Some cracking cod continue to provide angling action from marks just a couple of miles to the south of The Needles.

It was there that 20-year-old George Murrell found some top sport when he went afloat on the Keyhaven-based boat "Becky M".

Murrell, who comes from Romsey, bagged his first ever cod which tipped the scales down to 25lb on a single squid bait presented on a size 2/0 hook.

Another hefty cod which weighed in at 23lb 4oz has been apprehended by Ben Cooke from the Waterside while fishing from his own small craft "Sandtide".

The 29-year-old plant operator again used squid to tempt the specimen while fishing just off the West Lepe buoy during an evening sortie.

Darren McKell was all smiles when he collected the £500 top prize during the Bournemouth & District SAA pegged Open held around the shore of Poole Harbour.

The Hythe fisherman, who is a boat builder at Lymington, used ragworm to tempt four flounders during the event, weighing in at a healthy 6lb 5oz.

McKell nudged out John Lintern who won the Ford Open only a couple of weeks ago. He also had four flatties weighing 6lb 2oz.

In third position was Roy Lockyer with 3lb 12.75oz while Andy Parkhill from Fareham collected a pocketful of pools for the heaviest fish with a superb specimen flounder weighing 3lb 2oz.

The pegged event, sponsored by Advanced Angling, attracted 86 competitors with most of the action coming from the Hamworthy section. The Baiter section proved to be a real struggle with just a couple of fish landed.

Brian Strong, a local plumber, won the section with a solitary flattie weighing 1lb 5oz ahead of Mike Carter who is one of the area's top flounder anglers with 1lb 3oz.

Variety was the key during the first round of the Sammy's Super League held at Eastney where competitors found plenty of pout, whiting, rockling, pollack and dabs.

Dave Ware from Fareham had a clear win with 21 fish worth 40 points to get the better of J Thompson 35, M Barnett 21, D Mogridge 20 and Dave Edwards 19.

The next round of this catch and return series will be held at Stokes Bay on February 18 with fishing from 8pm to midnight.

Tickets are strictly pre-book only. Full details from John Williams on 023 8039 8639.

The weather duly obliged during the first round of the aptly named Gael Force League fished along the Portland section of Chesil where strong winds greeted the hardy competitors who ventured out in the miserable conditions.

Andy Mills from Poole mastered the conditions better than most to beach a 3lb 15oz blonde ray which was the heaviest fish along with a couple of pouting together weighing 4lb 11oz to win A section, followed by Rob Marshall 4lb 8oz and Dave Lane 2lb 12oz.

Trevor Spencer from Fareham won the B section with a mixed catch comprising dogfish, pout and poor cod weighing 5lb 11oz to edge out Geoff Gay 2lb 11oz and Paul Curtis 2lb 8oz.

The next round will be held on Friday evening with fishing again along the Portland section of Chesil.

Check ticket availability by calling Pete Hegg on 01305 822833.

The penultimate round of the Wessex Senior Flounder League held at Baiter provided some excellent action for Steve Knights.

He went on a walk-about and won the event with a trio of flatties caught on a single cast weighing 1lb 9oz, 2lb 10.50oz and a beauty of 2lb 15.50oz.

Pete Large was the runner-up during the event which attracted 58 members with 2lb 13.5oz ahead of Mike Rixon 1lb 10.50oz and Tony Ockwell 1lb 10.25oz.

The final match in the series will be held tomorrow evening at Baiter when the Golden Peg could be worth several hundred pounds to the lucky winner along with the pools on the night.

The European Federation of Sea Anglers Founder Shore Championship was held at Poole where Jack Seviour came out on top with a brace of flatties weighing 2lb 10oz.

The catch put him ahead of Paul Curtis who had a solitary specimen flounder weighing 2lb 9oz and Brain Dartnell with 1lb 10.50oz.

The boat section was won by Richard Russell from the Isle of Wight with 5lb 10oz.

There are three open shore fixtures being held over the next couple of weeks which could well be of interest to local anglers.

Rovers are staging their second mini midweek pegged, measure and return fixture on February 13 at Lee-on-Solent with fishing from 8pm to 11.30pm. All fish over 18cm will count during the event, which has a £5 price tag - inclusive of all pools. Half the prizes will be awarded to the three longest fish.

Tickets are strictly pre-book only - details from Rovers Tackle on 01329 220354.

On February 16 Blackdown SAC stage one of their popular opens at Blue Anchor Bay with fishing from 4.30pm to 8.30pm. Tickets will cost £5 plus a £1 pool. Details from Andy Fudge on 01823 665320. The following Sunday the Aqua Club Open will be staged at Pevensey Bay. The event will be limited to 165 pegs - details from the Anglers Den on 01323 460441.