Summer species on the rise for local anglers

Sea anglers are looking at some excellent fishing over the next few months with the summer species starting to show.
Plaice are now being caught in the whole of our region from the usual marks, the steep shingle beaches. Smoothhounds are beginning to show from the Bristol Channel and should be found along the south coast soon.
The Boats are still finding some good Pollack with A fish of 23lbs plus being landed on Torquay’s Silver Halo to an unnamed angler. A few Mackeral have been caught from the boats and again should appear on our beaches and rock marks soon.
Torquay Angler Dan Hale spent most of the winter searching our estuaries for Flounder and only seemed to catch small Bass. Last week he went in search of some early Bass and, as is often typical in our sport, only managed to catch Flounders. Kevin Duddridge took the longer trip to the mighty Chesil beach and found some hungry Plaice feeding.
It’s good to see the Kayak anglers out on the water again. Marcus Ward and Andy Green went searching for some Rays. Andy was rewarded with his first Kayak caught Smalleyed Ray, which weighed in excess of 10lbs.
Paul Egan took his son on a private charter from Axmouth harbour, where young Adam had a great day landing some big Pout, the largest tipping the scales at 2lbs 1oz.
I travelled to Minehead this week in search of some of those early Smoothhounds fishing aboard Michael Webber-Griffiths' boat ‘Teddie Boy’ and was not disappointed with several being landed. My best fish was a 14lbs 10z Blonde Ray taken on a Bluey/Squid wrap.
Although not caught by a local angler, it is worth reporting the best fish of the day was a Smoothhound weighing in at a magnificent 23lbs 6 oz, a huge fish, caught by Andy Beale from Bridgewater. Rory Kennedy fished aboard private boat ‘The Three Buoys’ and was rewarded with a Blonde Ray of 18lbs.
Newbarn Angling Centre continues to produce the goods with Rich Parks taking a couple of fine fish with his best weighing a shade over 20lbs. Jennie Holliday fished with her partner Ollie best and was rewarded with a high double figure fish falling to a surface fished bait.
The second competition of the year was fished at spring ponds, with Graham Fay taking a mixed bag of fish weighing 40lbs 6oz from peg 11the honours fishing the bomb and an 8mm pellet. Dan Griffiths and Alan Crouch took 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Some good fish have been recorded for our first fish of the month competition but there is still plenty of time to catch a good one. Please get your pictures and catch details in to me by email at johnsherlockfish@gmail.com.
There is one prize per month and the competition is kindly sponsored by Nerwbarn Angling Centre and Sidewinder lures.
Stay Safe and tight lines.