THIS year’s two-day Jurassic Open Boat Match saw a healthy contingent of 38 anglers signing on to compete for top honours.

Darren Herbert claimed the title with a specimen advantage of 122 per cent, which was based on his two best fish over the two days.

Conditions were not great for the West Bay Angling Club event, with a strong westerly wind hampering efforts.

This, combined with strong tides, made for poor fishing.

Species were limited to prime edible fish for the first time, which helped conservation-wise but did mean several anglers had nothing to bring to the scales.

Fish that were weighed in included bass, pollack, bream, mackerel, rays, plaice, cod and bull huss.

Day one result: 1 Darren Herbert (121%), 2 Rod Barr (101%), 3 Cliff Rooney (92%) Most species: Darren Herbert (four)

Day two result: 1 Gerry Sage (114%), 2 Mike Smith (109%), 3 Darren Herbert

Most species: Mike Smith (four)

Overall results

Winner: Darren Herbert (122%), 2 Gerry Sage (114%), 3 Mike Smith (109%)

Most species: Darren Herbert (six)

The winner took home more than £400 over the two days West Bay SAC would like to thank Coastal Nets Ltd, West Bay Angling Centre, Haddon House, Mike Hansell and Groves Nur-series for their support and sponsorship.

Also a big thank you to the Quarter Deck Bar at West Bay for hosting and providing a barbecue.

PORTLAND MARINA OPEN

MORE than 20 anglers signed on to fish the Portland Marina Open in thundery but calm condit- ions.

Twenty-three species of fish were caught, two of which were over specimen size; a 25lb+ cod (caught on river gear) and a fine 13lb undulate ray.

All 16 competitors who weighed in received a prize.

Dave McCune won the greatest number of species category with nine, including bull huss, dogfish, smoothound and cuckoo wrasse for which he received £150 in prize money, which was sponsored by Portland AC.

Derry Meyers was second on greatest number of species with seven, taking home his £100 prize, sponsored by Burden the Butchers.

Stuart Newell claimed £150 and a reel sponsored by Weymouth Angling Centre for the best specimen which was a smashing cod of 25lb 10oz 8drms, which was 142.51 per cent of specimen weight.

Ian Burden took home the £100 prize, sponsored by Portland Marine, for the heaviest fish with his conger eel of 26lb 12oz 8drms.

The heaviest fish (excluding conger) prize of £10, sponsored by Maurice Pickford Maintenance, was won by Tony Chambers for his blonde ray of 18lb 7oz 12drms.

The prize of the top junior, fishing tackle sponsored by Portland AC, was won by Callum Price for his bass.

The competition was enjoyed by all who took part and £150 was raised for the two nominated charities – Portland Coastwatch and the Zoe Project.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

ASHLEY Storton, 39, landed a 6lb 1oz plaice while drift fishing aboard Flamer IV.

He was using 8lb class tackle with a vibro spoon and wishbone trace baited with ragworm, black lugworm and strips of Ammo squid and size 2/0 Sakuma stinger hooks.

The plaice was weighed, photographed and returned alive.

DIARY DATES

Saturday, July 26 – Samalite League match at Chesil Centre, 6-11pm.

Lyme Regis SAC shore match Lyme Regis, 6-11pm Sunday, July 27 – Weymouth AS shore match in Weymouth Harbour, 3.30-9.30pm Lyme Regis SAC boat match, 9am-5pm Thursday, July 31 – West Bay SAC Thursday Night Rover, 7-10.30pm