tip!

"Anne Clare" Pigeon Power, Cod and Ling - Kevin Tate who charters his big bright golden yellow coloured twin hulled Blyth 33 catamaran "Anne Clare" out of Torquay, is consistent in finding distant mid-Channel deep water marks, which produce big fish.  Kevin Emailed today with his latest fishy tale.  I am now able to tell you his secret method.  Kevin does not rely on modern electronic navigational aids.  He tells me that he prefers the more traditional methods employed by our Forefathers.  Kevin uses a racing Pigeon to guide him to those elusive wrecks and reefs.  What's more, Kevin sent a picture which clearly confirms his preferred method.  Thanks Kevin, as always your input is much appreciated.

Here's what Kevin really said:  These photos should bring you up to date with what's been caught.  That's the only trouble with being booked every day, no time to attend to the computer.  Still, its better than being short of work.

Gordon Richards, who joined Teignmouth SAS, after after making up the numbers on a previous trip, was top rod on their latest monthly trip aboard "Anne Clare".  First drop on a mid-Channel reef mark produced this heavyweight Cod of around 24 lbs, caught on a  "Sidewinder" soft lure, fished on a short trace, his chosen method.

Later in the day, as the tide started to ease, a move to a deep water wreck for a few Ling was decided upon.  Gordon is pictured with his best Ling of the day.

Gordon went on to take a 56 lb Conger Eel.  Now it's rumoured that the club are thinking of giving him some sort of handicap on future trips.

Ross Stewart and Joe Drew are both members of Teignmouth SAS.  They also had some amazing sport amongst the Ling, using Mackerel "Flappers" as bait.  They also both caught Eels on the drift, with Ross losing a particularly good fish.

Now for the truth about the Pigeon.  Just before heading for home, while some 47miles away, a large number of racing pigeons flew over, with two or three landing on the wheelhouse roof.  One actually flew into the wheelhouse, clearly exhausted.  After having some water and a rich tea biscuit, it was sufficiently recovered and was fit enough, when we arrived back at Torquay, to carry on in the race, although I would suspect that it was probably positioned in the chasing pack.  My picture shows the bird checking out if we are going in the right direction on the GPS system.  It was also keeping an eye on the radar, while in the shipping lanes.

Friday 19th June - BBC Radio Documentary Chat Show about Angling - I was interviewed several days ago, by Phil Tuckett, who presents his show on BBC Radio Devon.  He is planning to broadcast around an hour in total, about the enjoyment of recreational angling on his radio show on BBC Radio Devon, at 5.0 pm on Saturday 20th June, 2009.  I guess that my half an hour of chat will probably be edited down to around 5 minutes, but I'll have to wait and see.  The show should be available for around 7 days after the transmission on the BBC Radio Devon web site iPlayer.

"Samuel Irvin 3" Cod and Pollack - I spent a thoroughly enjoyable day aboard Ian Noble's Dartmouth charter boat "Samuel Irvin 3", fishing several mid-Channel wrecks, with 4 guys who were on a "Stag" party.  They were all friends at University who sought something different to do for a day, in preparation for one of the guy's forthcoming wedding in August.  Along with us was also Brian from Dartmouth; Don Rudge, who is a member of Brixham SAC; Jim Laing, who is President of Torbay Sea Angling Festival and another member of Brixham SAC; and Tony Holmes from Teignmouth.

XC Weather and Buoy Weather were forecasting wind speeds in mid-Channel of between 13 and 18 knots from the West.  We fished in a strong breeze at the higher end of the forecast, which built up quite a lumpy sea, 20 to 30 miles off-shore, but we felt perfectly safe aboard Ian's big white and blue Blyth 33 catamaran, which provides plenty of space for anglers without being crowded.

I was happy to help the lads on their trip with the best of tackle, including rod, reel, line, weights, booms and lures.  I showed them how we rig our equipment; tie our preferred secure knots; and then use our rods and lines to catch good fish.  Ian and I even found time to enjoy a spot of fishing too.  Everyone caught good fish, including Cod and Pollack.

Don Rudge caught several top quality Cod, including this excellent fish, which was his first for this specie.

Tim Lewis, from Wolverhampton, was "Best man" in more ways than one with the Stag Party group and caught a couple of the better Cod during the day.   Tim's power action when pumping up good fish from 240 feet of water was on a par with pumping iron in a gym.  It had to be seen to be believed.  Suffice to say that I expected to see at least a Marlin attached to his hook.

