With not much evidence of any movement on the sea the cod have moved back onto the hard ground rock edge marks and onto the deeper water piers at South Shields. They are also to be found in the river Tyne which has fished well lately and also offers a bit of shelter in the present Westerly gales. South of Seaham, onto the Durham beaches and Hartlepool piers, sport remains much the same with whiting present in numbers on night time tides as well as various flatfish species and the odd smaller cod and coalfish. Best chance for any size cod has been to fish the low water marks after dark when those anglers who can cast at distance have had the advantage.
The Tyne produced a winning bag of 11 cod for a total weight of 10lb 13oz for Nicky Robson to win a recent Cleadon match. Andy Rutherford fishing well upriver took 17 cod weighing 22lb 8oz to win a Ryhope match.
The rock edges around Sunderland continue to produce cod. Leno Fenech fishing the cliffs at Ryhope took 10 cod to 3lb, Micky Davison fishing at Whitburn had six to 3lb 9oz, and Ryan Thompson had one of 7lb at Marsden.
Just fourteen out of the 74 entrants weighed in 21 fish for a total of 21.87lb during the Seaham Dillon Cup match which Jim Dobie won with three fish for 3.29lb taken from the pier. Kenny McCoy had five totalling 2.95lb from Noses Point, and Craig Darwin had the heaviest fish, a cod of 2.74lb.
North of the Tyne cod can be expected to show at most times. A recent S.B.R.A.A.C. match saw 13 members weigh in 16 cod, the best taken by Paul Coe at Cambois weighing 4lb 2oz. Tony Anderson won a Tynemouth winter league match with a two fish bag of 8¾lb, including one of 4lb 6oz, taken at Rocky Island, just ahead of Chris Robson with two for 8lb 8oz from Haven rocks. Kev Burton had six weighing 10lb 3oz at Whitley Bay to win a local match, Dave Airey had the heaviest fish of 4lb 6oz. Chris Potts had 10 for a total bag of 11lb 10oz to win a Blyth match, and Dave Carrs had three for 11lb 11oz, best 8lb 4oz taken at Cambois to win another Blyth match.
With all of these fish present, the Whitley Bay Night Time Open on Saturday November 8th should be quite productive. Fishing is from 8pm until midnight between Lynemouth Pipe to the North and Tynemouth pier (excluded) to the South. Basic entry is £10, register from 6pm until 7pm at Whitley Bay clubhouse, St. Mary’s Island approach road. Top prizes are £250 each for the heaviest bag and heaviest fish and cash prizes for the top 10 heaviest bags.
