In the Spring most beach anglers will be targeting the new arrivals which Spring brings to most of our coastal shores.

Some areas will see a Spring run of Cod, definitely not as prolific as the Autumn run or the Spring runs of years gone by. Even so, if you live in an area that does have good runs of Cod in the Autumn, then you should try some of the same marks that produce in the Autumn. Probably, you will have most luck if you try deep water marks over big tides.

Being Spring crab is possibly the best bait to use, either on its own or in combination with lug or rag. These Spring runs tend to be short in duration so pick your tides well with a rule of thumb being, the bigger the tide the better.

Another welcome visitor is the Silver Eel. Theses are often caught at low water and around the low water mark. The baits that eels love are fresh crab or, in its absence, fresh lug. Use a long trace with a small hook, a number two kamasam is probably best for conditions all around the country.

Keep a sharp eye open for the slightest knock of the rod tip as normally Eels are shy when taking a bait. Often the first thing an angler knows when an Eel has been at his bait is that his snood is all slimed up and twisted. One way to stop this is to offset your hooks.

Spring sees many fish, such as Flounders and Dabs, depart our shores, but in their place come the beautiful Plaice. Over the weeks approaching Summer, as the Plaice move in, the waters tend to clear providing them with the opportunity to use their good sight to deadly effect. With this in mind you need to make you baits as visual as possible. The use of beads and sequins just above the bait, on the snood line, are old favourites. One new method is to use luminous pop-up beads, which are hollow, keep an eye open for them in your tackle shop. These are very popular as they not only give a visual stimulus to the fish they also add movement to your bait which the keen eyed Plaice will hopefully be attracted to. Your visual attractors should be mounted above the bait on longish snoods, once again giving good movement in big tides. Rag worm is the popular bait for Plaice as well as crab and, in some areas, sand-eel don't forget to also try mussel. You can try mussel in a cocktail with your other baits but it is important to leave a tail of rag worm hanging from the hook, the movement this gives makes the bait look natural.

Spring also sees Bass making a reappearance. You could try for them now but, unless the water temperature has risen it is probably best to wait until later.

These general tips should put you in with a chance, but don't ignore local advice, which is a good reason to join a club. Your local tackle shop should point you in the right direction, but failing this contact the National Federation of Sea Anglers on 01626 331330, who will be able to let you know of clubs in your area.