Whilst in Brixham over the weekend I spent some time looking round the harbour and it surprised me just how many trawlers still operate from the fish quay.  I spent an absorbing hour on Friday evening watching a gang refurbishing an old trawler, reinstalling the sheer legs that control the trawl and respraying the hull.  It looked an expensive undertaking so there must still be some money to be made from commercial fishing off the south west coast.  The sea anglers were out in force too on Sunday morning.  Not much evidence of success in a heavy swell but I had a v=brief chat to a lady angler who had just landed a 3ft garfish and was struggling to get it back to sea.  Clearly not much good eating on a garfish which is an odd looking eel like creature with a long needle snout.

The sea food in the restaurants was much in evidence and a good sampling had to be made.  I can well recommend the Brixham crab and the enormous tuna steak I had on Saturday night.  Sunday's swordfish was a little disappointing, rather small and a little overdone for my taste, but perfectly acceptable.

Back here at Horton things are now winding down with the end of the trouting season having passed on Sunday.  Gavin P found it hard graft on Saturday with a fast falling river and little to tempt the fish to take.  Members should remember that the Tarn is still open until the end of November and is well stocked so there should be some worthwhile sport to be had over the autumn. 

The river is now too low for salmon, but we are forecast some rain tonight which may restore the level a bit before a return to dry and settled conditions for the rest of the week.  Fingers crossed that we get some reasonable salmon water before the close of the season.

Ian