SEA ANGLING - BACK in September 2007 John Pollard while fishing from his own boat Solemate caught a new Portishead Small Boat Club record sole of 2lb 14ozs.

BACK in September 2007 John Pollard while fishing from his own boat "Solemate" caught a new Portishead Small Boat Club record sole of 2lb 14ozs only for his wife Mary to catch a new Bristol Channel Federation of Sea Anglers record sole of 3lb 12ozs a few days later.

Now she has done it again. Recently, John caught a fine bass of 9lb, which after being photographed was returned alive to the water, then a few days ago while having a trip aboard Dave Kirk's new fast charter catamaran "Enterprise" out of Portishead she hooked and landed a bass of 13lb 2ozs. This fish was also photographed and returned to the water safe and well. The bass has been entered for the BCFSA Bass Conservation Shield, which is awarded for the largest bass caught from the shore or from a boat and returned alive.

While the fishing last year was poor, this year has seen a great improvement. It started with Roger Bowering's cod of 18lb 12ozs, recent returns from Portishead Small Boat Club members have seen a fresh run of cod of up to 7lb, with double figure skate and conger, whiting of over 1lb and not forgetting the bass, besides these two large ones there have been quite a few between 2 and 6lbs.

For details of Portishead Small Boat Club visit their web site www.Portishead Small Boat Club where you will find lots of useful information including local weather forecast supplied by the BBC and also a link to Dave Kirk's new charter boat.