Codling being caught in good numbers from boats fishing out of Amble

AMBLE boats are taking plenty of codling between 3lb and 5lb on a variety of baits and artificials.

One method which has been working very well is hokis or daylights baited with cooked prawns with the shell on. One of the big problems is getting through the hordes of undersized codling.

Mackerel have also been patchy – it’s been a case of if you find a shoal, trying to stay with them.

For boats out of Amble, contact Noroma at The Amble Angling Centre on 01665 711200. To book the Red October or the Al-Sharek, contact Martin on 07774 494590. These boats also run out of Amble.

The Tyne boat Blue Eye 2 has had good results over the last few days, mainly from wrecks north of the Tyne.

The skipper, Colin, told me that, as with Amble, there are lots of small codling with better cod to 10lb on baits and lures, with sidewinders working well. Blue Eye 2 also had fish from the inshore marks.

Kev Bell from South Shields took a 5lb codling from the ground, but the best fish was a cod of 10lb taken from one of the wrecks by Carl Walker. You can contact the skipper, Colin, on 07903 226202 or his website www.northseafishing.co.uk.

The best fish I have heard of from one of the boats this week was a 15lb cod taken by Stephen Kirby from a private boat Star Dance, skippered by Mick Heslop out of the Royal Quays Marina North Shields.

CVFM “Gone Fishing” Radio Programme broadcasts each Saturday from 8 am to 10 am.

Among this week’s special guests is South African Anthony Kuhn, who will be live on the programme from Southern Ireland.

Also on the programme with Anthony will be Eric Hu, live from China. Eric has designed a drone for anglers which is capable of carrying one kilo in weight, and at the moment is busy designing another drone fitted with a fish-finder.

The John Stevenson Memorial open shore competition organised by the Cleadon SAC last Sunday was a success with 105 anglers fishing – comprising 101 seniors and 4 juniors – with some anglers travelling as far as from Sussex.

Twenty-two of the competitors weighed in, one of whom was a junior, Harley Thompson, weighing in a flounder of 414g. The heaviest bag of 7960g, which included the heaviest single fish – a cod of 2355g, was taken by Arran Stead. It was also Arran’s 20th birthday on the day... quite a birthday present!

The second heaviest fish was taken by Sunderland tackle dealer Andy Rutherford with a cod of 2040g.

The third heaviest fish was taken by Steve Dixon with a cod of 1675g.