Bob Miness hit the jackpot in Lymington & District SFC’s open boat cod competition, landing a cod of 19lb 8oz on a double squid bait to take the £500 first prize.

Miness, from Bull Hill near Pilley, and a member of the host club, was fishing from his own boat ‘Do Ron Ron’ when he caught the valuable specimen to top the field of more than 140, writes CHRIS CLARK.

The runner-up in the Lonis’ of New Milton backed competition, who collected £250 for his efforts, was Russell Saunders with a cod weighing 17lb 1oz, while Robin Lane – also a member of the host club – came third with 16lb 7oz. Others: 4 Lee Still 12lb 15oz, 5 Brian Dawkins 12lb 8oz, 6 Matt Woodford 11lb 4oz, 7 Jamie Munden 9lb 12oz, 8 John Bags 9lb 8oz. There were several other quality fish caught during the competition with Totton’s Richard Burgoyne recording an 11lb 9oz blonde ray which took the prize for the heaviest fish other than a cod; he also bagged a 9lb 7oz bass while fishing from ‘Darcy May 11’.

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