SOUTHEND angler Danny Read lead the way at Doggetts this week by landing a 29lb common carp during a 24-hour session.

He caught the fish near the reeds by the short arm at the Rochford venue and also hooked and landed mirrors of 25 and 18lbs pounds.

While playing the larger mirror on his right rod, Read’s left rod took off with the fish heading for the nearest reeds.

With his free hand he struck the 18lb fish and stopped it long enough to land the 25-pounder, before returning his attention to the 18lb fish which soon woke up and gave good account of itself before being landed and weighed.

Arron Racey, meanwhile, fished on the north bank and landed numerous tench and mirrors of 18 and 19.5lbs before completing his bag with a feisty 15lb common.

And Harry Stone landed a little 14lb mirror from the short arm, while brothers Cliff and Nathan Lamb fished a quick night on the long arm.

Cliff lost a good fish at the net, while Nathan landed a fine 20lb 4oz mirror.

Field testing a new bait range, Rochford anglers Paul Bevan and Jim Ogilvie fished a night on the long arm and landed four mid-doubles but lost two more fish at the net.

John Hanks landed an early 20lb mirror from the reed by the road swim, but the anglers who left Doggetts with the biggest smiles on their faces were Wayne and Martin Wood.

Martin landed an 18lb mirror plus a very pretty 13lb common, and Wayne was on fire, landing seven fish between 15 and 21lbs.

Wayne’s haul included mirrors of 20 and 21lbs, and a very pretty common which weighed in only ounces under 24lb.