IT proved to be a good trip for Graham Nash as Braintree Sea Angling Club members set off from West Mersea on the charter boat Enterprise for their second evening boat match of the year.
On the way out to the first mark, the skipper picked up some hermit crabs in order that the anglers could target smoothhounds.
The fishing at the first mark was slow on a breezy but warm evening but three smoothhounds were caught along with some small thornback rays and a couple of dogfish.
A move to another mark did not improve the catch rate with only a few more smoothhounds, thornbacks and dogfish caught along with a baby tope and a silver eel.
At the end of the match, Nash, who was fishing from the stern, was the top angler with three dogfish, one smoothhound, one tope and a thornback ray for 62 points.
Second place went to Chris Bull with 42 points from his catch of three dogfish and two smoothhounds, with third place shared between Chris Leonard, Alan Porter and Barrie Senior after all had 34 points.
It is back to dry land for the next match at Aldeburgh on Saturday evening.
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