DAVE Smith staved off the attentions of 22 competitors to clinch the first West Bay Sea Angling Club one-day Boat Festival of the year.

Smith’s aggregate haul of 144 per cent, which comprised a pout (65 per cent) and a cuckoo wrasse (79 per cent), relegated Dave Cornick and Peter Grinter into second and third place respectively.

Before the boats departed West Bay at 9am to head to their chosen marks, the golden fish was pulled out of the hat, which this time was pout.

The weather was extremely kind and all but two of the entrants caught fish to be weighed-in, although the anglers were only allowed to bring one of each species to the scales.

The species caught on the day included black bream, bass, poor cod, pout, dogfish, pollack, gurnard, wrasse, smoothound, scad and plaice.

None of the fish was wasted as those not required for the pot were given away.

The club would like to thank the George, West Bay for permitting the use of their beer garden for the event.

RESULTS Overall: 1 Dave Smith, 144 per cent (pout 65 per cent and cuckoo wrasse 79 per cent); 2 Dave Cornick 137 per cent (dogfish 76 per cent and cuckoo wrasse 61 per cent); 3 Peter Grinter 136 per cent (pout 72 per cent and dogfish 64 per cent).

Best flatfish: Garth Edwards, plaice 550g 27 per cent.

Best round fish: Dave Smith, cuckoo wrasse 79 per cent.

Most species: Graham Stephenson, six.

Golden fish: Peter Grinter, pout 980g.