AFTER a quiet couple of weeks, the fishing has picked up well this week with increasing numbers of most species.

We have also seen a few mackerel for the first time and the fishing always improves when they show up.

There have been some big smoothies showing up in the shallow water, best reported at over 18lb last week and plenty of double figure fish, most of these fish are taking hermit or peeler crab as well as ragworm.

All should be returned alive as they have young inside.

There are a few more bass showing up with best on my boat at 7lb on Friday.

This fish was a personal best for Romford angler Paul Darcy and fell for a rag and squid cocktail.

There are a lot more thornbacks around this week with a good showing of 3-6lb fish in most of the offshore areas.

These fish will probably be around all summer now, best baits are fish, squid and ragworm.

Inshore has been hard with most of the fish moving well offshore, however, as we get into late summer the thornbacks and first whiting will start to show up again and the piers and shore marks will start to produce again.

Prospects are excellent and there are reports of more big smoothies showing along with thornbacks and bass.

If the water stays clear offshore there should be mackerel to be had.