WITH temperatures hitting 20C and the light winds that came with it, it proved a very enjoyable weekend for boat and kayak anglers.

More of those summer species are now being caught, with smooth-hound packs starting to appear with more regularity.

Most of the hounds at the moment are in the 4lb-range, but bigger fish will surely follow in the next few weeks.

The bass are also showing but are still spasmodic.

However, fish to 8lbs have been caught this week.

Once again, thornback rays are feeding in force from all venues and very soon we will be seeing our first mackerel showing.

With those will come those marauding tope.

Members of Clacton Boat Club put to sea at the weekend and reported that the fishing was good from the Barrow deeps to the Gunfleet sands.

Even inside the sands was producing some hefty bags of thornback rays and a few bass.

John Clark fished from his own boat and caught 20 good-sized rays.

Dave Hollands and Rocky Rochelle told me they caught rays from the far side of the Gunfleet sands and they also had smooth-hounds to 5lbs.

Rocky also landed a fine bass weighing in at 7.5lbs.

The fish was returned as all bass until July 1 have to be returned.

Thereafter, one bass may be retained until December 31 and after that we will have to wait and see as to what governing body is in charge.

The Brightlingsea-based charter boat Seawatch, skippered by Lester Baker, reported that the smaller hounds were now showing and still plenty of thornback rays.

The beaches and piers have fared less well during those sunny daylight hours.

Most of the fish have headed for deeper waters and are only coming closer under the cloak of darkness.

The Walton Pier Club fished their latest match on the local pier during our mini heat wave and fish really were hard to find.

Only a few fish were caught - a few flat fish and some small bass.

First place went to Andrew Westhrope, while second spot went to Colin Harris and third to Graham Distill.

The club also reported that there were at least 50 pleasure anglers also fishing the pier, although the fish were few and far between.

Walton Sea Angling Club headed for the pier for their evening match, with the hope that fishing into darkness would improve the fishing.

So it turned out, with most fish caught directly below them in between the pier piles.

Small hooks and baits were the order of the day and fish were caught - mostly pouting, whiting, wrasse and pollack.

The winner was Rob Tuck, with 5lb 11oz, second spot went to James Doe (3lb 12oz) and third to Nik Highfield (1lb 5oz).

The heaviest fish was a 12oz pollack for Rob.

The Frinton beaches have seen the first of the thornback rays arrive.

Colchester Sea Angling Club member Neil Cocks fished here on an evening flood tide and caught rays into double figures.

Clacton Pier has been fairly quiet during daylight hours, but after dark the dogfish and rays have been feeding the local surrounding beaches have been catching lots of small bass plus a few eels.

The high tides for the weekend are 6.38pm on Saturday and 7.45pm on Sunday.