It's time to bang the big bass drum as Shaun reels in an amazing day's catch

Fourteen days of ground baiting at a spot in the Cattewater off Plymouth Sound brought Plymouth unattached angler Shaun Yates a catch of bass unprecedented in the long history of recreational shore angling.

In a single day fishing mackerel and worm on a bottom rig, he took five fish all in double figures and others of lesser but still of significant size. The next morning on accredited scales. their weights were 12¼lb, 11½lb, 11¼lb, 10¼lb and another of 9lb 2oz.

Another, exchanged for a bag with a nearby flat owner, was also in double-figure class. A huge fish which he judged could have weighed as much as 17lb, broke him up after catching him unawares.

The fact that just one double-figure bass caught from the shore is generally considered to be "a fish of a lifetime" surely puts this amazing catch into its true perspective. It is one that is unlikely ever to be repeated. That so many fish of this size were in the area together defies explanation.

A skin-diver working in Portland Harbour speared a Northern Bluefin tuna that weighed 35lb. Considered an endangered species, it is the first example ever to be caught in the waters of the South West. It smacks of the Big-eyed tunny of 66lb 12oz – also unique in our waters – caught from a the harbour wall at Newlyn in 1976 by Alan Pascoe, then just 15 years old, who had seen the fish swimming around on several occasions.

It set a British shore record that will probably never be beaten.

Grenville Arms Open competition was won by Camborne AA's Steve Retallick with a thornback ray of 9lb 3oz 9 drams. Rating 108% of specimen, he collected a cash prize of £200 to which was added a £25 pool. The promoting club's Ian Bidgood took second place with a lesser spotted dogfish of 2lb 12oz 8 drams (105.92%). Third for a similar fish of 2lb 12oz 6 drams (105.62%) was ECC Ports SAC Pete Hersey.

The remaining places went to Grenville members: Shane Hawken lesser spotted dogfish 2-11-8, Sam Morris pollack 4-11-8, Ross Hawken lesser spotted 2-7-14, Mark Bidgood lesser spotted 2-7-0, Paul Hawken lesser spotted 2-5-13. The event was fished in very poor weather by 55 competitors.

The Westcountry's major event this coming weekend is Paignton Sea Anglers' Open Charity competition in support of the Devon Air Ambulance Trust. First prize for the best overall specimen (boat or shore) is £120 and second and third prizes designated boat and shore are each worth £50.

There is a separate prize list for junior and lady competitors plus nominated species awards for fish from harbours, piers and breakwaters.

The entry fee is £5 senior £2 junior and can be made at Paignton SAA's clubhouse, Torbay Tackle and Quay Stores Torquay. It is hoped the event will raise a minimum of £500 for the trust.

Boat fishing supreme was enjoyed by a group of Plymouth and Jersey anglers during a long haul visit to the Lofoton Islands off Norway. Drifting in deep water with artificials accounted for hundreds of coalfish in the 12lb to 19lb weight range (all returned) plus cod, torsk and plaice in numbers.

One of the group caught a halibut of 20lb that provided dinner for two nights, and they witnessed a Swedish angler's battle with a halibut of 70lb, one of seven he took.

I am indebted to Tony Vallack, making a return visit to Norway, for the report.

The Lofotons were reached by a flight from Gatwick to Oslo, then to the islands by helicopter. The trip was organised by one of the many adventure firms that operate in Norway and Sweden.