All local anglers and bait collectors should be aware that there are two extremely important meetings being held next week, which could have a dramatic effect on bait supplies throughout the Wessex region.

The meetings are being arranged by English Nature and Solent European Marine Sites' management team, relating to a new proposed code of conduct for bait collection in the area.

The first of the two meetings will be held on November 6 at the Elmore clubhouse, situated at Lee-on-Solent, starting at 7.30pm.

The second meeting will be held the day after at the Lymington clubhouse, starting at the same time. All interested bait collectors and anglers are requested to attend one of these open meetings.

Over the past 12 months representatives from the National Federation of Sea Anglers and other key organisations involved in the management of the coast have been discussing the production of a voluntary code of conduct for bait collection in the Solent area.

It is being developed as part of a project which is writing a management scheme for the internationally important conservation areas in the Solent - known as the Solent European Marine Sites (SEMS).

The aim is to develop a code in consultation with bait collectors and other interested organisations and individuals.

As such, the aim of the meeting will be to gain some feedback and ideas from the angling community on the proposed code.

The meetings will involve a brief introduction to the SEMS and an explanation of the proposed code of conduct from members of the group who are progressing the code.

There will then be an opportunity for you to put forward your views on the code and how you think bait collection can be managed in the future.

The action was pretty good during the seventh round of the four-a-side Neptune league, held along the Milford Shingle bank, where competitors took some good mixed bags comprising of bass, rays, pollack, whiting, dogfish, pout, rockling and smoothhound.

The heaviest fish was a 3lb 7.50oz bass bagged by Wayne Thompson, representing Advance Angling.

The Lymington team, comprising Pete Tybinowski, Malcolm Stote, Brain Dawkins and Steve Moore, came out on top with a combined weight of 27lb 10.75oz during the three-hour fixture.

Wessex Falcons were the runners-up with 24lb 10.50oz, followed by Bournemouth & District 20lb 1.75oz, Boscombe & Southbourne A 17lb 3oz, Advance Angling 17lb 1.25oz, Wessex Hawks 10lb 8.50oz, Lonis A 10lb 6.25oz, Castaway A 10lb 5.25oz, Lonis B 7lb 7.25oz, Christchurch 4lb 7.50oz, Wessex Kestrels 2lb 14.25oz and Boscombe & Southbourne C 2lb 1.25oz.

With just two matches remaining in the series, the standings are as follows: 1st Lymington 18, 2nd Wessex falcons 23, 3rd Boscombe & Southbourne A 27, 4th Bournemouth 43, 5th Lonis A 45, 6th Wessex Kestrels 54, 7th Advance A 58, 8th Boscombe & Southbourne C 59, 9th Castaway A 60, 10th Boscombe & Southbourne B 64, 11th Christchurch 68, 12th Lonis B 74, 13th Wessex Hawks 75, 14th Castaway B 81, 15th Christchurch Shore 86 points.

Weight category: 1st Lymington 81lb 2.75oz, 2nd Boscombe & Southbourne A 73lb 8oz, 3rd Wessex Falcons 65lb 10.25oz, 4th Lonis A 45lb 7.50oz, 5th Bournemouth 35lb 13.50oz, 6th Advance A 28lb 2oz, 7th Castaway A 26lb 4oz, 8th Wessex Kestrels 22lb 14oz, 9th Lonis B 21lb 1oz, 10th Boscombe & Southbourne C 17lb 15oz, 11th Boscombe & Southbourne B 16lb 14.25oz, 12th Wessex Hawks 16lb 2.50oz, 13th Christchurch 13lb 15.50oz, 14th Castaway B 11lb 8oz, 15th Christchurch Shore 3lb 1oz.