THE fifth round of the Christchurch Angling Centre catch and release pegged open series at Steamer Point provided some lively action with pout, rockling, whiting and flounders dominating.

Jack Seviour won the event with 309cm and included in his catch was the night’s longest fish, a 28cm whiting.

Others: 2 Robin Thorne (273), 3 Mark Turner (255cm), 4 Pete Chamberlain (253), 5 Simon Voller (236).

SWANAGE WINNERS

CHRIS Holloway, Poole-based chairman of the Wessex Division of the NFSA (Angling Trust), and England international Malcolm Stote from Lymington presented many of the awards when Swanage & District SAC held their annual presentation evening.

Among the principal prizewinners was 15-year-old Scott King who collected the overall junior championship award and also the junior shore and boat championships.

Jean Allison had another great year in winning the senior boat competition while Martin Williams won the shore contest.

The loudest cheer of the night was left for 17-year-old Lee Hall who won a huge wooden spoon presented to the member voted to be the biggest stirrer!

ACTION TONIGHT

ALL eyes will be on the stretch of beach running between Highcliffe and Avon Beach tonight when New Milton SFC stage their annual winter open beach competition over three zones with fishing from 7pm to midnight.

Tickets for the match, which doubles as a Penn point fixture, have been set at £12 plus a two-man team event, zone pools and a pool for the heaviest round and flatfish.

Up to 100 competitors are expected to line the beaches hoping to win a £250 top prize. Species expected include pout, rockling, flounders and the occasional bass.

Registration gets underway from 5pm at the sunken car park. Juniors will have a separate prize table.

Last-minute details can be obtained from Ian Day on 07831 528042.

MANN IN THE MONEY

THE penultimate round of the Loni’s catch and release winter league was held at Avon Beach where Gary Mann collected the sweep for the longest fish, a 33cm flounder. He also took the second longest fish prize with a 27cm rockling.

Result: 1 Simon Voller (249), 2 Bill Saville (131), 3 Gary Mann (126).

HAPPY RETURNS

THE penultimate round of Wessex Angling Centre’s catch and release Spring series at Durley Chine provided some fair returns with flounders, whiting, pout and rockling providing most of the action.

The odd small sole was recorded which is extremely early in the season as they are usually attributed to the summer months.

The sweepstake for the longest round fish in A Section went to Rob Upshall with a 27cm whiting. The flatfish award went to Alan McGuiness with a 26cm sole.

The total length category winner in A Section was Dave Johnson with 223cm. Chris Clark (183) was runner-up and Stephen Rathbone (127) third.

Tony Ward was the overall match winner in B Section with 257cm followed by Dave Chidzoy (154) and Pete Christopher (129). Andy Mitchell won the sweep for the longest flattie with a 29cm flounder while Carl Prince took the round fish section with a 29cm whiting.

CONSERVATION PLEA

THE Wessex Division of the National Federation of Sea Anglers (Angling Trust) are on the lookout for a new conservation officer, those interested should apply to any committee member.

Club secretaries are reminded to submit their junior fish of the month returns as there are many youngsters who are missing out on free tackle vouchers supported by Hansfords of Fareham.

The Division will be staging a private member’s boat competition in conjunction with the Pool Dolphins SAC open bream competition on May 10.

PLAICE SHOW UP

SOME fine early season plaice have put in an appearance at Eastney for both boat and shore anglers alike, which is certainly good news for the 200 competitors entering the Allan’s Marine open shore competition a week tomorrow when there is a £1,000 top prize on offer.

England international John Brown sampled some typical plaice action from the shoreline when he landed a cracker that tipped the scales to 5lb 1oz. Brown, a 39-year-old engineer, used a ragworm/lugworm cocktail presented on a size 1 hook to tempt the huge flattie.

One of the local charter boats also got among the red spots with no fewer that 14 being recorded during a trip with the best fish again weighing just over 5lb.