THE last fortnight has been really settled and hot and our anglers have had some cracking sport with mixed fish.

The smoothhound fishing has been excellent with several fish reported over 15lb and plenty of small to medium fish are now showing up.

Most of these fish are falling for hermit or peeler crab baits fished on the bottom with a running ledger, these fish are slow growing and should be returned alive to ensure future healthy stocks.

Most of the thornbacks have moved offshore now but there are still a few in all areas, most of these fish are small which is good news for the future, they will take pretty much any bait fished hard on the bottom.

There are a few more bass showing up; the best this week was a cracking fish of 7lb caught by Harlow angler Rob Smith, this fish fell for a squid and rag cocktail.

Inshore is harder now as most of the thornbacks have moved off but there are still some bass, odd thornbacks, eels, smoothhounds and stingray to be caught.

The best baits inshore in the summer are ragworm and peeler crab.

Prospects are superb if this weather continues, there will be more smoothhounds showing up with the chance of a fish of a lifetime out there somewhere.