THE winter shore fishing season is almost upon us, and the weed beds are already holding good numbers of fish. Cod to 5lb and plenty of coalfish are being caught around the north end of Tynemouth Beach and Cullercoats Harbour. Whitley Bay Pipe is producing mackerel and pollock on spinners, as well as some fine place taken on worm and fish baits. Whiting have started to show in good numbers after dark, the Tyne and wear estuaries and Blyth pier seem to be taking the bigger bags. The beaches did not fish as well during the week with the large tides emptying them quickly, although some small turbots were caught from Warkworth beach. Some fine pollock are being caught on spinners and jelly worms from local piers, fish to 4lb have been taken from Roker Pier while Paul Turnbal caught pollock of 9lb and 4lb in an early morning session from South Shields Pier. There are still plenty of mackerel to be had from Blyth pier and the gut at North shields Fish Quay; cod to 3lb are also being caught on bottom baits. Garfish and gurnards are starting to be taken regularly; the garfish taking float fished mackerel strip, and the gurnards taking it off the bottom. A novice angler fishing out of Amble on the Upholder got a shock while playing a small ling to the side of the boat, a 5ft Porbegal Shark bit his fish clean in half and made off with it. The shark didn’t come back for the other half but it’s a good sign of things to come! The new charter boat out of the Tyne, Amadeus, continues to produce some good fish with cod to 9lb, thornback rays to 4lb and tub gurnards to 4lb featured among its catches over the weekend along with pollock and ling to 11lb. For more information on Amadeus ring Carl Wilson on 0191 2532322. Ian Woods and the NFSA are hosting an open boat competition run out of the Tyne, Wear, Blyth and Amble tomorrow. This is a heaviest single fish competition, entry is £7, fishing from 4-6pm. Tickets from Frasers Angling and outdoors, Ian Woods, Or at the Royal Quays. TIM SWADDLE-SCOTT | 
