IT looks like it’s going to be another bumper season for pleasure anglers, but have you ever stopped to think why this is happening?

If we went back only a few years, we’d have struggled to catch a thornback ray off the beach.

Yes, the boat angler would always find a few, but, on the whole, not half as many that we’re catching now.

The reason is that fish quotas for commercial boats were cut a few years ago, as well as the amount of days they can spend at sea.

It’s now paying dividends for our fish stocks, with pleasure anglers both on boat and beach reaping the benefits.

This week has been no exception.

I had a trip to St Osyth beach with two angling mates, Richard Burt and Kevin Blears.

We fished a day-time tide.

Kevin caught one small ray and I caught two around the 8lb mark.

Herring and squid baits seemed to work well.

Brightlingsea charter boat Sophie Lea took a party of anglers out a couple miles off the coast and reported codling to 4lb, plus some bigger rays – the biggest weighing in at just over 20lb for Ray Lusher.

Sea Watch Charters, also from Brightlingsea, reported that more thornbacks were showing this week.

Ian Scott and his family were on a trip and had a great time, with young Ryan and Jay certainly showing their father how to fish, catching a steady stream of codling.

West Mersea charter boat Eastern Promise 2 was also among the fish this week.

Local angler David Mynors was on board and had a great catch of skate to 14lb, as well as codling to 4lb.

Most of the fish were returned alive.

Clacton Boat Club took advantage of the warm, calm weather at the weekend and members headed for the Gunfleet Sands and the Wallet.

Dave Hollands and Rocky Rochelle had a good day with rays to 14lb and codling to 5lb.

All their fish were caught on lugworm and squid baits.

Clacton Angling Club headed for Walton Pier to fish their evening match.

Fourteen anglers fished the flood tide on the stem of the pier and in first place was Vic Pearce, with 176 points.

In second was Alan Humm, with 172, and in third was John Wilson, with 146.

The heaviest fish was a 50cm codling caught by Alan.

Walton Pier has fished well this week, with the favoured ebb tides falling in the afternoon.

Local anglers Brian Holgate, Barry Adair and Fred Parker fished in daylight hours on a windier day at the beginning of the week and reaped the benefits, catching codling to 3lb-plus.

Colchester’s Paul Packman also had a good evening session here with the codling.

Walton Pier Fishing Club fished their latest day-time match on the stem of the pier from the club hut upwards.

The sea was choppy with a good colour.

Barry Adair was first, with 5lb 5oz.

Graham Distill was second, with 2lb 11oz, and Colin Harris third, with 2lb 8oz.

The heaviest fish was a 1lb 11oz codling for Barry.

Clacton Pier has seen lots of thornbacks this week.

Clacton angler Peter Rose fished midweek and had codling to 4lb.

Chris Hope also fished here and had a mixed catch of codling, whiting and dabs.

The night-time tides have seen a lot more rays being caught.

Finally this week, Colchester Sea Angling Club headed to Suffolk to fish the beaches at Dunwich.

Twelve anglers fished in calm conditions and in first place was Mark Sessions, with 7lb 10oz.

Chris Mills was second, with 6lb 13oz, and Steve Yallop third, with 4lb 15oz.

The heaviest fish was a 15oz flounder, for junior angler Ollie Yallop.

If you have any fishing reports you can contact me at popplewell1@btinternet.com The tides for the weekend are 4.51pm on Saturday and 5.50pm on Sunday.