Leaders might not be biggest fish in pond
WHAT a strange scenario there could be in the Whitby Festival with Colin Winley of County Durham joining Brian Robinson as overall leaders and first in the ling section with ling of 15lb 4oz – which could well be a first for the event.
However, I have a feeling that as the size of the fish increase slowly they could be overtaken, or they may even get a bigger fish themselves.
There have also been quite a few cod just over double figures taken in the event along with some decent pollcok and haddock which are vying for the species section.
Unfortunately in general boat fishing has been hit with the unsettled weather.
Tyne boats have been taking around 50 fish with ling of 14lb and 12lb for Graham Mason fishing off JFK TWO, with junior angler Carl Walker taking one of 10lb aboard Blue Eye 2.
Private boats fishing close in off St Abbs, Eyemouth and Burnmouth have taken plenty codling in the 2-3lb range with the odd better one going 8lb along with some decent pollock, with shore anglers fishing the same venues encountering the same species along with some decent wrasse.
In general, shore sport has been quiet from most venues with Cumbria having a really poor spell with only a few hounds, small tope and dogfish with some beaches well known for their flounder fishing giving very few fish.
The Northumbria rock marks only giving a handful of codling to 3lb with the odd better fish to 5lb which have invariably been pollock, with a few codling to 3lb coming from Whitburn and Marsden.
Mackerel are back in good numbers from the piers, along with herring and an increasing number of shad.
Anglers fishing South Shields and Seaham piers with bait on the bottom have taken some decent plaice, with float fishing tactics have given some good sized coalfish, with whiting showing after after dark especially at Seaham.
Settled weather has seen some of the open beaches at Druridge, Warkworth and Embleton giving decent catches of flounder a few plaice, dab and bass with the rivers especially the upper reaches of the Tyne and Wear giving good sport with flounder and eel.
Anglers travelling to the Mull of Galloway have found sport quiet for the time of year with tope catches below par in Luce Bay and surrounding areas.
Anglers fishing Balcary and the Yorkshire Coast for hounds and rays have found it hard going with very little to show for their efforts.
The Bob White memorial match raised an incredible £2008 on the day and further donations boosted this to £3,700, organiser Norma Urwin said “all those that took part are absolute stars” donations will be made to St Oswald Hospice and Amble RNLI. Graham Mason with his ling of 14lb & 12lb taken aboard JFK TWO. Inset, Colin Winley with the ling of 15lb 4oz caught on Jean ‘K’