BEACH FISHING: The past week has seen a return to unsettled and at times stormy weather around the region. There seems to have been little respite from the freezing temperatures as we move into March.

The past week has seen a return to unsettled and at times stormy weather around the region.

There seems to have been little respite from the freezing temperatures as we move into March. The forecast for the week ahead holds some promise for some brighter weather at least, though we are set to continue with the hard frosts. Extended daylight hours are never a bad thing, and I'm hopeful that we'll start to see a slow but steady improvement on the beaches over the next few weeks.

Around the region though, the consistently poor returns continue. Only the North Norfolk shingle has produced anything in the way of numbers of fish, with most anglers managing a few dabs and flounders when conditions are favourable.

Down the coast a little, between Sheringham and Yarmouth, sport has been very slow with the few anglers fishing catching even fewer fish. These beaches seem to be the worst affected by the cold: there's more sand exposed to the freezing temperatures with each tide cycle than the rest of the region's beaches and this seems to have had an effect on the natural food sources the fish are looking for.

Yarmouth to Lowestoft hasn't faired much better. Paul Blyth fished Lowestoft south pier for a couple of flats and a pout despite a concerted effort to get as much bait in the water as he could with his ten hook flappers. Reports from below Lowestoft have been consistent with the rest of the region, with only occasional flats, pouting and pin whiting reported from Walberswick, Dunwich and Southwold.

You might hope to find some sport in the relative warmth and shelter of the regions deep water venues of Aldeburgh and Orford. But judging by the reports it's not to be and these venues are producing small fish in small numbers in line with the rest of the region's beaches.

If we are to have a spring run of codling this year, it shouldn't be long in starting and, as the days get a little longer, the extra daylight should start to trigger changes on the beaches which can only be for the better.