THE temperature has dropped a degree or two and it's feeling more like autumn.

A few more codling have been reported from boats and the shore, although they're proving very small and not what we have been used to in recent years when double-figure cod were reported from our coastline every week.

The charter boat Sophie Lea reported on the two-day Police National Finals.

With 20-plus boats competing, it is one of the largest boat competitions held on the East coast.

Boats from Bradwell and Brightlingsea, the River Crouch, Mersea and Southend took part and they had to endure 30mph winds.

The top boat for the weekend was the Sophie Lea, with the first and second anglers on board.

Plenty of good fishing was had, with thornback rays, whiting, dabs, bass and dogfish caught.

A big thank you to event organiser Ian Hinchcliff.

Cod from the boats are still at a premium but there are plenty of other fish to be caught.

Anglers fishing from the shore have had a bit of a lean week, with daytime tides producing very little other than a few dabs and whiting.

I had a trip to the Holland-on-Sea beaches for a daytime session for rays and all I caught was a single dab and some crabs!

Colchester Sea Angling Club fished round five of six in their Colchester Bait and Tackle League on the Holland beaches.

Fifteen anglers fished an evening flood tide.

Plenty of fish were caught and, although mainly whiting, there were also pouting, dogfish, flounders and the odd codling.

First on the evening was Steve Yallop, with a 13lb bag of whiting, while second spot went to Chris Mills, with a mixed bag of fish for 7lb 3oz.

In third was Mick Bradley with 6lb 13oz.

The heaviest round fish prize went to Chris, with a 1lb 15oz dogfish.

Dave Clark won the heaviest flatfish prize with an 8oz flounder.

After dark seems to be the time to fish at the moment.

Colchester angler Chris Taylor headed for the St Osyth beaches to fish a flood tide after darkness.

He caught three thornback rays and some good-sized whiting.

The Frinton beaches have also been quiet with just a few dabs and whiting to report.

Walton Pier has seen the arrival of a few codling but these really are on the small side.

There are still thornback rays being caught from the head of the pier.

Paul Packman landed three here after dark.

There are also still a few bass to be caught plus dogfish and plenty of whiting.

The Walton Pier club quickly rescheduled their beach match to Walton Pier because of bad weather caused by Hurricane Brian.

It was a secret triples match where the aggregate weights of the three drawn members count towards the end result.

First place went to Glen Parker, Barry Adair and Peter Harris, with a combined weight of 9lb 6oz.

In second were Dean Parker, Jim Fennel and Dan Winter, with 8lb 7oz.

The clocks change this weekend so this will show in the tide times.

The high tides for the weekend are 1.13pm on Saturday and 12.45pm on Sunday.