The recent heavy south easterly seas brought plenty of cod inshore for a few days, and those who managed to avoid the ever present whiting had some nice specimens up to 6lb or more among mixed bags of 20lb plus. The piers at Hartlepool have been on top form with good numbers of quality fish taking worm, crab and mussel baits. Anything tipped off with mackerel or squid instantly attracted the hungry whiting. Middleton Pier in particular produced lots of fish when the sea was at its heaviest. The low water marks also fished well as the sea dropped away, with the Staincliffe and Durham beaches all fishing well after dark. The Wear and Tyne have large numbers of cod, whiting and coalfish showing and proved popular when the sea has been too heavy or it has been too windy to fish the open beaches.
Hartlepool O.M.A.C. had another good weigh in with 15 out of 17 landing 100 fish, including 20 cod, for a total weight of 125¼lb. Kenny Gooding landed the heaviest fish, a cod of 5lb 7oz just beating Brian Chapman who had one of an ounce less, and Jay Kelly with one of 4½lb. Ian Palmer Jnr. had the heaviest bag at 19¼lb, a nice mix of cod, whiting and flatties. Runner-up Toby Lee had a similar bag make up to weigh in 18lb 3oz and Ian Palmer Snr. Finished third with 13lb 1oz.
Hartlepool Pirates also found a few cod in their last match where Syd Burtcher had five totalling 7lb 4oz from Rathouse Corner in the Wear to take top spot. Bill Bradley finished second with 2lb 10oz from the same venue. D. Dixon beached the heaviest fish of 2lb 2oz from Horden, and Adam Dendrickson fished the rock edges at Hartlepool to land one of 1lb 15oz. The next Club meeting is November 24th in the Stranton Club at 7.30pm.
A recent Seaton Sluice match saw most of their fish coming from the Amble area where 10 out of the 17 anglers weighed in mainly single codling. Gary Appleton managed two cod for 7lb 9oz, best 4¾lb, Mal McIntyre had two weighing 3lb 15oz and Callum Stephens weighed in 2lb 3oz.
S.B.R.A.A.C. saw Blyth beach produce the fish during their last match with over half the anglers finding fish. Phil Smithson had a nine fish mixed bag totalling 10lb 9oz, Kevin Moffat had 12 weighing 7½lb and Gary Wilson had four for 7lb 8oz, including the best fish of 3lb 7oz.
Bedlington Station saw 10 out of 23 weighing in and Blyth was top spot again for winner Darren Shields who had six nice cod totalling 18lb 3oz, the best weighing 6lb 3oz. Second placed Chris Potts had four cod for 9lb 9oz from Cresswell while Steve Potts had four weighing 7½lb from Blyth to finish third.
Word gets around quick when the fish are showing and the Tynemouth Winter League match saw everyone head off to Blyth Beach where Glen Campbell won with 18 whiting weighing in at 12lb 9oz, Steve Harper, in second had 15 for 11lb 10oz, and Kenny Patterson had 10 totalling 6lb 10oz.
Ryhope A.C. saw 30 out of 68 weigh in, but in the flat seas the cod had long gone. Keith Carter did manage one of 1.81kg taken from Marsden to take both the heaviest fish and heaviest bag prizes. Junior entrant Mason Burton fished the Tyne to land one flounder and four whiting weighing 1.73kg, Mason’s bag included the heaviest flatfish of 0.47kg, and Frankie Terry also travelled to the Tyne to land five whiting for 1.60kg.
Sunday November 27th is the date for the Sunderland Shore Angling Festival, organised by Ryhope A.C., Eastenders A.C., East End and Hendon A.C. and Rutherfords Angling Ltd. Fishing is from 1pm till 5pm between South Shields pier (excluded), the river Wear up to the Queen Alexandra Bridge, and down to Seaham North Pier (excluded). Basic entry is £12 for all entry classes. Register at the Eastenders pub, High Street Sunderland, or in advance from selected tackle shops. This is a heaviest fish match and anglers can only weigh in one single fish, and all prizes are for the heaviest fish with £500, £300, and £200 for the top three, plus a £3000 prize table, and special prizes for the heaviest flatfish. Contact Bob Surtees 0794056594, Ernie Hunter 07984306120, or Rutherfords Angling 0191-5654183 for further details.
Looking slightly further ahead there will be plenty of Open and Sweepstake matches over the Christmas holidays. Alberta S.A.C. have their Open on Tuesday December 27th fishing from 8am until 2pm in the Tyne. Basic entry is £5 plus various sweeps. Register at Hebburn Marina from 7am until 7.30am. Prizes are for the heaviest bags and heaviest fish based on entry.
