At last! Having heard reports of Garfish being caught, I now have a picture of one. Honiton SAC member Mike Spiller took his boat out from Brixham and amongst several species caught, the Garfish was one.
The waters around the British Isles seem to be getting warmer with Trigger Fish a rarity many years ago, Sunfish around in more numbers and the Black Bream staying close to shore later in the year than they ever did.
The latest rare fish to be caught year is the Bonito, normally associated with the Mediterranean. Several have been reported but the latest capture is by Paul Salmon aboard Stuart Pike’s boat Orca out of Beer.
Mackerel are being caught in good numbers and have been chasing Whitebait on to the beaches, while the Mackerel are then being hunted by Bass. Martyn Monk fished Teignmouth with a group of friends using a variety of baits to catch Smoothhounds and Bass. The best Bass, tipping the scales at around 4lbs, falling to squid and lugworm bait.
Jason Pinkerton also landed a Bass, this one of 5lbs, from the Tamar on double Sandeel fished on an up and over rig. Mullet are showing in the estuaries with Exmouth’s Tim Parsons finding them locally.
Kennick flyfishers met for the latest round of the Snowbee Top rod competition. They travelled to Wimbleball reservoir on Exmoor where they found the water level down to 30% of normal. The best fish of the day was a 3lbs 10oz Blue Trout for Gerry Scutt of Brixham with John Hern tasking top spot with three fish for a weight of 7lbs 11oz, Darren Penfold and Dean Mockridge took the next two places.
Spring Ponds latest match saw top weight go to Jason Fay with 61lbs 2oz from peg 2 with Chris Packer and Steve Bridle taking the next two places with weights of 58lbs 10oz and 37lbs 8oz respectively. The winners all fished with the pole.
There is still plenty of time to get your entries in for the fish of the month competition kindly sponsored by Sidewinder Lures and Newbarn Angling Centre. Please email your pictures and catch reports to johnsherlockfish@gmail
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here