A slight bit of movement on the sea due to unseasonably cold northerly winds produced a few small cod from some areas and a few whiting after dark, particularly from Steetley pier, but otherwise shore sport remains dependant on the ever reliable flounders, dabs and the odd plaice.
South Shields pier has produced some plaice among lots of small coalfish to ragworm baits but prolonged calm conditions are needed for the bigger specimens to show, when all of the region’s piers and clean ground beaches should produce a few specimens over the 1lb mark. The Durham beaches are producing flounders in reasonable numbers, but most are undersize, some anglers have reported taking small turbot to mackerel baits. Anglers are now starting to target the early thornback rays that have been evident during the past couple of seasons. As with the plaice however, settled conditions seem to be the more productive for rays.
Match activity is almost non existent with fishing for small specimens in the local rivers on a measure and release basis not to everyone’s taste. There are some big specimen flounders amongst the hordes of small coalfish, whiting and codling in both the rivers Wear and Tyne with ragworm and mackerel baits taking most fish. Peeler crab is still in short supply due to persistently low water temperatures.
Some dates for your diary for open matches are as follows. June 6th sees the Silloth Open fishing from 12 till 4pm which will be pegged fishing measure and release.
Rutherford’s Cono-Flex Sweepstake League starts on Saturday June 5th at the Copthorne Hotel on the Tyne; all matches are fished from 7.30pm till 10.30pm and are catch and release. Entry is £10 with a 100% pay out. The rest of the match series dates are Saturday June 19th, Monday July 5th, Monday July 19th, Wednesday August 4th and Wednesday August 18th. Contact Andy on 0191 5654183 for details.
The Fraser’s Open Boat competition is being held on Sunday 27th June and is open to all boats – both private and charter. Entry is £10 all classes and the event is a “Heaviest Single Fish” competition. Competitors may fish from any port, but must weigh in at the Royal Quays Marina, North Shields. Tickets will be on sale from 7.00 am on the day of the competition at the Royal Quays, or from tackle shops the week before. Fishing is 8.00 am to 4.00 pm with weigh in 4.00 pm to 5.30 pm at the Royal Quays. There are two categories – one for boats under 20 ft and the other for boats over 20 ft. The first three heaviest fish in each of the two categories will receive a percentage of entry monies. There will also be an excellent prize list and – for the heaviest fish weighed in from a kayak there will be a special prize. As usual it’s one prize per competitor.
June 19th till July 11th is the Whitby Charter Skippers Association Summer Festival. July 18th is the Amble Summer open fishing from 12.30 till 4.30, again further details nearer the time.
