SEA ANGLING

AT last there is a glimmer of hope for boat anglers.

Talking to Allan Skinner, Skipper of the “JFK Two” out of North Shields, the coloured water which has been around for a while seems to be clearing slightly.

Allan was out last Sunday and, after trying the wrecks without success, he moved inshore off Newbiggin and the party aboard had over 20 codling between them up to 5 lb.

These were taken mainly on lug and rag, but there were one or two taken on sidewinders.

The “Sapphire” out of Sunderland, skippered by Peter had a party of six rods aboard. He travelled ten miles out to sea to try a wreck as the party wanted to do. All they got from the wreck were two ling of 8 lb and one or two codling to 3 lb. He then came inshore onto the hard ground and managed one or two codling again to 3 lb. The bait used was cuttlefish.

Amble boats have also started taking a few codling now – nothing big as yet, being up to about 4 lb – although the average has been 2 lb to 2 1/2 lb. Baits used have been lug and mussel with fish being taken from Cresswell Skeers and the back of Coquet.

Don’t forget the Bob White Memorial Open Boat Competition is being held on Saturday 8th July out of Amble. The event is open to charter, private boats and kayaks. For further details and booking of Amble boats, contact Norma at the Amble Angling Centre on 01665711200.

Seaham SAC are holding a Good Friday Open tomorrow. Fishing is from 1 pm to 6 pm with entry for all classes being £10. The number of prizes are dependent upon the number of entries. The first three prizes will be for the heaviest single fish. One prize per angler only. There are the usual optional pools and there will be 100 spaces on the North Pier, which is pegged. Register at the Seaham SAC Headquarters between 11 am and 12 noon. For further details call 01915810321.

Seaham North Pier is still giving fair numbers of lesser spotted dogfish and close into the Pier on float-fished ragworm, some decent sized coalfish are being taken.

Elsewhere, shore fishing continues to be generally quiet. The mainstay of catches is Flounders and there have been some decent sized fish among them. The most productive areas have been Alnmouth Estuary, Warkworth and Amble Piers. There are still a number of undersized Bass from these areas. These, of course, irrespective of size, must be returned alive. Blyth Beach at night is giving a few Flounders, mainly on worm and fish baits, while the River Tyne, apart from the small Codling, is producing a fair number of Dabs again on worm and fish strip. South Shields Pier is still a bit ‘hit and miss’. On some flood tides there have been odd Codling to 2 lb mainly on crab baits.