THE last fortnight has seen a big shift towards the summer fish with the winter cod finally leaving.

However, we have had a fantastic season and next winter promises to be a cracker if we get a lot of these fish returning having put on weight during the summer.

There are now big numbers of thornbacks returning to mate and spawn inshore, the females are all pregnant and should be returned alive, best baits are squid, mackerel, herring and most other fishy baits will tempt them.

Use a strong trace of 40lb breaking strain minimum and a nice big 6/0 forged hook.

There are more bass turning up with reports of fish up to 12lb landed.

Most of the charter boats have reported bass in most areas this week.

The best baits are squid, crab, lug and ragworm although most fish baits will work.

The piers and beach marks have been producing well for codling, bass, whiting and thornbacks.

The best overall baits are probably squid and crab which, if tied on with elastic cotton, can withstand long casting.

Best times are medium tides up to springs and dropping down to medium again with the strongest part of the tide best.

The estuaries have been producing thornbacks, whiting and codling although the latter will have mostly gone by the time you read this.

However, more bass will start to show soon.

Offshore has been good for the codling and thornbacks but with the departure of the codling this has left a vacuum for the dogfish.

However, the smoothhounds will soon be showing which is good news.

Prospects are excellent with more bass showing and soon the hounds will be pushing into the Thames Estuary.