Local anglers have certainly been finding some cracking fish during freelance sessions with Paul Dibden from Minstead striking lucky during a trip to Chesil beach where he landed a 3lb plus plaice along with a number of smaller flatties.

The 28-year-old cleaner used ragworm tipped off with a slither of squid presented on a size 1 Aberdeen hook to tempt the flatties during a hectic session.

Closer to home Barry Rawles from Totton apprehended a fine bass during a sortie to the deep-water section of Lepe.

The 25-year-old fitter used peeler crab to tempt the specimen which tipped the scales down to 9lb 10.50oz.

Eight-year-old Ben Rampton carried off the £150 top prize during the Gosport junior open beach competition held at Stokes Bay, which attracted 56 youngsters.

Fish were conspicuous by their absence but young Rampton still managed to land a 2lb 4oz bass to get the better of Jonathan Delaney from Fareham who landed a brace of ballan wrasse and a pouting together weighing 1lb 15oz.

In third position was David Winstanely with a 1lb 0.25oz wrasse.

The action was very slow with just eight of the 56 strong field returning a smattering of bass, flounders, plaice, wrasse, pout and rockling to the scales.

The first round of the Chesil open league held at Cogden proved to be disappointing although Joe Arch, who had drawn in B section, won the event with 9lb 6oz which included a 7lb 15oz cod.

The runner-up in B section was Tony O'Grady from Fareham with 8lb 14oz followed by Ian Golds with 8lb 4.50oz.

The top performer in A section was Hugh Rathbone who included a 2lb specimen sole in his 6lb 7.25oz catch ahead of Daniel Mogridge from Fareham with 3lb 12.75oz and then Malcolm Stote from Lymington with 3lb.

The next round in this pegged open series which doubles up as a Penn point fixture and a UK Masters qualifier will be held on October 26 at Abbotsbury with fish from 6pm to 11pm. Full details and pre book contact Eddie Painter Tel 01308-425925.

The action was spasmodic during the Rovers midweek pegged measure and return match held at Eastney.

Tony O'Grady from Fareham won the event with half a dozen silver eel worth 262 points.

The runner-up was Malcolm Stote from Lymington with

257 followed by Daniel Mogridge 132 and Andy Parkhill 75 points; he also won the pool for the longest fish with a 27cm flounder.

The next match in the mini midweek pegged series will be on Thursday evening at Lee-on-Solent with fishing from 8pm to 11.30pm. Tickets, costing just £5, are strictly pre book only and are available from Rover's Tackle Tel 01329-220354.

The second round of the Wessex senior flounder league held at Hamworthy and Rockley saw 65 members in action with 22 returning 27 flounders to the scales.

The heaviest flattie, weighing 1lb 15.50oz, was caught by Chris Albiston who collected £65 for his efforts.

Tony Newbury won the event with a trio of flatties weighing 4lb 4.25oz to collect the £78 top prize, followed by Daniel Rushden 2lb, Chris Albiston 1lb 15.50oz, Brian Fisk 1lb 15oz, Simon Barber 1lb 13.50oz, Steve Knight 1lb 15.50oz and Paul; Johnson 1lb 11.75oz.

The Poingdestre's 16th International Open Beach Festival to be organised by the Shirley club on October 27 looks set to be one of the riches competitions to be staged along the south coast, with over £3,000 in cash and prizes on offer - a whopping great £1,000 top prize backed up by £500 for the runner-up and £250 for the third placed angler.

The huge event will be staged in three zones between Weston Shore and Hamble along Southampton Water with fishing from 11am to 4pm.

Apart from the big cash prizes in the senior section there will also be £1,000 worth of prize on offer plus two ladies prizes of £100 & £50 and three junior prizes of £75, £50 & £25.

Adult tickets for the event have been set at £8.50 plus pools, junior tickets will cost just £4.

All competitors who pre book their ticket in person at Poingdestre's Angling Centre will be put into a free draw with an ABU Mag Elite Reel worth over £100 on offer. Booking in on the day gets underway at the main Weston car park from 9am, for full details Tel 023-8077-2958.