Settled condition over the last several days brought the mackerel back inshore. Some big bags taken from local piers, with Roker particularly productive. Roker and the lower Wear have also seen lots of just undersize coalfish showing. Small cod also moving inshore in increasing numbers with late evening tides and night sessions at low water marks best. The lower Tyne and South Shields pier for smaller cod, while Roker pier has produced 3 pounders on night tides after the mackerel anglers have gone. The Hartlepool piers and Durham beaches gave mixed bags of whiting, cod, coalfish, flounders, dabs, and plaice on mainly worm and mackerel baits. Good numbers of size whiting present, with Steetly Pier producing some big mixed bags.
The Wear has late season quality flounders from Panns Bank up to Hylton, with the Timber Beach a popular mark. Lots of small coalfish evident in the middle river.
The Tyne still popular for match anglers, with the upper river giving good bags of flounders and eels to ragworm and crab.
Plenty of cod showed at the last Newbiggin A.C. match where Billy Foster won with 6 cod for 8 – 07lb from the Private Beach. Bob Ferguson had 3 cod, best 4 – 05lb, and 1 coalfish from the Beacons for 7 – 13lb. Willy Emery had 3 cod for 7 – 05lb, and top junior Tyler Foster had 8 flounders for 3 – 12lb.
Hartlepool Pirates fished their first Winter League match on Friday with 2 managing to find fish in difficult conditions with heavy seas and loose weed. Bill Bradley had a mixed bag of 6 whiting, 3 cod (best 1 – 09lb) and 2 dabs for 7 – 11lb. Dave Robinson had 3 whiting, 1 cod, and 1 flounder for 4 – 04lb. Next match is Friday September 25th fishing from 7pm till 12pm.
The last Ryhope Tuesday evening sweepstake saw 20 anglers fishing at Panns Bank. Barry Stowells had a good session taking the top two places with flounders of 1 – 09lb, and 1 – 05lb. Gary Warwick and Andy Rutherford tied, each with flounders of 1 – 00lb. The Ryhope sweepstake will have a short break until the next match on Tuesday September 29th. The next Ryhope club match is on Sunday September 20th fishing from 2pm till 6pm. Contact Bob Surtees on 0191- 5237272 for details of both.
Eastenders sweepstake at Panns Bank saw 14 anglers land 38 flounders, 9 coalfish, 3 eels, 1 whiting, 1 cod, and 1 shad. Jim Dobie won with 5 fish for 146cm, Chris Hossack had 98cm, Lee Burton had 97cm, and Ernie Hunter had 95cm. Phil Wright had the longest fish with a shad of 39cm.
East End and Hendon sweepstake saw all the top three anglers fishing the Fish Quay where Barry Robson had a flounder of 1 – 06lb, Jimmy Gardner had a flounder of 1 – 04lb, and Tommy Tate had one of 1 – 03lb.
Eastenders open on Saturday was fished at the Timber Beach with 14 anglers weighing in 62 flounders and 1 eel. Steve Rackstraw won with a superb flounder of 2 – 03lb, Ernie Hunter had one of 1 – 09lb, Chris Stringer had 1 – 08lb, and Jim Dobie and Brian Turnbull tied each with 1 – 07lb. Jim Dobie had the heaviest bag with 6 fish for 6 – 09lb.
Eastenders also had an open on Sunday at Panns Bank with all anglers again landing fish. Andy Rutherford had 6 for 161cm, Leno Fenech had 143cm, Bill Jackson had 134cm, and Micky Sopp had 133cm. Junior angler Thomas Rutherford had the longest fish with a flounder of 37cm.
Seaham A.C. fished on Sunday for the Treasurers Cup with 22 out of 53 weighing in 52 cod, coalfish, whiting, and flounders for 35.13lb. Henry Hogwood won with 3 fish for 3.53lb, best 1.59lb. Andy Byrom had 5 fish for 3.00lb, George Hope had 4 for 2.79lb, and Dean Monarch had 5 for 2.77lb.
Sunderland S.A.A. fished Sunday with 6 out of 11 each landing single flounders. Paul Robinson had the best at 1 – 04lb, and Alan Walker and Bill Gamblin tied on 1 – 02lb.
Tynemouth A.C. fished for the Billy Elliott Trophy with 16 out of 26 landing fish. Large numbers of small cod were reported in the area. Dave Hayley won with 4 whiting, 3 cod, best 4 – 12lb, and 2 dabs for a 9 – 11lb total taken from the pier. Dave Sloan fished the sandbank to land 5 cod, best 3 – 12lb, for 8 – 03lb, and Doug Spivey fished the Pipe to take 4 cod for 5 – 09lb.
South of the Tees, the first St. Mary’s A.C. winter match saw 13 out of 18 weigh in. Mick Smith had 9 whiting and 3 dabs for 6 – 02lb, Andy Burton had 9 whiting and 4 dabs for 5 – 09lb, and Emma Miller had 2 eels, best 1 – 07lb, and 2 flounders for 2 – 14lb.
Redcar Navy and Gentlemans Club saw 3 out of 12 land fish. Frank Harrison had 6 bass, best 38cm, and Dave Allinson also had 6 bass, best 34cm.
Coming up: Sunday September 20th sees the first of the big winter open matches with the Whitley Bay Open fishing from 9am till 1pm between Amble Pier and the Ice House in the Tyne. Register at the Whitley Bay Holiday Park next to St. Mary,s Island from 7.30am till 8.30am, weigh in from 1.30pm till 2.30pm. Basic entry is £12, juniors are free and must be accompanied by an adult. Main prizes are £500, £250, and £100 for the heaviest bags, and £300, £200, and £100 for the heaviest fish. There are special prizes for 20th and 50th places, plus the usual supporting prize table. *Note that this is also the date of the Great North Run, so expect severe traffic disruption in the area. Looking further ahead, the Whitley Bay Evening Open is on Saturday December 5th fishing for 8pm till 1am. More details later.
