Angling round-up: Matthew's carp is a spectator sport...

Matthew fished the canal stretch where he tempted the big carp with a pole-fished trout pellet.

For half-an-hour the fish severely tested Matthew's nine metre pole, light elastic and 2lb hooklength, whilst a gallery of spectators assembled on the opposite bank.

Fortunately Matthew kept his cool and eventually the big fish came safely to the net. The carp was part of a twenty five pound plus haul the youngster took during a short evening session.

Fifteen-year-old Kurt Collard also landed a personal best carp of 15lb when he fished the western end of the Gloucester Park lake. The big carp, Kurt's first ever double figure fish, fell to a boilie presented on a semi fixed rig.

The biggest Gloucester Park carp haul of the week fell to Neil Rayner who fished the cockle bank to land over forty carp in a 24 hour session. Neil used homemade boilies to tempt fish to a best of 14lb.

The biggest Gloucester Park pole haul of the week fell to Dave Hemmings who took a 124lb catch from the eastern end of the Island. Dave fished soft sweetcorn and trout pellet to include five different species in his net.

Bream dominated the second match in Tony Cheeseman's Colmic sponsored Northlands Park Evening Series where the top three anglers took over 40lbs of quality fish between them.

The top weight went to Sensas squad member Richard Martin with 19lb 15oz. Richard fished from the slipway using maggot bait to land seven bream and two smaller skimmers.

He took fish throughout the match, landing a good bream on his last cast.

Wickford Angling Centre squad member Peter Steward followed up on his win in his first match of the series by taking second place with 16lb 10oz.

Peter fished the road lake where he used quivertip tactics to take five good bream.

Brentwood Angling Centre man Mark Campion took third place with four bream for 13lb 10oz.

Using a swim feeder and red maggot Mark took all of his fish in the last hour of the match.

Fourth place went to Alan Halsey with 13lb 8oz 8dr. 13lb 8oz of this came from a big carp which picked up his ledgered worm! Alan played the carp for some while, fearful that it might have been a pike which didn't count in the match!

Later in the event he landed a single roach for the other eight drams!

Eleven-year-old Matthew Blackburn took this 15lb pole caught carp at Gloucester Park.

Evening match

The next match in the Northlands Park evening series takes place tomorrow.

Meet at the car park at 5pm for a 5.30pm walk off. Fishing times will be from 6pm till 9pm.

For more information ring Tony Cheeseman on 01277 840137.

The big fish are certainly there to be had as Kevan Burwood netted a superb 23lb, personal best mirror carp when he fished Northlands Park caf lake.

Ramblers score at Hockley

Eastwoodbury Ramblers FC visited Hockley Angling Club's day ticket water for a day out with a difference.

Despite finding the carp engaged in spawning activities for the second time this year, some reasonable weights were produced by the anglers.

Gary Bell weighed in a creditable 38lb 4lb to take first place - rumour has it that it was the first time he has scored this season! Gary's bag included a mirror carp of 13lb 8oz.

Colin Armitage landed 14lb 8oz to take second spot.

Ken Belcher was third with 12lb 7oz.

All those taking part caught fish, even those who had never fished before.

Boomtime at Doggetts

Most anglers have enjoyed perfect conditions at Doggetts this week.

Tench, bream and roach have all been responding to summer baits although luncheon meat is probably best eaten at home rather than at the lake.

Quality groundbait appears to be giving the best results with certain fish being taken for the first time this year - noticeably having gained more weight.

Having enjoyed landing some of the large Doggetts pike earlier this year, Shoebury angler Derek Walden returned with his ten-year-old daughter Leanna.

However, while Derek's catch certainly did not break any records Leanna relished an impressive haul of over 30 roach along with numerous perch.

Pole angler Del Smee fished the east bank to land tench and large bream. Several good sized carp obviously found his delicate presentation appealing although his light tackle was no match for these heavyweights.

Rayleigh angler David Hills was another who favoured pole tactics as he went on to take eight tench to 4.6lb plus two 4lb bream from the Doggetts south bank.

As usual, the back pool fished well for tench with Bob Davis, of Ashingdon, using float fished bread and maggot to land several tench to 3.2lb. A small common of 7lb also fought well on his light tackle.

Having previously landed a 'twenty' from the back pool Lee Dean returned for a short session in the same swim, and promptly landed a very fit 15lb mirror.

New member Geoff Grant, of Westcliff, had a remarkable session on the north bank, landing no less than 13 mirrors to 21lb plus tench.

Southend angler Michael Pottell and Simon Platt, of Wickford, fished a 24 hour session from the Doggetts north bank with great success.

Michael landed mirrors of 13.5lb and 15lb along with a large common of 19lb 3oz while companion Simon banked mirrors of 15lb 4oz and 18lb 4oz.

Regular Alan Turner struggled during his session on the south bank but was finally rewarded with a fine brace of 15lb mirrors from the large reed bed.

