Rock edges and beaches producing catches

Dec 8 2007 by Richard Neale, The Journal

WITH relatively-settled conditions, cod have not shown in the numbers they did last week, but with a good surf and a bit of colour in the water, the local rock edges and beaches are still producing the odd bigger specimen to 6lb, with the rock edges around Whitburn a popular destination.

The rivers Tyne and Wear are also popular, and the Tyne has seen some nice double-figure bags of mainly smaller cod landed, though a fish of 8lb was reportedly landed from a mark near the Tyne bridge – a superb fish for this far up the river.

The last Cleadon AC match saw the Tyne on top form, with the top three weights all taken from the river. Steve Taarland won with eight cod for 12lb 13oz, John Taylor had four cod for 7lb 4oz, John Newcombe had five cod for 7lb 1oz, and Paul Rogers had the h.s.f. with a cod of 6lb 3oz taken from Marsden.

The last two Ryhope Tuesday evening sweepstakes both saw some quality cod landed. Terry Woods won the first with one of 3,375 grammes (7lb 8oz), taken from Whitburn. Lee Douglas had a cod of 2,885gms from Roker Pier, Jason Stevens had a cod of 2,170gms from Roker, and Paul Riley had one of 2,130gms from Whitburn. In the second, Chris Hossack had a cod of 1,720gms from Roker, Darren Tipling had one of 1,675gms from Whitburn, Tom Miller had one of 830gms from Roker, and Dave Hunt had an excellent flounder of 755gms, (1lb 10oz), taken from Souter.

The last two Eastenders AC sweepstakes saw Wayne Harriman win the first with a cod of 5lb, taken from the White Rock at Whitburn, and Neil Cutler won the second with a cod of 4lb 10oz from the same mark. Roker pier has also fished well for quality whiting and dabs, with worm baits tipped with squid or mackerel taking the fish.

The Durham beaches and the piers at Hartlepool have also seen the odd cod to 6lb landed, but most tides have seen lots of whiting and dabs showing, with some specimen whiting to 2lb among them. Steetly Pier has been very productive on some night tides with mixed bags of 30-plus fish reported. Horden Mechanics AC have had two recent matches and Ged Barker won the first, with three cod for 6lb 8oz, followed by Mark Thompson, with three cod for 3lb 8oz. In the second match, the whiting were out in force, and Mick Edwards took 19 fish to win with 12lb 14oz, Paul Raison had four fish for 7lb 2oz – best 4lb 10oz – and Jack Boxhall had three fish for 2lb.

The rock edges around Whitby are still producing some good sport. Glenn Kilpatrick won a recent Whitby AC match with two cod and one rockling for 11lb 15oz.

Diary dates

TODAY: The Whitley Bay Evening match takes place, 6.30pm to 10.30pm. Register at Whitley Bay Angling Society Club House, Sea Front, Whitley Bay (next to St Mary's Island approach Road).

SUNDAY: The Saltburn Open fishes from 8.30am to 1pm between Paddys Hole and Whitby West Pier (pier included). Register from 7am at the event HQ. Basic entry is £6 all classes plus the usual pool and team events. Main prizes are £300, £100, and £50, with special spot prizes for 10th place, 20th place, last place, and the h.s.flatfish. Contact B.Westgarth (01325) 720113 or P.Race (01642) 478351.

An NFSA (Penn Points) Open is fished in the rivers Blyth, Tyne, and Wear from 10am till 3pm. Details from Sam (0191) 518-4561.