Gloucester Park regular Cedric Hammond had a battle on his hands when a superb 21lb 8oz carp picked up his luncheon meat bait.

Cedric had particularly targeted the Gloucester Park carp, choosing the noted swim just past the eastern end of the island.

Fishing a waggler at relatively close range Cedric didn't have long to wait before his first carp was on its way to the net.

A second fish followed soon afterwards, and before 9am Cedric made contact with the impressive common.

Patience was the key as Cedric had to overcome the tricky task of a big fish on very light gear!

The fish tested his 3lb line and size 12 hook for ten minutes before Cedric was able to juggle it into his match-size landing net.

Pole angler Dave Hemmings enjoyed a hectic session from the Basildon water's cockle bank netting 12 carp for a near 100lb-haul.

Dave fished the eastern end of the cockle bank where he used small cubes of luncheon meat to tempt carp into double figures.

Carp angler Ben Rowell fished boilies to take seven Gloucester Park carp to a best of 13lb.

Ben fished the cockle bank presenting his bait close to the island.

The cockle bank also produced the goods for pole angler Steve Wood who landed a near 20lb haul of big roach.

Steve fished halfway along the stretch taking his fish on caster.

His companion, Lee Wood, targeted the Basildon water's elusive carp but did not leave with no reward as he managed a 10lb specimen.

Weight for it - Cedric Hammond landed this 21lb 8oz Gloucester Park carp on just 3lb line

Pro-Am date

Hanningfield Trout Fishery stage their annual celebrity Pro-Am match on March 22.

The contest, which had TV's "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" host Chris Tarrant among its entrants last year, traditionally opens the trout season at the Gifford Lane site.

Pike take centre stage at Hadleigh

Anglers' attentions have been turning towards the pike at Hadleigh as the cold conditions continue to deter the big reservoir carp.

Steve Lowden was the pick of the bunch as he went on to land an impressive predator of 18lb on ledgered roach.

The exposed lake has also been providing some decent sport in the form of jacks along with roach from the tip.

Predators continue to provide the mainstay of the action at Rayleigh's Doggetts fishery with local man Tony Milton landing three jacks to a best of 12lb.

Tony took all of his catch from back pool.

Feeder method has seen bream also being landed with the best reported specimen scaling 4lb.

However, as yet, none of the bigger Doggetts' pike have been brought to bank.

Hook-up in south Essex

South Essex anglers have a choice of matches on Sunday with a pike match at Northlands Park and an Open at Billericay's Lake Meadows.

At the Lake Meadows Open, anglers should meet in the car park from 7.15am for a 7.30am walk off. Fishing time will be 8.30am till 2pm. Blood-worm and joker are both barred.

Entry will cost £7, (100 per cent payout), with the usual day ticket payable on the bank. The event will be a walkoff and will not affect pleasure anglers at the venue.

At the Northlands Park Open anglers should meet at the Northlands Park caf from 7.15am for a 7.30am walk off.

In this match the prizes will be awarded by total weight rather than the biggest individual fish. Fishing time will be 8am till 3pm. Baits will be restricted to sea dead baits and artificial lures.

Anglers may use one or two rods but no competitor can take more than one prize. Entry will cost £5 with the usual day ticket payable on the bank.

For more information on either match ring Mick Toomer on 01268 282317.

Boats put off by bad weather

Most charter boats cancelled their outings over the weekend due to the big tides and weather.

Of the few that did venture out, it appears that the best fishing is at Stanford where good flounder fishing prevails.

Sea Shorts

Bait and Tackle will be running some more of their evening matches with £10 entry (super pool £5).

New for this year will be "The Golden Peg" which will cost £1 each match. The first match will be on February 1. For more details ring 01702 617764.

Twenty one members of the SAAS club fished Stanford on Sunday. It was fished on a conservation measure and return with a minimum size 25mm.

The winner was Rollo Rollings with 13 flounders for 425cm. The runner-up was Julian Wagg with 10 flounders for 304cm.

Dave Fuller came third with eight flounders for 274cm, he also had the largest fish of 39cm tied with Nicola Sanders.

The Kent Flounder league fished on the Swale on Sunday was won by Neville Broad with four flounders for 2lb 15 1/2oz.

Second was Steve Day with three flounders for 2lb 15oz. Southend angler Dereck Jack-son came third with 2lb 14 1/2oz to ensure his overall lead in the league

Local boat skipper Dave Godwin from the end of January, will be moving his boat the Predator to Essex Marina at Wallasea on the River Crouch. Dave can be contacted on 01702 308043 or 01702 315640.

Conditions round-up

Southend Boats

With most charter boats canceling last weekend there is not too much to report.

However, if the weather allows, when the tides drop-off there should be a few more codling moving in to add to the roker.

Southend Pier

From the end still not much to report. Close-in fishing is still producing some flounders.

Southend Beaches

Several flounders are being caught, with many of them around about 1lb. These fish should move off soon to spawn. At night a few more small fish are making themselves known.

River Blackwater

Due to the poor fishing at the moment most boats have not been out. The odd rare trip out has seen a few dabs from the Clacton area and a few codling in the Barrows.

In the river there are several good flounders to be caught.

West Mersea

Only a few codling from further out.

Stanford

Still plenty of flounders to be caught with up to 15 per man. Best baits are maddies, rag and lug.

Canvey, Tilbury, Gravesend

Generally very quiet with a few flounders from the river marks.

North Kent Coast

Best fishing from the river marks for flounders, the best bait here for these are maddies.

Thamesmead, Erith

Only a few flounders with the odd-eel from Thamesmead.

Walton, Frinton

From Walton Pier there are a few codling to 3lb plus a few dabs. Ricky Farren fished on his private boat to capture six cod to 7lb. From the beaches there is almost nothing to catch.

River Orwell

The flounder fishing has improved with up to 12 per man falling to maddies and ragworm.

Sea round-up

Contact Bait and Tackle's Ray Power on 01702 617764

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.