GARY WITHERS was in record-breaking form as the season got in to gear, with some cracking fish landed.

Within the past couple of weeks, two Ashlett SFC records have tumbled as well as a Wessex regional record with both boat and shore anglers sampling the record-breaking action.

Pick of the bunch was a superb 14lb 4.50oz bass caught by Withers from the Waterside while fishing from his own boat off Freshwater. The hefty specimen set a new club record and is one of the best bass recorded this season.

Another Ashlett record fell when junior Mitchell Jones tackled the shoreline at Hythe where he beached a 2lb 9.75oz specimen flounder. The youngster used ragworm to tempt his record breaker.

Not to be outdone, Dave Evans, a 36-year-old gas worker from Poole, beached a cracking black bream while targeting rays from Worbarrow Bay. The bream tipped the scales at 4lb 10oz.

The huge specimen, almost a pound heavier than the current Wessex record, took a whole sandeel presented on a size 2/0 hook.

Chris Abbot from Hamble also got among the fish during a session at Lee-on-the-Solent where he beached a 3lb 2oz plaice, along with a couple of other smaller flatties during a daylight session.

All three flatties fell to ragworm presented on a size 2 Aberdeen hook fished at around 50 yards. The bigger fish sets a new personal best for the 27-year-old fitter.

Another Wessex record took a tumble when Barry Foster tackled a wreck to the south of the Nab Tower while fishing from Meridian Express and a huge conger snaffled up his mackerel bait. The specimen thumped the scales down to 86lb.

The action was pretty slow during the final round of the Wessex Spring Series at Branksome Chine where the 40-plus competitors recorded just a sprinkling of whiting, pout, rockling, flounders and bass during the measure & return event.

Neil Saxby was top performer with four fish worth 98 points followed by Brian Dartnell (93), Rob Dartnell (82), Craig Prewer (71), Phil Bowering (68), Denis Holton (65), Dave Mellor (60), Tony Ockwell (54) and Phil Muspratt (52).

The series was won by Ron Dartnell, a 69-year-old returned steel fabricator from Poole who collected £100 for 86 out of a possible 90 points. Chris Clark from Lymington was £90 better off after finishing runner-up with 82 points, followed by Reg Clough from East Woodyates, just one point further adrift. The trio have notched up just over 170 years between them, which goes to show that there is still some life left in the oldies.

Others: 4 Denis Holton 80 points, 5 Phil Bowering 74, 6 Tony Ockwell 73, 7 Baz Edwards 70.5 points.