Northern bites 26-05-2011

by Steve Walker

With settled conditions and clean water the mackerel have arrived in their expected huge numbers, with South Shields Pier being the most productive venue with the mackerel being taken along the full length of the pier. Roker Pier has also produced this popular species, as has South Gare Pier, and they should soon be well established in the Teesbay area, weather permitting. Lures always seem to take these early fish and some anglers have reported bags of fifty plus fish with the odd coalfish adding variety. If you don’t fancy this scenario, then the Durham beaches have started to produce some nice plaice on ragworm baits and the local rivers, particularly the Wear, are now producing flounders, eels and coalies in good numbers. As always, the rivers can be quite unpredictable with the main body of fish moving along their tidal lengths.

Seaham A.C. fished for their Moore Cup on Sunday and had a reasonable weigh in with 17 out of 42 landing 20 flounders, eight plaice and a coalfish for a total weight of 18.74lb. Winner Dean Ambler fished Hall Beach and had four fish weighing 2.76lb while runner-up Phil Hellens had four for 2.55lb from the North Pier. Third paced George Hope fished the same location to land four fish for 2.00lb.

Sunderland S.A.A. fished a heaviest fish match in the Wear where Bill Gamblin won with a flounder of 1lb 3oz, followed by Alan Mordey and Paul Robinson who tied with one pound exactly.

The Eastenders heaviest fish sweepstake on Wednesday had a good result fishing the Student Accommodation in the Wear with 25 out of 26 weighing in 74 flounders and 43 coalies. Best fish was taken by Barrie Robson, a flounder of 1lb 10oz followed by Leno Fenech with 1¼lb, and Paul Hossack with 1lb 2oz.

Eastenders also had a pegged match in the Wear on Sunday at Panns Bank, and again the fish were out in force with all anglers weighing in 60 fish consisting of flounders, whiting, coalfish and eels. Steve Williams finished in top spot with a bag of 10 fish measuring 385cm while Jim Dobie had eight for 239cm and Leno Fenech had six measuring 191cm. Steve Williams and Jim Dobie tied for the longest fish each with flounders of 37cm.

South of the Tees shore sport was reliant upon the ever present flounders before the mackerel arrived. The first Saltburn A.C. summer league match saw 15 fishing, with six flounders and a single bass, coalfish and weaver fish being weighed in. Gary Moody won with an all flounder bag measuring 80cm, Steve Wren finished second with a flounder and a bass for 53cm, followed by Stan Preston with one flounder and a weaver measured at 38cm. The St. Mary’s A.C. travel match on Roker Pier saw Dale Miller win with four flounders, two coalies and a rockling for a total bag weight of 3lb 14oz. In second place was Paul Close who landed five flounder and a coalfish at 3lb 1oz and Terry Dalton took third with three coalfish for 2lb 9oz.

A reminder that if you fancy a try for the summer cod from the Northumberland rock edges the Whitley Bay Summer League starts on Sunday June 12th at Beadnell fishing from 3pm till 7pm. The other matches are on Sunday July 3rd at Newton from 9am till 1pm; Sunday July 24th at Beadnell from 12pm till 4pm; Sunday August 7th at Beadnell from 12pm till 4pm, and the final one is on Sunday August 14th at Newton from 8am till 12 noon. For Beadnell matches meet at Pattersons Garage and for Newton meet at the car park in Newton one hour prior to each match. Basic entry is a single payment of £10 to enter the league which goes towards the final league prize list and £10 per match paying out on the day. Note that wrasse are not to be weighed in during these matches. For further details contact Gary on 07957-949557 or Mick on 07739-585464

On July 17th the Redcar Navy and Gentleman’s S.A.C. Summer Open will be fished from 10am until 2.30pm between South Gare and Whitby West Pier, all piers are out of bounds. This heaviest fish match is part of the Penn Sea League. Basic entry is £5, register at the Priory Club, Lord Street, Redcar from 8.30am till 9am. Contact Tony Barker on 01642-503049 or 07727-754746 for details.

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