THE morning high tides of last week saw quite a few anglers out to fish the ebb tides.

Walton Pier saw anglers fishing choppier conditions, at the beginning of the week.

Clacton angler Terry Quartermaine fished the top of the pier and caught some good-sized codling on lugworm and squid baits.

He also reported that most anglers fishing the head and stem of the pier were also catching codling.

By the end of the week, conditions were brighter and calmer and the codling were proving harder to find.

Clacton Angling Club headed for the pier for their evening flood tide match.

Fifteen anglers fished and sizeable fish were at a premium, with only three codling being caught.

In first place was Andy Kerr, with 165 points (which included two codling).

Second went to Alan Humm, with 80 points, and third spot was taken by Nick Highfield.

The heaviest fish winner was Andy, with a 44cm codling.

Walton Pier Club headed for the Frinton Golf Course beaches for a daytime match.

Conditions were good, but, once again, the fishing could have been better.

Sixteen anglers fished and only small fish were caught.

Barry Adair was first, Robert Pobjoy second and Kevin Blackwell third.

Species caught included whiting, flatfish and rockling.

The club were pleased to welcome back Robert, after missing most of the season through illness.

The Holland and Clacton beaches have been slow during daylight hours.

After dark is showing codling and small whiting.

Clacton Pier is fishing very similar to Walton Pier.

The only difference is that a few thornback rays are now being caught, although not on every tide.

As the month goes by and the weather warms up, we’ll see more and more being caught.

Jake Smith and Dave Catchpole fished here after dark and caught codling on lug and squid baits.

The boats have had a good week, once again catching more codling.

However, they are also starting to see more of those first spring-run thornback rays.

Clacton Boat Club have had a good week, launching from the Martello beaches.

Barrie Sage and Paul Evans fished over high tide and caught 30 codling to 4lb, plus a slightly unusual pollack.

Once again, the baits were lugworm tipped with squid.

Les Bruce and John Cook also reported similar catches.

The Brightlingsea-based charter boat Seawatch headed for the Wallet and had a great day, with lots of codling to 4lb.

They also reported several early thornback rays being caught – the biggest falling to Rob Staras and weighing in at 15lb.

Phil Winger and Lawrence Chisnall fished from their own boat and the top bait was lugworm, tipped with squid. They ended the day with 33 codling to 3lb, plus three thornback rays to 9.5lb.

If you fancy catching some of those early spring thornbacks head for Clacton Pier or the beaches down at St Osyth.

The tides for the weekend are 5.12pm on Saturday and 6.37pm on Sunday.