Most pier venues are now producing mackerel in reasonable numbers after the big tides of last week pushed them inshore. All of the Hartlepool piers have seen mackerel taking lures and float fished baits with lures tending to be the more successful. Large numbers of sandeels, small coalfish and the odd codling have all fallen to mackerel tactics from the various piers. Those bait fishing have taken large numbers of smaller dabs and flounders, with the odd better plaice now showing. Fishing close down the side of the pier has been productive with summer cod up to 1lb, and similar sized wrasse and coalies all showing in good numbers, though the majority are undersize. Fresh crab, ragworm and mussel have all been the better baits. A late evening session into darkness has seen lots of whiting moving inshore with some anglers taking bags of twenty plus fish.
Cod have made a reappearance from South Shields pier on early morning and late evening tides with specimens over the 5lb mark showing in double figure bags. Huge numbers of mackerel have shown on some tides. Those travelling to the Northumberland rock edges and further north to Eyemouth and St. Abbs have also taken some nice cod as well as the anticipated pollack, coalfish, wrasse and mackerel, all of which have been taken on lures, float fished baits or bottom fished baits.
Seaham A.C. fished for their Sulgrave Cup last Sunday which saw 18 members weigh in 36 fish for a total weight of 19.52lb. Steve Walton fished the North Drum to land two fish totalling 3.07lb, the best a pollack of 2.07lb. Paul Edwards had three fish from the North Pier weighing 2.63lb, and Micky Davison had five for 1.99lb from the Blast beach. The South Shields monthly sweepstake saw plenty of cod and coalfish landed. R. Lees won with two fish weighing 5lb 3oz, including a cod of 3lb 14oz. M. Jewitt had five for a total of 4¾lb, and S. Dorothy had two for 4lb 2oz. South Shields pier also produced cod up to 3lb for John Lovett during a recent pleasure session.
A Blyth match produced three cod for Lee Rutherford weighing 8lb 6oz, taken at Alnmouth, John Herron had two for 7lb 15oz, the best weighing 5lb 11oz, and Chris Kell had two for 6½lb. Tynemouth A.C. had a very productive match at Eyemouth with cod, pollack, wrasse, coalfish, mackerel and ling all being landed. Steve Harper won with six cod and one ling for a total of 12lb 10oz, the best weighing 3¼lb. Mick Davis had five mackerel and three pollack weighing 11½lb, and Chris Robson had five mackerel, a cod, a wrasse and a ling totalling 11lb 6oz. Gregg Norris won an East End match at Newton with four cod for 8lb 6oz, followed by Vince Gates with three weighing 7lb 13oz.
There are plenty of fish in the Wear but most seem to be small lately. Lee Burton only needed a flounder of 11oz to win a recent Ryhope evening match, he also took third place with one of 7oz, and Chris Hossack was second with 9oz.