ANGLING: Dawes and Green claim big catches in Costa Rica

Mike Green with 100lb giant tarpon caught on fly. Bigger ones were too 'frisky' to bring aboard!

And when – and if – they are brought to the boat, they can often still be so ‘lively’ that it’s too risky to bring them on board.

Such giant tarpon are what town globe-trotter Mike Green and pal Ken Dawes have been catching on fly off Costa Rica, where both beat half-a-dozen to 140 or 150lbs...and lost just as many – fish which were breaking 120lb leaders!

Ken’s biggest was estimated at well over 150lb before breaking his ‘16-weight’ rod into five pieces and escaping...an exhilarating experience which left him ‘floating on air’.

“Hooking one of these monsters is half-exciting and half-terrifying, and we hooked 19 between us. Then we were upgraded to business class on the way back – icing on the cake or what?” said Mike.

CONTRACTORS electro-fishing the Grand Union totalled more than 2,000 zander for well over 1.5 tons – the bulk caught between Cosgrove and Whilton in areas where roach were noticeably scarce. Numbers of carp, into the 20s, were also seen.

STANWICK’s Elsons this week produced top fish of 29-15 (Lee Plant) and 28-4 (Ashley Edison).

WHITE Hart Flore’s Tofts midweeker went to Mark Griffiths with 272lb followed by John Berry 143 and Dave Chapman 140lb. Glen Tilson won their Sunday do at Bishops Bowl with 56-8. Tom Griffiths had 56lb and Gary Muddiman 46lb.

SPORTS & Social, Barby Banks: Jeff Rice 197lb, Steve Potter 105lb, Nick Wooding 79lb.

TOVE Valley, Lakeside: Darren Pannell 195-5, Andy Jones 182-10, Richard King 114lb.

MILL Lane, Decoy: Gary Abraham 131-14, Ken Andrews 77-12, Steve Johnson 58-10.

ROYAL Oak, Packington: Grant Merritt 110-12, Cliff Skearn 83-4, Carl Barnfield 78-10.

FINEDON, Peatling Parva: Bill Boyne 103-11, John York 90-10, Pat Neil 77-15.

FLORE & Brockhall, Dog Lane: Alan Broughton 56lb, Steve Smith 48lb. Bob Prowse 36lb.

CASTLE Ashby, Brickyard: Wed., Pete Gibson 38-6, Chris Garrett 28-6, Mick Hewlett 18-4; Sat., Keith Garrett 39-4, C Garrett 35-6, Frank Pizamenti 29-14.

OUNDLE, Cheramy bridge on the Nene: Mark Cunnington 12-3 (all roach), Brian Garrett & Dave Parry both 5-8.

OLNEY, Ouse open: Pete Hawley 9-6-8 (roach), Pete Jayes 7-1 (inc a 6-3 bream), Pete Laughton 6-10 (inc a 4lb tench).

NENE, Grafton Regis canal: George Mynards 4-9, Tosh Saunders 3-1, Bob Eales 2-11.

FIXTURES: Tuesday (Sept 27), Olney Ouse open, 01234 240061; Oct 16, Towcester open, Castlethorpe cut, 01908 563617.