SOME quality plaice have been taken by local anglers, the pick of the bunch being a beauty landed by Southampton's Graham Rawlings which tipped the scales down to 3lb 12.5oz.

The 43-year-old mechanic landed the oversize redspot along the St Georges Road section at Southsea during a daylight session. Rawlings used ragworm presented on a size one Aberdeen cast around 80 yards to outfox the flattie, which struck during a flood tide. It sets a new personal best.

Thorneback rays, bass and pouting supplied the action during a mini catch and release open held at Hill Head by ALS Tackle, where England international Steve Deathe from Southampton came out on top with 13 fish worth 333 points.

The runner-up was Sam Deathe with seven fish (152 points), followed by John Brown (148). The night's longest fish was a thorneback ray measuring 62cm, which was beached by Darren Cramer.

The Branksome section at Bournemouth was the setting for the final round of the Wessex Catch and Release Spring Series, where the competitors found some slightly better action than of late.

Dave Cedzoye won the A section with 131 points and included in his catch was a 46cm bass, which won the pools for the longest round fish in his section. The runner-up, with 70 points, was Andy Mills.

Malcolm Parsons was the top performer in B section with 60 points with Chris Clark just one point adrift, although he did include a 33cm flounder in his catch which won the pool for the longest flatfish in his section. Paul Johnson with a solitary bass measuring 39cm won the pools for the longest round fish in the section.

The overall series winner was Chris Clark with 74 out of a possible 75 points. He collected £150 for his efforts. The runner-up in the series with 68 points was Dave Chedzoye and third was Neil Saxby on 76 points.

MEMBERS of the Shirley club staged a very successful presentation evening at the Fords Sport and Social Club, where a vast array of silverware was handed out.

The main winners included Mick Winstanley (shallow boat champion), Joseph Teague ( junior shore champion), Richard Patterson (senior shore champion), Thomas Jenner (junior shallow boat champion), Sue Thompson (ladies' shore champion) and Carol Groves (shallow boat championship trophy).

AN INFLUENTIAL committee of MPs has told the government not to overlook recreational sea anglers, who contribute more than £1 billion to the UK economy.

The report from the House of Commons Environment Select Committee is the latest in a series of reports and ministerial statements highlighting the contribution the country's million sea anglers make to the economy, and urging that they should be fully involved in the management of coastal fisheries.