Some mackerel are appearing on the piers when the sea is reasonable, but catches are patchy with the best times at daylight.
Whiting are being taken as well, but there is a sad lack of codling inshore.
Even the boat anglers are having a lean time with just a few small codling to five pounds generally plus the odd one to ten pounds from the wrecks.
Ling are in short s
upply with anything over ten pounds a good catch.
This is probably due to the shortage of mackerel to feed on in the deeper water. Some boats are taking a few mackerel from the wrecks while others are finding none at all. There are plenty of pouting and the odd pollack, plus some whiting to a pound in weight.
An unconfirmed report of a foreign commercial ship fishing just off Roker Pier may account for the lack of action for local anglers.
The Frasers Open Boat Competition of Sunday was fished in glorious weather with 79 contestants in the over 20ft class and 18 in boats under 20ft, up on last year's total of 83. Forty-three competitors weighed in a total of 318lb, well down on last year.
The under-20ft winner was Gareth Thomas, from Denton Burn, for a good pollack of 7lb 10oz on the Dani K, repeating his win of last year. In the over-20 ft class a ling of 12lb was enough to give Lee Gibson, of Gateshead – fishing from the Sarah – the top prize. Jason Bainbridge on the Swordfish out of Sunderland hoped to emulate his two previous years wins but could only feature well down the list and ended up with a fishing suit.
The weigh-in at the Royal Quays Marina on the Tyne was marred by a terrific thunderstorm. The sum of £200 was donated to the RNLI. The next big boat competition is the Ian Woods Open, with the same rules, on Sunday, August 2.
Shore rods have been sticking to the rivers for their competitions. Last Tuesday's Ryhope Sweepstake brought 20 rods to the Business Park, all taking flounders. Some good flatties were taken with the best at 2lb by Anthony Lawther followed by Tommy Tate with one at 1lb 15oz. Next were Mickie Davison (1lb 4oz) and Chris Hossack (1lb 3oz).
Eastenders travelled to the Copthorne last Wednesday night with 24 competitors all taking fish. Bob Gascoigne won with 10 fish for 283 centimetres with Billy Bell next (nine at 262cm) followed by Gaz Forster (eight for 241cm) and Phil Wright (seven for 231cm).
Last Thursday's East End & Hendon Sweepstake saw just 14 entrants at Spillers on the Tyne with mostly eels taken. All contestants took fish with Jim Dobie well ahead for 14 eels at 350cm, ahead of Andy Rutherford (10 for 288cm), Bob Gascoigne (233cm), and Barrie Robson (seven at 196cm).
Saturday's Eastenders Open at the Golden Lion saw 29 seniors and two juniors trying their luck. Alan Burton took six eels for 1.320 kilogrammes with Alec Harvey next (nine at 98g) followed by Ernie Hunter (three for 880g) and Steve Rackstraw (three for 860g).
Seaham SAC Night Hawks had 35 members fishing from 7pm on Saturday until 2am on Sunday with 35 rods out and 28 weighing in 111 fish for 87.05lb (52 whiting, 29 mackerel, 12 lesser spotted dogfish, six flounders, five pouting, two dabs and a coalie).
Tony Pilkington won for 15 for 10.61lb with the runner-up Dean Ambler having eight for 5.88lb. Third went to John Charlton (eight at 5.80lb), ahead of Lewis Barnes (three for 5.29lb, including the heaviest fish, a 2.38lb lesser spotted dogfish). Pilkington and Dean Ambler won the pairs' pool for 26 fish at 16.49lb The sealed weight was won by Charlton for 5.80lb.
Sunderland SAA was out on Sunday with four out of 10 members taking one flounder each. Paul Robinson had the heaviest at 1lb 7oz, beating John Robinson (1lb 3oz) and Alan Walker (12oz).
Eastenders SAC Summer League was on Sunday afternoon at the Business Park with 26 members competing and all taking fish. Mickie Sopp was the top angler with 1.480k, ahead of Chris hossack (1.320k, including a nice flounder of 1lb 15oz), Ernie Hunter (980g) and Steve Rackstraw (750g).
Competitions: Tonight and next Thursday, East End & Hendon Sweepstakes 7-10pm (Roving, register at the Welcome Tavern from 6pm); Saturday, Seaham SAC juniors 3-7pm (Edwards Cup); Sunday, Sunderland SAA 3-7pm (Claxheugh), Ryhope SAC 3-7pm (Copthorne Hotel); Tuesday, Ryhope Sweepstake 7-10pm (Business Park); Wednesday, Rutherfords/Conoflex Open 7.30-10.30pm (Copthorne Hotel); Friday July 17, Seaham Badger Open 7-11pm.