Ian Noble caught Cod and Pollack.  This was Ian's best Pollack of the day, which greedily seized a pearl grey coloured 4 inch "Storm Shad" soft lure.

I used a red and yellow coloured "Red Gill" lure, to catch my best Pollack of the day, which was in perfect hard fighting condition for the time of year.

I know that we all enjoyed our day afloat in exceedingly friendly company.  We met old pals.  We made new friends.  We caught top quality fish for our own table.  That is just an insight into some of the fine sport and companionship that a day recreational sea angling gives you.  Thanks to all aboard "Samuel Irvin 3" and thank you Ian, for being such a good friend and Skipper.

Thursday 18th June - "Samuel Irvin 3" Bass and Big Mackerel - I was out this afternoon with 4 guys from London who booked a ½ day charter aboard Ian Noble's Dartmouth charter boat, the white and blue Blyth 33 catamaran, "Samuel Irvin 3".

We went "mooching about" on some rock marks not too far from home, due to the limited time available.  Once again the plan came together.  We caught a number of Mackerel in prime condition, all around the 1½ lb mark.

I took around 36 perfect fresh Mackerel home, to smoke in my "Bradley" cold smoker.  They will provide Patsy and I with Smoked Mackerel Paté as a starter for our Christmas lunch and several tasty morsels before then.  Smoked then flaked, peeled away from the skin and cut up in a liquidiser, they will be mixed with fresh Lemon and Lime juice, butter, horseradish sauce and black pepper.  Patsy then puts the Paté into small pots and it freezes perfectly.  I love it.

We also caught around 10 Bass to around 3¼ lbs.  We took one each for supper and returned the others alive to grow, breed and fight again another day.

What a pleasant afternoon in good company.  Thanks chaps and Thank you Ian, for your excellent company.

"Gemini" Plaice on "Skerries" - Dave Harrison, who charters his big bright orange huller Blyth 33 catamaran, "Gemini" out of Dartmouth,  Emailed this tale and some photos late this evening.  Thanks Dave, it's input such as yours which helps to keep this web site current and interesting.  Here's what Dave said:

Today was the last day of a 4 day charter, rounded off by a trip on the "Skerries" Banks today aboard "Gemini" out of Dartmouth..  The 4 lads caught 12 Plaice today, on Ragworm, Lugworm, Squid and Prawn cocktail baits.

The lads now have to face a long drive back to Southport.  Thank you for your excellent company and again for making my job very easy.  I look forward to seeing you for the Winter Pollack and of course your 3 day Conger trip next Summer.

Wednesday 17th June - "Gemini" Plaice on the "Skerries" - As you may already know,  the planned trip we organised, hunting for big Conger and Ling today, "Fishing Dartmouth with Mike Concannon", aboard Dave Harrison's Dartmouth charter boat, "Gemini", was blown out by Met Office forecast of high winds to force 5 and 6 from the South, veering to the South West, accompanied by driving rain later in the day.  You can't fish successfully from an anchored boat in such conditions.  As the wind blew and veered, we would have swung repeatedly away from the wreck.

Several of the lads decided they would like to fish for Plaice on the "Skerries" then leg it home when the weather started to deteriorate.  The forecast was true to form for once.  Spot on !  Dave Harrison Emailed this tale and some photos late this evening.  Thanks Dave, it's input such as yours which helps to keep this web site current and interesting.  Here's what Dave said:

The weather was not good enough for Congering today, as you know, so we had to cancel.

My charter who were booked Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, knew that I had cancelled, because the weather wasn’t good enough for Congering and asked if they could book the boat for an extra day to try their luck at Plaice fishing.  We  sailed at 8 am and returned early, due to the winds freshening.  The 4 Anglers managed 9 Plaice between them.  They’re back again tomorrow, for their final day on Plaice fishing again.  All fish were caught on Lug Worm, Squid and Prawn baits.

Kevin Rouse Minehead Tope and Smoothound - My good pal, Kevin Rouse, who is a member of Torbay & Babbacombe ASA Emailed this evening, after a boat fishing trip aboard Dave James' Minehead charter boat "Edwin John".  Thanks Kevin, your input is greatly appreciated.  Here's what Kevin said:

Shame you had to miss out on a days fishing today because of the southerly wind. With the wind in this direction we were more fortunate as we'd planned a trip to Minehead to fish on 'Edwin John' with Skipper, Dave James.

