Trip Reports - Boat

HAYLING (15th Jul) Some excellent fish were recorded, the catch was mainly made up of Tope & Smoothhound, successful baits being Mackerel & Hermit Crab. The best Smoothhound tipped the scales at 16lb, all fished returned.

LUNDY (29 - 30th Jul) This was an extra trip added to our itinerary, booked fishing the reef marks off the picturesque island of Lundy for Two days, sleeping on board in the harbour of Ilfracombe on Saturday night "Okay who forgot to load the sleeping bags". Both days produced some really excellent sport, we just lost count of the Pollack & Coalfish to 12lb caught on the 6 - 12lb tackle using artificial lures and Mackerel strip. Conger to 40lb also took an interest as the tide slackened off using 20-30lb class tackle.

The highlight though came on the Sunday, although the Pollack, Coalfish and Conger fishing continued unabated. It was time to set up the 20lb class rods with 6-10ft traces and baited with fresh Mackerel baits to fish for the Bristol Channel Tope. We didn't have long to wait, within 15 minutes the first Tope took the bait stripping over 50yds of line off the reel, which had been left out of gear with a lightly set clutch and ratchet on. Once the fished had stopped the reel was locked, clutch checked and bingo the first of Twelve Tope began it's fight for freedom. The first few landed and returned weighed between 15lb - 35lb. But just before we were due to leave, the best fish of week-end made an appearance giving Clive Hardwick a tussle which lasted for Twenty minutes, this fish, weighed and released tipped the scales at 43lb, setting a new club record.

Other notable fish included Bull Huss the beautiful coloured Cuckoo and Ballan Wrasse, Tub Gurnard, Pilchards and not forgetting our faithful friends? the Dogfish. The best Cuckoo Wrasse weighed 2lb giving it's captor John Sherman, a new club record.

Just to top off these two remarkable days fishing, the best sight just had to be the Four Basking Sharks seen cruising on the surface close to our boat just before we had the long steam back to Minehead.

Footnote: The crew would like to thank Daniel for bringing up the Kidney beans again, again, and again.

Sept 23rd - Unfortunately the trip from West Bay was cancelled upon arriving due to a sudden change in the forecast with winds reaching force 7.

Sept 29th - Three members, Sean Miness, Martin Bealing & Brian Short fished an evening Bass trip from Poole, Dorset. In 3hrs no less than 50 Bass were landed, the heaviest weighing in at 9lb 5oz and the smallest 5lb 1oz. All fish were returned except two each for the table, successful bait was live sandeel fishing on the drift.

Unfortunately the West Bay trip was cancelled, yes you've guessed it!! those winds again.

November 11th - Weymouth. Wayne York fished a private trip and enjoyed some reasonable fishing, landing Cod 16lb and Whiting to 4lb.

Trip Reports - Shore

Due to some recent poor weather, as usual with pre-arranged trips, most trips have been cancelled. Why is it the winds always seems to increase at week-ends?

Members fishing private trips have reported some good fishing in between though.

Chesil Beach (July 15th) Produced plenty of Dogfish during the hours of darkness and a few Mackerel at Dawn, the latter appear to have thinned out during the past couple of weeks, proberly due to choppy seas.

Budleigh Salterton (July 25th) C. Hardwick reported Pout, Dogfish, Wrasse & Mackerel falling to worm & Mackerel baits. Unfortunately for Clive his son Danny (junior member) took the best fish, landing his first ever Bass of 5lb spinning from the rocks at Otter Cove.

Brean (August 12th) Clive Hardwick & Daniel Lockwood fishing Brean landed Three Thornback Ray to 9lb and numerous small Conger.

Budleigh Salterton (Sept 6-7th) Dave Galliers/Ian Love fished the town beach over two nights report that the first night fished poorly due to the lack of fresh bait, the second night improved though as Mackerel shoals appeared at dusk with enough caught to last the session. Fish took the baits steadily as the tide increased and the Pollack, Dogfish, Wrasse and Pout eagerly fed on the fresh juicy baits.

Sept 30th - Daniel Lockwood fished Brean, Somerset, from the shore and landed 3 Cod, the best weighing 9lb 10oz. Successful bait was Mackerel. Hopefully these early fish will be the first of many to look forward too this winter.

October 21st - At last! After the last few trips cancelled due to our English weather, this one went ahead as planned. Six of us travelled to Brean, although bites were slow to start with some fish were tempted ashore, well for some anyway. Clive Hardwick ended the day with 4 Conger to 10lb and 2 Whiting to 2lb 8oz - John Sherman landed 3 Conger to 15lb, a personal best along with 2 Whiting to 1lb 14oz. The remaining anglers landing a few Codling and small Whiting (our excuse was a poor draw). Successful baits were Squid, Lug and Mackerel, the Cod fishing should start to improve now the water temperature is starting to fall. Watch this space?

October 21st - Remember the Kidney Bean Kid (see Lundy trip). Daniel Lockwood fished his secret mark at Chesil (only fishes this spot when he's on his own). This was on an evening tide and reportedly landed and released stacks of Dogfish(same fish I bet) using Mackerel bait. Whiting fishing slow at the moment, although an angler fishing nearby landed a 3lb specimen.

October 26th - Minehead. Daniel again, alright for some, landed loads of Dogfish (think we'll have to nick name him Barbara SIT Woodhouse) also Pout, and 5 Whiting to 2lb, all caught on Mackerel & Lug baits.

November 19th - Brean. Fishing appears to be improving. Members fishing the ledges reported several Codling to 7lbs, Whiting and Flounder.

Club Committee

1999/2000 elected committee members were:

Meetings

1999/2000 DATES - Dec 12th - Jan 9th - Feb 6th - Mar 5th - Apr 2nd - May 7th - Jun 4th - Jul 2nd - Aug 6th - Sep 3rd Oct 1st - Nov 5th.

Annual General Meeting, Sat Nov 25th 2000 @ 1400hrs.