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Search forANGLINGNews from the sea and shore with Mike Millman
Tuesday, October 07, 2008, 17:48
It was overtaken for the premier prize on the penultimate day by the shore-caught blonde ray of 14lb 1oz taken at a South Devon coast mark by Brixham ace Andy Copping, who won the £650 top prize.
The remaining leading sections were filled by a bull huss of 13lb 14oz in the shore category, while a skerries plaice of 4lb 13oz gained the Inshore Boat Award. Both were worth a prize of £325.
The festival was one of considerable quality and in excess of 200 fish scored better than 100 per cent of specimen.
Dave Trevarthen of Lee Moor received prizes for his congers, topped by a nice fish of 76lb 12oz, and Mark Barnett of Chillington, who recently won the Salcombe Small Boat Championship, did well with a small-eyed ray of 12lb 4oz 12 drams taken from a boat.
Helen Bradford, also of Kingsbridge and District SAC, won the ladies' category with a fine small-eyed ray of 12lb 15oz taken boat fishing in the Salcombe estuary.
Information on where to fish for bull huss and thornback ray was requested earlier this week by two newcomers to shore fishing.
This invariably follows reports of high-quality fish which appear in this column.
The majority of top line men are naturally reluctant to reveal their productive marks discovered by much effort over time, but the following are good general areas where these species are likely to take a bait.
Blackstone Point to the East of Wembury Bay is typical of many along the rugged stretch of coastline between the estuary of the Yealm and Stoke Point.
It is sheltered in winds from the north and north west, but becomes unfishable in a southerly above force four when a big swell sweeps well up the rocks.
The bottom is rugged with many deep gullies favoured by bull huss, but beyond 80 yards it gives way to sand on which are likely to be small-eyed and thornback ray.
A two-hook pulley tied from at least 25lb test mono carrying 4/0 hooks is the right set up.
To reach the mark come off the A379 at Yealmpton on to the B3186, continue to Bridgend and up the hill signposted Noss Mayo. Continue to the crossroads, then turn sharp right and go along about a mile to the National Trust car park. Take the coastal path on the right.
Descent to the waterline is steep and dangerous in wet weather.
Gammon Head on the eastern flank of the Salcombe estuary has a fine track record for bull huss with the best results at night. Big baits, ideally squid on a pulley, defeats strong jaws.
In recent times blonde ray have begun to come within reach of a good cast in this area, but for thornbacks you will do better fishing from Limebury Point which is more easily reached by the coastal path running from East Portlemouth.
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