In a week of exciting carp action at Crediton's Creedy Manor the first 30lb common of the year headed a long list of heavyweight fish brought to the bank-side.

Officially weighed at 30lb 4oz it fell to a Plymouth angler, Gary Beasley, who was fishing a swim up from the boat-house on the left-hand bank with the leger into the deeper water.

The big specimen took on mid-morning and gave a full account before the net settled the issue.

The next best in a list of 13 weighing better than 20lb was a fine mirror of 26lb 5oz in an 11-fish bag made by Exeter's Roger Bowskill.

All but the mirror were commons, the best of these weighing 22lb and 20lb 5oz and the total bag weight was a great 173lb. Daniel Price established a personal best catch with a common of 26lb 14oz and his fishing partner James Phillips also of Exminster had a personal best 24lb 2oz common along two other mid doubles.

Local rod Mike Izzard has now banked his tenth 20-pounder of the season a common of 22lb 10oz. The venue's top lake is also providing a level of good fishing and has yielded commons in mid-double class.

For the first time in Chew Valley lake's 100-year–plus history of competitions, huge cash prizes are being offered.

The first event is a contest for teams of four anglers with a cash prize value of £5,000 that will be fished in two heats with teams qualifying for a Grand Final to be fished at the end of June.

Bob Handford who manages the Bristol Water venues will be announcing the final details within the next week or so.

The Bellbrook Valley heat of the Fly Fishing Charity Challenge fully lived up to the expectation of heavy aggregates.

David Tunstall and Bob Hodges of Wells were the winners of the Best Bag category with a ten-fish net of 29lb 2oz. Karl Baker of Exeter and Wellington's Rob Kingston came through to claim second place with nine rainbows for 24lb 8oz, a mere 5oz in front of Liverton's Paul Wicks and Darren Penfold.

Ernie Dicks of Peasedown headed the Best Individual category with five fish worth exactly 16lb and the heaviest fish by Graham Morris of Radstock took the pointer to 6lb 15oz. Alan Jukes of Taunton brought the most sponsorship of £247, this followed by £220 raised by Ottery St Mary's John Atkins. The first four teams now go through to the semi-final later in the year.

New teams are being sought to add to the 18 that have already signed up for this year's Plymouth & District Shore League, that begins its ten-heat run on Saturday, May 29.

It has been decided that the entire coastline of Devon and Cornwall can be fished in what has become the region's principle shore fishing contest, renowned for the number of very high-scoring specimens across a wide range of species that reach the scales.

This is a competition that does not offer cash or other prizes, and is devoted entirely to the dedication of specimen hunters for no more than a medal and a plaque.

Members of the World Fishing On-line Community in the South West are assisting in the organising of a competition in support of the Marie Curie Charity Plan. It will be a 24-hour rover from 3pm, Saturday, May 29 to the same time on the Sunday throughout the coastline of Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. Contact Matt Newcombe (mjnewcombe@hotmail.co.uk) for further details.