The rain held off for most of the day and everyone had some quality fish.  A good number of Smoothounds, both Common and Starry, fell to Crab baits on up-tide gear.  The biggest being a Starry Smoothound taken by my mate Nigel Foord, which weighed 16 lbs 8 ozs on the boat.

Tope have shown up in numbers at this time in previous years and we've had them to just over 40 lbs in the past.  Unfortunately, they were thin on the ground today and I only managed to find one of almost 20 lbs.

Nigel and I, together with two other mates, are off to Northern Norway, Skjervoy, next week, in search of some big Cod, Coalfish and Halibut.  We'll report back to you upon our return

Gary Pointon's Personal Best Grey Marina Mullet - Neil Burnell, my good pal and fellow member of Brixham SAC, Emailed this morning.  Thanks Neil, your input is greatly appreciated.  Here's what Neil said:

Fished Brixham Marina with Gary Pointon and Dave Fortune last evening.  We all enjoyed some good sport with Mullet.  We didn't get anything massive but Gary did manage a new personal best Grey Mullet of 4 lbs 9 ozs 2 dr, while Dave and myself caught a few each up to 4 lbs.

New Torbay Fishing Forum Web Site - Neil Burnell also asked me to give his new Fishing Forum for Torbay Anglers a plug on this web page.  You web surfers can go on line and join in the discussions at http://fishingtorbay.forumotion.com  You will be made most welcome.  Add it to your "Favourites" now.

"Gemini" Huge Congers and Big Ling - Dave Harrison who charters his very successful bright orange hulled Blyth 33 catamaran "Gemini" out of Dartmouth, has recently been enjoying significant success, fishing on the mid-Channel wrecks.  Dave Emailed details of his Conger fishing trip on Tuesday 16th June.  Thanks Dave, as ever your input is greatly appreciated.  Here's what Dave said:

Had a great day on the Congers today, on a mid-Channel wreck, with four lads from Southport, who have chartered "Gemini" for 2 days Conger and 1 day Plaice fishing, which they have done every year, for several years now.

Top rod on the day was Pete Kitson, with his personal best Eel which easily qualified him for membership of the British Conger Club.  I estimated the weight at over 90 lbs.  As you can see by the picture, Pete could not lift the Eel alone.

Mike Woods caught several Congers, with his best of the day over 70 lbs.

Mark Rogan caught another excellent qualifying Eel of 50 lbs.

Paul Pantellerisco, caught his personal best and qualifying Eel of 60 lbs.

Paul also caught a Ling of 19 lbs.

All our 40 Eels were caught on Cuttlefish and Mackerel baits and all Congers were returned alive, to grow and fight again another day.

"Thank you" lads for a great day and making my job very easy, also for cleaning the boat down, which is much appreciated.

Thanks also to Brian Coles for his help on the day.

MC Commented:  What a great day amongst the massive Eels you enjoyed.

I organised a "Fishing Dartmouth with Mike Concannon" day aboard "Gemini", for today, Wednesday 17th June, in search of big Congers and Ling. Regrettably we had to cancel at the last minute, with strong winds forecast from the South to South West later in the day.

Sorry guys, I can organise everything except hungry fish and perfect weather.  I'm still working on that.  It looks as though you beat me to it yesterday.  We will do it again very soon.

Tuesday 16th June - Andy Copping Big Pollack from Shore - Email received this afternoon from Dave Fortune, my good pal and member of Brixham SAC.  Thanks Dave, much appreciated.  Here's what Dave said:

Andy Copping, a member of Brixham SAC, visited another South Hams shore mark, where he caught a very nice Pollack, which weighed-in at 5 lbs 6 ozs 6 dr.

Steven Smith Bull Huss from Shore by a Junior - Email received this afternoon from Dave Fortune, my good pal and member of Brixham SAC.  Thanks Dave, much appreciated.  Here's what Dave said:

Steven Smith, a Junior member of Brixham SAC, caught a fine Huss from shore at a local rock mark.  It later weighed-in at 10 lbs 4 ozs 2 dr.

