What a crap week we've had this week ,took a couple of days off this week but am afraid the others were forced on me by the weather.whch certainly doesn't make this job easy .we've shelved the friday night trip for two weeks [That's weather permitting]. I did go Saturday but in all honesty wish I hadn't bothered .Last year we did find a few smooth hounds round the Ray sands but it was a month later.It was one of the few places weather permitted us to go and quite frankly it was a waste of time the fish just weren't there .Sunday took out Maldon club eight were booked one cried off and two were a bit worried about being thrown about and decided against coming so off we set with five anglers,I did say it might be a bit rough on the rest of the ebb untill about eleven and I was about right ,not as rough as I had anticipated but fish able and we had several hounds .Both ebb and flood fished well .No other species but for one bass. As I have said before hounds are about sport and tagging and we had both .We tagged quite a lot both starry and common hounds and we have lost a few big beasts .There were several doubles and the biggest easily in excess of 17lbs didn't quite make the net before it roared off but we did see it .I don't think there is any advantage in going for the tope now, bit like chasing ghosts but there are some good hounds to be had.and the odd bass.we haven't really targeted the skate as we have mainly fished hermit crab bait.The five who fished Sunday all caught decent hounds I wished the other two had come .I think they would have been ok but its one of those positions you are put in,I just cant guarantee conditions so the decision had to be theirs.Will put the pictures on asap still having problems with my Sony Camera seems terminal so we have resorted to the phone camera.Weve got a few trips this week weather permitting so lets hope for some more decent hounds cheers Dave.