Beach proves a blast for codling

Apr 25 2008 The Journal

THE Durham beaches are the only places giving any sport for codling, with the Blast Beach the best venue.

Mick Davison won Seaham’s Wilkinson Cup match from there, taking four cod for 9.03lb, followed by Katie Peel with two for 3.97lb. Gary Molloy took the heaviest at 3.96lb.

Web Barras won the Padget Cup in their junior match with three fish for 2.12lb taken from the pier.

The Wear is still giving up good bags of coalfish for catch and release match anglers, with many well over 1lb.

Chris Hossack won the Eastenders sweepstake match fished at Lambton Drops with six for 1.56m, Paul Wilson winning their open match with seven for 1.58m.

There are plenty of fish coming from the Glass Centre. Jim Dobie won Sunderland SAA's match with 11 for 2.47m. Barry Wright taking the longest at 44cm.

Summer species are now starting to show in the lower Tyne, with plaice to 1lb being taken from South Shields pier, even in poor conditions.

Mixed bags of small codling, coalfish, flounders, dabs, whiting and pout have also been taken, Mick Langwell winning the Longbenton and Seaton Burns match with 6.03lb.

Blyth pier has also given up a few plaice, one youngster reported to have lost a huge flatfish, I suspect a plaice, estimated at 4-5lb on the lift.

Some good sized flounders, well over 1lb, have been taken from the River Aln, with ragworm tipped with bluey taking the best catches. Barry Tweddle won Seaton Sluice’s match there with nine for 297cm, Tony Stanford taking the longest at 38cm.

Flounders were the main catch in Newcastle Railway's match at Port Carlisle, but they are mainly well under 1lb Chris Kristiansen took 12 for 6lb 10oz, Tony Dooley taking the heaviest at 1-6-0.