LOCAL anglers have gone carp crazy as the leviathans of the commercial fisheries renewed their interest in feeding following the harshest winter for some 30 years.

LOCAL anglers have gone carp crazy as the leviathans of the commercial fisheries renewed their interest in feeding following the harshest winter for some 30 years.

Although the chill easterly winds have taken the edge of the rising temperatures, local lakes have warmed sufficiently after several days of bright sunshine to stimulate most species into a feeding frenzy as they build up towards the annual spawning activity.

Carp enthusiasts who hit the jackpot at the Taswood Fishery, were Keith Roberts, of Rollesby, who bagged the weekend's top common scaling exactly 34lb, Caister's Jason Stamp (common of 28lb 12oz), Brian Beckham, of Martham (mirror 28lb 8oz) and Great Yarmouth's Michael Wright (ghost 21lb 14oz).

At the Lyng Kingfisher Lake, Chris Birdman, of Caister, landed a mirror carp of 23lb and a common of 20lb, while, at Hall Farm, Burgh Castle, there were numerous small carp to low double figures from both lakes.

On the match scene, sport was brisk for the Sportsmans Club at Taswood, the result: D Grimwood 49lb 4oz, R Ward 37 6oz, M Bunn 35lb. Stalham's result at Cobbleacre was: D Jones 38lb, A Watson 37lb 2oz, D Paynter 19lb 8oz.

While beach anglers have been struggling to put together anything resembling a decent pan-size catch, their counterparts fishing from boats two to three miles offshore have been bagging up with quality cod that have gathered to predate on the sprat shoals.

Unless there is some rough weather, it is unlikely these quality culinary fish will come within range of local beaches, where catches at present are confined to small flat fish species, the odd school bass and smoothound.

The North Sea temperatures seem reluctant to rise at present so no sizeable bass are expected until the peeler crabs start to moult which, in the present climate, may not come until the end of the month.

Once again angling organisations with a vested interest in abolishing the close season on rivers are campaigning to persuade the authorities there is no value in enforcing the 93-day statutory break on the nation's natural waterways.

However, considering our own Broads and rivers are mostly designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest or some other form of official nature reserve then local anglers need not hold their breath while hoping for all the year round fishing on these important wildlife conservation areas, for it is never going to happen.

While on conservation issues, a considerable minority of fresh water anglers who believe fish were put on this planet especially for them, are still demanding an otter cull.

Those who wish to reduce otter numbers in the Broads may be assured there will be a cull only, instead of otters, it will be a cull of anglers permitted to fish important Broads wildlife reserves where otters make their homes - Hickling Broad and Horsey Mere for example!