Boats boosted by ling and codling bonanza
WITH calmer conditions before the weekend and plenty of mackerel and herring around for fresh bait, boat anglers have been able to drop chunks of bait down into the wrecks where it has been greedily taken by good-sized ling.
Quite a few of the ling were well into double figures while some decent-sized cod weighed as much as 10lb. Pollock was also in good supply with most boats from Whitby taking up to 70 fish per whole day trip.
The best ling reported was one of 16lb taken by David Ridge fishing aboard JFK TWO, with Carl Thornton taking ling of 14lb and 12lb.
Phil Stoddart took one of 15lb fishing from Sapphire and Brian Corkhill hauled in a cod of 10lb.
Boats fishing the rough ground off Amble and Craster were able to take reasonable numbers of codling, with a few better ones going 6lb along. Ling also reached 8lb at the same spot.
Private boats fishing the wrecks have seen anglers taking up to ten ling per trip, with some into double figures in terms of weight.
Boat reports from Luce Bay have not been as good as they should be for the time of year with tope catches certainly below par.
Shore fishing from the Mull of Galloway has improved slightly with wrasse to 3lb and pollock to 5lb with a few bull huss and rays taken but I have had no reports of any conger being taken.
St Abbs and the Borders have been the best venues for sport especially if you are float fishing with light tackle Dave Rogers took eleven wrasse to 4lb and four pollock to 8lb along with mackerel, codling and coalfish.
Bass have been on the cards for those targeting the species along the open beaches with plugs with quite a few schoolies being taken and returned.
But the best catch was one of 4lb 8oz taken by Les Straughan in Sunderland’s match while fishing for codling.
The regions piers especially South Shields, Seaham and the Old North Pier have seen good numbers of mackerel and herring. Plaice, odd codling, pollock, coalfish and common sole have all been taken by anglers who are bait fishing.
The Tyne and Wear are giving good catches of flounder with some very nice specimens. Andy Robson took one of 2lb 6oz in East End’s match while Druridge, Warkworth and Embleton have also seen good action with flounder along with the odd bass, plaice and turbot.
The only rock marks where codling are a possibility have been Whitburn and Marden with a few to 2lb and odd pollock to 4lb.
The Cumbria coast and marks from Balcary to Kircudbright are well below par, with only a few ray and smoothound taken as most anglers scratch around for a few flounder, dab and plaice to keep them going.