FEBRUARY has come around so quickly and still without any bad weather.

In fact, with temperatures reaching 12 degrees, we're definitely whizzing through those traditional bad winter months.

Sea temperatures are a couple of degrees up on the norm for this time of the year and this can mean a lot to get those fish feeding.

The boats have seen some windy days, when the fishing was difficult.

However, on the whole, for February, it has been pretty good, with thornback rays now showing well, along with dogfish and the odd bass, too.

Colchester Sea Angling Club headed out on Chris Moles’ charter boat, Enterprise, from Mersea for their River Championships.

They certainly had a day to remember.

Some heavyweight rays were caught.

In fact, they landed 192lbs of fish between them.

All fish were weighed and released, with dogfish and whiting also added to the mix.

First place went to Mel Jarmin, with 55lbs, and in second spot was John Glover, with 30.8ozs.

In third was Kevin Willimott (30lbs) while the heaviest fish, a thornback ray of 13lbs, was caught by Ray Hempstead.

Most of the boats have seen similar catches, with rays, dogfish and the odd early-spring bass showing.

Reports from the beaches have been hit and miss.

To be honest, there really aren't many anglers fishing.

Daniel Rotchell fished the Holland beaches and reported that only a few small whiting were feeding, which isn’t unusual for this time of the year.

Clacton Pier has also had a fairly quiet time but rays and dogfish will be showing in the next few weeks.

The Walton Pier Fishing Club fished the stem of the pier on a cold and breezy day but still 16 anglers turned out.

Sizeable fish were at a premium but whiting, dabs, rockling and a single bass were caught.

Top spot went to Peter Harris, with 2lb.8.5oz.

In second was Joe Marvell, with 1lb 7.5oz, and in third Dan Winter, with 1lb 1.5oz.

Walton Sea Angling Club also fished the pier for their evening match.

They fished in slightly better conditions, with just a slight breeze and drizzle.

The top angler on the night was Rob Tuck, with 16 fish for 112 points.

Second place went to Phil Wringer, with 12 fish for 85 points, and third to Steve Simpson, with 12 fish for 74 points.

The heaviest fish prize went to Vic Pearce, with a 27cm whiting.

Deans Tackle and Guns in Clacton (01255 425992) are running a friendly beach open on the Clacton/Holland beaches on Sunday, February 23.

The draw will be from Deans Tackle shop in Pallister Road, Clacton, from 9.30am until 11am.

The fishing will then be from 12pm until 4pm.

Entry is £5 (plus £120 optional pools).

It is in aid of the charity Oakley’s Gift, which raises funds for bereavement rooms where families can stay with their loved ones while in hospital.

My trip this week was to fish the Paxmans Club Lake at St Osyth.

I thought that as the beach fishing was on the slow side I would get the coarse angling rods out and have a fish for the carp.

I fished a feeder rod close to the far bank reeds with corn on a size 12 hook.

The first couple of hours were slow, without much action, but finally the carp found my three balls of ground bait that I had put in earlier and started to feed until just before dusk.

It looks like I could be back there again next week.

The high tides for the weekend are 11.30am on Saturday and 12.14pm on Sunday.