The Solent’s northern shoreline has come up trumps during the past few days with some monster stingrays recorded – all of which have been returned alive – along with a smattering a nice bass.
One of the better stingray, which weighed 40lb 2oz, was beached by Matt Fin from Christchurch, a member of both the Christchurch and Lymington clubs. Fin used ragworm to tempt the monster, which sets new shore records for both his clubs.
A superb bass was recorded from the Gypsy Lane section at Lepe by 21-year-old George West, a shop assistant at Hythe on ragworm.
Ainsley Bennett collected the £250 top prize during the Angling Trust Isle of Wight Region Marine open shore competition with a 32lb 11oz catch, while the prize for the best specimen and heaviest fish was won by Pete Turner with a 14lb 3.5oz smoothhound. The junior section was won by Morgan Griffiths. Results: 1 Ainsley Bennett 32lb 11oz, 2 Chris Griffiths 32lb, 3 Paul Fincham 16lb 1oz, 4 Shaun O’Brian 13lb 12.5oz, 5 Pete Turner 13lb 3.5oz, 6 Aiden Aisher 9lb 6oz. The Poole Challenge, a four-man team species boat competition organised by the Poole Charter Skippers Association, was won by the quartet from Scotties Tackle at Newport, Isle of Wight, with 21 differing species. The team comprised Richard Russell, Mark Smith, Cliff Williams and Alan Bravery. Anglers heading afloat in their own small private boats have also been finding quality fish – Oliver Stride from Southbourne taking a number of black bream including a 4lb 2oz beautywhile targeting a mark over Christchurch Ledge. Fishing from his own boat ‘Sea Blue’ Stride used squid presented on a size 1 hook. The specimen sets a new personal best.
Large amounts of floating weed made the conditions difficult during the Lock, Stock & Tackle Friday evening catch & release pegged open held at Gilkicker, where a smattering of dogfish, bass, pout and silver eels were recorded. Tom Anderson won with a brace of dogfish measuring 115cm, and recorded the longest fish at 61cm. Others: 2 Mick Amos 110cm, 3 John Brown 105cm.
The next match in the pegged open series will beat sandy Point on July 12 with fishing from 8pm to midnight, for full details and pre book facilities contact the crew at Lock, Stock & Tackle Tel 02392812478.
Sea angling review in today's Daily Echo
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