Ray of hope as dogfish keep fishermen busy

AS I wrote last week, most anglers are waiting for the first rays to start showing along the North East coast.

However, while they are waiting, they can keep themselves busy with the good numbers of dogfish that have crept in – normally a species more associated with the West coast which have been turning up in greater numbers each year over here.

Dogfish have appeared in match and pleasure catches from Whitby to Craster, with Seaham North Pier by far the best venue with anglers taking well over a dozen per session.

Among them there has been the odd codling to 2lb, whiting to well over a pound and with the fish only a few yards out from the pier, they are giving great sport on light tackle especially when taking two or three fish at a time on carp rods.

Terry Chapman, who has set up his stall a few times on the pier, has taken dogfish to 2lb 10oz, whiting to 1lb 8oz and codling to just over 2lb, with sand eel and mackerel the best bait for the dogfish and lug tipped with mackerel doing the business for the whiting especially on the ebb during darkness.

While enjoying the fun you can always put a big bait out at distance in the hope of the first of the rays to show.

Marsden has been the best shot for codling to 3lb, with a few to 3lb being taken from the rough ground north of the Tyne, with Whitby marks giving the better codling to just over 6lb.

As well as dogfish along the Solway coast a few rays still showing between Balcary and Kircudbright but none as yet from the accessible marks at Silloth, although you can wile your time away fishing light for dab, flounder, dogfish and hopefully a plaice or even a bass.

Druridge still fishing well for the usual species with Warkworth, Embleton and Cambois also producing decent flounder, as has the north end of Blyth beach which is quite often overlooked.

Boat fishing has been very difficult with the topsy-turvy weather and the water still quite cloudy but Andy Maloney fishing off JFK TWO off the Tyne managed to land a personal best ling of 15lb. Hopefully, a bit of settled weather this weekend will see catches improve.

EVENTS

A great competition coming up for boat anglers and for two good causes takes place on July 31 – Aug 4 the Hartlepool boat competition in aid of Help for Heroes and the RNLI, based on a species hunt with points awarded for each species, there will be daily and overall prizes for seniors and juniors, entry £55 all in. For more details and bookings, call Lee Bullivant on 07501176748 or Kevin Woodcock on 07927001266 Andy Maloney fishing off JFK TWO off the Tyne managed to land a personal best ling of 15lb