You didn't need to be Mystic Meg to know that there would be a few on the beach over at the weekend. The tides were bigger and better with ebb into darkness in the east and high water in the dark further south, perfect after the little stir-up we'd had.

The fish responded too with some reasonable bass reported from Cromer down to Orford, even a few nice ones on the Wash coast too. The north Norfolk shingle was a little slower though, pleasure anglers reporting a few school bass but mostly small dabs.

Holt SAC fished for the Sid Ernie Cup at Kelling last Saturday. Turnout was down probably due to the Gorleston Tackle open the following day and City at home. Sheringham ace Tony Thomas took the top spot with two fish for 11oz. John Neave was second with 8oz and Pete Loke third with 3oz. The North Norfolk Sea League teams of five starts at Bacton on October 14. Anybody wishing to enter a team or wanting a team place should call Tony on 01263 822400 or Holt SAC on 07899 032984. There is no league joining fee.

I had hoped to fish over the weekend but work and a shortage of bait put paid to my plans.

There were some good fish caught locally with bass to 3.5lb. Trimingham, Bacton and Walcott all produced a few school bass and whitings.

Further round at Yarmouth and the above mentioned Gorleston Open was fished between the wreck and Hopton.

I don't have the full results but Richard Burt won it, with mark Gooch in second and Gary Medler in third. Catches were made up of whiting and dabs with a couple of small hounds too.

I would have thought there would have been a codling or too caught given the quality competing.

Lowestoft down to Orford has been similar with whiting and flats making up the bulk of catches though there have been a few small codling in the rough stuff at Lowestoft and in the very deep south.

It's only a matter of time now before they should start to appear more regularly in catches further north.