ISSUE 629 DECEMBER 2023
UK sea angling suffered a great loss last month. I was deeply saddened to hear the news, on a damp October evening, that Mike Millman had passed away. His death came as no great shock: he had been ill for some time and knew the end was approaching. However, as I knew there would be, there was suddenly a gapping void in the history of UK sea angling. Mike had a meticulous archive of the history of sea angling which he had accrued over his nine decades, and while much of it was documented in his writing, I fear much more will now be lost forever. A contributor to Sea Angler since the very beginning back in 1972, Mike’s work ethic was formidable: despite being terminally ill he was still submitting features to be published right up until the end.
His unique style, which often included non-angling but fascinating facts or anecdotes – from military maritime history to last month’s feature including his encounter with the big cat of Scabbacombe! – made him a joy to read. He will be sadly missed. I am therefore delighted and honoured to be publishing his last two pieces in this and the following issue of Sea Angler. Enjoy.
This month pro shore fishing guide Vince Knight takes us to one of the South Coast’s most famous and productive deep water venues. Chesil Beach is an institution in British sea angling and is still producing cod where other similar venues, such as Dungeness, are now cod-free zones. Vince shares his extensive knowledge of how, when and where to fish the mighty Chesil Beach in order to give you the very best chance of beaching a belter from its famous shingle banks. With 18 miles of beach, it can be an intimidating venue to approach as a newcomer. Vince’s tips and advice should provide a shortcut to success and land you a chunky Chesil cod or two this winter. Good luck!
Following on from his feature on bass from the Norfolk Broads (October 2023), bass fishing innovator, Sam Cox, has continued to explore the Broads and make some phenomenal catches deep into autumn. In this issue Sam turns his attention to the possibility of bass being present in many rivers up and down the UK where fish have free passage to move upstream. He explains his tactics and encourages you to do your own research over the winter. Armed with Sam’s expert advice you might find yourself having the record, and fame, of catching the first recorded bass from your own local river in 2024. Now that’s an achievement to aim for!
This month I must highlight Simon Smith’s Tales from the Tideline column. I often see Simon’s pieces as the written equivalent of a sit down with a soothing cup of tea: a break from the ‘how-to’ style of other features. I’ll be honest, this month��
