A lift in the sea produced by the occasional easterly or south easterly winds has resulted in the cod moving inshore in reasonable numbers, the best results have again been in the north of the region, and from the rivers. However more cod are starting to show from the rock edges around Sunderland and from the Durham beaches where the low water marks have proved productive on night tides. Large numbers of quality whiting, flounders and dabs have kept most anglers busy during day light sessions, and double figure mixed bags have been relatively common. The rivers Wear and Tyne remain very popular and fish are almost guaranteed to show with the odd bigger cod among the whiting and coalfish. Teesbay and the Hartlepool piers have been overwhelmed with whiting on tides after dark and cod have been scarce mainly because the hordes of whiting and dabs are getting to any baits before any other fish has a chance to feed. Club matches and pleasure anglers have taken mixed bags to well over 30lb.
Hartlepool Pirates saw seven anglers weigh in for their last match with the inevitable mixed bags of whiting, dabs and flounders dominating. Steve Swales had 30 whiting for a total of 21½lb while second placed J. Watts had a mixed bag of 25 fish weighing 15lb 15oz, and Adam Dendrickson had 13lb 6oz to take third. Next match is Friday November 11th fishing from 7pm till midnight, next meeting, where new members are welcome, is in the Stranton Club on November 24th at 7.30pm.
Hartlepool O.M.A.C. also found the whiting in a feeding frenzy on Saturday night with 13 out of the 16 entrants weighing in. The overall winner Chris Smith had 36 weighing 26lb 14oz, the best weighing 1lb 5oz followed by Dave Littlewood with 23lb. Third placed Ian Palmer landed 30 weighing 22lb while in fourth Mark Brallisford had 22 fish totalling 17lb 10oz. Brian Chapman took the heaviest fish prize with a cod of 2lb 14oz.
Winter flounders are now starting to show from the clean ground beaches in Northumberland with the popular marks at Druridge Bay and Embleton producing double figure bags including the occasional coalfish and whiting on night time tides, particularly during settled conditions when double figure bags have been necessary to win club matches.
South Shields A.C. had a good result in summer like conditions on Sunday with 11 out of 20 anglers weighing in 63 fish for a total of 54lb 7oz, taken either from South Shields pier or in the Tyne. Paul Smith weighed in 13 for 10¼lb to win while Robert Lees took second with nine fish weighing 8lb 7oz. Third spot went to Marc Wilkinson with six fish weighing 7¼lb including the heaviest fish; a cod of 3½lb.
A South Shields mid week match saw a nice southerly swell push cod into range of the pier anglers and seven out of the13 fishing weighed in a total of 25lb 2oz. Marc Wilkinson had three cod for 8lb 5oz, Geordie Cooper had three weighing 7lb 5oz, including the heaviest fish at 4lb 13oz.
Kenny Patterson won a Tynemouth Sunday match with four whiting, four coalies and three cod, best 2lb 1oz, for a total of 10lb 11oz taken from the Ice House in the Tyne and Dave Hayley had seven coalfish, a dab and a whiting weighing 8lb 3oz from the pier to finish runner-up.
Ian Harrogate won an Amble match with 10 flounders, the best weighing 1lb 6oz, one coalfish, and one whiting for a total of 12lb 14oz. Second spot was filled by Ken Middlemist with a bag of nine flounders and five coalfish weighing 12lb 6oz, and Gary Arkle had the heaviest fish, a cod of 4lb.
Seaton Sluice A.C. found plenty of cod at Lynemouth where Ivan Stott won their last match with nine of them weighing 16½lb, Chris Guthrie had three for 11lb 6oz and Peter Stewart had five totalling 9lb 11oz.
The Bedlington Station Open last Sunday saw 31 out of 238 weigh in 59 fish for a total weight of 103lb 10oz, slightly disappointing considering the good bags of cod that were taken a few days previously. P. Wright had the heaviest bag with two cod for 11lb 11oz, which included the heaviest fish of 7lb 1oz, and he also won the team event with partner T. Tate with a total weight of 13¾lb. G. Sidney had two cod weighing 9lb 1oz, and Bob Gascoigne had three for 8¾lb. Paul Buddles had the second heaviest fish weighing 5lb 7oz, and A. Johnson was third with one of 5lb 2oz. Top junior was Robbie Farrell with three fish weighing 2lb 2oz, and top lady was Norma Urwin with 1lb 6oz.
The South Shields Open is on Sunday November 13th fishing from 11am till 4pm. Register at the New Crown Inn from 8am till 10.30am. First prize for the heaviest fish is £600 plus a full supporting prize table.
