Those who were out fishing late last Sunday may have been surprised by a big surge tide with water levels a metre or more above those expected, on what was a big tide anyway. Conditions were a bit interesting and the massive tidal range may possibly push good numbers of fish well up the local rivers.
Even in the flat conditions of late cod have shown from most areas in decent numbers with a late evening sessions producing the best results in the north of the region. The lower Tyne has been on top form with plenty of double figure bags reported lately. Further upriver, flounders and whiting dominate, with the odd bigger cod and coalie as a bonus. The river Wear also has a few decent cod showing with specimens to 6lb reported among lots of smaller whiting and coalfish. Some anglers however, are reporting lots of crab activity in the Wear.
The various beach and pier marks along the Durham shoreline and into Teesbay continue to produce mainly whiting, with the odd cod showing on bigger tides and from the low water marks where a big northerly sea is needed to shift the whiting and bring the cod back inshore. On some tides though, even a moderate surf has brought some fish within reach of the shore angler with Parton beach and Crimdon being productive.
Hartlepool O.M.A.C. had another super weigh in on Saturday night when nine out of 14 landed 275 fish, mainly whiting and dabs, with a single cod caught. Steve Wilson had the cod weighing 2lb 7oz and finished top followed by Toby Lee with a specimen whiting of 1½lb and Steve Sweeney with one of 1lb 7oz. Chris Smith had the heaviest bag with a whopping 55 fish totalling 43lb 10oz with runner-up Steve Gibbins weighing in 38lb 10oz. Third place went to Dave Littlewood with 36lb 12oz to pip Toby Lee on fish number count back. The next match is Saturday December 10th fishing from 7pm until midnight; the whiting had better watch out. The club have their AGM on January 7th
Ryhope A.C. saw a few cod showing off Roker pier during their last match. John Robson won with six whiting and a cod of 1.61kg, for a 3.28kg total. Bob Surtees finished second with three whiting, two cod and a flounder for 2.71kg. Junior Thomas Rutherford was third with seven whiting weighing 2.47kg and Mason Burton had the heaviest flatfish, a flounder of 0.37kg from the Tyne.
Cleadon A.C. saw 15 out of 31 find fish, mainly from the Tyne and South Shields Pier. Trevor Green however, fished the Wear to win with five fish weighing 8lb 7oz, Mark Shotton had six from the Tyne for 7lb 3oz and Paul Smith had 10 from South Shields Pier totalling 6lb 10oz. Alan Brigham took the heaviest fish prize with a cod of 4¼lb from Marsden. The South Shields monthly match saw all of the fish come from the pier where Mark Robson won with six fish weighing 8lb 3oz, Andrew Nickerson had five for 6 – 15lb and Steve Barnett had two totalling 1¾lb.
Steve Harper won a Tynemouth Winter League match with five cod and a coalie weighing exactly 10lb taken from the Fish Quay while second placed Glen Campbell had 10 whiting for 5lb 11oz from Blyth beach, and Dave Hayley finished third with a cod weighing 2 – 13lb and a coalfish for a total of 3lb 11oz. The Tynemouth Sunday match saw Alan Norman win with four cod and three whiting weighing 15¼lb taken from the High Shore. Steve Harper was back at the Fish Quay to land seven whiting and a cod for 10lb 14oz and Daryl Bell had two cod, the best weighing 5½lb, for a 6lb 14oz total from the same venue.
Bedlington Station A.C. also found plenty of cod in the lower Tyne with eight out of 14 weighing in 46lb. Steve Potts had 10 totalling 20lb 4oz from Haven Rocks; Zoltan had a single cod of 6lb from the Top Rocks, followed by Keith Armstrong with a single cod of 5lb.
Blyth beach produced some quality whiting for the last Seaton Sluice match. Mal McIntyre won with 12 weighing 9¾lb, Dave Crudass had a single cod of 6lb 12oz, and Chris Guthrie had 10 for 6lb 11oz.
A Northumberland Sea League match at Newbiggin saw Andrew Stanford win with five cod weighing 16lb 13oz, the best weighing 5lb 11oz, followed by Ritchie Douglas with 7lb 3oz.
Saturday December 10th sees the Bedlington Station Evening Open with fishing from 6.30pm until 10.30pm between Tynemouth pier and Amble pier. Entry is £12 all inclusive, register at The General Havelock, East Sleekburn from 4.30pm until 5.30pm. First prize is £250 plus a full supporting prize table.
Sunday December 11th is date for the Cloughton Open with fishing from 10am until 4pm between Skinningrove and Spurn Point Pilot Jetty. The weigh-in is at the Red Lion Cloughton from 4pm until 5pm. Basic entry is £10 seniors, £5 juniors, plus optional pools etc. First prize is £500 for the heaviest cod. Details from Chris 01723-515182 or Martyn 01723-871145
Sunday December 18th is the 14th Saltburn Sea Angling Open Shore Angling Championships fishing from 11am until 3pm between Paddy’s Hole South Gare to Whitby East Pier, (pier included), all rope access rock edge marks are prohibited as is Skinningrove Pier. Basic entry is £10 all classes which includes the heaviest fish pool. Register at the Spa Hotel Saltburn from 9am. Weigh in from 3.30pm until 4.15pm. Details B. Westgarth 01325-720113, P. Race 01642-478351
