A SOLITARY plaice was worth a staggering £32 an ounce during the Allan's Marine Open at Southsea.

The event attracted 200 competitors, including a number of top internationals, and Ian Griffiths, a 46-year-old labourer from Tidworth, used ragworm to catch the valuable redspot midway through the five-hour event to notch his first major open victory.

Griffiths collected the £1000 top prize along with £180 in pools for the heaviest fish and another £70 in section pools.

Chris Watkins from Oxford picked up the £500 runner-ups prize with a brace of flounders weighing 2lb 1oz, followed by 67-year-old Irving Matthews from Southampton, who collected £250 for a brace of flounders weighing 1lb 12.75oz.

Matthews, who is a popular figure on the local match scene, has certainly been making his presence felt for many years, used ragworm presented on a size 2 hook to tempt his flatties from the fancied A section.

Of the 200 hopefuls, just 17 returned fish to the scales, which comprised of flounders and the solitary plaice caught by Griffiths.

Others: 4 Martin Booles 1lb 6oz, 5 Dave Oliver 1lb 4.50oz, 6 Ken Franks 1lb 4oz, 7 Danny Sausa 1lb 2oz, 8 Richard Elliot 1lb 1.50oz, 9 Kevin Charlton 1lb 1oz, 10 Dave Cozzins 1lb 0.50oz.

There are some major changes coming into effect as from April 10 which all sea anglers should be aware of, especially in our modern society when it seems that you are likely to set sued for causing even a minor accident.

For many years anglers have been covered by a third party liability insurance for their fishing activities by being a member of a National Federation of Sea Anglers affiliated club.

But that is now coming to an end with the onus been put on the angler to provide his own insurance cover.

Clubs can still join the NFSA and get third party liability cover for their club, but if their members want third party liability cover up to £5million, they will have to join the NFSA either as an individual member, which costs £10, or as a personal member, which costs £15. There is also a family individual membership scheme available costing £12.

For peace of mind, all anglers are strongly recommended to take advantage of this extremely good offer which represents excellent value for money.

Apart from the third party liability, members will also received newsletters etc with some of their money being spent on conservation and education issues.

To receive a pack from the NFSA send a stamped addressed envelope to the Membership Secretary, NFSA Office, Hamlyn House, Level 5, Marble Way, Buckfastleigh, Devon, DQ11 0NS. Tele-phone: (013) 6464 4643.