There were still some cod about during the early part of last week with bigger ones to 5lb showing from the Region’s rivers and piers with Roker pier, South Shields pier, and the rock edges north of the Tyne once again producing the best results. Elsewhere, club matches were being won with mixed bags of whiting and flatties with total bags rarely topping the 5lb mark. The Durham beaches have a lot of flatties and whiting showing, the better whiting are present after dark and any cod are generally being taken by those who can cast the distance into deeper water. Many fish are showing from the Hartlepool piers but most are undersize dabs with just the odd better ones and the occasional whiting showing to various baits during daylight hours. A nighttime session is always going to be better for the now inevitable whiting when double figure bags of specimens to 2lb have been reported.
The river Tees is severely restricted for shore angling marks, but there are plenty of whiting in here also, mainly from the more accessible south side where Dale Miller won a St. Mary’s A.C. match with 21 fish weighing 10lb 9oz followed by Terry Dalton with 16 whiting, a pouting, and a cod totalling 10lb 7oz. A good heavy sea just dropping off at the time of writing should see a big improvement overall, with bigger cod to 6lb probable from the marks at Middleton pier, the Pilot pier, North Gare, Rathouse Corner in the Wear, as well as in the rivers. The beaches and low water marks will fish better as the sea settles.
Andy Copeland and Davy Sutherland fished the Tyne at the weekend and found quality whiting.
The Ryhope Tuesday evening sweepstake saw Mick Davison take the top two places with cod of 2lb 3oz and 1lb 15oz from the Manholes. The Ryhope Sunday match produced some nice cod in the falling seas. Paul Richardson had two cod weighing 4.99kg, including one of 4.22kg (9¼lb) from Hill 60, Paul Hossack had four cod for 3.85kg and Lee Burton had four cod for a total of 3.28kg. Jim Metcalfe had the best flatfish, a flounder of 0.35kg, and top junior was Matthew Winn with a five whiting bag weighing 1.47kg. During the match, Anthony Constable landed a surprise bass of 0.88kg.
There was a good weigh in north of the Tyne at a Seaton Sluice match later in the week when, with a bit of sea running Chris Potts won with three cod weighing 13lb 3oz, including a fish of 7lb, from King Edwards Bay. Second placed Ivan Stott had a single cod of 5lb 15oz, and Dave Crudas finished third with 5lb 13oz, both fished at Lynemouth. A Bedlington Station match saw Chris Potts win with a cod of 4lb 9oz, followed by Barry Ord with 3lb 15oz. During a Tynemouth winter league match, 12 out of the 23 entrants found fish. Marty Elliott won with two cod and a single coalfish for a total of 4lb 10oz, Steve Harper had 3lb 14oz and Kenny Patterson weighed in 3lb 6oz. Dave Hayley lifted the heaviest fish prize with a cod of 2lb 5oz. A Tynemouth retired member’s match saw similar results with 15 out of 28 weighing in. Glen Campbell had a mixed bag of whiting, dabs and flounders weighing 4lb 6oz to win ahead of Bill Langlands on 3lb 14oz. Third spot went to Tony Taylor with 3lb 14oz. The heaviest fish, a cod of 1lb 9oz was landed by John Clough. Only three out of 30 weighed in for a Cleadon match won by Neil Cutler with a three fish bag of 2lb 1oz taken from South Shields pier.
The Whitley Bay Open last Sunday saw 55 out of 181 weigh in during settled conditions. Steve Hepple won with 12 coalies weighing 14lb 3oz taken from Dunstanburgh Castle. Kenny Bowen finished second with 11lb 3oz and third placed A. Hornsby had seven fish for a total of 9lb 7oz. Simon Todd had a cod of 7lb 11oz from Marden Rocks to take the heaviest fish prize and top junior was Owen Ord whose two flounders from Blyth beach weighed 1lb 15oz.
Sunday November 18th is the date for the Bedlington Station Open fished from 9.30am until 1.30pm between Seahouses South pier and Tynemouth pier. Basic entry is £10 plus the usual pools and team events. Registration takes place at the Bankhouse Club Newbiggin from 7am. First prize is £500 for the heaviest bag, 100% pools payout for the top three heaviest fish, and £100, £50, and £30 for the top three heaviest flatfish. Contact Steve 07888674873 for details.
Looking slightly further ahead the Redcar Navy and Gents A.C. open is on Sunday December 16th and fishing is from 10am until 2.30pm between South Gare Paddy’s Hole to Whitby East pier including the river up to the Swing Bridge. Basic entry is £8 for adults and £2.50 for juniors, plus pools and team events. Register from 8.30am at the Redcar Angling Centre, High Street, Redcar. Top prizes for the heaviest fish are £500, £200 and £100 plus junior and ladies prizes and a full supporting prize table. One prize per entrant only. Weigh in at the Priory Club, Lord Street, Redcar from 3.15pm until 3.45pm. Contact Tony Barker 01642 503049 for details.
