Multi-Species Guiding
2024 Guiding Prices
Guiding Reviews / Guiding Gallery
BIG NEWS FOR 2024!
From February i will be a full time fishing guide due to leaving my tackle shop businness so more availability and options compared to last year where i had to turn down a lot of bookings and last minute enquires due to running the shop. On that note please try and book you’re session at least three months in advance to avoid disappointment. I guide all year round thanks to the winter bass, Conger and Mullet fishing.
My name is Paul but i am widely known as the Bassman through my youtube channel and socials, I have been Bass fishing for over 35 years and have a good understanding and knowledge of our spiky friends.
I have been fishing my local estuaries and beaches for long enough to know a thing or two about catching those silver bars, I have also been fortunate enough to have had 5 doubles to date with an 11lb 8oz shore caught beauty caught on a 20g-50g Lure rod!
Personally It’s all about catch and release these days and any current restrictions must be adhered to however if restrictions allow you are welcome to take home one Bass for the table from you’re guided session if it is over 42cm.
I help others achieve Bass fishing success through one to one guiding plus my media work on my Facebook page called Bassmans Bounty rigs and Plymouth conger club, also my YouTube Channel here with over a hundred videos so please take a moment to sign into you’re account and subscribe.
I am now well established as a presenter/filmmaker and have a following for making Quirky exciting fishing videos that inspire you and make you want to pick up a rod and go fishing!
I have my own presenting style and it’s fair to say I get a bit carried away on camera, it’s just how fishing makes me feel I guess!
I am sponsored by Blackrock fishing and Tronixpro which means I get to test and promote their latest tackle finery which is great fun and a real privilege to have their continued support. You can read about me on their website here.
All of my attention when guiding is focused on you and your guided session I don’t fish full stop.
There are no guarantees in fishing but I am confident that you will learn new lighter ways to fish using the latest fishing rods, methods and tips that will give you the edge next time you go fishing, from basic watercraft to rig choice and bait/Lure presentation not to mention a new mark that comes with it.
So if you’re thinking of a fishing trip in South West Devon this year drop me a line asap on my Contact Me page and get booked in before i’m fully booked. I am now offering guided sessions on BASS, MULLET, GILTHEAD BREAM, CONGER,WRASSE, HUSS AND RAYS sessions available throughout the year!
Please specify your target species and dates when emailing, FYI all bookings are subject to last-minute cancellations due to extreme or very adverse weather conditions but will always be honoured at a later date asap.
Bassman on YouTube
Fishing Pics
Like this sight mate
My biggest fan!, thanks for that ?
Hi Paul, thanks for your advice today at Sea view about the unabomber, I think I will get Andy to order me a 4.5 unabomber. Cant actually see where to subscribe
Anytime Tony, you’ve made the right decision
, let’s go fishing one day ??
Bassman.
Ha Ha , 6 years later I finally see your response! Day late and a dollar short me!
Would love to fish with you . Looking to see how to book a gilty session, maybe a bass one as well.
hahaha thought you would like that
Thanks for the comment, happy your reading my blog ;))
This man helped me reel in my first bass on the Teign Estuary.
I’ve been hooked on Bass ever since.
And let’s not forgot your first Mullet Down hopes nose Torquay!, that was epic bro ??
Wrassetastic Birthday trip
I booked up with Paul not because I wanted to catch my first Wrasse but because I wanted to learn a lot more about this most handsome of shore species. The Ballan Wrasse is as powerful as it is stunningly marked and learning how to locate, target and land these bigger Ballan’s was what I hoped for on a session with Paul. My first target was to get a wrasse by design on a lure, a method I had not tried for Ballans, next target a PB Shore Wrasse. I met up with Paul on a glorious morning and as we walked down to the mark we both stopped to admire the stunning vista laid out before us, the sea looked tropical and beckoned us to the deep holes that punctuated the clear sea bed. We were obviously socially distancing and using hand gel etc as per guidelines, Paul also took time to explain the hazards and how we would deal with them. These rugged rock marks can be extremely dangerous if you don’t respect them and that is why the use of an experienced guide can not only put you on the fish but ensure you are safe doing it, a couple of dead sheep at the foot of the cliff highlighted the danger. So first method was to get a Wrasse on a lure, Paul showed me the technique and pointed out the spots where wrasse would be lying, he also took the time to run through a couple of his most productive wrasse lures. It wasn’t long before the first hit and I had my first wrasse on a lure, throughout the session Paul showed me different holes and how to fish each. Sometimes I won and sometimes the Wrasse won but by the end of the session I had landed 6 nice Ballans with 2 over 3lb including a new PB of 3lb 8oz more importantly I had learned hundreds of session hours advice in one session. I cannot recommend Paul Bassman Gordon enough, felt like I was fishing with a mate but he would still tell when you needed to modify your approach. Paul without doubt gets just as excited when you land a fish as if it was his own, his fish care is exemplary and its made me think to carry an unhooking mat while wrassing. The tackle, rigs and baits Paul supplies is top notch and no corners are cut with knots and hook points being checked regularly. It was a great way to spend my birthday and if your thinking of booking up with fishingguidesdevon just do it, I have a couple more sessions I want to do with Paul and I know they will improve my shore angling.
