GARY Blanchard tops this week’s list of impressive catches after a titanic struggle which saw Blanchard hook his fish on clean ground well out but have to bring it over rough ground close in and up the side before his prized 15lb cod was his.
Thirteen is considered unlucky but not for Phil Wright, who took a cod of 13lb 7oz from Whitburn, Jeff Lowther taking one of 13lb from Newbiggin Bay.
An angler fishing with Mick Cave called Rich took one of 13lb from the lower Tyne, Cave taking one of 9.8lb.
Ross Waiton took a personal best of 8lb 2oz from the same venue.
Mal McIntyre took a nice cod of 10lb 1oz at Beadnel, following it up with one of 6lb 6oz a few days later.
Al Thain has been into the fish again up at Newton, taking one of 7lb 8oz.
Stephen Atkinson and his son Christopher had their best catch fishing together at Old Hartley, both taking five cod and both one of 5lb 14oz in a 28lb bag.
Ken Bowmaker and Phil Neesham had a great session at Souter Point, Bowmaker taking seven for 27lb 4oz, Neesham six for 20lb 7oz – including the heaviest at 7lb.
Trevor Green fished Roker pier landing a cod of 10lb.
Mark Green, who has only been sea fishing for six months, fished at Hendon, taking a personal best of 8.1lb.
Ian Redpath took a cod of 7lb 2oz from Whitley Beach, the biggest he has caught for ten years.
James Sanderson fished South Shields pier for his cod of 6lb 6oz.
Alan Robinson fished Seaham pier taking four cod, the best two going 6lb 10oz and 4lb 8oz.
There have also been good match results. Rob Thirwell won Newbiggin’s match from the Block House, with seven cod for 18lb 6.4oz, the best 5lb 0.3oz.
Rob Newton took two nice cod for 13lb 11½oz, the best 7lb 11½oz, to win Amble’s match from Creswell.
Mick Bell won Bedlington Station’s match with five cod for 11lb 14oz from the Bibbles, Steve Sherman taking the heaviest at 6lb 7oz.
Most other matches have been won with the odd small codling, coalfish, or flounder.
However, many matches have been won with a the odd small codling, coalfish, flounder or whiting.
