THE middle reaches of the Tyne are still producing nice fish. Bob Patterson took one of 6.42lb, Les Fenwick one of 6lb 2oz, Gary Appleton took three – the best weighing in at 6lb 4oz – Keith Johnson took one of 6lb 5oz and Tony Burridge landed a personal best of 6lb 1oz.

Gary Parker, fishing at Roker, took a very nice cod of 9lb, an angler fishing beside him took one of 8lb.

Colin Stead landed one of 7lb 2oz, while Romanian angler Claudin Marincas took a nice pollock of 5lb 8oz.

The Blocks at Seaham gave Dean Turnbull a nice catch of four cod the best going 7lb 8oz, while one angler fishing the Tyne saw his discarded mussel bait he was throwing into the river taken on the surface by a cod estimated at 20lb-plus before disappearing into the murky waters of the river.

Micky Bell tested a new rod out in the Tyne, taking 10 quality coalfish – the best 45cm – along with jumbo whiting.

With plenty of whiting in the rivers, Tommy Nesbitt took his 10-year-old grandson Nathan Cornish to Roker pier for his first fishing trip.

While Nesbitt managed to land five, young Nathan took 20 fish, gaining a round of applause from nearby anglers.

Nice fish turned up in Anglers United’s sweepstake on Lynemouth Beach. Frank Foster won with one of 6lb, with Steve Clark second with one of 3lb 4oz.

Thanks to the efforts of the 44 anglers who fished, £304 was raised for Newbiggin Lifeboat. Darren Shields won Bedlington Station’s Xmas Fayre, claiming £70 for his 11 fish for 10lb 14oz taken from an unnamed venue.

Chris Potts won £60 for his seven fish for 9lb 2oz taken from the Tyne, while the heaviest fish of 5lb 8oz was taken from Cambois Rocks and earned Zoltan £70.

All the top weights in Cleadon’s match came from Roker pier, Steve Gordon taking 35 whiting for 25lb 11oz and Stephen Brown taking the heaviest – a codling of 2lb 5oz – from the Tyne.

Tony Taylor won Tynemouth’s retired members’ match with a mixed bag of eight coalfish, nine whiting and two dabs for 14lb 15oz, ahead of Bob Gascoigne, who had six coalfish, eight whiting, and two dabs for 11lb 2oz. Dave Hayley had the heaviest, a codling of 2lb 2oz. Adam Johnson took the heaviest fish – a codling of 2lb 15oz – and Andy Chaganis the heaviest bag of 10lb 15oz in Big Fred’s Xmas sweepstake.

UPCOMING EVENT

January 15: Greys Amble SAC Open Shore Championships, fish 10am-3pm. Prizes: Heaviest bag £400 + new Greys Apollo Extreme 140 rod + trophy, 2nd £300, 3rd £150; Heaviest fish £200 + new Greys Apollo Extreme 130 rod, 2nd £200, 3rd £100; Heaviest flatfish £150 + new Greys GRXS Bass 126 rod, 2nd £100, 3rd £50; Ladies (sponsored by Amble Angling Centre) 1st £50, 2nd £30, 3rd £20; Juniors (sponsored by MKM building supplies, Alnwick) 1st £50, 2nd £30, 3rd £20. All juniors at weigh-in will receive a Grey’s goodie bag, entry £12 all classes. Tickets from tackle shops in advance or Radcliife Club, Amble Angling Centre on the day. Bounds Seahouses south pier(excluding the pier except for disabled anglers & helper) to the pipe at Lynemouth, rivers Aln & Coquet excluded, details Tony (01665 602 034) or Jimmy (01665 711 007). Please note: NO wrasse to be weighed in.