Darren McKell from Lymington topped some cracking fish caught along the Wessex coastline with a 30lb 4oz cod aboard the Lymington-based boat Challenger II, skippered by Mike Cottingham.

The 30-year-old shipwright, who works at the Berthon boat company, used five whole squid presented on a 6/0 pennel.

Another superb fish was an 11lb-plus bass caught from Bournemouth beach by Gordon Potter, a 59-year-old warehouseman from Christchurch.

Potter used a size 2/0 bait-holding hook loaded with king ragworm fished at close range. The cod was weighed and verified at Pro Angling Centre.

Another bass which tipped the scales down to 7lb 14oz was taken from the Milford Shingle Bank by Martin Saunders from Lyndhurst during a short evening session. The 31-year-old fitter used a whole squid presented on a 4/0 hook intended for cod right on the top of the tide.

Action was pretty good during the Isac first pegged open of the year at Weston Shore. Flounders dominated with 63 of the 123 anglers weighing in.

The pegged event, split into six sections, saw Mark Barnett win A section with 3lb 12oz, ahead of Nigel Putage with 2lb 8oz. Chris Equall was top performer in B section with 3lb 14.25oz, ahead of 17-year-old Sam Deathe, who bagged four flatties weighing 3lb 11.24oz - while dad Steve Deathe drew a complete blank! Darren Phillips from Fareham won C section with 3lb 6.75oz to nudge out Welsh international Colin Richards with 1lb 14.25oz. Joe Arch was top performer in D section (4lb 9oz), ahead of John VanCrugen (4lb 8.75oz).

Ben Stockley, who travelled from Weymouth, was overall match winner, pegged in E section, with five flatties weighing 5lb 10oz, followed by Colin Carrie with 3lb 6oz. The final section was won by England international Trevor Rooney (3lb 1.50oz). Brian Dratnell took 2lb 6.75oz.

Next round will be on February 21 (fishing 6pm to 11 at Avon beach and Friars Cliff). There is a £15 price tag, pre-book only. Trevor Sutch has details (023 9220 1696).

Rovers' first midweek open of the year at Stokes Bay saw bass, whiting, pout, rockling and flounders. The prize for the longest fish went to Leigh Durant with a 41cm bass. Dave Edwards had a 36cm bass and Lee Cullen a 35cm flounder.

The total length category was won by Ray Pope (323 points). Graham Roberts had 203 and Lee Cullen 242. Next match in this open pegged catch-and-release series will be at Lee-on-the-Solent on February 5 (fishing 8pm to 11.30 - tickets £5 inclusive of pools, pre-book only). Rovers Tackle have details (01329 220354).

Tony Newbury landed three flatties weighing 5lb 9.25oz and worth £120 in prize money and pools in the Wessex Senior Flounder League final round. He also collected £270 for winning the overall series.

Runner-up on the night was Bob White with exactly 2lb, followed by Ron Dartnell (1lb 15.50oz) and Jeffery Fisk (1lb 12.50oz). Newbury finished the series with 10lb 4oz to nudge out last year's winner Steve Knight who finished 1lb adrift.

Others: 3 Mike Carter 7lb 6.50oz, 4 Brian Fisk 6lb 15.75oz, 5 Phil Bowering 6lb 11.50oz, 6 Baz Edwards 5lb 15.25oz, 7 Tony Wright 5lb 8.50oz, 8 Nick Bainton 5lb 3oz.

The Wessex Spring series begins February 11 (fishing 7.30pm to 10.30, Durley and Branksome Chine, details Wessex Angling Centre 01202 668244).

Weston Shore on Sunday sees Ford Sport & Social SAC, in conjunction with Meon Valley Lions, stage their 29th charity open beach festival, sponsored by the Ford Branch of the Transport and Workers Union - proceeds going to children's charities.

Big cash prizes include £500 for the winner. Tickets for the event, which doubles up as a Penn Point fixture, are £8 for adults and £3 for juniors, along with pools. Booking-in gets under way at the main Weston Car park from 7.30am.

AROUND THE CLUBS

HAMBLE SAC: The Hythe section was the setting for a shore fixture.Tony Spridgeon won with four flounders and a bass (168 points). Runner-up was Rob Shattock with a flounder (37 points). Keith Coleman had 36 points. LYMINGTON & DISTRICT SFC: Flounders, whiting and pouting featured during a shore competition. John Negus won with 5lb 15oz, including a 1lb 12.50oz flounder, the day's heaviest fish. Malcolm Stote had 4lb 15.75oz, ahead of Ryan Hood (3lb 8oz), Dave Baker (1lb1 5oz), Richard Gwyne (1lb 11.50oz) and Colin Saunders (1lb 11oz). Top junior was Stewart Humm (1lb 8.50oz).

ELMORE SAC: Martyn Thorne coasted a roving shore with six flounders (6lb 6oz) but the best fish of the day weighing 2lb 9.50oz fell to Gary Turnbull, second with 3lb 5.50oz. Twenty-five members caught 25 flounders and a 2lb 6oz bass bagged by Mark Jakins. SHIRLEY SAC: A Southampton Water roving shore competition attracted 45 members, 32 weighing in 133 flounders, bass and pouting. Heaviest fish was a 3lb 12oz bass bagged by Mick Woods. Richard Patterson won the event with 13 flounders weighing 13lb 12oz, followed by Debbie Anderson (11lb 3oz), Stuart Patterson (9lb 4oz), Sue Thompson (8lb 8oz) and Peter Jeans (8lb 4oz). The junior section was won by Harry Weston with two flatties (2lb 12.25oz). Liam Dobbing caught a solitary flounder weighing 15.25oz.