Marks south of The Needles have once again come up trumps by producing some quality fish.

Richard Reno from Christchurch heaved in a 9lb 12oz specimen bass, while fishing from Mudeford-based boat "Blackjack" skippered by Steve George.

During an action-packed session Reno used squid to tempt the bass which was quickly followed by an ice pollack which tipped the scales down to 11lb. A number of dogfish and pouting were also recorded during the same trip.

Neil Turner from Totton also sampled the action off The Needles when he went afloat in his own small craft to a mark just three miles off the light. In a hectic two-hour period he heaved a 35lb conger over the gunnels, followed by an 8lb pollack and then a late season cod, which tipped the scales down to 16lb 3oz. Squid was once again the telling bait.

l A number of Wessex-based anglers have been targeting some hefty ballan wrasse which have been showing around the rugged shoreline of Portland during the past few weeks where a local rod landed a fish which nudged the scales down to 7lb.

John Moseley also sampled the action, landing a number of fish which were all returned alive, including a brightly coloured specimen which nudged the scales down to 4lb 15oz.

l The first Rovers midweek pegged catch and release open of the year staged at Stokes Bay produced a good variety of species including pouts, whiting, rockling, dabs, rays, smoothhound, bass and flounders.

Mike Delaney from Fareham was in fine form, winning both the longest fish section with a 36cm smoothhound and the total point section with 247 points.

The next round will be held on February 24 at Lee-on-Solent with fishing from 8pm to 11.30pm. Details from Rovers Tackle on 01329 220354.

l Peter Harvey, a 72-year-old retired woodwork machinist, has just recorded a superb brace of specimen flounders while boat-fishing in Poole Harbour. They weighed 4lb 6.75oz and 3lb 8.75oz.

Harvey, who is a member of Poole Dolphins SC, used float fished ragworm along with a light spinning rod and a centre pin reel to tempt the specimen, which were weighed and recorded at Wessex Angling Centre.

AROUND THE CLUBS

HAMBLE SAC. A large boat competition held to the south of The Needles produced whiting up to 3lb 8oz along with spotted rays, dogfish and pouting. Tony Spridgeon had the narrowest of victories after landing 27 fish worth 77 points to fend off Rob Shattock, who landed 23 fish by just one point.

In third position was Ken Froud from Christchurch with 49 points. Included in his catch was a 3lb 8oz-specimen whiting. Doug Rowe came fourth with 41 points, followed by Eddie Fleat and Des Rowe with 28 and 14 points respectively.

FORD SPORTS SAC. A senior boat competition held out from Keyhaven saw 14 members go afloat with Eddie Alsford running out the eventual winner with 35lb 8oz. The runner-up was Mike Hawkes with 24lb, followed by Neil Veck 21lb 11oz and Ken Tapper 18lb 2oz. The day's heaviest fish was a 6lb thorneback ray bagged by Neil Veck.

LYMINGTON & DISTRICT SFC. A shallow boat competition saw 13 members go afloat and they returned a mixed catch comprising whiting, pout, flounders and dogfish. The day's heaviest fish was a 2lb 2.5oz flounder bagged by Vanessa Lancaster. Phil Morgan won the event with nine fish weighing 9lb 13.5oz to nudge out Bob Miness 8lb 10.5oz, Barry Littlefair 8lb 10oz, Derek Smith 8lb 3.5oz, Aiden Littlefair 6lb 10.5oz and Pam Ansell with 6lb 2oz.

SOUTHAMPTON SAC. A roving shore competition attracted 25 members with 20 recording a variety of species.

The pool for the heaviest fish was won by junior member Luke Phillip with a 1lb 6.5oz dogfish. Bill Baynes won the event with 15 fish worth 301 points to nudge out Andy Baynes 221, Steve Watson 201 and Norman Shergold with 174 points. The top junior was Luke Phillips with 59 points followed by Zak Brightman and Jay Ladher with 38 and 35 respectively.

ASHLETT SAC. A shore competition held at Lepe attracted 28 members, although the expected flounders did something of a disappearing act with Chris Wheeler winning the event with a brace of flatties weighing 2lb 10oz.

He was followed by Tony Carr and Ernie Cuthbertson. The top junior was R King with a solitary flounder weighing 1lb 3oz.

The latest dinghy contest saw four boats go afloat, although again the action was far from good with four of the competitors returning just one fish each to the scales.

Steve Davies came out on top with a flounder of 1lb 6oz while Roger Williams was just half an ounce adrift.