A wide variety of species – including conger to 26lb – were recorded during the Lymington species/specimen open boat competition.

But it was a 1lb 1oz red gurnard bagged by local ace Tony Methyen, pictured right, which was 80 per cent of specimen size and won the top prize, writes CHRIS CLARK.

Other species recorded included dogfish, ballan wrasse, black bream, plaice, pollack, pouting and dabs. The runner-up was Laura Blomfield, a member of the host club, with a 2lb 3oz dogfish (72.98%) followed by Tony Methyen 2lb 2oz dogfish (70-89%), Nick Best 26lb conger (56%), Roland Blomfield 2lb 4oz black bream (64.03%) and Chris Ellis 3lb 1oz ballan wrasse (61.25%).

Freshwater and sea angling reviews in today's Daily Echo