Fresh southerly to south easterly winds early last week saw few fish landed from any of the open shore marks with the majority of anglers heading to the local rivers for plenty of sport with flounders, small codling and coalfish. Northerly winds thereafter produced a nice swell and those anglers fishing with fresh crab bait picked up in size cod from the rock edge marks and the piers at Hartlepool, Seaham, Roker and South Shields. One angler is reported to have taken seven cod to 5½lb from the Blocks on South Shields pier, and John Lovett had one of 4½lb during a recent session at the same venue.
Prior to this relatively poor weather, plaice were starting to show in numbers with specimens up to 1½lb showing from Roker and South Shields piers. Sprat and sand eel shoals have been reported from various piers and the mackerel should not be too far behind them. Those fishing for early mackerel have reported taking up to 30 mainly undersize coalfish on lures with the odd bigger pollack amongst them. Float fishing tactics have produced pollack to 2lb from Roker.
The Northumberland rock edges are starting to produce some of their famous summer cod from the heavy ground marks, and true to form at this time of the year there are large numbers of cod several hundred metres offshore and out of range of the shore angler. The Kriston fishing just off from Amble produced 200 cod to 6lb for members of Winlaton A.C. during a recent trip, most of which were returned. The Shady out of the Tyne landed 54 cod, and the Sarah JFK has been taking up to 80 cod per trip, the best around the 8lb mark. The Sapphire out of Sunderland fishing some inshore wrecks took 30 cod to 4lb mostly taken on baits.
Seaham A.C. fished for the Moore Cup with 10 out of the 47 entrants weighing in six flounders, two dabs, one plaice and a single cod for a total weight of just 5.28lb fishing in difficult strong southerly winds and a big swell from that direction. Lee Burton won with the lone cod weighing 1.42lb taken from the Targets. Don Scott had a single plaice of 0.58lb from the North Pier, and Jim Dobie had a flounder of 0.52lb, also from the North pier. The South Shields monthly sweepstake fished the same day also suffered poor results, with the same conditions producing just a single plaice of 14oz for P. Coates, and flounder of 12oz for M. Jewitt.
The Ryhope Tuesday evening sweepstake saw 10 out of the 25 anglers weigh in. Dave McReady took first and fourth place with flounders of 1lb 3oz, and 15oz. Dave Mould took second and third place with 1lb 1oz, and 1lb. A sweepstake at the Glass Centre on Wednesday saw Gareth Gardner win with 17 fish for a total of 378cm ahead of Steve Rackstraw with 12 measuring 247cm, and Andy Rutherford with eight for 194cm. B. Hipkins had the longest fish, a nice coalfish of 37cm. Another sweepstake saw John Robson win with a flounder of 1lb 1oz ahead of Colin Edmondson with 15oz and Bob Surtees with 14oz.
The Bedlington Station Summer Open is on June 29th fishing from 10am until 2pm between Tynemouth pier to Seahouses South pier. The river Wansbeck, the Coquet and Seaton Sluice harbour are excluded. Entry is £10 all inclusive, first prize for the heaviest bag is £250 with £100 for the heaviest roundfish, and £50 for the heaviest flatfish, plus a supporting prize table and raffle prizes. Register at the General Havelock, East Sleekburn from 8am until 9am. Note that as per legislation edible crab and cart bait is banned. Contact Steve 07888674873 for details.
