what a week its been,despite trying it still seems like the river has been the best place ! Monday tried going off to Clacton with a group of five anglers cod fishing inshore was very slow a last ditch attempt to salvage a day resulted in five skate.

After yesterday we decided the safest option was the river and I think all aboard were glad.We ended up with about 20 codling on the boat but by far the best fish of the day and the best in this area for many a year was a Bass of 14lbs 2oz on squid and lug cocktail .caught by Alan Godden,Alan also had two nice cod of 6lbs and 7lbs and dropped another of 6lbs, also caught were many whiting . All credit to Alan for doing the right thing the fish was weighed photographed and returned and hopefully this will be rewarded via the shimano catch and release scheme. Unfortunately another dingy angler is reported to have captured a similar fish at the priory and dispatched it .If this was the same fish all I can say is the pleasure we gave you by returning this fish you have now denied some one else . It will more than likely taste like crap I hope so, Its old its tough and was good breeding stock.Anyway enough said .

Wednesday saw a group of anglers from Brentwood total of 15 codling were taken along with a good selection of whiting and a decent dab .

Friday Steve flint paid us a visit and again we managed a few cod and whiting and one dab nothing big but a few for the pot

Saturday was the same a group from the bury St Edmund's area joined us again .what we couldn't give them the end of the day herring /bass feathering experience [water too coloured ]but they certainly managed a bumper few bags of codling and whiting and again one nice dab .

Sunday we went we tried we failed well not quite what we wanted we had plenty of whiting about 10 smallish codling and a couple of dog fish , We went off to Clacton and also tried the deep water in the Swin ,The odd better cod have been caught but alas they are few and far between ,even the beaches have reported cod to 10lbs but that saying there have been more disappointed anglers than not.The recognized size limit for the codling is 35 cm [about 14.5 inches] we have been fishing to an 18 inch size and then even some of those have been returned. After the sprats they should put on over a pound? any way all the best another week ahead cheers dave