LIGHTER winds and colder weather has resulted in sprat shoals building closer inshore.

This seems to be the reason the codling catches have slowed down.

I’ve had reports of live sprats being washed up on the beaches, so there must be a good amount of them out there.

Sprats are a mid to high-water swimmer and now the codling are chasing these shoals and gorging themselves.

Anglers are reporting sprats falling out of the mouths of codling they are catching.

These sprats will be with us for a few weeks yet, so we could be in for some lean times.

However, I’ll keep you informed of their whereabouts.

Walton Sea Angling Club fished their first evening match of the new season on Walton Pier.

Conditions were blustery, which always helps to get the fish feeding.

However, once again, the fishing was poor and fish were hard to find.

Results: 1 James Everett 2lb 5oz (three fish), 2 Ken Peacock 1lb 12oz (seven fish), 3 Dave Botterell 15oz (four fish).

Clacton Sea Angling Club held their annual prize-giving at the Kingscliff Hotel.

By chance, Ross Kemp, famous for playing EastEnders’ Grant Mitchell, was in the building and very kindly gave out the prizes and talked about his younger days when he fished on Clacton seafront. First overall for the year was Robert Tuck.

Lawrence Chisnall was second and Alan Humm third.

The heaviest fish caught for the year was a thornback ray of 52cm for Jon Wilson.

There are no changes on the beaches or piers this week.

A few codling and whiting are being caught and, once again, going after dark will catch you a few more fish.

Don’t forget those dabs are there to be caught in calmer weather from both piers.

The tides for the weekend are 2.30pm on Saturday and 3.17pm on Sunday.