JUST when we thought the warmer weather was here to stay, we've been hit by another cold spell.

The only saving grace is that it hasn’t deterred the fish from feeding.

Plenty of thornback rays have been caught, in addition to spurdogs for those boat anglers that want to travel a bit further out.

The boats have had a great week.

Dave Hollands launched his boat from Gunfleet Boating Club and set off to search for spurdogs on those distant marks.

He was rewarded with a fine 14-pounder, caught on a squid bait.

The charter boat Sophie Lea has seen the first of the bass and they also reported plenty of thornback rays and bigger whiting.

Neil Marples took his boat, Milore, out of Walton’s Titchmarsh Marina and fished just off the local coastline.

He also reported his first bass of the season.

Neil landed ten smooth hounds between 3lbs and 6lbs, plus thornback rays and dogfish.

Peeler crab was his favoured bait.

The Mersea boats have reported some very big thornback rays, plus a few early smooth hounds.

Early shoals of mackerel are now showing and although they're difficult to find at the moment, the shoals will increase in size as the sea warms up.

The beaches and piers have also had a pretty good week, with St Osyth beach being the venue to head for.

Rays are showing well from in between the rocky breakwaters or the long walk up to the nature reserve.

School bass have also been caught here and there's always a chance of a bigger fish from these beaches.

Clacton Pier is fishing very steadily, with rays on both day and night tides.

Dogfish and whiting are also being caught.

The Holland beaches are similar, although the night tides are showing more rays and dogfish.

The small whiting here can be a bit of a problem as they're very prolific and taking anglers' baits before the bigger fish can find them.

Thornbacks are now also showing from the shallower Frinton beaches, with the flood tides fishing the best.

The Walton Pier Club fished their latest match from the local venue.

They fished an afternoon high tide in bright and breezy conditions and with reports of some decent fish being caught, they were hopeful for a productive match.

Unfortunately, the fish had other ideas!

Sixteen anglers fished the lower section of the pier and fish were difficult to find.

First place went to Glen Parker, with 16 ounces.

Barry Adair was second, with a weight of 12.5ozs, and Robert Pobjoy third, with 9.5ozs.

The heaviest fish of the day was a 12.5oz bass for Barry.

The species caught were bass, dabs and the odd eel and whiting.

If you have any photos or fishing reports, you can contact me at popplewell1@btinternet.com

The high tides for the weekend are 3.45pm on Saturday and 4.24pm on Sunday.