Whiting are showing in large numbers from all areas now with a lot more showing in the north of the region from Roker pier, South Shields pier, the river Tyne and up to Blyth. There are some decent cod among them if your bait stays in the water long enough before the whiting find it. The deeper water off South Shields pier has produced the odd better cod. Best reported was one of 9lb 5oz taken by K. Walker during a recent South Shields match which was won by M. Wilkinson with 12lb 13oz of whiting. There were plenty of whiting and dabs in a recent Tynemouth retired member’s match won by Tony Anderson with 12 fish for a total weight of 8lb 11oz. The runner-up, Neil Garner, had 11 weighing 8lb 1oz and Tony Taylor had the heaviest fish, a cod of 1 3/4 lb. Longbenton and Seaton Burn A.C. picked the right tide for their last match with huge numbers of whiting showing from Tynemouth pier. Dave Jones had a mainly whiting mixed bag of 38lb 10oz, which also included a cod of 3lb 6oz, which was the heaviest fish. Stephen Park finished second with a bag of 23lb, and Stephen Bell had 13lb 15oz. Cod have also shown south of the Tees, best result reported was a six cod bag weighing 40lb, including one of 13 3/4 lb which was taken by Paul Lobley from Cowbar.
Hartlepool Pirates fished their first match of the year last week and also found the whiting and dabs out in force again. Bill Bradley had 11 for 8lb 12oz, S. Greenup had nine totalling 7lb 6oz, S. Shields five weighing 6 1/2 lb, J. Watts seven for 5lb 13oz, and Adam Dendrickson had the Heaviest fish of 1lb 10oz. The end of year results for 2012 saw Steve Swales finish as club champion with 188 points ahead of Bill Bradley on 170 and Adam Dendrickson with 153. Steve Swales won the winter league with 134 points followed by Bill Bradley with 119. Adam Dendrickson won the summer league with 63 points ahead of Steve Swales with 54 points, and the heaviest fish of the year went to Chris Coxon with a cod of 6lb 10oz. Mick Smith travelled to Hartlepool to get among the whiting when he won a St. Mary’s A.C. match with 19 whiting and a single dab for a total weight of 18lb 6oz.
The popular Amble Open last Sunday saw some nice cod weighed in by those who chose to fish the rock edge marks, and some nice bags of flounders from the clean ground beaches. 131 out of 433 weighed in 302 fish for a toal of 437lb 2oz. First prize for the heaviest bag went to Chris Stringer with five cod weighing 24lb 13oz, including the second heaviest fish of 11lb 1oz. Tony Anderson had six for a total of 14 1/4 lb, Ian Thompson had two for 13lb 10oz, including the h.s.f. of 11lb 11oz. A. Gibbison had four for 11lb 15oz, and the third heaviest fish went to B. Hughes with 6lb 10oz. S. Taylor had the heviest flatfish, a flounder of 1lb 15oz followed by Andrew Taylor with 1lb 9oz, and Dave McCourt with 1 1/2 lb. Pauline Ferry was top lady with 3lb 7oz, B. Rodwell had 2 1/2 lb and Linda Shaw had 1 1/2 lb. Top junior Bobby Thompson was well up in the weights with 4lb 15oz, Ethan Marshall had 1lb 9oz, Oliver Wilson and Millie Urwin both weighed in 14oz.
The 18th Dave Jobson Memorial Sweep match is on Sunday January 27th with fishing from 8am until 12 noon between the Ice House in the Tyne to Pattersons Garage at Beadnell. Basic entry is £10 which includes £2 for the heaviest pool. Juniors under-16 are free but must be accompanied by a paying adult. Top three prizes are 50%, 30%, and 20% payout of income. Register from 6.30am at the Sea Horse pub, 415 Plessey Road Blyth. Weigh in 12.30pm until 1.30pm in the rear car park.
