CHOPPY weather has made it uncomfortable for boat fishermen, but those that have taken to the water have reaped the benefits.

The Sea Watch charters out of Brightlingsea reported that the codling were now slowing down in numbers.

Usually by May they have completely disappeared but we’ve had so many this year that a few are still hanging on before heading for deeper waters.

Lots of thornback rays are there to be caught – some into double figures – and there are also a few bass showing.

The Clacton Pier charity match, in aid of Clacton’s St Helena Hospice day care centre and the Dream 100 Kids’ Trust, was a great success and raised more than £570.

A big thank you goes out to the organisers and all who attended.

The match was a sell-out and 60 anglers fished.

Results: 1 John Wilson 511 points, 2 James Everett 307, 3 Sam Tittensor 294.

Junior winners: 1 Sam Tittensor 294, 2 Harry Davis 88, 3 Nathan Mills 76.

Codling, whiting, dogfish, dabs and pouting were caught.

Clacton Pier has fished quite well for pleasure anglers this week, with codling and dogfish being the mainstay.

However, there are also a few thornback rays to be caught.

Chris Hayes fished the pier on a day-time tide and found the dogfish feeding.

He ended his session with six fish, all caught on lugworm and squid baits.

St Osyth beach always comes into its own in the summer months and this year has been no exception.

I’ve had reports of a few bass being caught from here along with thornbacks (mostly after dark) and, in the next couple of weeks, the heavyweight stingrays should also be moving into this area.

The Holland beaches are now fishing well for bass and rays, plus some codling.

Once again, after dark is the time to fish and peeler crab, squid and blueys will fish well here.

Young Nat Mills, from Clacton, fished here and caught codling to 3lbs.

Walton Sea Angling Club fished a midweek match on the Holland beaches.

They fished a flood tide on a calm evening.

The fishing was slow for the first hour, but, on the building tide, the fish started to feed.

The winner on the night was Rob Tuck, with 8lb 11oz.

In second place was Richard Burt, with 7lb 1oz, and in third was Doug Sadler, with 3lb 13oz.

The heaviest fish was a 3lb 13oz dogfish, caught by Doug.

All the Frinton beaches are now seeing those thornback rays.

They can turn up on most states of the tide, as long as there isn’t too much tide running.

Walton Pier has had another reasonable week, with codling and a few rays being caught.

Young Josuha Buist, from Halstead, fished the stem of the pier and had a great day.

He also managed to catch a small thornback ray.

The next week or two will see the garfish shoals turn up and, if you fancy catching a few of these mini swordfish, head for the lifeboat area with a spinning rod and small hooks. They can be great sport!

Clacton Sea Angling Club also fished the pier for an evening match.

Fourteen anglers fished and codling and whiting were the main species caught.

Some 122 fish were caught in the three-hour match and well done to Ken Peacock for catching 25 per cent of them!

Result: 1 Ken Peacock 261 points, 2 Alan Humm 252, 3 John Wilson 110.

The heaviest fish was a 51cm eel, caught by Alan.

The Walton Pier Club fished the local venue at the weekend in good conditions with just a slight cross-wind.

Eighteen anglers fished the four-hour match and more than 90 fish were caught.

Result: 1 Barry Adair 3lb 9oz, 2 Ian Walker 3lb 1oz, 3 Andrew Westrope 2lb 15oz.

The heaviest fish was a 1lb 15oz codling, caught by Andrew.

High tides for the weekend are 3.53pm on Saturday and 4.40pm on Sunday.