Angling round-up: Peter perfect in Park match...

Peter fished a peg to the right of tench point to take a 24lb 11oz mixed catch during the three hour event.

Fishing a pole and trout pellet Peter landed several carp, a number of tench and an impressive bag of crucians.

Second place went to Tony Ridley who fished the cockle bank to weigh in 20lb 14oz. Tony used a quivertip and method feeder to take several carp and two tench.

Tony lost a big carp in the dying minutes of the match which would have given him first place had he landed it.

Colmic man Gordon Blank took third place in the match with 18lb 8oz.

Gordon fished the eastern end of the cockle bank where he included bream, carp, and chub in his mixed haul.

Like the runner-up Gordon also fished a quivertip, and lost a big carp.

George Blackburn took fourth place with 14lb 8oz of carp. George was unfortunate not to finish higher on the list, having to return seven quality barbel which do not count in the matches.

Cory Brigue Blanks was fifth with 11lb 11oz, followed by Tony Cheeseman with 10lb 2oz and Mick Watling with 9lb 11oz.

The next Gloucester Park evening match takes place tomorrow. Meet at the western end of the lake from 5pm for a 5.30pm walk off. Fishing time will be 6pm till 9pm.

Match entry, (100 per cent payout), will be £8 with the normal £2 evening fishing ticket payable on the bank.

For more information ring Mick Toomer on 01268 282317.

Tony Ridley was back in action at Gloucester Park on Sunday landing a tremendous near 300lb pound haul from the cockle bank. Once again quivertip was his successful method, producing numerous tench, and carp to a best of 10lb 6oz.

Tom Keeble fished waggler tactics at the eastern end of the Gloucester Park island to take a cracking 90lb plus mixed catch. Some 70lb of Tom's catch consisted of carp and tench, with the remaining 20lb made up of big roach.

Tom's big haul fell to soft trout pellets, as did a 50lb plus catch he took the following day.

The biggest Gloucester Park carp of the week fell to lake regular Wayne Hunter who landed a personal best 22lb common during an early evening session. He fished the big bay using waggler tactics and luncheon meat bait.

Junior anglers have also been taking some superb fish. Fourteen-year-old James Bradfield fished the canal stretch to land a personal best 13lb common carp.

Jamie Meekings, also 14, fished the Gloucester Park cockle bank to share an 80lb plus haul with his father Martin.

Jamie took the pairs' heaviest fish, a new personal best carp of 10lb. Both anglers fished quivertips.

(Right) Peter Steward shows his Gloucester Park three hour match winning catch.

(Left) Tony Ridley weighed in this 20lb 14oz catch to take second place in the Gloucester Park evening match. A few days later he took a near 300lb pleasure catch at the lake.

Roach shine at Shoebury

The past week's weather has put off many anglers at Shoebury Park with only the hardiest of float anglers seeing any real sport.

Absentees missed out as there are plenty of roach in the four to six ounce bracket and these are more than happy to snap up a maggott or two.

These fish, along with numerous small perch, are giving anglers some nice catches into double figures.

Shoebury Park bailiff Terry Richards was the only carper on the lake this weekend and had the pick of the swims.

He chose well to land four tench of around 4lb each plus a cracking mirror of 16.5lb.

It has also been another quiet week at Southend's Priory Park with only a few day ticket anglers visiting along with one or two club members.

However, the lucky few found some great rewards as Lewis Hemmings banked a 25lb common on his boilie hookbait.

Lewis found his personal best fish with a cast towards the island margins.

Another big fish, in the shape of the fully scaled mirror known as "The Pig", fell to club chairman Grant Watkins.

Grant landed the known specimen at 20lb 8oz and added to his bag with a common of 15lb.

To keep it in the family, Grant's son, 17-year-old Dean, landed "The Leather" at 19lb and later in the week took one of the little commons at 6lb.

New members Alex Grey and Nick Beavers were also among the carp with Alex landing a 16lb 8oz common and Nick taking his debut fish - a common of 13lb.

Doggetts delivers

Number-wise, fishing has been poor at Doggetts as the foul weather put off many of the Rochford water's visitors.

However, those who did make the effort took some terrific fish with many of the lake's bigger specimens being brought to bank.

Rayleigh angler Martin Downes landed seven tench to around 4lb and a fine brace of 5lb bream during his east bank session.