Wrassetastic part 2 July 20th
Well it was time for my second session out with Paul and this time I was joined by long time fishing mate Chris Hodgson. We met up with Paul in the car park and after a short bit of lure shopping from the mobile tackle bag it was time to go chase some Wrasse. We got to the rugged shoreline as the tide began to flood, straight on with the lures and I was quickly hit by a big mackerel, not the target but proof the stick baits were looking good. Then a missed wrasse and with the tide rising it was off to another mark, this time jigged prawn. I was hit hard straight away but the fish took the bait and just made me look bad, this happened for a second time before Paul advised that I fish my bait on the other side of the gully. This time when this angry fish grabbed the bait the advantage was mine and the 3lb fish was soon netted. Chris was now into Wrasse and with Paul pointing out the fish holding spots we were soon getting plenty of action. The tide had reason enough to move again and it was back on with the lures, Paul pointed out the fish zones and sure enough both Chris and I were getting nailed pretty much where he indicated. About this time a huge baitball had formed from fry and a shoal of mackerel roared into the channel smashing into the fry like a jacuzzi, awesome to watch! Next move to a big fish honey hole and soon my bounced prawn was grabbed and a good fish thumbed below, 3lb 9oz of ON made me grin like a Cheshire cat. With the fish on the mat while setting up the camera Chris was bent into a real monster, Paul noticed the crazy bend in the rod and grabbed the net to land another good wrasse. Incredibly this monster weighed 4lb 4oz a beautiful PB for Chris and just right for a double picture. The tide spoiled the party on that spot as we would become cut off if Paul hasn’t advised us it was time to move. The next and final mark was the real icing on the cake and From the off we were getting double hook up as the Wrasse queued up to crunch up our wrasse candy. With our 4hr time up Paul was still encouraging us to keep at it and we decided to stay in for a bit, suitably advised in safety by Paul. Just before he climbed off my rod arched into a real chunky fish that stripped line on a number of occassions. Paul told me to stop milking it and get on with it but as it rolled in the surface we new it was another 4lber and a new PB, yes at 4lb 1oz I was ecstatic and great fish for Paul to depart on in a ” my work is done here” sort of exit. We continued catching fantastic wrasse with a couple more 3lbers using what we had learned from the Wrasseman! The session had yielded 40 wrasse between us and was without a doubt one of our red letter days. This is the second time I have been guided by Paul both times I have felt safe, learned loads and caught fantastic fish. My only concern is he wll get so booked up we won’t get a slot for the next trip, but with gilt head bream and conger trips on the horizon I am sure more fish will Grace our rods. Chris and I cannot thank Paul enough we both have a lifetime of angling under our belts but everyday is a school day with Paul and we learned a ton of info on catching these wonderful fish but also on caring for them during capture and release. I have also learned that sporting tackle is far better for enjoying the expereince.
Thanks again mate A****************
Steve Dawe & Chris Hodgson
A fantastic day out Wrasse Wrestling with Paul, (and my lifelong fishing buddy Steve Dawe). I can honestly say that that if you want to learn a heck of a lot and catch a few fish to boot then Paul is definitely your go to man.
Paul looks after you from the off. He is more enthusiastic about fishing than just about anyone I have ever me and he not only puts you on the fish, he really does what he sets out to do and teaches you how to catch them. Paul feeds you information about the fish, their environment and the best methods for hooking and extracting them.
To be honest, I thought I had set my expectation fairly high. I wanted to catch wrasse on the lure as I had never done any real lure fishing plus I wanted to catch a 3lb wrasse. if you have read Steve’s report above then you will know that our session was a proper red letter day with several 3lb fish and 2 over the 4lb barrier.
The trip also featured in Sea Angler and was rewarded with two “missioned accomplished” badges. All in all a great day with great fishing and big smiles. Definitely mission accomplished by Paul Bassman Gordon.
I had a great day with Paul after wrasse,he accommodated me at short notice for which I am very thankful, he really does guide you through every part of the fishing in the true sense of word, the action was non stop and Paul was constantly on hand. He really is the most knowledgeable guide you could ask for, he knew every inch of the habitat and every little tweak to put more fish on the hook, in addition he is the most energetic, persistent and enthusiastic man I have ever fished with! Great day out and I will be booking again, simon