Torbay & Babbacombe ASA Junior Open Competition Results - Email received this morning from Nigel Foord, Fish Recorder for Torbay & Babbacombe ASA, who held their excellent Open Junior Competition on Brixham Breakwater last Sunday 14th June.  It was evidently a great success.  Thank you Nigel, I really do appreciate your input, and the effort your club makes to support Junior anglers, who are the future of our sport.  Here's what Nigel said:

The competition was fished in excellent conditions and it was just a shame the mackerel and garfish didn't show. The boys from West Bay Angling Club travelled down and did their club proud providing both the overall winner Oliver Mears, who won an "Anyfish Anywhere" rod and a Shimano reel.

The Team Winners were Connor Hallett, Oliver Mears and Aiden Dean.

Jamie Grimshaw from the Paignton club won the over 11 section followed by Aiden Dean from West Bay and Torbay & Babbacombes Matty Bradford was 3rd.

Torbay & Babbacombes Archie Foord won the under 11s for the second year running catching the best specimen of the day, a colourful Ballan Wrasse of 3lb 13oz on ledgered crab.

A big thanks to the sponsors and all the local tackle shops who contributed and the Clubs Junior Chairman, Andy Bradford and the rest of the Clubs Committee, for organising the competition.   Thanks also to the Brixham Club for the use of their weigh-in hut near the Breakwater.

"Gemini" Conger and Ling - Dave Harrison who charters his very successful Blyth 33 catamaran "Gemini" out of Dartmouth has recently been enjoying significant success, fishing on the mid-Channel wrecks.  Dave Emailed details of his trip on Monday 15th June.  Thanks Dave, as ever your input is greatly appreciated.  Here's what Dave said:

We anchored "Gemini" on the mid-Channel wrecks today.  The best Conger weighed 50lbs and went to Mike Woods, who caught it on Cuttle Fish bait.  All Eels were returned alive.

Pete Kitson and Paul Pantellerisco  both caught top quality Ling.

Sunday 17th May - How to Successfully Tie a Braid Line to a Monofilament or Fluorocarbon Line - I am often asked to show fellow anglers a successful way of tying a braid fishing line to a monofilament or fluorocarbon leader line.  I recommend and use the "Double Grinner" knot, which works and has never let me down.

The "Double Grinner" knot is what is known as a 100% knot, which means that because it does not cut into itself, it is 100% as strong as the breaking strain of your line.  Many other knots will weaken the integrity of the lines by as much as 50% of their breaking strain and I do not use them for that reason.

Watch this video clip which I have recorded for your information and learn to tie this useful knot in the comfort of your own home, until you can tie it without any problem, particularly when you have to do so on a rocking boat in a rough sea.  It lasts around 7¾ minutes and is easy to view on a Broadband connection.

How NOT To Do It - I have also shown you in my next video clip, a superficially similar knot which is NOT a 100% knot, and which I actively discourage you from using.  Watch, learn, and understand why.  This clip lasts around 4¾ minutes and is easy to watch on a Broadband connection.

I want to see you all catch very big fish, without any tears and troubles.  Preparation goes a very long way towards eventual success.

Tuesday 7th April - Angling Trust and Non-Cooperation With CEFAS Survey - This was received via Email from the Angling Trust at mid-day today.  It is vital that every recreational sea anglers reads and thoroughly understands its implications for the future of our sport.

It's reassuring to know that the Angling Trust has taken a firm stance and has "Balls", quite unlike the comparatively timid NFSA which preceded it.

If you are not already a fully paid up individual member of the Angling Trust, please visit www.anglingtrust.net and join today without any further delay.  They need our support as much as we need theirs, for the longer term future of our sport.

Based on recent past experience with issues such as the ongoing debacle of the CEFAS study into the Bass population, Recreational Sea Anglers most certainly do not trust CEFAS, or their apparently biased methodology.

Angling Trust goes it alone with data collection exercise

The Angling Trust will be embarking on its own data collection exercise into Recreational Sea Angling (RSA) in the UK.  This follows a series of difficult negotiations, which failed to find common ground in the way a DEFRA-sponsored survey on this subject would be carried out by CEFAS. 

The Angling Trust is disappointed that CEFAS has failed to provide simple reassurances about the collection and use of data which would have enabled the Trust to recommend to sea anglers that they should take part in this potentially crucial exercise.

The Trust is very concerned that any data CEFAS collected would not reflect the true benefit of Recreational Sea Angling to the economy and that the survey might dramatically overstate the negligible impact of RSA on fish stocks compared to commercial fishing by failing to select a representative sample of anglers.

