Catch made a heavy journey well worth it
I QUITE often write about how well North East anglers do when they travel to venues.
Well last weekend it was role reversal in the Puffin kayak heaviest fish match. Andy Rose of Chesterfield made an amazing 460-mile round trip to fish the event and went home happy after landing the heaviest fish, a cod of 8lb 9oz 12drams taken just off Cambois.
Robert Burton of Hebburn finished second with a cod of 6lb 10oz, with David Hamilton third with one of 5lb 12oz. Ian Wiles and Jeff Elliot took the pairs with their two fish for 9lb 7oz.
Although the event, which raised more than £1,100 for Blyth RNLI, had to be rearranged, 40 kayaks took part with all of them enjoying some great fishing with cod and pollock, many in the 3-6lb range, from Whitley Bay to Newbiggin.
Local anglers took all the top places in the Maryport & District Spring Open.
Mark Scott of Workington took the heaviest flat fish, a plaice of 1lb 9.5oz, followed by Steve Smith of Whitehaven with one of 1lb 7.5oz. Frizington angler Steve Nicholl was third with a flounder of 1lb 5.75oz.
Karl Moore of Whitehaven took the only codling of the match at 2lb 7oz to take the heaviest round fish, with Maryport’s John Stephenson next with a dogfish of 1lb 15.5oz and Alan Fallows of Millom third with one of 1lb 15oz.
Maryport’s Mika Nealy won the junior prize with 1lb 12.5oz.
Of the 67 entries, 28 weighed in, with 18 plaice, nine dogfish, four flounder, a codling and a dab.
Three anglers caught bass of over 5lb but due to current restrictions they had to be returned to the sea! Marks around Balcary are still producing rays, and Liam Muizelaar equalled his personal best of 9lb 8oz on the same date and from the same mark which produced his personal best last year.
If you are after smoothound, Hilston is producing some beauties, James Bean taking one of 16lb 7oz. Others over 10lb have also been taken.
Boat catches, when they have been able to get out, have been pretty good from Whitby to the Tyne, especially now the water is clearing.
Down at Whitby, boats Alliance, Trot On and Mistress were taking cod, ling, pollack, whiting, mackerel, pouting and dabs.
Tyne and Wear boats JFK TWO, Sapphire and Predator have been taking around 40-60 fish with JFK TWO hitting the 100-fish mark on their best trip
Most of the catches have been made up of cod and ling to double figures, with pollock and wolfish also taken.
Flounder are showing from all rivers, with plaice being taken from South Shields pier, with a few codling being taken from the rough ground marks.