ONCE again, this week has been very slow and there hasn’t been any change in our fortunes.

Those codling are still chasing the sprat shoals, so it’s been another week of lean times.

The beaches are producing small whiting, flounders and rockling and, for a better chance of catching a bigger fish, it’s best to head for Clacton or Walton Pier.

Codling are still being caught in windier conditions from both.

I had a daytime trip to Walton Pier and, although I didn’t catch any big fish, I was kept busy on light tackle with whiting and dabs all day.

Phase one of the Holland sea defence is now finished and opened to the public at the weekend.

All the wooden breakwaters have now disappeared and been replaced by rocky fish tail groynes.

It looks like it’s going to be a great summer venue for bass and mullet.

Clacton Angling Club fished their latest evening match in freezing conditions on the Frinton beaches.

Twelve anglers fished the flood tide and the fishing was really tough, with some anglers catching nothing.

Robert Tuck was first, with 44 points, Berni Putko second, with 24, and Bill Paquette third, with 23.

The heaviest fish was a 25cm flounder, caught by Robert.

I had a walk down to Clacton’s Martello Bay at the weekend to get reports from the in-coming boats but, to be honest, there wasn’t much happening.

Most of the boats had come in early, with just the odd codling and thornback caught.

All reported heavy sprat shoals.

Colchester Angling Club headed for the Suffolk beaches at the weekend and fished at Felixstowe’s Landguard point, where they did find a few more fish feeding.

In first place was Steve Yallop, who weighed in 6lb 10oz, which included a fine-looking 6lb cod.

Phil Buy was second, with 2lb 10oz, and Ted Gower third, with 2lb 2oz.

The tides for the weekend are 8.59am on Saturday and 10.01am on Sunday.