A COUPLE of big cod caught from Kent’s piers point to the current sea angling hotspots.

Dover’s Admiralty pier produced a superbly conditioned 23lb 3oz specimen for warehouse supervisor Steve Chivers, one of the few anglers to brave the recent blizzards.

The 36-year-old Dover specimen hunter trapped the giant fish from the extension section of the pier using a lugworm and squid cocktail cast 50 yards just two and a half hours after the high tide.

Deal pier also produced one of its best fish of the year. Chelmsford visitor Michael Schooling claimed the monthly big fish prize with an 18lb cod landed from the stem section. Schooling was fishing next to the third shelter which also produced six codling for another angler.

Competitors in the various beach competitions have been enjoying mixed fortunes. Birchington Sea Angling Club match fished at Dungeness and found the dabs and whiting biting, but fine weed gathering on the line was a problem.

Winner was Broadstairs ace Dave Andrews with a 9.46kg total from the Point. Second was Birchington’s Terry Marsh with 7.26kg, and third Neil Marsh, of Ramsgate, with 7.04kg.

Deal’s in-form Saul Page added another victory to his recent tally of wins with a conclusive first place in the latest Folkestone Sea Angling pier match fished on Folkestone pier.

The former world junior champion endured a cold northerly wind, plus rain and driving snow to win by a 2kg margin, with dogfish, codling, whiting, pout and dabs included in his 10kg total.

Second was Mick Tapsell, of Folkestone, with 8kg and third Mark Graham, also from Folkestone, with 7.50kg.

Best fish was a 1.1kg codling for Michael Newham, while the biggest dab prize went to competition secretary Ian Lawton with a dab of 265 grams.

At Prince’s Parade, Seabrook, the anglers fishing the Zziplex Super League struggled in the clearing water and daylight with Lymington’s Malcolm Stote landing a top weight of 3lb 2oz.

Nick Redgate, of Eastbourne, was second with 3lb 1oz and Steve Allmark, of Deal, fishing for Golds Tackle team, was third with 2lb 14oz.