By GRAHAM BARRETT

A SUPERB 8lb brill was the highlight of a Channel Island trip which saw Basildon angler Mick Toomer also boat tope to 60lb, a cod of 17lb, turbot, bream, pollock, bull huss and a host of smaller species.

Toomer had travelled out from Weymouth aboard Clem Carter’s charterboat Wild Frontier to spend five days fishing around the island of Alderney.

The 17lb cod came from a mid-channel deep water reef on the way across. It fell to a sidewinder lure, with sandeel baits producing numerous pollock to double figures from the same mark.

Later in the week mackerel baits drifted across an Alderney sandbank saw Toomer land a turbot, the big brill, and then the estimated 60lb plus tope on consecutive drops.

Amazingly, the tope was brought to the boat on a size 2/0 hook on a 20lb nylon hook length.

Later the same day skipper Carter took the party to a slightly deeper mark where Toomer used boatcasting tactics to add three more tope between 35lb and 45lb.

 

Where are they biting?

KENT l Thamesmead: Eddie Sharp reports bass, flounders and eels.

l Erith, Morrison’s Jetty: Bass to 4lb, flounders, soles and eels.

l Belvedere: A bass of 7lb 4oz was taken at the weekend. Eddie Sharp had two bass to 3.5lb all on small rag. Eels are also being taken.

l Dungeness: All whiting at the moment, mostly pinhead. Of every 10 you catch, one will be of 1.5lb. But no matter how many hooks you put out, you will have one on each!

l Gravesend: Graham, from Dolphin Angling, reports bass to 3.5lb, soles, flounders and eels.

l Greenhithe: Bass and soles.

l Dartford Bridge: At low water, at the deep water mark, bass to 5.5lb on small rag.

l River Crouch: Still the odd roker, plus bass, flounders and eels.

l River Roach: Flounders, eels to 1.75lb and the odd bass, all on rag.

SOUTHEND PIER AND BEACHES l Southend pierhead: Lee, from Southend Angling, reports mullet all on the flood.

l First shelter and the gut: Bass to 3.5lb and flounders, all on rag.

l Southend beaches: Fishing nights to avoid the day-trippers, there is the chance of a flounder and schoolies.

l Chalkwell beach: Still mullett in daylight near the bridge.

l Barge pier: Bass and mullett on the flood.

l Concrete shelter: A few bass.

l Shoebury boom: On the left-hand side, on bread or maddies, there is the chance of mullet to 2lb or more.

NORTH ESSEX COAST l Walton pier: Robert Tuck reports bass, soles and eels. There are still a good number of soles to be had using rag on night tides from the beaches at Holland, Walton, Frinton and the Naze.

l Boats: Wind allowing, roker, smoothhound, bass, soles and tope.