Shore sport is improving all the time with some big bags of cod reported from the north of the region, and some nice mixed bags being taken from the local rivers. Whiting are starting to show in greater numbers, some nice fat winter dabs are now moving onto the beaches and the first double figure spawning cod are starting to show. Sport is quite good everywhere with the strange exception of the Teesbay area, where the Hartlepool piers and promenade are seemingly devoid of fish. Until the fish move into the southern areas, a trip north of Sunderland to the rock edges or South Shields pier, or north of the Tyne to the Amble area seems the only way to get amongst any fish.
The biggest cod reported so far was one of 14lb taken by Shaun Rossin from Cambois on a crab and lug cocktail and David Wood landed one just over 10lb from Seaham North Pier.
Alnwick A.C. had a fantastic match last week with the weigh in producing one of the region’s rare, monster conger eels. Scott Howie fishing at Craster landed the conger of 20lb 5oz after a tense battle hauling the beast through the kelp beds. This was, not surprisingly, the heaviest fish of the match, but although Scott added a codling it was not enough for the heaviest bag. This went to Anthony Gibbison who fished Amble to land a superb bag of fourteen cod for 34lb 12oz which included fish of 7lb and 5lb. Andrew Stanton was third with six cod for 15lb 2oz.
Chris Stringer fished Whitley Bay beach, taking fish almost every cast to land sixteen cod for 30lb, best 3lb. Michael McNenamin fished Embleton to land eleven cod for 25lb, the best scaling 4lb. Trevor Green fished the Ryhope area to land eighteen cod for 24lb, best 3lb, all taken on ragworm. Fishing partner Stu Carr had a 10lb bag, with both anglers returning smaller fish.
A Northumberland Sea League match saw some nice bags of cod taken between the Tyne and Blyth where Brad Hill had the best bag with four cod for 11lb 7oz, best
8lb 8oz, from the Tyne. Steve Williams in second had five for 10lb 15oz and third placed Tony Anderson had six for 10lb 11oz. Fourth place went to Paul Golightly who had five cod for 8lb 10oz.
The last Amble A.C. match saw Ken Middlemist win with three cod for 8lb 12oz, best 6 – 05lb and T. Raine in second had a single cod of 4¼lb.
Horden Mechanics fished last weekend and found good numbers of smaller cod and whiting along the beaches. Mick Edwards fished Horden Beach to land five whiting and three cod for 9lb 1loz. Second placed Darren Thompson weighed in four cod for 8lb 4oz, best 4lb and Paul Raison in third had six whiting and a cod for 5lb 10oz.
Tynemouth A.C. saw twenty nine members fishing the pier for the Harry Hall Cup with most finding mixed bags of cod, coalfish and dabs. Winner Steve Harper had eight whiting, a coalfish, and two dabs for 6lb 12oz, Alan Norman finished second with two whiting, two dabs and a cod for 3lb 14oz. Third placed Doug Spivey had two coalfish and a cod for 3lb 9oz, including the heaviest fish, a cod of 1lb 11oz.
The Ryhope sweepstake on Tuesday saw thirty-nine fishing with most taking at least a few smaller cod. Paul Richardson took the top two heaviest fish with cod of 2175 gram and 1900 grams from Hill 60. Chris Hossack had one of 1590 grams from Roker for second and took third J. Barrass had one of 915 grams from Hall Beach.
Bedlington Station A.C. also found a few cod with eight out of sixteen landing thirteen fish. Darren Shields had three for 4lb 12oz from Blyth, Gary Willis had three for 3lb 10oz from Hartley and Steve Surtees in third had two for 2lb 6oz from Newbiggin.
The last Cleadon A.C. match saw fish being taken from a wide area with the river Tyne, rock edges and local piers all producing fish. Seventeen out of forty weighed in mainly small cod. Paul Harrison had a mixed bag of cod, coalfish, bass and rockling for 10¼lb taken from Marsden to take top spot. Second went to John Newcombe who had five cod for 7lb 7oz from the Tyne while third placed Richard Landsbury had two cod for 7lb 1loz from North Row End, which included the heaviest fish at 6lb 1loz. Ollie Feenan filled fourth spot with five cod for 6lb 13oz from South Shields pier.
Hartlepool Pirates are having a sweepstake on Friday November 13th. Meet at the Friarage tackle shop from 5.45pm till 6.15pm. Cash prizes for the heaviest bag and heaviest fish.
On Sunday November 18th the North East Division of the Angling Trust is having a Penn Points open shore match fishing from 10am till 3pm in open boundaries. Basic entry is £10 all classes, register at the King Street Social Club North Shields from 8.30am. Prizes are for the heaviest fish and anglers can only weigh a single fish in.
The 42nd Seaham Open Shore Championship on Sunday November 29th sees a prize table of £10,000-the biggest open in the country this year. Sea Angler magazine have donated a complete fishing tackle collection worth £1500 for the main raffle prize. Fishing is from 11am till 4pm between Hendon Groyne and Dene Holm Pipe. Basic entry is £15. Top prizes for the best 3 h.s.f. are £1500, £600, and £400. Total cash fund is £2500 with a huge prize table of £7500. Registration on Saturday is from 10am, and on Sunday from 8am. More details nearer the time, for all enquiries contact joseph.gibson@btconnect.com
Saturday December 6th sees the Bedlington Station Northumbrian Open fishing from 9.30am till 1.30pm between Pattersons Garage at Beadnell and Tynemouth Pier. Blyth Pier is in bounds but all other piers and rivers are not to be fished. Basic entry is £11 for adults, £5 ladies and juniors for their respective prizes only or full £11 for full prize list., plus the usual optional team event and pools. Register at the Bank House Club Newbiggin from 7am till 8.30am. First prize for the heaviest bag is £750 plus a full supporting prize table and special prizes for 20th and 30th places.