SEA FISHING: The north of the region is still holding the upper hand with lots of bass and occasional smoothounds showing over the last week.

I fished last Wednesday at Bacton with Karl Gibson, both of us managing a few school bass, the biggest just shy of 2lb in a flat and clear sea.

The last couple of days have seen the winds swing round again and put a little colour and life back into the sea and sure enough the bass responded.

Karl fished again on Monday morning and was rewarded with a stunning east Norfolk fish at Trimingham, the biggest I've seen so far this year at 9lb 4oz, tantalisingly close to the magic double.

Karl returned the fish, bass this size are old fish and breeding stock, those school bass between 1.5 and 3lb taste much better.

Holt SAC's latest match on the shingle at Kelling produced some good weights and surprisingly not made up of bass and hounds.

Bill Beeton won the match with 7lb 5oz, made up largely of bass at 3lb 2oz and 3lb 10oz.

Mike Watts, back after a weekend off, took second spot with 5lb 6oz of flounders and dabs with Sheringham ace Tony Thomas backing up the win last week with 3lb 1oz for third, again flatties making up his catch.

Bass and flats have been the mainstay of catches from the shingle round to Yarmouth with school bass showing on most beats with odd fish to 4-5lb not uncommon.

Mayweed has been reported from Yarmouth round to Lowestoft, whether this bloom has put the fish off a bit I don't know but the stretch doesn't seem to be producing as consistently as its northerly neighbour.

Anglers trying for early sole south of Lowestoft have not found too many with only odd slips that I've heard of.

There is plenty of time yet and, if conditions stay flat with a bit of colour in the water, it will not be too long before the likes of Southwold, Sizewell and Dunwich produce a few.

Not much has been reported from Aldeburgh and Orford, though I should think there are chances of sole along the wall and some huge bass turn up there from time to time.

The wind does not seem to know what to do this week, though I note there's a bit of south-east due which may break up the mayweed around Lowestoft.

It could be worth a chuck south of Yarmouth if it puts a bit of sea on.