Lacey batters all rivals with her cracking cod

IN challenging conditions, Peter Ramsdale took top honours in the South Shields open, winning £600 with his cod of 5lb 12oz 8drms.

Second among the 185 anglers, with the heaviest bag of 11lb 9oz 2drms, was Neil Turner, who won £400.

However, pride of place went to junior angler Lacey Gray, who not only won the junior section with her cod of 2lb 1oz 5drms but also the ladies’ section.

Andrew Brotherton took the heaviest flat fish at 1lb 6oz 6drms.

In the optional heaviest fish sweeps Peter Ramsdale was first with 5lb 12oz 8drms; second was Michael Rich with 4lb 14oz 4drms; third was Steve Rackstraw with 4lb 3oz 7drms.

In the heaviest bag section, Neil Turner with 11lb 9oz 2drms was first; second was Michael rich with 8lb 1oz 8drms; Paul Wastell third with 7lb 5oz 8drms.

It was different down at Whitby where Simon Blake needed a bag of six cod for 21lb 3oz to win the £500 in the Whitby Open. Andy Crowe was second with eight for 20lb 7oz taking £300, Steven Dixon third with eight for 19lb 7oz 8drms.

Chris France took the heaviest fish at 6lb 1oz, with Rob Allinson second with one of 5lb 10oz.

The match produced no less than 14 double-figured bags with 48 out of 110 weighing in 156 fish for 392lb 9oz.

Plenty of fish around while the sea was up. Brian Scott fished Coldingham taking good numbers of cod between 2-5lb on the ebb.

On the flood, Scott took cod of 6lb 3oz, 6lb 11oz, 7lb 2oz then the best of the lot 9lb 8oz. All but a couple of pan-sized fish were returned.

S Davis took 26lb, best at 6lb 7oz, in his clubs match. Ritchie Douglas took one of 9lb to win a sweepstake match.

As the sea died, marks south of the Tyne fished well. Hendon prom produced bags of up to 10 cod, the best at 7lb, as did the Ryhope marks, Whitburn and Marsden, with the Durham beaches producing good bags with fish to 6lb. Boats have also done well with anglers uptiding on Northeastern Charters taking 20 cod to 6lb.

Private boats venturing out have taken good numbers of cod to 6lb.

Anglers on JFK fishing wrecks and ground took around 40 fish to 8lb, a lot going back. Lacey Gray with her fish and, left, Peter Ramsdale with his winning catch