NEAR perfect weather conditions and recent good catches in the area contributed to the highest turnout in ten years for the Portchester Open.

Some 239 anglers took part, including 17 juniors and four ladies, although fishing on the day proved disappointing, and a lot of anglers caught solitary flounders.

Only 41 weighed in a total of 47 flounders and four bass for a total weight of 65lb 11oz.

The winner and recipient of the £500 first prize was Doug Dixon from the Drayton Angling Club, with one flounder and one bass for a total weight of 3lb 8oz.

Second prize of £250 for two flounders weighing in at 3lb 5oz went to Jeff Mould, and the third prize of £100 was won by Portchester SAC member, Tom Gillespie, with a bass of 2lb 14oz, which also took the pool of £470.

Top lady was Terri Williams with a flounder of 1lb 2oz, and top junior was Wesley Hills.

The best 33 anglers received a prize from the £1200 prize table.

While fishing aboard Colin Johnson's thirty-eight foot Lochin (Shogun), Dave Philpott from Romsey, waited patiently while several blonde rays were taken, from a bank a few miles past the Nab Tower. Then as the tide started to run hard, and fishing with a pound of lead, a strong bite registered.

The single squid bait had tempted a 27 pound blonde ray.

The fish started to take line off of a firmly set clutch, but eventually after a 20 minute struggle, the fish was netted. After the pictures were taken, Philpott returned the fish alive and none the worse for its encounter.

Abbotsbury is the setting for the fifth round of the Chesil Open Pegged League on December 22 with fishing from 6pm to 11pm.

Tickets for the event which are pre-book only have been set at £11 which includes all pools. Whiting, dogfish, poor cod, pout and codling are expected to supply most of the action, which can be pretty good at this time of year, full details from Eddie Painter on 01308-425925.

The Lymington Open Flounder Festival, which is traditionally the curtain-raiser of the new season, will be held on January 6 with fishing three zones from 11am to 4pm. Tickets have been set at £7 plus pools and a two-man team event, for full details call Robin Lane on 01590 676711.