A running southeasterly sea brought plenty of cod inshore last week; the best results were north of the Tyne where such conditions generally produce more fish than elsewhere. The good news is that the large numbers of smaller fish that featured in catches further north in previous weeks have moved down to the Durham beaches and Hartlepool marks. North Gare, Middleton pier, the Staincliffe and other low water marks along the promenade all produced some nice bags of codling, mostly around the 1lb to 2lb mark. Fresh or frozen crab bait is essential, as worm bait has only produced the inevitable whiting and flatties. Dave Scott reports some productive sessions fishing the promenade with cod to 3lb landed on fresh crab. With cod evident over a wide area prospects for the coming winter season continue to be extremely good.
Best fish of note recently was a thornback ray of 10lb caught by five-year-old Bill Roberts from Saltburn pier, the fish was landed on the beach and returned after weighing. Cod are also starting to show just south of the Tees. Dan Redling won a Saltburn A.C. match with a cod of 7lb taken from Cowbar, Chris Wood won a Redcar N&G match with a cod of 4¾lb, also from Cowbar. At other times, just the odd flounder have featured in catches but Dave Gillan did manage to win a St. Mary’s match with a late mackerel of 1lb 5oz.
Catches north of the Tyne and in the river Tyne itself continue to be excellent with bags around the 20lb mark winning some club matches. A recent Whitley Bay match saw 11 out of the 17 anglers finding fish with good numbers of mainly codling being taken after dark. Chris Stringer had 13 for a total of 17lb 6oz from Whitley beach to win the comp. Second placed Kenny Patterson had six weighing 9½lb from Tynemouth and Don Nicholson was just behind with six fish for 9lb 2oz from Crab Hill. Ian Galbraith had the heaviest fish of the day of 3lb 11oz. Ian went on to win an S.B.R.A.A.C. match with four cod totalling 9lb 7oz including the best at 3lb 11oz from West Bay. He was follow home by Phil Smithson with five for 5lb 7oz.
Mal McIntyre won a Seaton Sluice match with 10 cod for a total bag of 14lb 15oz, Chris Potts had 11 for 13½lb and third placed Jimmy Dunn weighed in six totalling 12lb 5oz, including the best of 4lb 2oz. Bedlington Station had a good weigh-in fishing in a heavy southerly sea with 58 cod landed for a total match weight of 96lb 10oz. The winner, A. Naisby, had 8 weighing 19lb 13oz, including one of 5lb, followed by G. Willis with six for 9lb 15oz. M. Hardy won a Blyth match with nine fish weighing 9lb 14oz at Amble, K. Smith fished Cresswell to land four for 8lb 14oz. All the fish in an East End match came from Whitley beach topped by Nicky Robson with six fish for 9lb 6oz; the best weighed 4lb 11oz. A Tynemouth winter league match saw 17 out of the 33 entrants weigh in. Brad Hill won with 10 codling for a total weight of 14lb 1oz and Chris Robson had five weighing 7lb 15oz.
The Ryhope Tuesday evening sweepstake saw 26 fishing for the heaviest fish that went to Lee Burton with a cod of 5lb 3oz taken from the Targets, he also took third place with one of 2lb 10oz, and second place went to Dave Mould with one of 3lb from Rathouse Corner in the Wear. The Ryhope Sunday match saw 67 fishing. Top rod was Tommy Tate with two cod for 2.41kg, best 0.95kg. Mason Burton had three for 1.28kg; John Robson had two for 1.22kg that included the best flatfish at 0.79kg. Best junior was J. Smith with 0.71kg.
The Bedlington Station Mini Night Time Open takes place on Friday October 18th with fishing from 7pm until 11pm between Tynemouth pier and Amble pier. Basic entry is £10 with full payout. First prize for the heaviest bag is a guaranteed £250, £100 for the heaviest fish, and 20 prizes on the table. Register at the General Havelock, East Sleekburn.
The Seaham David Guy Memorial Open is on Sunday October 20th with fishing from 12 pm until 5pm fishing between Hendon Groyne and Dene Holme at Horden. Seaham North pier will have 100 pegs available weather permitting. Basic entry is £10 all classes plus additional team events, sweepstakes, and sealed weight draws. First prize is £1000 for the heaviest fish, one prize per angler only. There are junior, ladies, and disabled prizes plus a full supporting prize table. Tickets are available in advance from Rutherford’s Angling and North East Tackle. Register on the day at Seaham clubhouse from 10am until 1pm. Tel: 0191 5810321 for details.
