There are still mackerel showing from the Region’s piers for those that are not tired of them as yet and are willing to put in the effort with good numbers showing from most venues. As with previous weeks lures and float fished baits have produced bonus pollack, coalies and decent codling. The piers at Roker and South Shields have both seen the better catches of pollack and coalfish. Those anglers arriving after the mackerel anglers have departed and fishing the early night time tides have seen better cod to 6lb landed among the huge shoals of whiting. A little bit of movement on the sea has seen cod and whiting showing from most beach marks with the odd surprise bass and plaice among them. The rivers Tyne and Wear both have plenty of smaller fish taking ragworm and mackerel baits while crab has taken the bigger flounder, coalfish and cod.
The Northumberland rock edges have seen a lot of smaller cod move inshore lately though the odd better fish approaching 10lb are also starting to show. The final Whitley Bay summer league match saw Steve Williams win with three cod for a total of 11lb 13oz, the best of which was a lovely red kelp cod of 9lb 9oz. Second placed Chris Potts had four totalling 7lb 14oz, and Ian Hall finished third with 5½lb. Geoff King was overall league winner with a total of 39lb 15oz; a fine aggregate weight from the rock edges north of the Tyne.
Most clubs have started their winter season now and the Tyne and Wear are popular venues as it is almost impossible not to catch at least a few flounders. Ian Greenacre won a Blyth match in the Tyne with five whiting and three flounders weighing 3lb 13oz, while runner-up Dave Carss fished the rock edges at Newbiggin to land three cod for 3lb 7oz. Andy Stamford won a Seaton Sluice match with a bag of 5lb 10oz, followed by Dave Crudas with three for 3½lb. Cleadon A.C. had their first winter match with a lot of members heading for South Shields pier to take advantage of the late evening whiting and coalfish which however did not show in the expected numbers. Paul Fenwick fished Johnsons to land a nice early cod of 4lb 10oz, Norman Spour had a mixed bag of whiting and coalfish for 3lb 9oz and Steve Gordon had a similar bag weighing 2lb 14oz. Chris Hossack won the last Ryhope Tuesday evening sweepstake with a cod of 2lb 10oz from Roker pier. Ryhope A.C. start their winter league on Saturday September 29th fishing from 2pm until 6pm. Contact Bob Surtees 0191 5237272 for details.
There are plenty of species showing from Tynemouth pier and the lower Tyne on most tides. Steve Harper won a Tynemouth Sunday match from the Sandbar with a mixed bag of coalfish, whiting, cod and plaice for a total weight of 12¼lb. Kenny Patterson had a similar bag of 9¾lb from the Fish Quay, and Steve Elliott had 3lb 10oz from the pier. A Tynemouth retired members match saw Bob Gascoigne win with 3lb 5oz, followed by Mick Styles with a single flounder of 1¼lb. Twelve year old angler Cameron Dean landed a very rare shore caught haddock of 2¾lb from South Shields pier during a recent session, the second heaviest ever recorded from the region.
Blyth beach produced the flounders for Seaton Burn A.C. where Mick Roper won with six weighing in at 4lb 1oz, ahead of John Adamson with 3lb 2oz.
The winter season of open matches is starting this month and Sunday September 16th sees the Seaton Sluice open fishing from 8.30am until 12.30pm between Tynemouth pier and Seahouses South pier. Basic entry is £10 plus optional £2 heaviest fish sweep. Juniors under 16 years are free if accompanied by a paying adult. First prize is £500 for the heaviest bag, the heaviest fish is for first and second with 100% payout, and there are also three prizes starting at £100 for the best flatfish. Register at the Bank House club Newbiggin from 6.30am, with the weigh in from 12.45pm until 2.45pm. This is a Penn points match, more details Mick 07974369897. Looking slightly further ahead the Bedlington Station open is on Sunday November 18th.
