IT looks like we’re set for a blustery, cooler spell, which is not so good for boat anglers but probably better for beach and pier anglers.

The cod are now gorging on those sprat shoals and boat anglers have told me the cod they are catching are full of sprats.

I’ve had reports from commercial fishermen that there are good-sized double-figure cod now being caught on long lines, so it shouldn’t be long before a few are caught by pleasure anglers.

It’s always worth fishing one rod with a double squid bait on a pennel rig.

Clacton Boat Club member Dave Holland took his own boat out from the Martello area and had a great day, with codling up to 4lb.

He said there were many in the 1lb to 2lb range, but all those were returned.

There are still lots of dogfish to be caught.

They seem to be hanging on later this year – probably because the sea temperature is still a few degrees higher than normal – but the thornbacks have diminished. Clacton Sea Angling Club headed for Walton Pier for their evening match.

Fourteen anglers fished in calm seas.

Result: 1 Alan Humm 302 points, 2 John Wilson 282, 3 James Everett 227. Heaviest fish: John Nichols (a whiting of 34cm).

Walton Pier has seen the codling appear in rougher conditions but in the calm seas they tend to move further into deeper water.

On days like these it’s always worth heading for the top of the pier and don’t forget to take your landing net for those bigger fish. You never know!

Walton Sea Angling Club fished the Holland beaches for their match this week. Once again, the seas were calm and they also found that the codling shoals had thinned out somewhat.

Result: 1 Doug Allen 8lb 9oz, 2 Rob Tuck 8lb 3oz, 3 James Everett 6lb 1oz.

The heaviest fish award was shared by five anglers.

Strangely enough, they all caught a 1lb 5oz codling and they were Craig Buy, James Everett, Rob Tuck, Vic Pearce and Terry Quartermaine.

Walton Sea Angling Club will be running their Boxing Day match on Walton Pier, with fishing from 10am until 12pm.

The tides for the weekend are 3.37pm on Saturday and 4.37pm on Sunday.