While shore anglers are suffering with restricted access to many beaches because of the foot and mouth scare, boat anglers are not suffering from any restrictions with a number of excellent fish reported for the time of year, especially off the Needles, where rays are certainly having an impact.

Kevin Murdock from New Milton is one of the latest to strike lucky while fishing from his friends small boat "Seaspray" over a mark six miles to the south of the Needles where he heaved a brace of undulate rays over the gunnels weighing 12lb 1oz and 16lb 10z.

Both the hefty specimens took double squid boats presented on a 6/0 pennel rig.

Not to be outdone Graham Carbis from Southampton took a very nice new season bass weighing 7lb 12oz while fishing two miles south of the light, squid was again the successful bait.

Southampton anglers dominated during the second round of the ISAC Pegged Open series held at Avon beach and Friars Cliff where 53 of the 63 competitors returned 126 rockling, 32 pouting and a brace of flounders to the scales totalling 33lb 5.50oz.

Darren Perrett from Southampton won the event with seven fish weighing 1lb 14.50oz, followed by John Braisher from Weymouth with 1lb 10oz and then Derek Thompson from Southampton with 14oz. Mark Carmen from Bordon was fourth, followed by Steve Harder and Lee Barrow, both from Southampton.

John Braisher now heads the overall leader table with eight points ahead of Wayne Perrett with nine points and then Steve Harder with ten points.

The third round of the 12 match series will be held at Eastney on March 24 with fishing from 7pm to midnight. Pre-book details are available from Trevor Sutch on 02392-201696.

With many beaches and rivers closed around the UK, this year's Go Fishing Exhibition at the NEC can expect an above average attendance.

The three-day exhibition starts on Friday, March 23 and has a terrific line-up of top stars giving displays and question and answer sessions. Current world coarse angling champion Jacobo Falsini and fellow Italian international Roberto Trabucco will be joined by match angling legends such as Bob Nudd, Ian Heaps, Tom Pickering and Will Raison at the event .

Other stars attending include carp experts Julian Cundiff, Danny Fairbrass and Brian Skoyles. Game specialist Charles Jardine. There is money to be saved by booking in advance, ticket hotline tel: 0121-767-4202.

Shirley SAC members had an excellent presentation and social evening when several dozen gleaming trophies were awarded. It was also announced that junior member Lee Cullen has been selected as part of the five-strong man England youth team for the World Championships being staged in Porto Santo next month.

Principial prize winners included Aaron Churcher (deep boat champion), Andy Moxon (senior shore champion), Denise Warner (ladies' shore champion), Lee Cullen (junior shore champion), Betty Paterson (ladies' boat champion), Bob Patterson (senior shore and shallow boat champion, Peter Jenner (junior boat and Flounder Cup), Georgina Mundy (junior boat champion).

Fish were conspicuous by their absence during the third round of the Sammy's Super League held at Lee-on-Solent where Ian Golds won the event with just three small pouting and a solitary weighing 11.50oz. Dave Ware was runner-up with 7.25oz followed by Daniel Mogridge 6.25oz, Dave Edwards 6oz and Ernie King 5oz.

John Williams from Southampton now heads the overall leader table with 80 points, ahead of Ian Golds and Dave Ware with 63 and 61 points respectively. The next match in the Open Pegged series will be held at Eastney on April 24, John Williams will have all the details on 02380-398639.

The mini-pegged measure and return open held at Pagham was won by Daniel Mogridge, 17, from Fareham with 26 rockling and four flounders worth 598 points. Trevor Rooney was the runner-up with 31 fish worth 592 points followed by Alan Gilbert 415, Ian Golds 401, Chris Snow 387 and then Dave Ware & Paul Stevens both with 318 points.