THE temperatures have dropped this week and we're experiencing a colder spell of weather, which is more conducive to winter fishing.

However, I still can't report on any significant cod catches.

One or two of our local boats have reported a few but there's nothing to really report on.

We're now heading towards the middle of the month with reports of herrings moving into the estuary, which, in turn, will see cod moving up to feed on these shoal fish.

However, it's certainly not all gloom and doom, with plenty of rays and dogfish still to be caught, as long as the weather stays calm enough for boats to launch.

Clacton Pier has quietened down this week.

Jake Smith fished a night-time tide and reported that the whiting were getting bigger.

He also landed a good-size thornback ray.

The St Osyth beaches are also following the quieter trend, with a few whiting and the odd ray after dark.

The Holland beaches seem the place to be, with thornback rays showing on most night tides and, when weather conditions are right, they are also being caught during daylight hours.

Walton Pier, during calmer days, has seen some dabs being caught from the top, with still plenty of whiting, some thornback rays and dogfish.

Once again, there is just the odd codling to be caught.

Garry Graham fished here and reported that the fishing was fairly quiet, although he did end his session with 18 whiting and a few pouting.

Jay King fished the top of the pier and reported that there were plenty of crabs feeding and taking worm baits very quickly, although the tougher squid baits were finding bigger whiting.

Jay also caught some of those early winter dabs.

Colchester Sea Angling Club fished their annual inter-club challenge match against Maldon Angling Club, at Walton Pier.

Twenty eight anglers fished in cold and wet conditions.

The top five weights from individuals on each team counted for the trophy.

Colchester weighed 43lbs for their top five and Maldon 33lbs.

Colchester therefore retain the trophy for another year.

Results: 1 Mark Sessions 9lb 8oz, 2 Phil Buy 9lb 5oz, 3 Vic Pearce 8lb 12oz.

Colchester filled seven of the top-ten places.

The heaviest round fish was caught by Vic and was a pollack of 14oz.

The heaviest flatfish - an 8oz dab - was caught by Martin Close.

Shore Fishing UK is once again holding its annual two-day charity fishing match in aid of Diabetes UK along the Clacton/Walton coastline.

Last year saw a few anglers from Holland and Belgium and this year will be no exception.

For more information, you can contact them through their Facebook page - Shore Fishing UK.

If you have any fishing reports or photos you can contact me at popplewell1@btinternet.com

The high tides for the weekend are 9.11am on Saturday and 10.04am on Sunday.