Rough seas continued to keep the main mackerel shoals offshore for most of last week but when conditions allow fish have been reported from most of the regions piers with some anglers reporting up to five or six of these early fish during early morning sessions from Roker pier. Cod up to 3lb are starting to show from the Northumberland rock edge marks around Seahouses, Beadnell, and Dunstanburgh Castle and those anglers spinning for mackerel and pollack continue to pick up the odd smaller cod to 2lb on lures and jelly worms. There are now plenty of fish in all of the local river estuaries with quality flounders showing in all of them on most tides as well as large numbers of mainly small coalfish and cod, particularly in the Tyne. S.B.R.A.A.C. had a catch and release match in Blyth harbour and found plenty of coalfish present. Gary Wilson had twenty-six for 575cm to take top spot, In second Kevin Moffat had twenty-four for 518cm just ahead of Steve Alexander who had twenty-four for 516cm. This week’s Amble Summer League match saw some quality flounders taken from the river Aln where Michael Connor won with four for 3lb 2oz, best 1lb 5oz. Ash Gray had three for 1lb 14oz and Eddy Ide had three for 1lb 11oz to finish second and third respectively.
The Tynemouth Summer League match fished at Seahouses saw some nice mixed bags taken from the kelp beds where Paul Gallen won with four coalfish, a pollack and a cod for 7lb 10oz. Joint runner-up Dave Hayley had a single cod for 3lb 9lb to tie with Dave Keeler who had two coalfish and one pollack and Neil Garner finished fourth with a cod of 1lb 9oz.
The last Tynemouth retired members match saw Tony Taylor win with two coalfish for 3lb, best 1¾lb and Dave Bentley had two dabs and a flounder for 2lb 5oz, all taken from Tynemouth pier.
For those of you who travel over to S.W.Scotland to fish please note that due to unacceptable behaviour by visiting “anglers”, the marks at East and West Tarbet on the Mull of Galloway have been closed by the land owner, and there will be no parking or camping allowed. Problems have persisted for several years, the landowner has been very sympathetic to visitors, and it’s amazing that action was not taken sooner.
The Amble Summer Open is on Sunday July 18th with fishing from 12.30 till 16.30 between Seahouses South pier (excluded) and Lynemouth pipe. All rivers are excluded and all piers are excluded except for Amble pier which is reserved for disabled anglers only. Basic entry is £10, juniors under sixteen are free if accompanied by a paying adult. There is a £600 prize table plus guaranteed prizes for the top two heaviest bags, heaviest roundfish and heaviest flatfish, other prizes depend on entry. Weigh in at the Radcliffe Club from 4.30 till 5.30. Contact Jim 01665-711007 for details.
