The early angler is catching the fish

May 23 2008 The Journal

BOAT angling is still producing some decent catches and the early angler is getting the better catches.

A 4am start for skipper Bert Grey, along with Kenny and Kyle Grey and Frank Stein fishing aboard Shady, produced 52 cod and a ling, with most fish coming from the ground on crab and squid.

A few fish including the ling came from inshore wrecks off the Tyne.

Norman White, skipper of Slinky Kate, and Tony Grey fishing off Whitley Bay, took 15 cod, Norman taking the best at 7.5lb, plus ling, coalfish and a few mackerel, which are now starting to appear in boat catches, after a 9am start.

Charter boats able to get off a bit further have encountered large numbers of mackerel, especially off the Tyne, on some days but struggling on others.

Unfortunately the weather has not been kind and has made life difficult. Most boats out of Amble, Blyth, the Tyne and the Tees took around 30-40 fish with most around 3-5lb, with a few cod and ling around 8lb. A cod of 11lb came from the Warlord at Amble and one of 13lb was taken aboard the Famous at Hartlepool. Shads have accounted for good numbers of the fish at Hartlepool on the ground, with baits doing the business close in off the Tyne and Blyth, with baited jiggers taking the few fish coming from the wrecks.

Hardly a cod has come from the open shore, with only a few being taken from marks between Amble and St Abbs, the best around 3lb.

The rivers have again given match anglers the best sport, especially when fishing catch and release matches. Paul Fenech won zone A in Ryhope’s club match fished at the Copthorne with nine for 239cm, including a surprise codling of 3lb. Wayne Harriman won zone B with seven for 197cm, his six-year-old son Adam taking the longest flatfish – a cracking flounder of 42cm.

South Shields pier has produced a few codling, Rod Gilmour winning Westoe’s match with one of 2-2-0. There were some decent flounders in the Wear and John Lovett won ZA in Ryhope’s sweepstake with one of 1-4-0 taken at Panns Bank. Chris Hossack equalled his personal best flounder taken last week in Sunderland’s SAA match with another of 1-14-0 taken at the Business Park.