THE summer fishing has really sparked into life, with a lot more varied species turning up.

There are a lot more bass showing up in all areas, with most boats seeing some over the weekend.

The biggest reported was on the Sophie Lea.

Although this fish was lost at the surface, it was well over 10lb.

These beautiful, hard-fighting fish will take most fish baits, especially mackerel and squid.

There are more smooth-hounds showing up offshore.

These smaller males arrive first, followed by the bigger females later.

The best baits for these super sport fish are crab and ragworm, although they will take other baits.

There were reports of mackerel off the piers last weekend, when the water was clearer.

Once the May bloom clears from the water - which will be soon - we should be into the mackerel, which are everyone’s favourite fish.

There are some cracking dabs around and we were catching them two at a time last week, using small hooks with lugworm baits.

These lovely little flatfish are widespread around the Thames Estuary and are easy to catch.

The best baits are lugworm and ragworm.

There are lots of thornbacks, both in and offshore.

The inshore fish have mostly spawned and will move off by June.

However, the offshore fish will stay in the Estuary all summer.

Prospects are superb, with all our summer fish turning up on time.