A cracking month’s fishing has given us some fantastic fish, which made my decision on this month’s fish of the month competition very difficult.

There was Simon Kingshott’s Bass in the Torbay Festival and a couple of good golden Grey Mullet but I have decided to award it to Stuart Pike with his Thin Lipped Mullet of 5lbs 9oz.

Thanks go to our kind sponsors Sidewinder |Lures and Nerwbarn Angling Centre.

Mackerel are still being caught around the usual venues with most on the evening tides from the breaches. Garfish have been scarce this year with, surprisingly, none being weighed in this year’s Torbay Festival. However, Michael Barnes fished a Torquay mark on the float and managed to find one.

Tony White, who loves his lure fishing, has been out and about on the coast using a favoured white Senko lure and has been finding both Bass and Pollack, although not huge they are great fun on light spinning gear.

Daniel Patrick went off in search of Bass using Ragworm on a pulley rig and found several hungry Wrasse up to about 3 ½ lbs eager to take his bait. Dareen Bell fished the upper reaches of the Bristol Cannel , landing a Dover Sole of 2lbs 10oz. Exmouth Angler Alex Webb took a trip to fish the Welsh side of the Bristol Channel and was rewarded for his efforts with a Bass of 4lbs 3oz.

Small boat anglers have had some success this week with a couple of fine Bass of (lbs 9oz and 8lbs14oz falling to the rod of John Adkin. If there was an award for the prettiest fish it would surely go to Honiton SAC angler James Trewitt for his Red Gurnard.

Honiton SAC had a day away from the fishing and held as casting and fun day in a field with several prizes on offer. The longest cast of the day went to Ben Bradstock with a distance of 236 yards. The day ended with a barbecue which was enjoyed by all.

A date for the match anglers’ diary is the Angling Trust Wyvern Division competition which will be held at Slapton on Sunday 2nd January.

Newbarn Angling Centre continues to produce Carp from its specimen lake with boilies now the main bait with the fish feeding on the bottom. This lake does hold some good sized Perch and Eels and now is the time try for them, worms and prawns being a good bait option.

Exmouth Journal: Darren Bell with a 2lbs 9oz SoleDarren Bell with a 2lbs 9oz Sole (Image: John Sherlock)

Exmouth Journal: Tony White with a shore caught BassTony White with a shore caught Bass (Image: John Sherlock)

Exmouth Journal: Tony Whte with a shore caught PollackTony Whte with a shore caught Pollack (Image: John Sherlock)

Exmouth Journal: Alex Webb with a shore caught BassAlex Webb with a shore caught Bass (Image: John Sherlock)

Exmouth Journal: James Trewitt with a Red GurnardJames Trewitt with a Red Gurnard (Image: John Sherlock)

Exmouth Journal: John Skin with two BassJohn Skin with two Bass (Image: John Sherlock)