THE boat fishing continues to be excellent, with light winds and warm weather helping everyone.

Those hard-fighting smooth-hounds are building in bigger packs, as well as plenty of small to medium-sized bass to be caught.

The mackerel shoals are still spasmodic but as we move into summer they will provide great sport and bait for the angler.

Chris Jaibahadur and Martin Smyth fished from Chris’ boat off the St Oysth coast and landed upwards of 20 rays to 10lbs, plus whiting.

Chris also landed a good-size bass.

Scott Walsh and Charlotte Davis launched from Gunfleet Boat Club during the week in calm seas.

They had bass, pouting, bass, dogfish and rays.

Charlotte also caught her first ever thornback ray!

Walton is also producing fish, with Neil Marples fishing from his own boat Milore.

He landed five bass to 3lbs on ragworm baits, plus as many dogfish as he could catch!

St Osyth beach seems the place to head for.

Those thornback rays are feeding in force.

Local angler John Moakes and Steve Wallings fished a night tide here and caught 12 thornback rays between them weighing up to 8lb 1oz.

All their rays were caught on herring or squid baits.

Colchester Sea Angling Club headed for the Holland beaches for the second round of the Colchester Bait and Tackle Evening League.

Fifteen hardy anglers fished a flood tide in very wet conditions, but plenty of fish were caught.

Top angler on the night with a massive weight of 31lbs 14oz was Craig Buy.

His catch included three thornback rays and numerous dogfish.

Craig also landed the heaviest fish of the match in the form of a 7lb 14oz ray. Second place went to Neil Cocks with 13lb 2oz and third to Gary Hambleton with 11lb 7oz.

Colchester Sea Angling Club’s next match is on Sunday at Sizewell.

The Holland beaches in general are quiet during the day, but evening tides and fishing after dark will greatly increase your chances of catching fish.

Clacton Pier continues to produce rays with some into double figures.

School bass are being caught on ragworm baits or lures from around the pier piles, with dogfish being caught after dark.

Frinton beaches are seeing more school bass and the odd thornback ray.

The first of the bigger soles should arrive here soon.

Walton Pier is a good venue to head for during the day with great sport to be had from garfish, school bass and wrasse on light tackle fishing around the pier piles.

Thornback rays are showing from the top of the pier on some tides.

Once again, to increase your chances of a ray, fish into darkness.

The high tides for the weekend are 3.25pm on Saturday and 4.14pm on Sunday.