IT had looked all systems go, with the run of spring codling we had been waiting for hitting our coast.

However, this week the fishing has slowed down somewhat.

I had a trip to Clacton and caught some good-sized codling, with the biggest weighing in at 4lb.

But by the end of the week, fish were proving hard to find.

To be honest, the tides were small, with very little run on them, and the wind had dropped off to just a light breeze. Neither are conducive to cod fishing!

Walton Sea Angling Club headed to St Osyth beach for their latest evening match.

They were also confronted with calm seas and fished an ebb tide in between the rocky breakwaters.

Twelve anglers fished and all the competitors caught fish.

Most were caught in the first hour and the winner on the night was Berni Putko, with four fish – two codling and two whiting – weighing in at 3lb 6oz. Second place went to Rob Tuck, with 2lb 4oz, and in third was Vic Pearce, with 1lb 12oz.

Berni also won the heaviest fish prize, with a 1lb 11oz codling.

Both Clacton and Walton Piers have been a lot slower this week, although the night tides have produced a few codling and small whiting.

Colchester angler Derek Cranfield headed for the top of Walton Pier at the beginning of the week and found the fish feeding, ending the session with six codling to 3lb.

All were caught on lug and squid, on pennel rigs.

The Frinton beaches are still seeing codling around the golf course area, although weed has been a problem on the first couple of hours on the ebb tide.

After that it eases and fish are being caught.

The new beaches at Holland Haven have also been slow and, once again, it is due to small tides and calm seas.

Anglers that have fished these beaches have told me the ground they are fishing over is quite rough and tackle losses are heavy.

The boats have been fairly quiet this week, with only a few reports trickling in.

The charter boat Sophie Lea reported a good catch of spring codling between two to 4lb and they also told me that there was no sign now of those heavy shoals of sprats!

The next week or two will see the first run of thornback rays from the boats and by the end of the month, they will be starting to appear around Clacton Pier and the beaches as well.

If you have any fishing reports you can contact me at popplewell1@btinternet.com The tides for the weekend are 12.50pm on Saturday and 1.19pm on Sunday.