WE seem to be slipping quietly into autumn, with the codling and whiting catches slowly increasing from beaches, boats and piers.

We also still have all the summer species being caught, too.

The charter boat Sophie Lea reported one of its best months during August, given the amount of species being caught.

It was one of the best bass runs for many years, although not that many were into double figures.

The new bass regulation is three per angler and a size limit of 42cm.

The August run of smoothhounds has been particularly good, with many double-figure hounds being caught.

However, weed has been a big problem.

The tope fishing has been good, with fish to 45lbs.

However, the distance to travel to catch them and fuel costs have made it difficult.

It has also been a good season for stingrays, which has made up for a few lean years, when hardly any of these giants were caught.

The thornback rays are still with us and will be until the water temperature drops, but they will never be far away and a few will still be caught throughout the year.

Clacton Boat Club member Dave Hollands has been out again this week and told me the hounds were much bigger this week, with fish into double figures and three really big hounds that broke the line, with most of the fish caught on squid baits.

The beach and pier angler hasn’t missed out this week, either, but most fish have been on the small side.

However, there have been plenty of bites.

After dark has seen a few bigger bass in the 3lb to 4lb range from the beaches and the odd thornback ray, plus early autumn whiting.

Clacton Pier seems to be the hotspot this week, with rays and codling showing well.

Matt Clark fished a daytime tide here and caught three rays to 6.5lbs.

At the beginning of the week, Matt Stewart also had a ray and a plump autumn codling.

The night tides are seeing more whiting being caught and some codling. The Clacton and Holland beaches have had a fairly quiet week, although sole have been caught after dark and also the odd bass and ray.

My trip this week was to Walton Pier and small fish seemed to be the order of the day.

With rising temperatures and sunshine, it was not really conducive to great fishing.

I fished an ebb tide and whiting were my main catch, with double shots on most casts and one solitary pollack.

Jeremy Howard fished the top of the pier towards the end of the week and managed to catch a small stingray.

The Walton and Frinton beaches have also been fishing on the slow side this week, with just a few sole and bass being caught.

The tides for the weekend are 12.06pm on Saturday and 12.54pm on Sunday.