Rising sea temperatures producing new fish for local anglers

Sea temperatures are rising nicely now, bringing the summer species to our shores in larger numbers, a few more Mackerel are showing from our rock, piers and beaches with the predatory Bass behind them.
Smoothhounds are about on both the North and South coasts, feeding on the shore crabs and are making an excellent target for the shore angler, as Newton Abbot’s Chris Wagstaff found when he travelled east to one of our shingle beaches and landed several specimens into double figures.
Chris also managed to get afloat aboard Michael Webber-Griffith boat Teddie Boy out of Minehead a few days earlier, finding plenty of hungry Rays eager to take his bait.
Another summer species being caught in good numbers is the Gilthead Bream, with both John Tall and Matilda Bjorkland landing their first fish of the species, having been shown the ropes by Plymouth’s shore caught Conger record holder Martin Larkin.
I have heard unsubstantiated reports of a fish in excess of 6lbs being landed this week but the best that I can show is a superb 5lbs 5oz fish to the rod of Phil Mingo, who landed another of 3lbs 8oz in the same session.
You can’t keep a good man down, as Gordon Richards proved again this week, when he managed a day afloat and found some very angry Bull Huss on the feed.
Stuart Pike took his charter boat out of Beer with Ethan king and his group as part of his Stag Day and working the inshore reefs, they found a steady stream of Pollack and a surprise Cod come over the gunwales.
The reefs should soon start producing some Black Bream. The offshore wrecks are producing some bigger Pollack and Cod, with Exmouth charter boat Shande finding plenty of fish.
Newbarn Angling centre continues to produce some fine Carp, with Bob Wooster and Steve Oliver both finding fish above the 20lb mark this week. Ken Wheeler also fished Newbarn on the specimen lake, his target being the silver fish, where he managed a good net full.
The latest Match at Spring Ponds saw Steve Barrell win with a net of Carp weighing 58lbs 2oz, Steve Hayman took second spot with 47lbs 6oz and Elliot Fay 30lbs 2oz. These matches are proving so popular that the next one due to be fished on Saturday, July 3 is already full, reminding everyone that place need to be pre-booked.
Some excellent fish have been caught so far this month for the Fish of The Month Competition but, with over a week to go, there is still a chance of winning a prize from one of our generous sponsors, Sidewinder Lures and Newbarn Angling Centre. Please send your catch reports and pictures to johnsherlockfish@gmail.com