Very good sport to be had from shore marks

THE winter season has got off to a great start with most shore marks around Newbiggin, Amble, Whitley Bay, Tynemouth, Whitburn and Ryhope and piers giving bags into double figures with the odd individual fish around 5lb during darkness, with most baits taking fish.

The piers at Seaham and Roker have also seen good numbers of whiting and some decent-size coalfish although at times small coalfish have been a nuisance. Mackerel have still been taken in good numbers from South Shields, Seaham and Roker piers, however at Blyth the mackerel are being taken further up the river with very few from the pier.

Although the rivers are full with undersized fish decent-sized flounder have still been taken from upriver marks, with the Wear producing the best results.

The unsettled weather has spoilt the flounder action from the usual open beaches but with a bit of a roll on there is a good chance of a bass or a few codling after dark. The unsettled weather, offshore winds and huge tides hasn’t helped boat anglers either, most of the time boats having to stay quite close in where reasonable catches of codling to 5lb have been taken.

Sapphire has been taking around 50 fish mostly taken on hokkai and daylights baited with fresh mackerel, which at times has been hard to come by.

JFK TWO managed one trip offshore taking around 60 fish with Russell Hudson taking a ling of 16lb, Darren Haswell one of 15lb and Graham Wyvell a pollock of 9lb.

Steven Brooks, who had landed a personal best bull huss of 9lb 11oz a week ago, and Paul E d w a r d s headed back over to Silloth and d where soon n into action n with dogfish h and dabs s when Brooks’ s’ rod went and nd he was soon on into quite a struggle, not ot knowing if his light gear would uld take the strain, ain, but with Edwards doing oing the netting a delighted Brooks ooks upped his personal best huss ss to 15lb 14oz, an exceptional fish from the shore.

Edwards weighed in with one of 10lb 6oz, another very good fish for the shore.

South West Scotland marks have seen rays, conger and dogfish taken.

While I am writing this Steven Spiers and John Evans are in Norway where they have been taking good numbers of cod to 30lb, coalfish into double figures and some decent halibut, Spiers taking the best at just over 50lb.

Sept 16th Workington & Dist SAC (Penn Points) heaviest fish open Bounds Whitehaven Nth Pier to Grasslot pier, 9-1pm, 100% payout snrs h/f 1st 40% 2nd 30% 3rd 20% h/ flat 10% jnrs h/f 60% 2nd 40% entry £5 pools £15 on day Union Jack Club, Gladstone St , Workington CA14 2SG 7.00am-8.30am details Jimmy on 0754078489 Simon 078601. Steven Brooks with his personal best bull huss. Inset, Steven Spiers with his halibut