SOME late cod are still showing south of The Needles with Tad Rutherford from Hythe reeling in a beauty.

Rutherford, a local bricklayer, used a double squid bait presented on a pennel rig to capture the hefty cod which sets a new personal best at 30lb 8oz.

Another cod weighing 26lb 3oz has been recorded by Jason White from New Milton while fishing from his own small craft in Christchurch Bay.

The angling community on the Island has always supported charities raising many thousands of pounds over the years, on this occasion Western Wight AC is inviting all the Islands clubs along with any businesses to support the event by either donating a prize or participating

Five-year-old Jay Cotton, a member of the Southampton club, wins the latest Wessex Division of the National Federation of Sea Anglers Junior Fish of the Month Award.

Jay caught a 1lb 10oz flounder at Weston Shore. Runner-up was 11-year-old Aiden Littlefair from the Lymington club with a 2lb 4oz flounder caught from a boat in Lymington River.

The Division's Junior of the Year Award was won by young Brad Smith from Pennington who is a member of the Lymington club with nine points.

The Fish of the Year prize will be collected by William Peckham from New Milton with a 5lb 4oz thick-lipped mullet.

The final round of the Wessex Senior Flounder League at Baiter proved a real financial bonus for local flounder ace Alan Rogerson.

He won outright on the night, landed the day's heaviest fish and then finished at the top of the overall leader table.

Rogerson fended off the 61-strong field during the final match to land a brace of flounder together weighing 4lb 13oz to collect £72. This was boosted by another £61 for the heaviest fish weighing 2lb 7.25oz.

Rogerson collected yet another £290 for winning the league with 12lb 14.25oz to nudge out Cliff Brand 12lb 12.5oz, Tony Wright 10lb 7oz, Brian Fisk 9lb 0.75oz, Nick Bainton 7lb 11.75oz and Baz Edwards with 7lb 11.5oz.

A £200 top prize is on offer during the New Milton Winter Open to be staged between Avon Beach and Highlcifffe on Saturday evening with fishing from 7pm to midnight.

Booking is from the sunken car lying directly behind Avon Beach from 5.30pm. Details from Ian Day on 01202 731255 or Martin Preston on 01202 470953.

Mark Gillman was joint runner-up in the junior section of the Ford Sports Charity Open at Weston Shore with 14oz of fish. He and Thomas Siwagoga were pipped by Dominic Crowley with a 1lb 4oz flattie.