BRAINTREE Sea Angling Club members boarded the charter boat Enterprise at West Mersea for their first boat match of the year in misty conditions.

Skipper Chris Mole navigated through the mist and anchored at a mark somewhere near the wind farm.

The fish were feeding from the start with Paul Hart catching the first thornback ray within ten minutes.

A gradual trickle of whiting, rays and dogfish were caught throughout the day, although a lot of the whiting failed to make the minimum size limit.

It was close match with Hart and Alan Porter vying for the lead for most of the day.

At the close of play it was Hart who took the honours with six thornbacks, five dogfish and three whiting.

Porter came second with six thornbacks, three dogfish and two whiting, while third spot went to Chris Bull with six thornbacks and four whiting.

Barrie Senior had the largest fish with a 59cm thornback.