VARIETY was the key for Malcolm Stote from Lymington and Chris Clark from Sway during a trip to the Dingle peninsula in Southern Ireland, which was supported by the Irish Tourist Board and Sea Angler Magazine The duo, who were part of a seven-strong Sea Safari party based at Baile an Fheirtearaigh, recorded numerous fish from both beach and rock locations.

During a free day they entered a 140-peg open competition fished along the famous Inch strand where Clark beached a nice bass which was one of just two predators caught during the competition. The following day, Stote showed his hand by beaching a number of golden grey mullet at close range.

Other species caught during the action-packed trip included plaice, doggies, eels, corkwing and ballan wrasse, dabs, turbot, mackerel and pollack.

SUPERB SOLE

A SUPERB specimen sole weighing 2-3 was the highlight during the seventh round of the four-a-side interclub Neptune league held between Warren Edge and Double Dykes.

Tony Ward, representing Boscombe and Southbourne A, landed the huge flattie and his team, which also included Reg Clough, Allan Jones and Jack Seviour, went on to win on the night with 4-3.

Others: Wessex Angling 1-14, 3 Christchurch & District 1-11, 4 Christchurch Knobs 1-4, 5 Bournemouth & District A 1-2, =6 Wessex Hawks & Christchurch Cons 4oz.

  • Boscombe and Southbourne A now head the overall leader table with 31-15 followed by Bournemouth and District A 32-0, Wessex Angling 31-6 and Christchurch Knobs 28-2. Boscombe and Southbourne also head the points table with 17 penalty points followed by Wessex Angling 22, Bournemouth & District 25 and Christchurch Knobs 27 points.

SAVILLE'S SUCCESS

CHRISTCHURCH Angling Centre's second midweek open shore competition, held at Avon Beach and Friars Cliff, provided some great sport with small- eyed rays, pollack, codling, pout and whiting the dominant species.

Bill Saville from New Milton won the event with a brace of rays and a few pouting together weighing 8-6. Included in his catch was the night's heaviest fish, a 3-4 ray.

Others: 2 Paul Dibden 3-0, 3 Phil Troke 2-10, 4 Andrew Carr 1-6.

  • With the two open matches now completed, the crew from Christchurch Angling Centre will be staging a six-match series every Tuesday evening. For full details call 01202 480520.

BEACH FESTIVAL

ALL eyes will be set on Weston Shore on Sunday when the Shirley club hosts the Poingdestre's 21st International Open Beach Festival with fishing from 9.30am to 2.30pm in three zones.

The huge event, which is expected to attract well over 300 competitors, has a £1,000 top prize followed by other cash prizes of £500 and £250 plus many other prizes. There will be cash prizes of £100 and £50 in the ladies category and £75, £50 and £25 prizes for juniors.

Tickets for the event, which doubles as a Penn point fixture, have been set at £8.50 for adults and £4 for juniors. There will also be a £1.50 pool.

Flounders are expected to supply most of the action although some good mullet could show up in calm conditions. However, if the weather takes a turn for the worst, bass and silver eels should figure.

There will be a special easy access' section set aside for disabled anglers. Full details and pre-book facilities are available at Poingdestre's Angling Centre, 1-5 Cannon Street, Shirley.

GOING FOR COD

A £250 top prize is on offer when the Lymington club stage their Cod Open Boat competition on November 4 with competitors allowed to fish from their own private boat or from a charter vessel. Fishing will be from 9am to 3pm.

Tickets for the event, which is supported by Glen Grieve Paving, have been set at £12 plus a £1 pool for the heaviest fish. There is also a two-man team competition.

For details call Brian Ansell on 01590-672628.

CASH PRIZES

THE Drayton AC and Allan's Marine Autumn Beach Festival, which has cash prizes of £500, £300 and £200, will be staged at Southsea on November 4 with fishing from 4pm to 9pm.

Codling, bass, pout and the odd ray are expected to figure during the event which is pegged and limited to just 150 entrants.

The competition is pre-book only and full details can be obtained from Allan's Marine on 023 9267 1833.