WITH high tides in the evening, anglers have been making the most of the empty beaches.

It paid dividends for them, with anglers fishing anywhere from Walton Pier to Mersea Island.

I’ve had thornback ray reports from all areas and there doesn’t seem to be any area that stands out.

Most are being caught after dark but, if you fancy some daylight fishing for a ray, head for St Osyth beach.

There’s a handy cafe there that will feed you and fill your flask for you.

Neil Cocks and Mark Peters headed for the point at St Osyth, fishing the night tide and into the morning.

They had four rays up to 9lbs between them and, when the rays were not feeding, they had great sport with the dogfish.

The Frinton beaches have also seen their fair share of rays, plus some good-sized codling to 3lbs.

Polebarn Lane and the golf course beaches are the places to head for.

Walton Sea Angling Club fished their latest evening match on Walton Pier.

In a light northerly wind and clear skies, fishing was slow for the first hour, with just a few dabs being caught.

However, as the tide built, the fish started to feed, with codling, pouting and dogfish showing well.

The in-form Rob Tuck was top angler with 7lb 2oz.

In second place was Bill Paquette (6lb 15oz) and in third was John Wilson (4lb 13oz).

The heaviest fish was a 2lb 9oz codling for Rob.

Walton Pier seems to have slowed down on the amount of rays being caught this week, but that is made up for by the amount of codling and dogfish being caught.

Clacton Pier has been slightly quieter this week.

There are still rays and codling to be caught, but not so many, and the bigger tides will bring those fish in closer.

The Mersea Island beaches have started to produce rays.

The area around Sea View Avenue looks like the place to head for, with fairly deep water, and the flood tides are fishing the best.

Colchester Sea Angling Club are open to new members.

If you would like to join them they offer both beach and boat matches and will certainly make you feel welcome.

They meet on the first Tuesday of every month at the Grapes public house, in Mersea Road, Colchester.

For more details, contact Chris Mills on 01255 424208 (evenings) The boats have been busy as well this week.

Clacton Boat Club members Barrie Sage and John Sherry fished from their boat White Swan and the codling and rays were in feeding mode.

They ended their trip with 17 codling to 3lbs, plus rays and dogfish.

Clacton Boat Club are also open to new members.

E-mail clactonboatclub@gmail.com or chairman Paul Evans on 07905 033039.

Most of the charter boats returned with similar catches.

There are still not many bass showing and the same with the smoothhounds, but I’m sure that when the hounds start we’ll be inundated with these pack fish.

As you probably know, my main job is working for a national title called Sea Fishing Magazine.

As much as I can, I try to keep features local to our Essex area and this month my article is called “Clacton Re-Booted”.

It’s basically a feature on catching codling on Clacton seafront, plus the new sea defence beaches at Holland-on-Sea.

The magazine should be out at the weekend in all major newsagent chains.

Tides for the weekend are 12.15pm on Saturday and 12.55pm on Sunday.