Shore sport has been disappointing lately despite the big tides and good conditions with plenty of movement on the sea most days. Large sandeel shoals just offshore are being blamed for keeping most of the cod beyond the reach of the shore angler. Nevertheless there is always the chance of a big specimen showing up at this time of the year, and the best fish reported was a fine cod of 10.93lb taken by John Morrow from Easington, which won him the Seaham Dave Hilton Trophy match, only one other angler weighed in. Gary Ramsden took second spot with two smaller fish for 1.37lb. Steetley pier remains the most reliable shore mark to offer any chance of success with some big whiting showing when the cod are scarce. Kevin Robinson was there at the right time taking cod of 9lb, 8lb, and 6lb during a recent session. Seaham North pier produced cod of 7lb and 2lb for Dean Turnbull while John Barrass won the last Seaham Badger open with a cod of 5.34lb, the biggest of a three cod bag of 9.82lb. North of the Tyne Jeff Curtiss had a cod of 6lb 10oz from Bradnell. At other times match anglers have been lucky to catch anything with winning weights around the 2lb mark.
The Ryhope Tuesday sweepstake saw twenty fishing and John Morrow took the top two places with cod of 2¼lb and 1lb 14oz respectively from Hall beach. The runner-up Barry Stowells had a flounder of 11oz from Roker and Bob Surtees also fished the pier to land a flounder of 9oz. The Ryhope club match on Sunday saw seventy of the regions best anglers struggle to find anything of size with only four weighing in single fish. Lee Burton finished top with a cod of 965 grams from the Targets followed by John Porteous who weighed-in a coalfish of 675 grammas from Hendon Wall. Third placed John Lovett had a coalfish of 515 grammas from Hall beach and Bill Kennedy had the only other counting fish, a flounder of 295 grammas from the Wear. Next match is this Sunday from 12pm till 4pm.
Cleadon A.C. saw three out of twenty-five weigh in. Lance McVey had a single cod of 2lb 9oz from the Wherry, Mark Shotton had one for 1lb 11oz from the Groyne and Stephen Brown landed a flounder of 13oz from Tynemouth beach.
Fifty anglers fished the North region police shore championships on Seaham North pier recently, the match finished early due to heavy seas but there were still a few smaller fish landed. Northumbria A were team winners followed by Northumbria D and Cleveland A. Top individual angler was Mick Todd (Northumbria) with eleven fish for 116 points. Ian Ainsley (Durham) finished second with eleven fish for 111 points and Steve Wright (S. Yorkshire) had five fish for 102 points in third.
Westoe A.C. had one of the better weigh-ins of late with Mick Jewitt winning with four coalfish for 4.04lb followed by Steve Bing with one cod for 1.60lb. Trevor Davidson finished third with a coalfish of 1.40lb and Kevin Moliker took fourth with a cod for 1.30lb.
Seaton Sluice saw five out of sixteen find fish; Tony Rutherford had two for 1¾lb and Simon Todd had a single fish of 1lb 10oz.
The Tynemouth Winter League match only saw one angler weigh in, junior Emma Elliot was a happy winner with a single dab of 6oz.
Up at Amble it is the clean ground flounder beaches that are producing the more reliable sport. Ian Harrogate won the last Amble match with six flounders and a cod for 5lb 13oz. In second R. Gray had four flounders for 3lb 9oz, best making 1¼lb and A. Taylor in third had five flounders for 2½lb.
South of the Tees shore sport is definitely in decline. The last St. Mary’s A.C. Rover match saw twelve out of eighteen weigh in with most having to travel to Steetley pier to find fish, where the top three weights all came from. Alec Gate won with seven whiting, five dabs and a rockling for 7lb 11oz followed home by George Wilson who weighed four whiting, one dab and a rockling for 5lb 11oz. Third place went to Paul Harrison with two whiting, including a fine specimen of 1lb 9oz, and two dabs for a 2lb 11oz total.
The Angling Development Board, (ADB), have secured funding for current level 1 angling coaches who wish to progress to level 2. The cost of the level 2 course is £437 and the ADB have secured 66% funding equating to £288.42, resulting in any potential candidates being required to pay the remaining £148.58. There are ten available places. Anyone interested in applying must contact Ben Thompson on 07854240177 or email ben.thompson@anglingdevelopmentboard.org.uk by 30th March 2010.
