When I look back through previous autumn catch reports there is a common pattern – not much to report because so many days have been lost to the weather! This November follows that pattern, with the SMAC Cod Competition being rolled over from the end of October all the way into December. However, those lucky anglers with a bit of flexibility around the days they can go out have been fishing, and caught fish.

I’m very pleased to report that a few more codling have been caught, but nowhere near the size and numbers we used to have in this area. Dan Lumsden tops the SMAC Cod Pool with this codling of 5lb 8oz (heading picture). Other anglers chasing the cod with large baits have been plagued by roaming conger, and it’s surprising how large a bait can be engulfed by a small conger. Whiting on their way up to the boat aren’t safe from them either, it’s not uncommon for a hefty tug on the line to be followed by half a whiting arriving at the surface (see pictures).

Live-bait or dead-bait whole whiting is a good cod bait but apart from the conger, that bait is also attractive to big bass. Not as unwelcome as a conger, but not a cod after all. The bass season closed at the end of November and a bass caught before next March have to be returned unharmed to the sea immediately.

There have been plenty of good rays to be caught and Dave Newnham again won SMAC Fish Of The Month with a large Blonde Ray, one of several featured in the photos below.

Squid fishing is getting even more attention this year, and there has been a good run of squid and of respectable size too. They can be caught from harbour walls or over rocky marks from a boat, but I suspect there is plenty more to be learned about squid fishing. At the moment most people jig with squid lures at night in clear water.

Looking back as my catch log last year, by mid-November I had recorded catches of 40+ whiting a trip (frozen and consumed during the summer!) but this year they have been late arriving in numbers. By the end of the month whiting catch numbers were increasing and we can hope for more, larger whiting during December and of course, those elusive cod.