The fabulous fishery at Hall Farm, Burgh Castle, relinquished to keen anglers last week a spectacular total of 164 quality carp.These lakes, within easy cycling distance from Great Yarmouth and Gorleston and most convenient for those who have become concerned about motoring costs to the more distant venues, produced a total of 38 prime mirrors and commons for Gorleston's Barry Hurren, whose heaviest just under 16lb in an estimated aggregate of 220lb, writes Roy Webster.

The fabulous fishery at Hall Farm, Burgh Castle, relinquished to keen anglers last week a spectacular total of 164 quality carp.

These lakes, within easy cycling distance from Great Yarmouth and Gorleston and most convenient for those who have become concerned about motoring costs to the more distant venues, produced a total of

38 prime mirrors and commons for Gorleston's Barry Hurren, whose heaviest just under 16lb in an estimated aggregate of 220lb, writes Roy Webster.

Royce Doroba of Belton, Ian Bartram of Hopton and Steve Aldous of Gorleston each reeled in 26 fish to over 16lb for aggregates around the 170lb mark.

Steve Peters of Gorleston with 11 fish achieved the best catch of the week in the form of a mirror carp of 20lb 12oz and other local rods to succeed were Gorleston men Richard Elliott with seven carp to 18lb and a splendid 8lb 8oz tench, Mark McSweeney with 20 fish to 17lb 3oz while Ashley Steward had nine to 18lb.

“These are the best results of the year so far,” declared the fishery boss Sandie Riches. “We're hoping this excellent sport lasts right into the autumn after such a slow start to the year.”

Two Town anglers visited the Taverham fishery where Ian Long of Gorleston reeled in a 24lb mirror carp while on the nearby River Wensum Alan Brett of Yarmouth bagged a 14lb 9oz barbel and numerous chub to over 4lb.

The lower reaches of the tidal River Bure have completely recovered from last autumn's vicious saltwater floods and the fishing seems better than ever.

That's the verdict from the banks of the popular St Benets Abbey stretch where a new league record was established on Sunday.

The first round of the Summer League for teams of four produced a staggering individual winning net of bream totalling 117lb 6oz from the hotspot by the stile downstream of the old abbey ruins.

It was taken by well-known Norfolk match man Warren Martin who had 40 bream to 5lb on feeder tactics, with worm and caster the deadly bait dropped into a far-bank swim.

The team winners, thanks to Martin's effort were Barford Tackle/Anglers World with 35 section points, followed by Reggie's Boys with 34. Great Yarmouth's Browning Pownalls were fourth with 31 points and well in touch with the leaders with three more rounds to come.

Saturday's Great Yarmouth Feedermaster Series on the river Yare at the Beauchamp Arms was won by Rod Finch with 22lb of roach.

On the match lakes Ray Kent, of Gorleston Jollyboys, won the Mill Farm open on Monday with a heavy carp catch of 125lb 7oz and the top club catch was landed by Kevin Patterson with the Stalham club at Metton totalling 129lb 12oz, followed by Pete Warren 75lb 12oz and Alan Watson 73lb 11oz.

Other match results: Caister Carols (Melton Ponds): A Waldron 114lb 4oz, F Clarke 55lb 14oz, K Dyball 54lb 4oz.

Pye (Taswood): A Hayden 55lb 1oz, W Smith 45lb 2oz, K Wilson 41lb 12oz.

Sam Hook Sea League (Blythe estuary): W Perring (Lowestoft) 4lb 14oz, C Whitworth (Martham) 4lb 10oz, D Able (Corton) 2lb 12oz.

Persistent rumours that the upper River Thurne is suffering an outbreak of the fish killer algae prymnesium are offically being investigated.

The Environment Agency fisheries officer at Norwich, Graham Gamble, said there had been reports of dead fish, including pike, in the upper reaches of the river Thurne below Somerton and this matter would be investigated immediately.

The lethal toxin from the algae wiped out millions of fish in the late 1960s and early 1970s in the River Thurne Valley waters but there had been no serious outbreaks reported in the last 10 years.

At the Whispering Reeds boatyard a spokesman said he had seen no trouble on Hickling Broad where anglers had been bagging up with dozens of bream that appeared quite healthy. “I think I can safely say there are no problems on this broad at present,” he said.

Along the beaches the forecast that shoals of mackerel would come within casting range from the

north Norfolk beaches proved correct and in the past seven days thousands of these succulent sea fish were being taken on feathered lures and bright spinners.

Closer to town, school bass are coming in from marks at Hopton, the north beach and the stretch between Caister and Winterton.