Lugworm the best bait as piers prove prolific

WHEN the sea came away the fish were eager to take a bait, with Blyth pier and Seaham’s north pier and the Spiles by far the best two venues.

The best bag I have heard of that came from Blyth pier was one of 15 fish to 5lb with other anglers taking half a dozen fish.

Seaham pier and the Spiles gave anglers up to 14 fish, with other anglers taking up to eight codling – the best around 5lb.

Lugworm has proved to be the best bait by far, maybe the fish think winter has arrived early.

It is a pity that Roker pier is closed as it would be interesting to see what the catches there would have been like

Most of the open rock marks around Newbiggin, Seahouses, Craster, Ryhope and Marsden have produced a few codling with the best around 2.5lb.

South Shields and Tynemouth pier have given a few codling with the best around 2lb, along with coalfish, flounder, dab and a rare haddock being taken during BOTAC’s Sunday league match.

The Tyne is alive with flounder with the upper reaches producing the best catches.

Liam Muizelaar, who had just returned after two days in the highlands after common skate, only to come away with five doggies and a small spur, set his stall out in the Tyne for a smelt.

But just as Muizelaar didn’t catch a skate he didn’t get his smelt, due to the fact he couldn’t get past the flounder, taking 32 in total, with double and treble shots most of the time.

Unfortunately the open beaches from Blyth to Newton have been unfishable for flounder with only the beaches sheltered from the elements, such as Cambois giving a few decent flounder.

Further down the coast at Whitby catches have been very poor with only a single rockling being taken in a club match.

The rough weather has certainly played havoc with the charter boats’ spring festival with boats getting out only once out of the last seven.

Anglers travelling to very popular venues at Silloth and Balcary have reported good numbers of rays being taken with one angler taking a dozen during one session.

Port Carlisle is giving good numbers of flounder, with Maryport and Whitehaven producing a few nice plaice to 2lb.

Events

Whitby Charter boats festivals – summer festival with an expected top prize of £5,000 June 23 to July 15; Autumn festival with a top prize of £1,000 Sep 15-30, book with skippers direct. Adrian Smethurst (above) with a pollock of 7lb 1oz caught at the Whitby Spring Festival; left, Gordon Yates with a ling of 10lb 7oz caught at the festival