The biting Siberian easterly winds have relented, temperatures are rising and the North Sea codling are back within casting range from the shore.The majority of these round fish appear to be the non-spawning samples up to 3lb apiece, with the odd better specimen to 6lb among them, writes Roy Webster.

The biting Siberian easterly winds have relented, temperatures are rising and the North Sea codling are back within casting range from the shore.

The majority of these round fish appear to be the non-spawning samples up to 3lb apiece, with the odd better specimen to 6lb among them, writes Roy Webster.

Even so, Town beaches north and south of the harbour are producing a hefty crop of pan-sized fish with reports of after- dark anglers bagging a dozen fish a session, even though suspended weed has proved troublesome.

Much further south along the Suffolk shoreline massive cod shoals have been responsive from both beach and pier with reports of individual returns of up to a score of fish taken at night, and half that number coming on decent tides during daylight from marks all the way down to Dunwich and Aldeburgh.

These early spring arrivals almost certainly will remain inshore until early May, and with north-westerly winds forecast for the weekend beach anglers can expect to be suitably rewarded for their �20 investment on lugworm bait.

Match anglers making the journey to the Holt Beach Open at Kelling this weekend (entry 07786188606) will catch few codling and the main match- winning species are likely to be quality flounders, dabs and the odd whiting.

On the freshwater scene, coarse fish anglers have noted a welcome upturn in sport on the popular venues and the Stalham Club visiting their boatyard lagoons ended their day with all 19 members weighing in satisfactory catches of mainly skimmer bream.

The top three were Mick Brown 8lb 12oz, Roger Farmer 7lb 13oz, Dave Egerton 7lb 11oz.

One huge match carp of 18lb 7oz earned Barry Rilings top honours at the Jolly Boys' outing to Barford, the next two Lee Arnold 8lb 13oz, Mick Bunn 8lb 8oz.

The Barford open event was won by Paul Gardiner (Browning Pownalls) with 32lb 8oz followed by Jolly Boy Ray Kent with 11lb 5oz.

Another Pownalls squad man Tony Anderson was runner-up in the Barford Silverfish event with 36lb 4oz of bream, just 1lb adrift of Image winner Steve Clarke.