Sea Cadet ‘combined operation’

A 12s, 6d rod and line, a half-inch hook, a piece of bacon rind, and a paddle.

Hardly a keen fisherman’s idea of good equipment. But it landed an 8lb bass from the river Torridge for a Bridgwater visitor this week. The fish was caught by Mr Alan Smith, a sub-Lieut. in the Bridgwater unit of the Sea Cadets and a former member of the Bideford unit.

Sub-Lt Smith and two Bridgwater cadets, R Mellows and J Rockett, have been holidaying and training for several days on Bideford Sea Cadets’ training ship Bideford, moored alongside the quay.

On Monday they spent much of the day trying their hand at fishing near the Iron Bridge, but returned with just one small fluke. In the early evening Sub-Lt Smith decided to have one last go and during flood tide cast his line over the side of the Bideford.

After half an hour he had a bite. Then came a terrific struggle as Sub-Lt Smith fought to land his prize. With the line threatening to break at any time drastic steps were called for. So, as Sub-Lt Smith finally got the fish’s head to the surface, Lt-Cmdr Tom Rowe, head of Bideford Sea Cadets, smote it with a mighty blow with a paddle. Then the magnificent bass was landed.

“What you might call beginner’s luck!” laughed Mr Rowe.

An amusing note was the number of people who suddenly started fishing from the quayside after the big catch!

There was a celebration “fry up” on the Bideford on Tuesday.

Gazette article dated 14 August 1964