Rochford carp angler Lee Jackson could only manage tench from the long arm during a 24 hour session.

Lee was not happy with his bait and found two rather old pop-ups in the bottom of his bag.

He promptly landed two small mirrors to 12lb before heading off to find a new bait supplier!

Carp blitz for Carson

John Carson fished Stambridge fisheries with great success from his session. He landed a carp blitz of 10lb, two of 14lb, 16lb and his best at 16lb 8oz.

His son also got into the fish with carp of 14lb, a brace of 15 pounders, and his best at 18lb.

He also landed a chub of 1lb on a 20mm boilie.

Steve gets joy at Mill Barn lake

There were some excellent catches from the big match at Mill Barn fisheries on Sunday.

The winner, fishing the members lake, was Wickford's Steve Joy with 54lb 1oz.

In second place was local matchman Jim Hodges, of the Brentwood Purple Patch, landing 45lb from the canal lake.

Third spot was taken up by John Towsey from the Ilford Nomads with 33lb 3oz, again fishing the members lake.

In forth place was Ken Farrel fishing for the Browning E17's with 29lb 12oz.

Generally the complex is fishing well at the moment as can be seen from match results.

Sea shorts

A reminder that the next Bait and Tackle Centre evening match will be held at Chalkwell on Monday, June 12.

Fishing times are from 8pm to 11.30pm.

For more details please phone 01702 617764. The golden peg is now worth £82 for that lucky draw.

On Sunday, June 18, the Leigh and Westcliff AC will be holding an open pier match. Fishing times will from 11am to 5pm.

Entry is £5 for adults plus optional pools and is free for juniors.

There will be a pre-draw at the TEAC club on Thursday, June 15.

For more details phone Barry Tilson on 01702 218303.

The NFSA Essex Guernsey qualifier was fished on the pier on Saturday. A poor turnout of only 24 people fished.

Dave Fuller of the SAAS club will now fish the final in Guernsey after his winning weight of 6lb 1/4oz with eight garfish.

Runner-up was John Fallen of the organising committee.

The SAAS club held a pier club match on Sunday. 18 members fished, with Gus Summers the winner with 3lb 8 1/2oz.

In second spot was Rollo Rollings with 3lb 1oz, who beat Russell Clark, with 2lb 11oz, into third place.

Conditions round-up

Variety spices up boat scene

After last week's bad weather the boats have now been able to get out, with good success with several good catches of smoothounds, bass and roker.

There are also several smaller species mixed in. The first tope, to my knowledge, were also caught from Mersea Island

Ther has also been a sting ray of 38lb which fell to Terry Batt's boat the Vicky Emma on Monday.

Southend boats

As mentioned above most boats are now finding good catches of summer fish.

Southend Pier

There are reports of large shoals of very small bass up the pier - even too small for selling.

Let's hope that these fish are left alone by the rod and line anglers to mature for the benefit of all.

If you see anglers landing and keeping numbers of very small bass you should report it to your local fisheries officer.

Otherwise there are good numbers of garfish and some flounders from closer in.

Southend beaches

Still some good flounder catches on crab baits, but not too many eels yet from the night tides.

River Crouch

Dave Godwin has been finding some bass to 3lb in the river on his evening trips.

Further offshore several smoothounds, bass and roker to be caught with the best baits squid and crab.

River Blackwater

Terry Batt, on his boat the Vicky Emma, is reporting lots of smoothounds moving in with his best day of 47 fish to 6lb.

A few bass and roker are also topping up the catches with smaller fish like dabs, flounders and dogfish.

Squid and crab baits are producing the most fish but try rag for the bass and sting rays.

A small private boat was fishing with live whiting for bass and landed one of 13lb 8oz at the weekend, which was confirmed but with no names!

West Mersea

Pretty much the same with smoothounds and roker the main quarry.

Stanford

Flounders, eels, and small bass make up the catches with a club match won with 9lb of fish.

Canvey, Tilbury, Gravesend

Eels and flounders from most marks, with some bass from the drop area of Canvey.

Mullet and flounders from the Holehaven creek area. Mick Cassidy also reports that there are good flounders, eels and small bass from the Lobster Smack wall.

North Kent Coast

Very few big eels over the last week in the river which is probably down to the excessive rain over the last couple of weeks, otherwise some flounders and lots and lots of very small bass.

Thamesmead, Erith

A few flounders and eels to crab and rag baits.

Walton, Frinton

From the pier lots of small pouting, garfish and eels with the odd bass to 4lb.

Some soles to 1lb 8oz on the night tides from the beaches with small eels and pouting.

River Orwell

There are plenty of big eels up to the Ipswich docks, with lots of mullet in the docks.

There are several bass in most marks with the best falling to Peter Compton at 4lb 8oz.

Sea round-up

Contact Bait and Tackle's Ray Power on 01702 617764

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