The back pool was the choice of junior angler David Marshall who used boilie hook bait to bank a fine 14lb mirror.

Hadleigh Reservoir's sport has been severely hampered by the continuing weed problem but the fish are still there to be had if you can find a clean spot.

Benfleet angler Robin Spurgeon took three mirrors to 14lb and a common of 19lb.

Marshall is the man

Thursday night's three hour maggot-only match at Hockley Angling Club again produced good weights.

This time Peter Marshall took first place with 37lb 4oz. Dave Ealding was second with 23lb 2oz.

Third spot went to Jim Martin with 22lb 2oz. Steve Warner was fourth with 22lb.

Sunday's match held by the Hullbridge Buffalo's Society fished well despite the weather being a little chilly.

John King took the honours with 51lb 9oz. Gary Norton was runner-up with 43lb 7oz. James Adger and Vic Turner were

Joint third with 15lb 8oz each. All those taking part caught fish and weighed in.

Rapid Action Transport held a competition on Hockley Angling Club's top lake which saw Reg Turvey take the spoils with a tremendous 75lb 8oz haul. Adrian Bruce was second with 49lb 8oz. Neil Smith took third with 40lb 6oz.

Island's ray match

Sea anglers looking for a some sport at the weekend should head down to Canvey Island for the Hadleigh Ray Flounder Open.

The event is being held at Lulwater on Sunday, July 23, from 10.30am to 3pm, with fisherman being limited to two hooks.

Book in from the pumping station in Beveland Road from 9am to 9.30am.

The event costs £5 and is pre-book only. Contact Dion on 01268 462539 to secure your peg.

Results and short news

Two forthcoming matches for anglers not to forget. First on Sunday is the Alexander Angling Barling Open, with fishing from 3pm to 7.30pm.

The draw will take place at the shop on Sunday between 10am to 1pm. Please ring Terry on 01702 437066 for the possibility of spaces left.

On Thursday, July 27, the Bait and Tackle Centre evening match is being held between Rossi's and the Esplanade. Fishing will be from 8pm to 11.30pm.The Golden peg is now worth £133.

Conditions round-up: Rag will bring reward in crab drought

As the weather appears to have settled for the moment, the general view is of good fishing.

However, we are in the middle of the crab drought, which is normal for this time of year, but don't worry, rag and squid baits will find the fish as well. Another couple of weeks and things will get better.

Southend Pier

A few more mackerel being reported in the last week, but not too many garfish and only a few flounders.

Southend beaches

School bass and eels at night with a few flounders during the day.

River Crouch

Due to very poor weather the river has been most anglers limit with poor results.

Only a few small bass, eels and flounders caused also by a lack of crab baits. Steve Mathews landed a 6lb bass and a few big flounders from the shore at Wallasea last week.

River Blackwater

From the shore small bass and also a report of a 9lb roker from Bradwell.

From the boats in the river plenty of small bass with one or two better ones in amongst them plus a few eels and flounders.

Around the Gunfleets area there has been a few more roker being landed on squid baits.

The Epping fishing club fished aboard the Vicky Emma last week and found some good smoothound fishing with 36 fish with the best falling to Martin Loxley at 17lb.

West Mersea

Plenty of smoothounds from the outside marks but not much closer inshore.

Stanford

Flounders and small eels are the main fish coming from here at the moment.

Canvey, Tilbury, Gravesend

From the Canvey region there are small bass and eels being caught with the best report of one angler catching nine bass with three sizeable.

Grays sea front is fishing well with soles, eels and flounders. Also reported, Ian Smith with two red guarnard, two soles and nine eels falling to lug baits.

Thamesmead, Erith

A few more eels from this end of the river with a few flounders.

Walton, Frinton

Andy Piggot landed the best-reported fish of the week, a bass of 6lb from the beach at Walton. Otherwise there are a few pouting, soles and small bass and eels. Crab and rag baits the best. Ray Wallace had a 41lb sting from St Osyth

River Orwell

The rivers are producing bass, mullet and eels for most anglers. From the coastal areas very few soles at the moment.

Sea round-up

Contact Bait and Tackle's Ray Power on 01702 617764

By Stuart Hillis

Reporter's e-mail: stuart.hillis@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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