THE weekend weather was on the boat anglers’ side as they were greeted with light winds and very calm seas.

Most of the boats opted to fish within a mile of the shoreline and catches were very good for February.

Codling and thornback rays were the main catch but there were a few early spring dogfish showing too.

The Brightlingsea-based charter boat Gloria B11 had an enjoyable day, with the party landing plenty of rays and codling and James Fennel landing an 8lb thornback ray.

Gunfleet Boating Club also saw their members taking advantage of the glorious weather and father-and-son team Trevor and Danny Jerram fished from their own boat, Kraken, off the Holland-on-Sea coastline.

They landed some good-size thornback rays, plus codling and some bigger whiting.

Southend kayak angler Mick Mullally also took advantage of the run of early spring codling, catching seven plump fish.

It looks like most of the fish have been caught within a mile of our coastline.

Boats that travelled to those further fishing marks reported very little, apart from a few whiting.

The beaches have also fared better this week, with Holland showing some codling.

Matt Clark and Daniel Tulip have again been catching fish to around the 2lb-mark from this venue.

Clacton Pier has also seen the resurgence of codling, plus whiting and the odd thornback ray.

St Osyth beach also saw some thornback rays caught, although most fish were caught up by the nature reserve.

Walton Pier has seen a few codling, although a good blow could help.

Sudbury angler David Backler fished the top of the pier on an ebb tide and landed some good-size whiting, plus one plump spring codling.

All fish were caught on calamari squid baits.

Colchester Sea Angling Club headed for Suffolk and the Dunwich beaches for the second round of their beach league matches.

Twenty anglers fished the five-hour match on a glorious sunny winter’s day.

The fishing was slow, with dabs being the main catch, although flounders, whiting, rockling and small bass were also caught.

Top rod on the day was Steve Yallop, with 3lb 6oz, with included a 1lb 4oz flounder, also winning him the heaviest flatfish prize.

Mark Sessions came a close second, with 3lb 5oz, and in third was new member Ken Peacock, with 2lb 1oz.

The heaviest roundfish prize went to Nik Highfield, with a 9oz bass.

Colchester Sea Angling Club’s next match is March 4 at Aldeburgh beaches, fishing from 11am until 4pm.

If you have any angling reports, you can contact me at popplewell1@btinternet.com

The high tides for the weekend are 5.46pm on Saturday and 7.09pm on Sunday.