THIS last fortnight has seen some really unsettled weather and cancelled trips but luckily we have managed to get most days in and the fishing has been excellent both inshore and offshore.

The bigger smoothounds are arriving with the best at 15lb last Sunday on our boat caught by Kevin Rolfe, from Maldon.

These big females are coming in the estuary to spawn and must be returned alive to ensure future stocks for all.

The best baits are hermit crab but soft and peeler crabs are as good and also ragworm or a combination of any of these baits.

There are plenty of small to medium hounds turning up and these fish will also take all crab baits fished hard on the bottom.

There are a lot more bass around both inshore and offshore, the smaller fish take lug and rag baits while the bigger solitary fish prefer a squid or fresh mackerel chunk but will still take a worm bait as well.

There are still good numbers of thornbacks inshore and with the females still spawning they will probably stay in for a few more weeks yet.

There are a few codling along the North Essex coastline, we had a dozen cod over 2lb on Monday close in when it was too windy to get off anywhere else.

Prospects are excellent with good numbers of bigger hounds and bass showing up so make the most of it and get out there.