Hanningfield reservoir enjoyed a successful day when they hosted the second leg of the prestigious 1999 European Fly Fishing Championship at the weekend.

This International Championship over three legs - the first staged in Belgium in April - and the final, third leg, scheduled for October - attracted 60 competitors from the UK and Europe, with Team Hanningfield emerging as the day's winners.

Comprising of Chris Ogborne, Jamie Simpson and Janet Parker, Team Hanningfield benefited from both "local knowledge" and good homework on practice day despite the thundery conditions, with Chris Ogbone also claiming best catch of the day with a 6lb 13oz grown-on rainbow trout. Sea anglers found fishing most encouraging before the tail end of the weekend saw a rapid decline.

Up until a very forgettable Sunday, several larger bass and numerous mackerel, tope, smoothounds, dogfish and roker were caught.

The fishing downriver seems to be better than in a lot of neighbouring areas.

A report of a massive 17lb 8oz bass caught from St Osyth beach has been received at a Clacton shop, this would make it one of the biggest caught in the area and is a promising sign of what may be to come.

16 members of the Royal Terrace Club fished down at Hayling Island on Saturday. Dereck Cross had the biggest smoothound (14lb) and the biggest Sea Bream (1lb 14oz).

The next Bait and Tackle Centre's evening match will be on Saturday night.

Fishing times will be from 21.30pm to 03.00 am and entries must be in at the shop by 6pm that evening.

Anyone fancy fishing at Plymouth on the Vagabond on August 6 and 7? If so Jim Vernon has some spaces for a wrecking and gilling trip. For more information phone him on 07801 979739.

SOUTHEND BOATS

Most boats have been reporting increasing numbers of dogfish with fair numbers of bass, roker, and smoothound falling to crab and ragworm baits. Another superb bass of 12 1/4lb was caught during the week using a red gill tempter.

SOUTHEND BEACHES

The shores continue to fish as normal with flounders and eels at night but nothing special to report.

The pier however is fishing very well, with bass of 9lb 4oz and 7 1/2lb reported last week both on sand eels with several other smaller ones coming out.

Also a surprise catch of a ballan wrasse of 1lb last week. Flounder fishing continues steadily with eels at night along the stem.

At the station reports of mackerel being caught on the flood with feathers which is rare. Catches have been up to an average of nine fish per man.

RIVER CROUCH

A few more 3-4lb bass now being landed from the shore with a few eels. Not much to report from the boats apart from several small tope and smoothounds due to the bad weather on Sunday.

RIVER BLACKWATER

John Rook reports several small tope, smoothounds and rokers.

Aboard the Kingfisher Tom Giddens had a good bass of 9 1/2lb which is the best reported from the Blackwater area with several other fish to 9lb also taken.

The latest matches at Hockley Angling Club all produced excellent weights for those taking part.

HRH Angling Team held a six-hour match which saw Sharon Brown put the men to shame with a superb winning weight of 135lb 12oz.

Sharon's successful tactics were trout pellet, pole fished high in the water.

Second spot went to Dave Ridd with 76lb 6oz. Peter Ainsley took third with 41lb exactly and Richard Mansfield wrapped up the positions with a fourth-placed haul of 34lb 4oz.

In contrast, the first of the Club Thursday evening three-hour maggot only matches saw plenty of fish caught, albeit mostly roach and perch.

The final result became something of a family affair when Essex Angling Centre proprietor Peter Marshall and his son took the top two places.

Peter was holding out for the big carp but still managed first spot with a 16lb 12oz bag of roach and tench.

The next visitors to Hockley were Ensign Motor Policies. They staged their match over six-hours with the winners' spoils going to Steve Stone with 80lb 8oz of fish, most of which were carp.

Richard Dornan was second after taking 61lb 2oz to the scales. Mike Denyer took third with 21lb 8oz.

The Mavericks angling club also enjoyed a closely-fought five-hour match at Hockley.

Andy Baker took the spoils when he weighed in with 37lb 4oz of carp, roach and bream. Andy unfortunately lost many good fish on his light pole tackle.

Mick Ryan claimed second - just 2oz behind - with a 37lb 2oz bag.

Only six ounces behind Mick was Mark Rogers for third spot.

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