Boats are finding more decent fish on the wrecks and in the open sea.

Shore anglers have had a lean time and Roker Pier has been almost deserted on quite a number of days, but there are a number of tommy codling being taken from the piers and in the Wear Estuary, so things may pick up.

Coalies are still coming from the Wear between Wearmouth Bridge and the Queen Alexandra Bridge, with some good flounders around the Castletown and Hylton section.

There is still no sign of a glut of mackerel for pier anglers and I imagine that the few from Shields Pier were just a one-off.

The Tyne is still giving up the better sport with plenty of flatties around the Copthorne area. There was even a good 3lbs codling taken in a competition there on Sunday.

Crab baits are taking the majority of flounders, coalies and the rare sizeable codling.

The first of the Ryhope Summer Sweepstakes took place at Panns Bank last Tuesday night with a fair turnout of 48 rods, of which 20 weighed in heaviest single fish.

John Lovett won Zone A with a 1lb 4oz flounder with Susan Hope second for a 15½oz flattie followed by her dad, George Hope (one at 15oz) and Davie McCready (13½oz).

The quality in Zone B was not so good with Paul Riley taking the best fish (11oz coalie) ahead of Barry Cook and Gary Warwick, who shared second for 8oz flounders. Barry Cook took fourth for one at 6oz.

Last Wednesday's Eastenders Sweepstake had 11 entrants and all took fish from the Glass Centre in a measure and release match.

Steve Rackstraw was first (three for 93 centimetres), ahead of Chris Hossack (four at 88cms) and Willie Rowntree (three at 83cms). The remarkable thing in this competition was that all three winners succeeded with tommy codling.

Thursday's East End & Hendon Sweepstake was pegged at Lambton Drops and had a dozen entrants with five taking nine fish (seven tommy codling, one flounder and a bullhead).

John Nelson had two codling for 64cms with Gareth Gardiner next (two at 54cms) and Gavin Murray third (two for 50cms).

East End & Hendon SAC had a club competition on Sunday at the Timber Beach with three out of 12 members taking seven flounders.

Tommy Tate had the best score of three fish for 97cms with a tie for second between John Nelson and Jack Nelson, each with two for 49cms.

Sunderland SAA took to roving on Sunday with 32 rods out and seven weighing in six flounders and a plaice.

Chris Hossack emulated his heaviest ever flounder at 1lb 14oz of last week by taking another one at the same weight to win at the Business Park, with Steve Williams, of Jarrow, just two ounces short for a plaice of 1lb 12oz from Shields Pier. D Allison, of Redcar came third for a 1lb 6oz flounder from the Wear.

Ryhope SAC also fished on Sunday with 46 members competing at the Copthorne Hotel on the Tyne. Approximately 40 weighed in mainly flounders with Paul Fenech winning Zone A for nine fish at 239cms, ahead of Alan March (seven at 202cms), Kevin Bewick (five at 124cms) and Steve Rackstraw (four for 114cms). The heaviest Zone A fish was a 3lbs (57cms) codling of by Fenech.

Zone B was less productive with Wayne Harriman in pole position for seven fish at 197cms, followed by Bobby Bland (four for 117cms), Ken Haley (four at 103cms) and six-year-old Adam Harriman (three at 98cms, including the heaviest fish).

Ryhope SAC members, tired of the lack of action locally, travel to Port Carlisle on Sunday. The best of luck!

Forthcoming competitions: Tonight, East End & Hendon Sweepstake (7-10pm. Roving. Register at the Welcome Tavern); Saturday, Seaham SAC juniors (Bell Curry Cup, 11am-3pm), Eastenders Open 2-6pm, Lambton Drops); Sunday, Seaham SAC (Moore Cup, 3-8pm), WBA boat competition (10am-2pm); Tuesday, Ryhope Sweepstake (Panns Bank, 7-10pm; Wednesday, Eastenders Sweepstake (Claxheugh, 7-10pm), WBA boat league competition (6-9pm).