BASS have been making their presence felt, with Boscombe’s Martin Mansbridge recording the pick of the bunch off Southbourne Beach. His catch tipped the scales to 9-12. Mansbridge, a 37-year-old shop fitter, was fishing in the surf and used a large mackerel bait presented on a 4/0 hook to tempt the specimen. He went on to land seven other smaller fish during the session, including a five-pounder. EXCELLENT EXTANCEMORE than 50 competitors entered the Hamworthy RBL Open Shore Competition around Poole Harbour.

The contest, supported by Wessex Angling Centre, saw flounders and garfish supply most of the action, with John Extance taking the honours, as well as a cheque for £200, thanks to a flounder catch weighing 2-4.

Second-placed Colin Ross collected £100 with 14oz, followed by Andy Carter and Dave Lane (12.25oz), Ian Day (12oz), Glen Short (11.75oz) and Ant Buik (7oz). The junior section honors went to Kane Bartlett with an 11.5oz flattie.

SCOTT VICTORIOUSTHE second round of the Wessex Junior Flounder League attracted 19 young anglers, but the action was far from good with just three of them returning fish to the scales. Scott Woodcock came out on top with 1-1 followed by Adam Dubler (10oz) and Jordan Rudge (8.5oz). Youngsters can still enter the league, which is fished on a Friday evening around the shores of Poole Harbour.

For details contact Wessex Angling Centre on 01202 668244.

EVENING CONTESTTHE Lymington club stages its annual shingle bank open shore competition this evening at Milford, with fishing from 7pm to midnight.

Registration gets under way at the Needles Eye Cafe from 5pm.

TEAMS TAKE SILVERTHE England men and ladies’ shore team put in a tremendous performance during the World Shore Angling Championships in Montenegro where they won no fewer than three medals.

The men’s team, which included Lymington’s Malcolm Stote and Chris Clark, took the silver team medal, while the ladies were also on good form to also collect the silver team medal.

The event attracted 27 national teams from as far afield as Brazil and South Africa.

CHRIS’S LATE WINNERLYMINGTON'S Chris Ellis saved his best smooth hound until last during the four-a-side inter-club Neptune League match along the Milford shingle bank.

Ellis snared the 3-8 hound on his very last cast to claim the night’s heaviest fish, while Jack Sevior (Team Southbourne) banked a 2-9 bass for his own bragging rights.

Team Southbourne’s line-up of Andy K Mills, Rob Smith, Sevior and Bob Cherry ran out winners with 7-7. They were followed by Lymington & District (6-15), Bournemouth & District A (5-0), Christchurch Angling Centre Pros (3-7), Wessex Angling Hawks (3-0), Christchurch & District A (1-7), Bournemouth & District B (1-5), Christchurch & District B (1-4), Team Southbourne (1-8) and Wessex Angling Centre (8.5oz).

The Lymington club now heads the overall leader table in the total weight category with 45-14, followed by Bournemouth and District A (42-7) and Team Southbourne (36-4). In the points category, Lymington head the leader table with 19 penalty points, followed by Bournemouth and District A (21 points) and Christchurch and District A (28 points).

The next match in the series will be on November 9 along the Warren Edge section at Southbourne. Fishing will be from 7.30pm to 10.30pm.