Another superb smoothhound has been beached along the Hill Head section with the latest fish, which thumped the scales down to 22lb 2oz, being bagged by Kevin Wearn, the manager at South Coast Tackle.

Wearn was fishing near the shanty town section when the smoothhound picked up his peeler crab bait presented on a size 4/0 hook. Because this is a relatively shallow venue, Wearn waded out in chest waders for nearly 50 yards before casting out to maximum range to tempt the specimen.

Eleven-year-old Ben Coleborn from Fareham stole the limelight during the third round of the Hansfords junior league held at Warsash. He beached a 5lb 0.50oz bass after baiting a tiny size four hook with ragworm.

Bass and silver eels provided the action for the 21 youngsters with John Delaney winning the event with 32 fish (462 points), followed by Aaron Hayter (417) and James Durkan with (112).

The next match has been set along the Hamble Common section on August 3. For details on how to enter or join the league contact Claire at Hansfords on 01329 280213.

The West Wight Charter Boats light line Championships attracted 52 competitors, which included several international top rods. The action was pretty brisk with bullhuss, pollack, black bream, ballan wrasse, dogfish, pout and poor cod supplying the action with Colin Searles from Hamble scooping the £500 top prize with 160 points. Jim Whippy (145 points) was the runner-up.

Paul Fincham was certainly smiling all the way to the bank after winning the £400 top prize during the BHC Open and, just for good measure, he won an all-expenses-paid trip to Guernsey for the National Championships.

Included in Fincham's 19lb 8oz winning catch was a 13lb smoothhound, which also took the prize for the best specimen. The runner-up was Miles Downer with 15lb 8oz ahead of Steve Cooke with 13lb 9oz. The top lady was Liz Cunningham with 10lb 4oz, while the junior section was won by Tristan Cade with 3lb 8oz.

Some of the better specimens caught during the event included a 3lb 13.75oz ballan wrasse bagged by Chris Griffiths while the best bass weighing 7lb 2oz was landed by Shaun Graham.