Stuart McPherson, Chairman of the Trust’s Marine Committee, said about the decision “We were prepared to work with CEFAS on this survey but not at the expense of the interests of our members and good science.  We have decided to compile our own database so that any external data can be verified.

We will now carry out our own survey of recreational sea angling to ensure that we have statistics which can be trusted by sea anglers.   This information will be used to protect our sport from any misinformation or prejudice which might result from inaccurate data.   The information gathered with the co-operation of all anglers will, we believe, demonstrate that recreational sea angling is sustainable and re-confirm the huge benefit of angling to the economy.”

It is unlikely that without the co-operation of sea anglers DEFRA will be able to collect any meaningful data on RSA and the Trust hopes that in the light of this CEFAS will think again about their decision not to meet the Trust’s reasonable requirements for co-operation.

In March 2009, the Trust’s Marine Committee voted to cooperate with the CEFAS survey and to assist further the development of the electronic log book and collection of data.  This decision was adopted on the condition that full access to the raw data was granted and that the Trust had a seat on the steering group compiling the data for presentation.  Unfortunately CEFAS felt unable to agree to either of these entirely reasonable requests.

Mark Lloyd, chief executive of the Angling Trust says of the decision “We are very keen to ensure that any information gathered about RSA is accurate and credible.  Anglers’ interests have repeatedly been ignored in the past because decision-makers have used information supplied by the commercial fishing industry and its professional lobby.   We are not prepared to see decisions which might affect the next generation of sea anglers being taken based on inaccurate and unrepresentative data.  We very much hope that CEFAS will reconsider its decision.”

Wreck Website Updated - The particularly informative diving and angling wrecksite database www.wrecksite.eu was updated on Wednesday 4th March with all 25,600 UKHO wreck reports, with the latest versions from UKHO, (January 2009).  Some 75,000 records on positions, history, and wreck today have been updated and about 80 new wrecks have been added.

To avail yourself of lat long GPS references down to the three figure seconds, together with access to the UK Hydrographic Office full colour marine Charts, you will need to pay a fee of  25 Euros per year to access those essential features.  I reckon it's worth every penny if you fish or dive from your own boat, or you operate charter boats.

Saturday 14th February - Article 47 - This irreverent but factual video which currently features on YouTube was sent to me late this evening by another good pal.  Tongue in cheek but well worth watching so long as your computer is connected to Broadband.  Thanks Barry, some may say it is in poor taste and far too close to the truth, but it had me in stitches:

Sunday 18th January - Fishy Business - For any of you who missed our appearance today on the Daily Politics Show on BBC1 Television, or were in the wrong TV region, the South West section of the show is now available to view on-line at:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/politics_show/7816299.stm

Tuesday 11th March - New Address for PENN & SHAKESPEARE Servicing - Please note the new address and contact details if you have any Penn or Shakespeare reels for servicing, or require spare parts through the official supplier.  They have moved, following their amalgamation:

Penn / Shakespeare UK Ltd Unit 15, Evans Business Centre 68 - 74 Queen Elizabeth Avenue Hillington Industrial Estate Glasgow, G52 4NQ Tel: 0141 880 9029 Email: service@pennfishing.com

Friday 5th October - Bill Harkness LIght Line Record Attempt aboard "Gemini" out of Dartmouth - Yesterday, my faith was very much restored in sea angling when I thoroughly enjoyed a day afloat aboard Dave Harrison's Dartmouth charter boat "Gemini".  Bill Harkness, who is already the holder of the 20 lb line class record for a Conger Eel which weighed-in at 86 lbs on 20 line attempted to better his own World, European and British records.  Unfortunately Bill did not succeed in doing so on this occasion, but we did enjoy an interesting and enlightening day together in great company.

I shot some video of our efforts which I have published via YouTube. You can view it here via your Broadband Internet connection, to see what transpired.  Just double left click your mouse on the > play button in the bottom left hand corner of the video screen.

 

Saturday 28th April - DEFRA "Fishing Focus" Journal - Here's a link where you can read all issues of DEFRA's regular magazine "Fishing Focus" on-line.  You can see the current issue, published today, in addition to all the back copies too.  We have a good working relationship with Dr. Marilyn Rawson of DEFRA, and if you want to be fully in the picture as to progress and current affairs as reflected by the relevant Government Department, this is your best source.  It is well worth keeping up to speed on such matters.  Just left click your mouse on the hyperlink:

 www.defra.gov.uk/fish/about/index.htm