After being cancelled twice, the Fraser’s Boat Competition eventually got under way on July 13th. A heavy northerly swell prevented boats from Amble leaving the harbour, but fortunately the mainstay leaving from the Tyne got out.
Lots of cod in the 6-12lb range had been apparent in recent weeks, and both private and charter boats found fish quickly on the day. This was a heaviest fish competition, with mackerel fillets widely employed to avoid the codling and hopefully tempt bigger ling. Unfortunately, cod were keen on the fish baits and tempting those big ling from the wrecks and reefs was no easy task. Cod aplenty came to the scales, with Bert Gray taking the day’s biggest at 12lb 6oz from his boat ‘Shady’.
Norman White and Terry Senior eventually weighed good ling of 13lb 11oz and 14lb respectively, only to be gazumped by last year’s winner Jason Bainbridge with 14lb 7oz ling taken off Sunderland. Once again the private boats faired best.
In the under 20ft section, Phil Ripon won with a cod of 8lb 11oz, followed by Arthur Smeaton with a 7lb 11oz cod. Two brave Kayak anglers took part, with a 10oz whiting enough for Mark Weighman to win this section. Perhaps the most notable capture was a 4lb 2oz halibut for Joe Winthorpe.
77 rods fished in the over 20ft category
6 rods fished in the under 20ft category
2 fished in the kayak section
