ONCE again, the weather seems to be against us.

Although not particularly cold, we’re still being buffeted by high winds and usually at the weekends when everyone wants to go fishing!

Storm Imogen has now hit us, although, thank goodness, not at the magnitude it was over the Atlantic.

It has been another pretty poor week, with boats unable to launch on most days. Those that have found a break in the weather have reported that the thornback rays are still feeding.

The water temperature is still way above what it should be for this time of year and this is probably the reason why those rays haven’t moved into deeper waters.

Unfortunately, we still have large shoals of sprats and herrings in the Thames Estuary, which are adding to the problem regarding our lack of cod.

Walton Sea Angling Club held their latest match on the Frinton beaches, on probably our only calm night of the week.

They fished over the top of high water and the first of the ebb tide.

The fishing was slow to start, but, as the tide began to run, the fish started to feed.

Mostly small fish were caught – whiting, rockling, dabs and flounders.

First place went to Rob Tuck, with 2lb 13oz, second to Richard Burt, with 1lb 14oz, and third to Doug Sadler, with 1lb 10oz.

The heaviest fish prize went to Richard Burt, with an 11oz flounder.

Walton Pier is also seeing lots of small fish being caught – whiting, dabs and the odd thornback ray showing from the top of the pier.

There are still no reports of the elusive codling.

The Walton beaches are fishing much the same as the pier.

I had a trip to Burnt House breakwater and, to be honest, the fishing wasn’t brilliant, but I was kept occupied by lots of small whiting and dabs.

The Holland beaches have seen a few small bass being caught and this shows how warm the water still is.

Whiting and a few flounders seem to be the mainstay here.

Clacton Pier has also had a slow week, with just a few small whiting, dabs and flounders.

The month of February is never a great month and we will always have the weather against us.

This, combined with the sprat and herring shoals, really puts us in the doldrums.

Things can only get better – and they will. By the end of this month we’ll see the spring codling feeding.

Perhaps it’s a time to service those reels and make some rigs for the impending run of fish that will surely arrive very soon.

If you have any fishing reports you can contact me at popplewell1@btinternet.com The weekend tides are 3.09pm on Saturday and 3.55pm on Sunday.