ROCHFORD’s Lewis Clark took the honours at the Gravesend Open on Sunday.

The Rochford matchman finished well clear of the large 104-strong field in the Penn League match.

Clark landed 16 fish for a total of 457cm and also netted the largest round fish prize for his 1lb 2oz whiting.

Female angler Donny Stuart, from Gravesend, was second with 370cm and Ben Bradstock, who travelled up from Honington in Devon, took third place with 262cm.

Clark was not the only south Essex angler to enjoy success on the day as Rochford’s Dave Tanner won the red section with nine fish.

And Crays Hill matchman Charlie Keeling was first in the senior section with two fish.

The best flat fish was a 1lb 7oz sole caught by Karl Martin, from Maidstone.

More than 2,000 fish were caught, 463 of which were sizeable.

Whiting were the most plentiful catches, with 396 being landed, but there were also four codling, five eels, eight rockling, two soles, 34 flounders and 14 pouting landed.

Southend Pier: Whiting, pouting and the occasional bass and mullet have been caught.

Southend beaches: Flounders and pin whiting have been landed from Thorpe Bay to Chalkwell, with the best fish being caught after dark.

Barge Pier: The Shoebury structure, which is popular with anglers, has been closed by the council due to vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

River Roach: The river is a bit hit and miss although anglers are catching flounders, mullet and eels.

River Crouch: Flounders and whiting have been landed, and there is also the chance of a bass or roker.

Greenhithe: Whiting and the odd sole.

Walton Pier: Richard Holgate reports thornback rays, dogfish, whiting, codling and bass when the sea is rough and there is colour in the water.

Frinton: Codling and whiting have been caught from the town beach.

Holland on Sea: Michael Pardow had three bass on Friday night, weighing 3lb, 4lb and 4.5lb. He fished on the bottom with fresh bait at a rod’s length out.

Boats: Skippers of vessels from Wallasea, Bradwell and Mersea are reporting lots of skate, dogfish, whiting and codling being caught.