SADLY the cold snap is turning into a continuous series of cold snaps, all joined together, and I am told the water temperature is five to seven degrees Celsius (41-44.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

According to the meteorological office, this winter is the coldest since 1979; those of my vintage can remember the sea freezing in 1963 (seawater freezes at -1.9 degrees C/28.4 F).

Bass cease feeding below eight degrees C, crabs become dormant, worms burrow deeper, so why don't mussels on the rocks on the beaches freeze? I'll tell you next week!

Torbay & Babbacombe ASA invited my wife Jo and I as their guests to the club's annual presentation of awards at the Cockhaven Manor, Bishopsteignton.

We enjoyed a superb repast in superb company.

After the dinner, the first presentation by Chairman Gary Messenger was a cheque made out to the RNLI for £500, the result of the previous RNLI Flounder competition.

As a winner, back in 1989, of the notorious Gump Trophy, I was particularly interested to see who had won this famous award for the 'ability to catch nothing all year'!

My excuse for winning way back was that I was spending most of my fishing time after really big rainbow trout — my best of that year was a rainbow weighing 22lb from Avington Fishery.

The excuse given by the 2009 season's winner — membership secretary John Adey — involved lack of sleep, strange odours and changing nappies at various times of day and night.

Nigel Foord picked up two major awards for his 33lb 3oz ling — that fish won Foord the CG Wilkins Trophy for best specimen from boat, and also the Association Trophy for best overall catch.

Foord also won the Rosemary Moore Cup for best specimen shore catch with a 2lb 2oz 8dr three-bearded rockling.

Sallie Date and Denise Stacey claimed the top ladies' prizes. Date's 10lb 10oz bull huss earned her the Peggy Joseph Cup for best specimen from boat, while Stacey's 4lb 6oz 8dr grey mullet took the Lynne Pierce Trophy for best specimen from shore.

Archie Foord's LSD of 2lb 5oz 4dr won the CMF Allwood Cup for best junior shore catch, while William Messenger's 5lb 12oz 14dr ballan wrasse gave him the Anne & Bill Hearn Trophy for best overall junior specimen.

For a full list of the 2009 T&B award winners, read this story on our website www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk.

Torbay & Babbacombe's next event is a catch-and-release shore competition on Sunday, March 7, on Exmouth Seafront (11am to 5pm).

BRIXHAM SAC's next competition is a while away, on April 4, when spring brings hopefully a run of plaice for competitors for the best fish from the Skerries banks.

April 17 is Brixham SAC's presentation night, when a vast array of trophies, shields, medals and certificates, plus THAT trophy, will be awarded.

PAIGNTON Sea Anglers Association's next competition is on Sunday week, March 14, for the best specimen, starting at midnight and finishing at 7.30pm. The weigh-in follows at the clubhouse between 7.30pm and 8pm.

TEIGNMOUTH Sea Angling Society have two Tackle Trader competitions, the first leg on March 14 at Hopes Nose, fishing from 10am to 4pm. High water is 6pm, and the tide is a 4.2-metre high. The second leg will be in October.

BABBACOMBE Pier is again the venue for tonight's Baywater Anglers social fish and teach-in (6pm to 9.30pm).

Whiting and dogfish may well be around, and Baywater's Martyn Green said: "There may also be squid so it's probably worth bringing along a jig just in case.

"Bait offers several choices but mackerel or squid is probably just as good as anything else. I don't think I'd bother with worms just yet.

"If you want to, leave the beachcasters at home and bring along a carp rod instead. Two ounces will hold bottom and you get more of a scrap with the smaller fish that seem to be around at this moment in time."

Baywater's next social fish and teach-in will take place at Brixham Breakwater next Saturday, March 13, from 2pm to 6.30pm.