THREE Shirley Sea Angling Club members turned out to be smooth operators when they hauled in a colossal catch of smoothhound weighing in at more than 230 pounds.

The trio anchored their small craft 'Snow Goose' just off Hill Head where a potential new club record smoothhound thumped the scales down to 20lb 8oz.

During the hectic three-hour session Ady Mitchell used peeler crab to tempt what is expected to be a record breaker - the existing record stands at 19lb 8oz.

Not to be outdone Andy King landed the second heaviest hound weighing 17lb while Ken Exell also sampled the action landing a fish weighing exactly 16lb. All fish were returned alive.

Apart from all the hounds a solitary thorneback ray weighing 8lb was also caught during very weedy and difficult conditions.

Tony Baskett was all smiles after the Ventnor Angling and Social Club all-night open shore competition which attracted 115 competitors.

Baskett collected the £300 top prize with a catch weighing 17lb 4oz. To round off a memorable night Baskett also collected the £100 prize for the heaviest fish with a smoothhound which tipped the scales down to 8lb 11.75oz. He also joined forces with Gareth Croft to win the pairs' section.

Gordon Pressey was laughing all the way to the bank after winning the £150 runner-up prize with a catch weighing 17lb1oz. He also picked up another £100 for the night's best specimen, a 1lb 13.75oz dogfish.

In third position was Alan Payne with 16lb 5oz while the junior section was won by Adam Cray with a catch weighing 10lb 1oz, he collected £50 for his efforts. Sarah May carried off the £50 ladies' prize with 6lb 13oz.

The latest midweek Allan's Marine Super League fixture had to be switched to the more sheltered area along Haslar Wall because of adverse weather conditions.

But dogfish, smoothhound and silver eels were still in abundance.

Dave Edwards from Fareham won the event with 12lb 9oz to get the better of Mick Goodger from Southampton by just 6oz. In third was Dave Ware with 8lb14oz followed by Kevin Painter who included the night's heaviest fish, a 5lb 9oz smoothhound in his 6lb 5oz catch.

The next round in the midweek open pegged series will be held along the West Sands section at Selsey with fishing from 8pm to midnight. Details from Allan's Marine on 023 9267 1833.