Some cracking fish have been landed within a stone's throw of Southampton, Stuart Barfoot leading the way after tackling the deep-water section at Magazine Lane, which lies in the shadows of the city's container port.

The 28-year-old member of Marchwood Reelers SAC was catching small pouting and sole on a size 2 hook baited with ragworm, when a huge bass put in an appearance. The hefty predator snapped up a small pouting, which in turn had taken his ragworm bait. After a fierce tussle it was eventually beached, where it tipped the scales down to 10lb 8oz. A super fish for the area.

Not to be outdone, Ashley Moore from Southampton beached a great early-season flounder from Weston shore which weighed in at 2lb 1.50oz. Moore used ragworm to tempt the specimen during a short afternoon session. Hopefully this is a good pointer for the winter months when flounder become the main target of many local anglers.

Slightly further afield, Tony Ward, who is a member of the Lymington club, landed a 5lb 10.5oz thick mullet from Poole quay. Ward tamed the specimen on a 13ft rod with a centre pin reel loaded with 8lb line, with a size 12 carp hook baited with bread flake.

The Rovers midweek pegged measure & return open held at Stokes provided some fair sport, with a number of codling putting in an appearance. Other species recorded included smoothhound, bass, flounders, sole, silver eels and pouting.

The overall length category was won by Mike Delaney with 209 points, followed by Daniel Pope (197) and Southampton's John Williams (167).

Junior member John Delaney won the prize for the longest fish with a 59cm smoothhound.

Twenty-six competitors entered the popular event and nearly all sampled a slice of the action.

The next match in the open midweek pegged series will be held on October 14 along the Clarence sea wall, with fishing from 8-11.30pm. Tickets, which have been set at £5, are strictly pre-book only. Full details from Rovers Tackle on 013 2922 0354.

Dave Edwards from Fareham ran out the winner during an Allan's Marine super league fixture held at Stokes Bay, with a 1lb 13oz catch of pout, sole and whiting. The runner-up was Travis Webling, from Southampton, with 1lb 4oz.

With a £1,000 top prize on offer several hundred anglers look set to descend upon the stretch of breach between Boscombe pier and Southbourne on Sunday for the annual Pro Angling Charity Open Beach festival, which will be organised by members of the Christchurch club.

The huge event will be held in three zones, with fishing from 10am to 4pm. There will also be a special easy access set-aside for the disabled action.

There will be £1,000 in prizes up for grabs along with £100 for the three zone winners and £100 for the winning team.

Pre-book tickets are available from Pro Angling in Christchurch. They have been set at £10, but will rise to £13 if purchased on the day of the match. There will also be pools and a two-man team event.

Booking in on the day will be held at the Cloister just to the east of Boscombe pier from 8am.

Flatties, bass and garfish are expected to supply most of the action, although the odd small-eyed-ray could also put in an appearance.

All proceeds from the event will go to the Victoria School for Physically Handicapped Children.