Nathan is king of Castle

A Yarmouth angler has winched out a record-busting carp from the Burgh Castle fishery.

Nathan Payne, who works at the popular Regent Road fishing tackle shop, tempted the 36lb Common in pristine condition on a boilie fished on the bed of the lake.

Nathan, 30, recalled: 'This was a spectacular fish in superb condition and I also had a 27 pounder and three others in the high teens during the session. I was fishing boilies on a size six hook to 14lb breaking strain line and it was the best day I've ever known. The big one came in after a 10 minute struggle while the smaller of the two after 20 minutes.'

Formally known as Greens pits, the fishery is now occupied by Darren Squires who has developed the lakes into waters that cater for the big carp enthusiasts as well as match anglers.

'Darren Squires has done a great job on this water and there is something for everyone,' said the new record holder emphasing the presence of numbers of quality tench as well as shoals of bream and roach.

The Taswood Lakes continue to be fired up by the prospects for quality carp and once again this fishery has not failed its patrons. Heaviest of the week was a 34lbs 6oz common for Caister regular Jason Stamp while Kevin Wyatt of Norwich had a fish of 32lb 13oz and Chris Browne of Horsford had another of 31lb 2oz to complete a wonderful trio of specimens. Other Taswood fish in the twenties fell to Tom and Oliver Hutt, Costessey, Matt Connor of Dereham, Heidi Long of Oulton Broad, Kevin Smith of Brundall and the Stamp brother Darren.

At Swangey Lakes the fish of the week was a 33lb 3oz mirror for Suffolk visitor Paul Nicholson reflecting the quality of other catches to the high twenties recorded by Norwich permit holders Craig Howe, Mark Smythe, Chris Moore along with Craig Matthews of Poringland and Attleborough's Andrew Day and Luke Mitchell.

Ian Cooke of Watton posted the top fish at the Lyng Kingfisher club, a 30lb 9oz common carp while mirrors in the twenties fell to Stu Davidson of Buxton and Chris Birdman of Caister.

Andrew Green of Mattishall netted a personal best common carp of 27lb 2oz at Wood Rising which also featured superb roach catches.

While river match anglers were gearing up for the new coarse season on rivers that opened an instant after midnight today many others were competing in the commercial waters where aggregates soared well into three figures.

The first Ray Bircham memorial fund-raiser staged a Barford raised a princely sum of �450 for Cancer Research to commemorate the passing of this well-known angler last year.

The winner was Mike Whittaker (Daiwa Angling Direct) with a catch of 89lb 4oz from the Barford match lake, just 15 carp tempted on pellet fished up in the water at peg number three, followed by Chris Knights Junior (Harleston) with 82lb 8oz and Paul Gardiner (Oddfellows) with 73lbs 14oz.

The Suffolk League for teams of five second round staged on the Suffolk Water Park ended with Lathams/Fox Match leaping up the table to join Anglers World as pace-setters on five league points. Without a man in the top three Lathams were first home on the day with 20 penalty points then SENSAS/Big hits on 22 and Preston Innovations 24.

The Head Fen Spring League's penultimate round saw Blue Boys edging ahead by one league point thanks to Alan Archers 111lb with Lewis Anglers World laying second. An exciting pairs tournament at Cobble Acre ended with a runaway triumph for Nathan and Adam Highley with a joint haul of 191lb 14oz.

Thursday's open at Barford was won by North Walsham's Mick Craske with 112lb 4oz and top rod at Mill farm was John Barley of Watton with 105lb 8oz.

The Norwich Zenith club visited Holly Farm South Walsham to achieve a spectacular result, especially for the top three who made treble figures headed by Dave Ramsbottom with 147lb. Chris Watker won the Costessey Crown at Barford with 129lb 1oz, M Wiles headed the Attleborough card at Hinderclay with 106lb 8oz and Mark Girling topped the Codgers at Colton with 101lb 12oz.