With continuing onshore winds and at least a slight swell on the sea most days there have been plenty of fish showing from all areas, but unfortunately the vast majority have been small and undersize. Lots of very small codling have moved inshore and into the rivers, the Tyne in particular is full of small codling no bigger than ten inches long. The piers at Hartlepool are still producing decent whiting on daylight and night time tides, there are some bigger dabs amongst lots of smaller ones, but flounders which normally show in good numbers at this time of year are very scarce. The odd sizeable codling have shown from the Promenade and off Crimdon beach on night time tides and those anglers with fresh or frozen crab have tended to pick up the better fish. The Durham beaches have generally seen similar results with cod being taken by those anglers who can cast at distance. Seaham North pier has also produced some in-size fish as have Roker and South Shields piers, and the rock edges at Marsden and Whitburn have produced the odd better cod around the 4lb mark.
Those fishing the Tyne report large numbers of undersize fish of all species, some sizeable flounders are present, and again those with crab bait have tended to find the bigger specimens. With so many fish present, measure and release matches are proving to be popular. A Tynemouth retired members match saw nine out of 19 weigh in. Tony Anderson won with two dabs, a whiting, and a coalfish for a total of 2lb 2oz, Tony Taylor had a flounder and a pollack weighing 2lb, and the heaviest fish prize went to Dave Scrimageur with a cod of 1lb 6oz. A Tynemouth Sunday match saw similar results with only two out of 14 managing to find in-size fish amongst masses of smaller ones. Chris Robson did well to land three dabs, a whiting, and a flounder for a weight of 2¼lb with the whiting being the heaviest fish at 10oz. Mick Davis had three dabs for 1lb 2oz. In an East End A.C. match only two weighed in here also, Dave Delaney had a cod of 1 – 13lb from Lynemouth and Patrick Farrier had a flounder of 13oz from the ever popular Tyne.
The Seaham Blenny Hill open last Saturday saw eight out of 25 find fish. Geordie Heron had two measuring 67cm, Colin Smith had two for 57cm, and third placed Arron Davison had a single fish of 36cm.
The popular Ryhope Tuesday Evening Sweepstake moves into the Wear for its summer run of matches. The first is on Tuesday May 6th at Claxheugh fishing from 7pm until 10pm. Entry is £5 for the heaviest fish and entrants can register at the venue from 5.45pm until 6.30pm. Contact Chris Hossack 0751 8927781 for details.
