Just when the mackerel were starting to move inshore again another period of easterly winds roughed the sea up and off they went out into the deeper water. Previous to this unsettled spell the local piers were producing double figure bags to lures and float tactics. Whilst mackerel will stay local until the end of September, given favourable conditions, the thoughts of most anglers will now be turning to the coming winter season which should be productive as there are large numbers of smaller cod and coalfish all along the north east coast. Coalfish numbers are at their highest for several years and cod numbers are improving after a few unproductive winters. The rivers Tyne and Wear both have large numbers of mainly smaller cod and coalfish present but fish around the 30cm to 35cm mark are starting to show and match anglers are weighing in double figure bags with fresh crab the essential bait. Most clubs have now finished their summer league matches and have started their winter season. As soon as any movement hits the beaches cod are moving inshore north of the Tyne where Tynemouth and Whitley Bay beaches are producing good numbers of cod up to 4lb for those in the right place at the right time. The Durham beaches and Teesbay areas should see similar results towards the end of this month in suitable conditions, and most anglers should have tired of catching mackerel by then.
Ian Ainsley, Dave Kennedy together with junior anglers Anthony Thynne and Luke Ainsley had a good session in the upper Wear taking forty flounders and five coalfish between them, plus a nice surprise bass of 43cm which fell to Ian’s rod. Anthony had ten flounders and two coalfish and Luke had nine flounders. Eels seem to be in short supply this year in all local rivers but Andy Rutherford managed one of 1lb 7oz taken at Panns Bank in the Wear to win an Eastenders sweepstake where Les Brown had the heaviest bag with eleven fish for 7lb 10oz. The Eastenders open match at the Business Park in the Wear saw Chris Stringer win with an eel of 1lb 9oz in a bag total of sixteen fish weighing 12lb.
The last Ryhope Summer League match saw all twenty-two anglers weigh in at the Copthorne Hotel at the Tyne. Junior Thomas Rutherford won zone A with twenty fish for 397cm, Bob Surtees had twelve fish for 300cm, Andy Rutherford had twelve for 292cm and Bill Kennedy had ten for 286cm including the longest fish at 33cm. In zone B Alan Burton had nineteen fish measuring 286cm, Joe Wilton had twelve for 249cm, Barrie Stowells had eight for 205cm and Bob Bland had six for 203cm. Alan Burton and Alan Marsh tied for the longest fish at 34cm. Their first match of the Winter League is on Sunday September 26th fishing from 2pm till 6pm.
The first Tynemouth A.C. winter league match saw five out of sixteen weigh in. Steve Harper fished the Tyne to win with four cod for 4lb 11oz. Second placed Kenny Patterson also fished the Tyne for three cod and one coalfish weighing 4lb 3oz, including the heaviest fish, a cod of 1lb 6oz. Dave Hayley headed for the rock edges at Whitley Bay to land two cod for 1lb 14oz and finished third. Winner of the summer league was Steve Harper with a total of 37½lb ahead Dave Hayley with 34lb 13oz, including the best fish with a monster wrasse of 5lb 6oz and third placed Marty Elliott who weighed a total of 32¾lb.
Sunday September 12th sees the Whitley Bay Open with fishing from 10am till 2pm. First prize is £500, basic entry is £10, register at Whitley Bay Holiday Park from 8am. Contact Mick on 07739585464 or e-mail clarkhouse31@hotmail.com for details.