For nearly four years

the cash prize awaiting the Bideford and District Angling Club member to land the first specimen fish in competition has lain unclaimed. But on Sunday, Mr and Mrs Peter Mitchell, of Northdown Road, Bideford, struck the jackpot together while fishing at Instow.

Peter landed a new club record flounder of 2lb 9oz to win the competition and more than £15 in pool money. And his wife, Pam, hauled in a flounder of exactly 2lb to also top the specimen weight and win nearly £5 in the ladies’ section pool.

Not content with that, Mrs Mitchell also landed a bass of over 5lb and three flounders of more than 1lb a piece – and that enabled her to take second and third places behind her husband in the open competition and first, second and third in the ladies’ section.

Gazette article April 1975