SEA FISHING: There seem to be small codling turning up on most of the region's beaches right now, lovely conditioned fish around the 30cm mark and, with luck, a good omen for next autumn.

Better fish have been a little harder to come by, although Mick 'Butch' Ellis found some in the Gorleston Tackle Open, securing a win with 2lb 8oz of flatties.

With 2lb 5oz, 2lb 3oz and 1lb 14oz making up the rest of the frame, and only 10oz separating fourth from first, it was a pretty close match.

There have been some nice codling from Trimingham again, with no consistency as usual. But Rob Allen was in the right place at the right time to snare a couple of lovely three pounders. Cromer has produced a few from the pier along with quite a few dogfish.

I fished Friday night at Cart Gap with a friend, just using fish baits and we managed to find a few dogfish, a flounder and a small huss.

The difference between greater (huss) and lesser spotted dogfish is not always obvious. The lesser spotted dogs have a flap of skin that joins their nostrils to their mouths whilst the greater spotted's mouths and nostrils are separated.

It's nice to use fish baits and get a few bites, and while fishing for dogfish there's always the chance of a shore caught ray. Now is the right time to give it a go.

The shingle has been quiet, with a couple of codling from the rough ground and odd pin whiting and flats.It should improve over the next few weeks though as the bass make their welcome return.

There have been a few codling amongst the tackle hungry features of Lowestoft north beach and plenty of those smaller fish mentioned earlier.

Pakefield, Kessingland and Benacre have been quiet aside from those small codling and odd school bass. It's a similar story at Aldeburgh and Orford, with shore sport quiet although dinghy anglers have found a few cod and thornback rays when they've been able to get out.

The forecast for the week ahead has the wind all over the place but predominantly in the southern quarter.

With building tides into the weekend we might see a few more bass about, particularly in the south of the patch.