Anglers from all over the country flocked to Pembrokeshire earlier this month for a major sea angling competition.

Over 70 anglers took part in the Pembrokeshire Fish Week Stena Line Sea Angling Festival open competition at Fishguard as part of this year's 'seriously fishy festival'.

Organised by the Welsh Federation of Sea Anglers (WFSA) and Pembrokeshire County Council - assisted by Fishing Wales and Martin Thompson of Anglers Corner - the competition was a PENN Points catch and release match, with a first prize of £750, second of £250 and third of £100.

The winner was Adrian Tucker from Milford Haven. Second prize winner was Francos Attanasio from Cardiff while Dave Harries from Aberdare was third.

Dick Solomon from Milford Haven won the prize for the longest fish.

"We were delighted with the response," said Gareth Davies, WFSA coaching and development officer.

"This was only the third year of the competition but it attracted anglers from all over the country, including top match men from all over Wales," he said.

"The competition saw members of the Welsh and Irish Shore Angling teams battling for the honours, as well as most of the Welsh Ladies team.

"Anglers were looking to catch dogfish, whiting, pouting, poor cod, gurnard, bullhuss, wrasse and conger eel. Several small starry smooth hound were also caught, which are not very common in the area but always a great surprise!"

He added that baits used included locally caught mackerel, sand eel, rag worm and peeler crab while a large variety of end tackle was used to try and outwit the fish.

The competition - believed to be the biggest first prize payout in Wales - was one of many angling events held across Pembrokeshire during Fish Week.

On Saturday, July 4, the Welsh Federation of Sea Anglers also helped organise the Pembrokeshire Fish Week Stena Line Sea Angling Festival Coaching Day at Fishguard Harbour.

More than 20 youngsters and adults turned up to hone their fishing skills.

Prizes were donated by Angler's Corner tackle shop, Milford Haven, and Broadside Charter of Dale. All the entrants went away with goody bags courtesy of Pembrokeshire Fish Week and Sea Angling News.

A visitor from the West Midlands won the week's other prestigious fishing competition - the Pembrokeshire Fish Week Coarse Fishing Championship sponsored to the tune of £500 by FBM Holidays.

This was held throughout Fish Week at Ian Heap's Holgan Farm Coarse Fishery, Llawhaden, where Clive Wright from Wolverhampton celebrated winning the £300 first prize.

Runner-up was John Charlesworth from Swansea, with Graeme Block of Shepherds Bush in London third.

Other Pembrokeshire Fish Week angling events were sponsored and/or supported by Environment Agency Wales, Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust, Pembrokeshire Anglers Association, the Pembrokeshire Federation of Angling Coaches, Pembrokeshire Piscatorial and United Utilities.

Pembrokeshire Fish Week is organised by Pembrokeshire County Council and part funded through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013, which is financed by the EU and the Assembly Government.