New Year pike anglers on the move around some of their favourite local venues can expect bumper sport during the remainder of this coarse fishing season until March 14.

New Year pike anglers on the move around some of their favourite local venues can expect bumper sport during the remainder of this coarse fishing season until March 14.

The Trinity Broads near Yarmouth are especially attractive right now. Last week a 27lb pike was among a number caught by a party fishing in the Eels Foot Broad. The inn boss John Williams who reported these catches insists more can be expected in the closing weeks of the season. Fishing dinghies are available for hire at the Eels Foot (01493 730342) and from Kingfisher Boat Hire (Paul or Debbie, 01493 745724) to fish the adjacent Sportsmens broad.

At Filby, Richard G Barnes runs a fleet of syndicated dinghies but retains a couple of these boats for casual customers (01493 368142).

EA byelaws are in force that do not permit live baits caught on a different water to be transported and used on the Trinities, so the best and simplest alternative is to use dead baits or artificial lures.

Within a 30-mile arc of Great Yarmouth worth visiting are Hickling Broad, Horsey Mere, South Walsham Broad and the upper reaches of the river Thurne from Martham to Somerton.

Fritton Lake (01493 488288) issues day permits for pike fishing in the winter months and dinghies are also available at modest cost. Fritton pike range from small jacks to female 20lb monsters.

Chub have become a popular winter species, but unfortunately there are no venues within easy striking distance of the town.

However, the River Wensum above Norwich has become one of the most important chub fisheries in the United Kingdom, but unfortunately free bank space is somewhat limited.

The Wensum Valley Trust has issued a where-to-fish leaflet detailing all access points and those organisations that offer season or day fishing permits.

This guide is available from local tackle shops along the Wensum such as Angling Direct in Norwich or Direct from the Wensum Valley Trust, Beech House, Gressenhall, Dereham NR20 4DR (send long sae), or by email at this website which is now trustees@wensumvalleytrust.org.uk

For the angler who may not wish to become involved in the permit systems on the Wensum the three banks for quality chub fishing are: Ringland Bridge, 200 yards upstream on the left bank and 100 yards downstream on the right bank as viewed from the bridge.

Half-a-mile of bank is available at Drayton Green Lane and a further three miles between Hellesdon Mill and New Mills Yard.

There is free fishing for chub on the upper River Bure between Mayton Bridge, Little Hautbois and Coltishall where there is a public footpath and parking facilities by the bridge.

On the river Waveney membership of either the Bungay Cherry Tree or the Harleston and Wortwell angling clubs may be the only means of targeting the massive chub in this river.

Along the coast cod anglers continue to bag up, especially those able to put out in boats. According to Norfolk's former casting champion Paul Kelly the cod shoals are available on one tide and gone the next.

So the advice to anglers who seem unable to tempt a bite is to keep on fishing and wait for the tide change.

Freshwater match results. Stalham AC (club lagoon): Robin Austrin 10lb 4oz, Dave Egerton 7lb 14oz, Dave Agass 6lb 5oz. Gorleston Jollyboys (Barford): K Hodgins 31lb 9oz, C Leonard 18lb 2oz, L Leonard 15lb 12oz.