EASTERLY winds have made it more seasonal for anglers, with temperatures dropping to 5C.

In addition, a calm spell in midweek benefitted both shore and boat anglers.

The boats have had a reasonable week, with just a few codling starting to show.

Let’s hope this continues as we enter March.

Clacton Boat Club members launched during the calm spell and reported that rays and some codling were feeding.

John Cook, fishing from the boat Dippa, caught the biggest thornback ray of the week, weighing in at 13lb 8oz.

Dave Hollands and Rocky Rochelle told me there are now a few codling to be caught.

They landed a couple in the 4lb range, plus a few rays as well.

I know I keep harping on about those herring and sprat shoals that seem to have been here for months and they are still with us.

However, I can assure you that in another couple of weeks they will start to diminish and the fishing will suddenly take an upward turn.

Walton Sea Angling Club headed for the Clacton beaches for their evening match.

Conditions were cold but with light winds, which made for a comfortable night.

The fishing was on the slow side for most anglers, but whiting, dabs and flounders were caught, plus two very small thornback rays.

Top angler on the night was Richard Burt, with 3lbs 7oz.

Second place went to Craig Buy, with 2lb 10oz, and third to Nik Highfield, with 1lb 5oz.

The heaviest fish – a 15oz thornback ray – was caught by Craig.

Walton Pier has had a better week, with nothing very big but lots of smaller fish being caught.

The top of the pier has seen dabs, whiting, dogfish and the odd small bass, so plenty of bites to keep anglers occupied.

The Walton beaches have had a very quiet week and with only a few anglers fishing, reports have been patchy.

However, whiting and dabs will be the mainstay here.

The Frinton beaches have seen a few small bass and dogfish being caught.

Clacton Pier has also had a better week, with a few spring codling starting to show.

Peter Rose landed two codling and lost a bigger fish at the side of the pier.

Other anglers reported small bass, dabs and whiting. Those thornback rays have yet to arrive here.

My fishing trip this week was back to St Osyth beach.

Those of you who are following my fishing escapades on Facebook will know that I have had a quest to catch at least one thornback ray every month from beach or pier since March 2015 to February 2016.

I managed to catch seven rays in December and January but February had eluded me.

The last week of the month saw me back on St Osyth beach for my final chance of breaking this record.

Well, the last cast of the session saw me land my February ray from the shore!

It was a nicely-marked ray caught on squid bait, which was quickly photographed and returned.

My record was broken – but only just!

The tides for the weekend are 8.22am on Saturday and 9.29am on Sunday.