With continuing movement on the sea and plenty of colour in the water most tides there are few mackerel catches to report this week, although most anglers will be tired of catching them by now. Small tides have made shore sport a little unpredictable but there have been a few better cod starting to show when conditions allow. Best sport has again been in the north of the region with South Shields pier and the Tyne fishing comparatively well on the small tides. Cod to 8lb have been taken with some anglers reporting loosing double figure specimens, generally cod fishing has seen a very good start for the autumn. Elsewhere there are cod showing from the rock edges between South Shields and Roker. Roker pier has seen some mixed bags of cod, whiting, and dabs with some big coalfish topping the 2½lb mark showing this year. Roker beach has seen cod to 2lb taken during the heavier seas, and cod and flounders seem to have reappeared in the Wear with some anglers taking large bags of cod to 2lb and flounders to 1½lb from the mid river marks. Seaham Hall beach, some of the Durham beach marks, and down at Hartlepool the low water marks have all produced smaller but in size cod and some big coalies continue to be reported from the promenade and some of the piers. There are good numbers of dabs and whiting showing from all of the Hartlepool piers with the best results being after dark, though some tides have been quiet.
There are plenty of mixed bags in the Tyne. Anthony Parker won an East End match with four cod, the best 1lb 10oz, and a dab for a 5lb total. Gary Wilson had three dabs, a whiting and one flounder for 2lb 9oz taken at the Ice House to win a Whitley Bay match. Paul Brown had the heaviest fish with a typical Tyne cod of 1lb 2oz. Mal McIntyre won a Seaton Sluice match with five fish weighing 5lb 13oz. Tony Anderson had five cod for 7lb 7oz to win a Tynemouth winter league match. S. Surtees had three totalling 4lb 14oz to win a Bedlington Station match. Gary Hall had two cod for a total of 5lb 2oz to win an S.B.R.A.A.C. match at Newbiggin. Cleadon A.C. had one of the better results with most fish coming from South Shields pier where Gareth Gardner won with eight fish weighing 8lb 11oz, Tommy Tate had five for 4lb 14oz, and I. McClachlan had a three fish bag of 4¼lb.
The Bedlington Station Mini Night Open is on Saturday October 10th with fishing from 6.45pm until 10.45pm between Tynemouth pier to Amble pier, excluding all rivers and piers except Blyth pier. Basic entry is £12 all in which includes a complimentary cooked supper for those who return to the weigh in. First prize is £250 for the heaviest bag, £100 for the heaviest, plus raffle prizes. Register at the General Havelock, East Sleekburn from 4.45pm until 5.45pm. As per the law, edible crab and cart bait is banned.
The Seaham David Guy Memorial Open is on Sunday October 25th with fishing from 12 noon until 5pm between Hendon Groyne and Dene Holm pipe at Horden. Basic entry is £10 plus optional pools and sealed weight. Top three prizes of £1000, £500, and £350 are for the heaviest. One prize only per angler. Ladies, junior, and disabled winners receive £100. There is a full supporting prize table plus raffle prizes. There will be 100 pegs on the North pier and 80 pegs on the South pier weather permitting. Register at the Seaham clubhouse from 9.30am until 11am. You can pre register from September 26th at Rutherfords Angling, N.E. Tackle Supplies, Coast Road Tackle, and at the clubhouse during normal working hours.
