Unfortunately anglers fishing Whitburn and Marsden for the odd cod have found small
coalfish troublesome.
Roker Pier has produced mackerel and
coalfish, the River Wear producing mainly
coalfish and the odd small codling and a few flounders.
The
coalfish was tempted by a Gunnimak lure and the turbot by a flowing spoon trace using
coalfish strip as bait.
The upper reaches of the Tyne and Wear have produced good flounder action, with a few nudging 2lb, along with a few codling to 2lb and sizeable
coalfish.
There are still lots of undersized codling and
coalfish but decent flounders - with some going to 2lb.
The fish are averaging 1lb and, mixed in with them, are flounders, a few plaice and
coalfish.
Local names for
coalfish, such as saithe, billet and coley also cause muddles.
Tyne estuary is fishing quite well for
coalfish and codling.
South Shields Pier has produced mainly undersized codling and
coalfish with the odd codling to 21/2lb on fresh crab.
The second match featured 25 entrants, with 11 weighing in four codling, three flounder, three sand dabs, two rockling, two
coalfish and one pollack.
Seven of the top eight
coalfish caught between 1971 and the 1986 record of 37lb 5oz were taken by Devon boats.
Good numbers of
coalfish well over 1lb are appearing in catches.
