Lots of flood water in the local rivers and a bit of a northerly wind last midweek have pushed the mackerel offshore with only the odd fish reported from the regions piers with Roker and South Shields piers seeing the better sport. Both piers are also producing plenty of fish to worm and crab baits with quality whiting showing after dark and small cod showing when there is some colour in the water. Small but in size cod have moved inshore all along the local shoreline over the last few days with anglers fishing for mackerel reporting taking them as a by catch on both lures and float fished baits. Lots of small coalfish are evident and decent plaice continue to be taken on ragworm baits. The Durham beaches have seen whiting and small cod showing on night tides, with the occasional small bass among them. The piers at Hartlepool have seen a few mackerel with quantities of mainly small coalfish and dabs taking worm baits.
The Rutherfords Conoflex sweepstake in the Tyne saw twenty-two anglers weigh in coalfish, eels and flounders. T. Tate won zone A with thirteen fish for 327cm, G. Forster had nine for 228cm and P. Wright had nine for 227cm. In zone B Jim Dobie had nineteen for 444cm, Chris Stringer had fourteen for 352cm and Andy Rutherford had eleven for 257cm. The next match is on Wednesday August 4th at the Copthorne Hotel fishing from 7.30pm till 10.30pm. For details contact Rutherford Angling on 0191 5654183
Ryhope A.C. ran a match at the Copthorne Hotel which produced a few fish despite the flood water in the river. John Bryan won zone A with fourteen fish for 327cm, Andy Rutherford had six for 210cm, Bob Surtees had six for 194cm and Alan Burton had six for 157cm including the longest fish in zone A with a flounder of 40cm. In zone B Bob Bland had twenty six fish for 446cm, Paul Craig had sixteen for 378cm, John Surtees had fifteen for 345cm, best 39cm and Paul Richardson had ten for 301cm.
The Amble Summer open had a good weigh in with forty-eight out of one hundred and forty weighing in ninety-eight fish for 233lb 7oz. Heaviest bag went to Chris Potts with six fish for 11lb 13oz followed by Rob Allison who weighed three for 11lb 1oz. Third placed Paul Sample had six for 9lb 14oz and Colin Bell had the heaviest fish; a pollack of 5lb 10oz. Top junior was Connor Millard with 1lb 3oz while Pauline Ferry weighed in 4lb 6oz to take the ladies prize. The best flatfish went to Jason French with a flounder of 1lb dead.
The last Tynemouth A.C. Summer League match also saw fish taken from the rock edges around Seahouses. Nick Harnom won with each of pollack, coalfish and cod for 8lb 6oz taken from Newton, his cod of 4lb 6oz was the heaviest fish. Runner-up Marty Elliott fished Seahouses and had two cod for 4lb 11oz and third placed Steve Harper had a single wrasse of 1½lb from Newton.
The Tynemouth retired members match fished on Tynemouth pier saw seven out of twenty-six find fish. Peter Dixon won with three cod for 3lb 1oz beating Ken Robinson, who had a plaice, a dab, and a cod for 2¼lb, into second place. Dave Bentley took third spot with two cod for 2lb 1oz and Wilf Reed and Peter Dixon tied for the heaviest fish with cod of 1lb 3oz.
South of the Tees mackerel are showing in slightly greater numbers. Terry Dalton won a recent St. Mary’s match with nine for 7lb 6oz, best 1lb 2oz. The Redcar Navy and Gentleman’s Club Summer Open saw Chris Wood win with a fine wrasse of 4lb 3oz taken from Kettleness while Jamie Mullen finished one ounce behind with a cod from Hummersea. In third was Steve Williams with a cod of 3lb 1oz, also from Hummersea.
As part of National Fishing Month a crab fishing match is being held at the Glass Centre in the Wear on Sunday August 1st. There are two categories and entry is free for six to twelve years and thirteen to sixteen years, those under twelve must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is from 11am till 12 noon at the Glass Centre with fishing from 12 till 2pm. All anglers must use hand lines which will be supplied. Bait will also be supplied but anglers may use their own bait and also bring a bucket to save their catch. The Wear is full of crabs as most anglers are aware, so a big bucket would be preferable. There will be three prizes in each category.
The Evelynn Jane out of Hartlepool has had a few productive recent trips. The first produced a superb ling of 31lb 4oz for Paul Moore, the heaviest fish so far in the Hartlepool Charter Skippers Festival, and one of 20lb 2oz for Jason Tinham. Another trip saw plenty of cod up to the 6lb mark, but again the bigger fish were ling with best at 20lb 14oz taken by Hull angler John Byrne.
