IT was only a few years ago most of us anglers would struggle in the summer months to catch anything that would put a bend in our fishing rod.

However, over the past few years, the amount of fish we’re now seeing is building, with a better size of fish being caught, especially for beach anglers.

In fact, we haven’t had fishing like this since the late 1960s and early 70s.

I can only put it down to the cut in commercial fish quotas.

The cod are still with us and Walton Pier was the place to be.

Danny Allen and Dave Trotter fished the lower part of the pier on a very windy day, with an ebbing tide, and caught an amazing 17 codling to 3lbs, plus a few dogfish as well.

Danny also headed for the Frinton beaches the day after and caught himself a couple of thornback rays.

The pier, in general, has had a good week with the rays.

On one tide alone, from the head of the pier, a record 16 rays were caught.

David Backler, from Sudbury, caught four of them and all his fish were caught on squid baits.

The beaches all the way from Walton to Holland are producing some reasonable catches, made up of rays, codling and bass.

Any of the beaches after dark will catch fish.

Clacton Pier has had a steady week, with a few rays still being caught here but not as many as off the beaches.

Codling and now a few bass are showing, too.

St Osyth beach really is the place to be for the next few weeks, with thornbacks showing all along this stretch.

Neil Cocks and two of his fishing mates arrived here to fish a night-time tide and ended their session with a stunning 22 rays between them.

Neil told me the fishing was so good that he had to put one rod away as he couldn’t keep up with the amount of fish being caught!

Boat reports are equally as good this week.

Neil Marples fished from his own boat, Milore, out of Walton’s Titchmarsh Marina.

He fished off the coast and caught eight rays to 13lbs and also some of the first smoothhounds of the season.

The first mullet and garfish have also arrived in the Walton backwaters, all the way up to the marina.

The Clacton boats haven’t missed out this week either, with similar catches.

Clacton Boat Club members Dave Hollands and Rocky Rochelle fished the Wallet area and caught some good-sized rays, smoothhounds to 7.5lbs and bass to 5lb on ragworm baits.

The first of the tope should now be arriving at the marks further out in deeper water.

It’s always a long boat trip to reach them but there is always a chance of a 40-50lb fish.

The hot-spot this week has to be St Osyth beach, with rays being caught at all distances.

The tides for the weekend are 11.02am on Saturday and 11.52am on Sunday.