SEA FISHING: Sport eased slightly through the last week, due in no small part to the cold winds, though there were still plenty of bass about for those braving the winds.

Sport eased slightly through the last week, due in no small part to the cold winds, though there were still plenty of bass about for those braving the winds.

Hunstanton yielded a lot of school bass in the week, the Wash benefiting from being in the lee of the easterlies that we saw.

Along with the bait caught bass there were some lure caught fish too for those fishing from kayaks a little way offshore. The shingle continued with a bit of form and most stretches yielded a few fish.

I fished Sheringham myself last Friday and managed a lovely conditioned spring bass of around 3.5lb, though aside from a dab and a pout that was it. It was noticeable also that once the tide eased your line was getting covered in the brown gloop that usually signals the start of the annual May weed bloom.

At Cromer large numbers of bass have been taken at the pier, most of these have fallen to lures and anglers using bait have struggled.

The beaches from Cromer round to Yarmouth have been consistent too, with a few bass showing on most venues. Trimingham has again been the pick of the bunch with several nice fish caught between 6lb and 8lb.

The beats from Yarmouth through to Lowestoft have produced school bass, pouts and flatfish, there are still a few smoothound pups showing off Lowestoft South pier, but I haven't seen or heard of any sole coming off there yet. Same goes for Southwold, school bass, pouts and whiting making up most of the catches with some lure caught fish in the river too but no sole yet, though the forecast is right for them. Dunwich, Aldeburgh and Orford have been relatively quiet with only a few school bass, pouts and codling.

A group of anglers had a boat trip aboard Goldrush out of Leverington. The skipper did his job well and found the friends some super sport.

Smoothounds to 20lb, thornback rays to 11lb and some cod just shy of double figures found their way to the boat with all anglers managing something of a decent size and plenty of dogfish to fill the gaps between the better fish. I would expect to see a few more out boating over the coming week as the wind eases and the sun comes out. For us beach anglers though the best chances are going to be at night as the water is likely to clear out completely.

Best chances for a big bass I think are the beaches from Yarmouth to Cromer whilst the best chances for some consistent sport would still be the shingle.