HOPES of bumper catches were high when the motor boat company at Dover finished repairs to the boat used to ferry anglers to the Southern Breakwater.

Strict Department of Trade and Industry regulations had delayed the overhaul of the hull and safety equipment with the boat out of action since Easter.

With the lack of angling action for so long expectations were high that the local bass population would be lined up alongside the breakwater wall waiting for the first group of anglers to get there and lower a bait.

That opportunity fell to competitors in the annual Dover Sea Angling Association Wednesday open with a flooding tide and south west wind adding to the excitement.

However, despite some early smoothhounds including a best of 1.650kg for Leigh Chapman of Herne Bay, the competitors saw only undersized bass and overall catches dwindle on the high tide.

The match was eventually won by Alan Underdown of Whitstable with a smoothhound and nine dogfish for 5.100kg , Alan was fishing peg one in the knuckle.

I was runner up from peg 21 with 4.900kg including dogfish, pout and eel and Mick Chapman of Herne Bay was third with 4.05kg including dogfish and dab. The good news was the capture of two codling from the venue with one to a day angler and the other to Mick Tapsell fishing peg 35.

Hopefully in the coming weeks that - given fine weather – the breakwater will run back into form.

Around the region's shore marks catches have been similarly unspectacular although we should remember it is still August, a notoriously poor month for sea anglers.

Many theorise that this is because most of the fish stocks have passed us by on their migration into the North Sea.

The good news is that the fish are set to return through the Straits of Dover in the coming weeks and a bumper catches are predicted.

Most anglers in the region anglers will be pinning their hopes on the cod returning after last year's excellent winter season though it's my opinion that the bigger fish won't show until November. In the meantime the number of smaller codling in the region should improve.

At the club evening competitions dogfish and the odd better size pouting remain the highlight.

Fountain Inn Sea Anglers fished their latest rover between Seabrook and Folkestone and the match produced a second win on the trot for Folkestone angler, Barry Dilnutt.

Barry fished the beach alongside the Mermaid rocks and won with 2.490kg of dogfish, pout and eels.

I was second fishing at Sandgate with 1.170kg including dogfish and whiting and John Wells of Saltwood was third with 1.070kg.

At Folkestone Pier the Folkestone Sea Anglers found a mix of dogfish, pout and increasing numbers of just sizeable whiting and Robert Harwood-Brown won with 3.031kg ahead of Ray Coyne with 1.540kg and Steve Carey with 1.433kg.

Other local club event results include the Martin Walter SAC beach and pairs match which was won by Gary Jago with 3lb 13oz of dogfish and whiting from Sandgate beach.

Rowan Lee of Folkestone was second with 1lb 12oz which included a sole of 1lb 4oz.

He was fishing at short range on Folkestone Rotunda beach. Third was local Barry Uden with 1lb 5oz.

The pairs event went to father and son Rowan and Melvin Lee

Folkestone Pier produced several smoothhounds last midweek with the best of a catch of four reported to weigh in at 10lb.

The smoothhounds are starting to move south with the size of the fish expected to fall in the coming weeks.

Around the region the best smoothhounds are still coming from Deal and Kingsdown with locals Brian Smith and Andy Manning finding several quality hounds in the recent Deal 1919 Angling Club match.

Fishing at Boundary Road, Kingsdown Brian beached the best of 3.240k and Andy had a fish of 1.770k.

Events coming up include the next Folkestone SAA beach competition, Monday, September 6, meet at Harbour Tackle for 6.15pm.

The Dover Sea Angling Association Junior All Night is on the Prince of Wales Pier on Saturday (August 28) 10pm-6am. Phone 01304 204722

The first open beach competition of the Autumn season takes place on September 26 at West Parade, Hythe with a Kent Open series event being fished from 11am until 4pm.

Tickets are limited – available from Lee Heaver (07903 391 565).

If you have caught a big fish, won a match fresh water or sea, why not let us know about it. Contact Alan Yates on 01303 250017, 07790 132 656 or email alankyates@aol.com