THE Coombe Martin Sea Angling Club's open competition at Putsborough Beach in the corner of North Devon's Morte Bay had an unexpected result.

Most of the 39 entrants, knowing of the area's reputation for varieties of ray, targeted small-eyeds and blondes principally with sandeel baits.

Kevin Legge initially believed he had hooked a large blonde but within a few minutes of the encounter he realised by the antics of the fish that a sizeable tope had taken the bait presented on a 5/0 Sakuma hook. After several fierce runs Legge who is no stranger to big tope worked it into the surf line where it was secured by Wayne Thomas up to his waist in water.

Weighed on the beach it crashed the scale needle to a superb 45lb 13oz and was then released. It rates in the top five of all shore-caught tope, most of which have been caught in the Baggy Point area.

Keith Owen was runner-up with a conger of 14lb 15oz 5dr; third place went to Nathan Clements for a lesser spotted dogfish of 1lb 12oz and fourth place was claimed by Andrew Joslin for a small-eyed ray of 5lb 4oz.

Camborne Angling Association, still basking in the glory of the huge mackerel taken by junior Jason Rule (WMN 18.05.09), report other good fish. Keeping it in the family Alan Rule had a fine ling of 24lb 1oz boat fishing and the best in the shore category was a thick-lipped mullet of 4lb 11oz by Steve Retallick. The heaviest bass of 5lb 5oz won Simon Evans the club's Sea Angler Bass Trophy.

Among top-rated catches recorded by the Cornish Federation of Sea Anglers is an outstanding shore-caught bass of 15lb 8oz caught by Stuart Trumper of Raleigh SAC and in the same category is a bull huss of 13lb 2oz by Malcolm James of Liskeard & District SAC, who also recorded a specimen pollack of 4lb 6oz.

Best in the boat category was a whiting of 4lb 6oz 4dr by Sam Hooper of Looe SAA. The Federation has been involved in discussions with Finding Sanctuary, a partnership project that aims to develop a Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) around South West England.

CFSA President Paul Taylor has taken a place on the committee and hopes to draw in support for the project from the 30 clubs who have affiliation.

The freshwater angling scene is one of big trout and carp. Chew Valley Lakes' year-old brown trout record has been blasted out of sight by an amazing fish of 15lb 12oz taken during the Officials' Match of the Home International Fly Fishing Championships.

England team manager Craig Barr who was boat fishing off Woodford Bank with an orange blob and because the fish stayed deep and fought so doggedly, he thought he was hooked into a pike.

It was only when the fish was at the gunwale that he realised his good fortune. Brought ashore and officially weighed at Woodford Lodge, it will in time join other memorable fish that were set for display.

Top rod in the Championship was Gareth Dixon of Wales and his limit bag of eight fish helped his team become international champions. The squad's 44 fish weighed 101lb 4oz.

The England team were in the closest of contention with 99lb 15oz and Scotland registered 94lb 6oz for third. Ireland were last on 78lb 3oz. A few days after the championship the Herons Green Bay area yielded another heavy brown of over 12lb for Martin Cottis, who opted to return it.