WEST Bay Sea Angling Club’s Stokes Family Trophy saw a repeat of last year with eight competitors signing on again, coupled with sunny spells but with slightly choppy, fairly clear sea conditions.

The match started kicked off with the first fish of the day falling to Aaron Chambers with a weever.

Unfortunately, during the last junior match, the junior secretary painfully ended a 20-year-long clean record in unhooking several hundred of these venomous fish for the juniors, and received a nasty sting.

Thankfully, Richard "Tiny" Daw always carries a flask of hot water in case of such events and the injury was treated quickly with no ill effects.

Members of the public are warned to be aware of these fish as stings can cause problems if left untreated.

Thankfully, this was to be the only specimen during the match and James Lawrence soon took an early lead with a string of blennies.

This was to be short-lived, however, when Eden Lynham landed a small bass and followed this up with a sizeable mackerel taking him into the lead.

Several fish followed with six out of the eight competitors weighing in flounder, weever, pollack, pout, bass, mackerel and tompot and common blenny (shanny).

Lynham extended his lead with another mackerel and this proved enough to give him a very comfortable win. This was a great improvement on last year’s event in which he was left with only the wooden spoon.

After an early lead, James Lawrence maintained a second placing while new member Charlie Harrison secured a third with two flounders.

During the trophy and prize presentation, the junior secretary thanked the Stokes family for their continued support of the event at which they presented tackle vouchers for the top three winners and thanks were also given to the other sponsors on the day.

RESULTS

1 Eden Lynham 561g (177g sizeable weight), 2 James Lawrence 249g, 3 Charlie Harrison 123g.

Heaviest flat: Sienna Kenway (103g flounder)

Heaviest round: Eden Lynham (177g mackerel)

First fish: Aaron Chambers

Last fish: Charlie Harrison

Heaviest weever: Aaron Chambers (12 g)

Most species: Eden Lynham 4 (bass, mackerel, pout and pollack).

Wooden spoon: Kai Kenway

Sponsors: The Stokes family, Norman Stokes, Watchouse Cafe, Kay Guppy and Richard ‘Tiny’ Daw.