SOUTH COAST anglers put in a tremendous performance during the week-long Alderney Festival, with Bill Scott from the Waterside winning the prize for the top UK angler.

Scott, who works for the Environment Agency, was fishing with Andy Rogers from Southampton and caught a 40lb conger, which was the heaviest eel captured during the championships.

He went on to net a 6lb 2.25oz wrasse which took a crab bait fished just tenyards from the shoreline and then proceeded to catch a specimen pout from the breakwater weighing 2lb 0.75oz.

The overall top prize won by Scott is awarded to the angler with the best three specimen fish and this was the first prize that Scott has won during seven outings to the Festival.

Other local anglers to record some memorable fish during the championships included Graham Hazel, also from the Waterside who landed a 3lb 7oz black bream. Matthew Pitter from Southampton recorded a 3lb 6oz black bream and an 8lb 6oz bull huss. Shirley's Steve Harder also got in on the act with a 27lb 8oz conger and a 6lb bass.

l The Hamworthy RBL Poppy Appeal Open attracted 70 adults and seven juniors who raised over £500 for the cause, although the fish was not so productive.

Nick Wyatt won the event with three flounders weighing 3lb 1.25oz ahead of Brian Fisk 2lb 15.75oz, Martin Cobb 2lb 9.50oz, Steve Leitch 2lb 7.50oz, Tony Burgess 1lb 14.75oz, Barry Fradgley 1lb 12.50oz, Steve Lockby 1lb 12.25oz, Phil Muspratt 1lb 3.75oz and Tony Perkins 1lb 3.75oz.

Top junior was eight-year-old Joe Poole with an 11.50oz flounder, followed by six-year-old Ben Cobb, with a 10oz flattie.

l A few decent cod are starting to show along local beaches with Ian Thompson, a 36-year-old heating engineer catching a ten pounder just 150 yards from the shoreline at Hengistbury Head.

The hefty fish took a small ragworm presented on size one hooks during an evening flooding tide.

l A Solent Challenge fixture was held at Calshot where bass, flounders and even some out of season guilthead bream were recorded.

Paul Curtis, representing the Bridge Tavern, came out on top with a solitary bass weighing 1lb 10oz followed by John Bedford from Calshot Activity Centre with a brace of flattie for 1lb 9.50oz.

Rod Brinsdon from Esso was third with 12oz followed by Simon Turner from the Bridge Tavern with 10oz.

The Bridge Tavern came out on top with 45 points followed by Calshot 23 and then Esso 22. After four matches the Bridge Tavern head the overall leader table with 162 points ahead of Esso 139, Calshot 98 and the Army Angling AS 37 points.