ILFRACOMBE CAPSTONE POINT FISHING HELP

Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:06 pm

Hello to one and all,
it has been a while since i have been here, last summer i think to be precise.
I am off on a short break for the easter weekend down to Ilfracombe to visit relatives which i do a couple of times a year and wondered if anyone can suggest any marks to fish around that area?

I often fish capstone point which i find quite rewarding for makrel, pouting, wrasse and other small fish but can never seen to catch any bigger fish from there. I have heard that they take big cod from there over the winter months.
Does anyone have any tips for catching bigger fish from capstone or surrounding area maybe combe martin of ilfracombe harbour etc?
Any help would be most appreciated.
Cheers and tight lines
ivorshedfull

Guest

ivorshedfull,

If you read post that is further down will give you some info on Hele bay just on the outskirts of Ilfracombe. Will be down there for whole week with family over easter and always found that the tackleshop in Ilfracombe very helpful right by harbor and seemed to have never ending supply of good selection of bait.

Will be also trying Watermouth, Lynmouth (love rocky marks)plus a couple of boat trips weather permitting.Caught some smaller stuff there inc. couple of 1.5 pollock and wrasse but did have a few bites that took off for Wales at rate of knots nearly taking gear with it ...broke line hey it happens too light a gear and very novicey (not good combination)lol lol

Hele bay good as can park almost on top of beach and charges not too steep for a day! Plus cafe and loos right on beach too. bit of hike over rocks and certainly be prepared to lose some gear unless float fishing. Worth the clamber as you have loads of usefull ledges for gear and can move back and forth with the tide.If I can help anymore please don't hesitate to pm ...may see you there too! good luck and tight lines!

Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 5:22 am

hello mate and thanks for the info.
i too am a bit of a novice at sea fishing as i am really a course match angler from oxfordshire. I do have a real passion for sea fishing though i think its beacause its cheap, you never know what you are going to catch and the senery is soooo much better!

I have been to Hele bay i think as i pass through it on the way to ilfracambe. Is that the part where you go down the hill and the car park is slightly elevated on your right as you drive down with public toilet at the bottom with a little tiny beach? I have been there before and have seen people hiking up the costal path and round the corner of the big rock on the left. Is that were you fish? Maybe those fish that broke you were Conga, i have heard that they are frequently caught round those parts.

Also what bait do you find works? i have had some sucsess on peeler in the past.
Thanks for your help mate and like you say i may well see you there over easter, according to the BBC weather it is supposed to be fine and dry.
Justin

Guest

Ivorshedful,

Yes you are right that is the beach I was on about, if you hang a right you can clamber over the rocks and that is where I was describing, have sent you a PM so if not sure access this top right on home page and click Private messages.

Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 9:45 pm

hello sorry to but in ,i live in ilfracombe ,capstone is a nice spot to fish a bit of a tackle grave yard though ,good in nice weather .the harbour is a bit hit and miss and the mo ,had a few wrasse ,small pouting ,spider crabs ,a very small codling ,mackerel (well 2 a bit crap)nothing massive apart from the big conga that got away from me .i have fished hele bay once no luk will try again soon ,watermouth the bloke that owns the caravan park does not let anyone fish there any more as you have to go across his land to get to it ,my next trip will be to woodybay soon,hope this helps big grin

sorry to but in

Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 10:09 pm

Hello buddy and thanks for the info. I am a regular visitor to ilfracombe as i have family there. I am down there again in May. What sort of species can i expect to catch at that time of year? will the Makrel have moved in by then? What is you prefered method/bait?
I know what you mean about loosing tackle at Capstone :cry: Not too bad when the tide is on the flood but far to bad when on the eb.
Many thanks for your help mate,
Ivor

Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 5:14 pm

sods law went out this morning on the harbour was not having much luck ,bloke next to me pulled in two very nice sized whitting ,he used makrel.i had a mixed bag sand eel ,peeler crab ,squid makeral.i also had a crab basket ,i wanted to try get some live bait ,no luck with that either . i would think the makeral should be around then also spider crabs and lots of them ,wrasse ,pouting ,bream.looking foward to the summer ,its not been very good this winter (well for me anyway )hope this helps

Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 8:03 pm

hello again mate, Thanks very much for the info.
Have you been out lately if so how have you got on?
I am looking forward to my trip down to Ilfracome in may very much now, just hope i catch some fish! lol
Like i say i have family down there so we generally vistit 2-4 times a year.
I have started to leave some sea fishing gear down there with the rele's so that i dont have to keep trying to fit it in the car around the kids everytime.
I wouldnt mind your email address actually mate if its ok, it would be good if i could email you from time to time and see where is fishing and being cuaght on what baits etc especially before i come down there.
It would be nice to have some local info so that i could give myself a sporting chance.
I always have a wonder along Capstone and the habour and have a chat with whomever's fishing when i first get down there so i wouldnt be supprised if we hadnt chatted before in person.
Take it easy mate and tight lines! big grin

J

Joined: Mar 26, 2007 Posts: 3

Latest info for Ilfracombe. Not good really almost everyone blanking daytime, myself and four friends all blanked Saturday and we fished all afternoon and I'd also been out early early morning. Had a decent doggie last week at night. A mate caught a decent pollack 2.5lbs a couple of days back also at night. Rumour around the campfire someone got a 7.5lb bass in January but very speculative. All in all pretty rubbish apart from the odd small whiting and they don't really count. Still it doesn't stop me fishing most days sometimes I even fish my lunch break. I always fish the harbour just for safety really, off the rocks at Capstone is very dicey at this time of year. Good in the summer though. When your down I'm sure I'll see ya my name's Mike and I'm easy to spot I nearly always fish with a can of cider with me except of course my lunch break trips. I aint that much of a soak.

Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 1:14 pm

dasent wrote:

Latest info for Ilfracombe. Not good really almost everyone blanking daytime, myself and four friends all blanked Saturday and we fished all afternoon and I'd also been out early early morning. Had a decent doggie last week at night. A mate caught a decent pollack 2.5lbs a couple of days back also at night. Rumour around the campfire someone got a 7.5lb bass in January but very speculative. All in all pretty rubbish apart from the odd small whiting and they don't really count. Still it doesn't stop me fishing most days sometimes I even fish my lunch break. I always fish the harbour just for safety really, off the rocks at Capstone is very dicey at this time of year. Good in the summer though. When your down I'm sure I'll see ya my name's Mike and I'm easy to spot I nearly always fish with a can of cider with me except of course my lunch break trips. I aint that much of a soak.

i will look out for you,i cought a couple of doggys too ,the harbour has been pretty pants ,theres a rumour that people have been catching bass down on lee and heal beaches will have alook this weekend ,will keep everybody informed big grin

Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 3:17 pm

I was in the area last night. The end of the pier was being fished by some youngsters, but I think the fish were a bit put off by their radio - I was!

Tried Hele Bay, no luck with the fish, but much more peaceful, lol! :wink:

Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 5:29 pm

anyone tryed woody bay ??? big grin

Joined: Mar 26, 2007 Posts: 3

I'll try anywhere but I don't know where Woody Bay is. Could you let us know how to get there? Cheers.

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 3:16 pm

dasent wrote:

I'll try anywhere but I don't know where Woody Bay is. Could you let us know how to get there? Cheers.

as soon as i find out will let you know ,its out side coombe martin some where will keep you posted ,a mate cought a couple pond bass big grin

Joined: Mar 26, 2007 Posts: 3

Caught my first codling last night roundabout the pound mark. chuffed I was. caught off Ilfracombe pier on mackerel.