Anglers facing a slump on shores

Feb 22 2008 by Alan Charlton, The Journal

SHORE sport has been poor over the last few days with just a few cod around the 3lb mark reported during an Easterly sea.

Whiting and dabs have been the main species to expect, particularly from Roker pier and the Durham beaches. Most are now spent, having recently spawned, but there are still a few bigger specimens, with some larger flounders now starting to move inshore.

Jim French won an Amble SAC match with one cod of 5lb 3oz, and four flounders for a total bag of 7lb 15oz, followed by Ian Harrogate with seven flounders and one dab for 4lb 1oz.

The last Cleadon AC match saw only four out of 28 weigh in. Winner Micky Mouat fished the productive Whitburn rock edges to land two cod for 4lb 4oz, with second placed John Taylor having two cod and one coalfish for 3lb.

LASBAC also got among the fish over the weekend with 18 out of 27 weighing in whiting and dabs. Steve Hardy had a mixed bag for 7lb 1oz, Darren Smith had a mixed bag for 6lb 11oz including the heaviest single fish with a whiting of 1lb 4oz, and Les Harris had a total of 6lb 10oz for third place.

Some club matches have seen anglers fail to weigh in, and a lot of matches are now being moved to the local rivers. There are small numbers of winter flounders in the Wear and some small cod in the middle Tyne, but generally all marks have been hit or miss.

Some cod have shown South of the Tees from the Yorkshire rock edges with specimens to 8lb reported.

The last Whitby AC match saw Dennis Thompson win with five cod for 12 9lb. Last Tuesday’s Ryhope sweepstake saw a good turnout of 36 anglers but most blanked. Gary Warwick had a hat-trick, taking the top three places from Roker Pier with whiting of 410g, 380g and 370g.

Horden Mechanics AC fished on Saturday night in a good Easterly sea but results were described as poor. Mark Thompson had one cod and six whiting for 10 6lb.

This Sunday the 31st Amble Open Shore Championship is fished from 9am to 1pm between Seahouses Breakwater and Lynemouth Pipe. Basic entry is £10 which includes the HSF sweep. Register at the Radcliffe Club, Amble from 7am. Top prizes for the heaviest bag are £600, £300 and £150. Top prizes for the HSF are £400, £200, £150 and £100. The top three heaviest flatfish get £150, £100 and £50. Ladies and junior prizes are £100 each and there is a further prize table of £3000.