EXCELLENT blonde rays continue to be taken from marks off both the Nab Tower and The Needles.

Clive Archer was the latest to strike when he heaved a 25lb 4oz specimen over the gunnels of his own small boat, Seahawke.

Anchored over a mark just a few miles south of The Needles, Archer, a 37-year-old fitter from the Waterside, used a whole squid mounted on a size 4/0 pennel rig to tempt the fish, which was weighed and returned alive.

Ralph Jones also got a taste of the ray action when the Totton based Red Deer SAC held a match off the Nab Tower. His specimen tipped the scales down to exactly 18lb.

Pete Stotesbury won the event with a brace of brill, along with a whiting, a small blonde ray and a solitary doggie together worth 56 points to get the better of Gary Johnson, who landed a 4lb spurdog, a 3ln 14oz turbot and a pout and dogfish together worth 45 points.

Ralf Jones was third with his hefty ray, along with a spurdog and three doggies worth 33 points, followed by Phil Reed, with 13 fish worth 29 points, and Nigel McGloglin, who included the day's heaviest fish, a 28lb conger, in his catch worth 27 points.

Nearly 30 clubs were represented during the Wessex Division of the National Federation of Sea Anglers' annual meeting in Southampton. Chris Ward, a joint angling governing body senior coach, gave a very interesting talk on their child protection policy which has been adopted by Sport England. He also explained coaching courses which are available.

Division chairman Geoff Knight thanked members of the committee, which was at full strength, an excellent situation. Knight also asked clubs to make a special effort with their junior sections and submit noteworthy catches to the Wessex secretary.

The division has a monthly junior fish-of-the-month contest which is supported by Hansfords at Fareham.

Eric Gerrey will once again look after the secretarial tasks of the division as well as keeping the finances in order while Norman Jones has again been elected division president.

Dave Oliver will continue with responsibilty for the needs of the division's personal members while Ray Ashby will co-ordinate the handbook. Chris Clark remains publicity officer.

The Peter Merritt Trophy, awarded annually to whoever is deemed to have enhanced the division during the past 12 months, was presented to the Redding family, who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes for many years.