Andy just makes weigh-in for victory.

AFTER managing to get two wrasse and three codling out of the weed beds while fishing the Emblestones at Newton in the Bob White Memorial Match, Andy Grief thought all he had to do was get back to his car over the treacherous rocks and then an easy drive back to the weigh-in with plenty time to spare.

This was when his troubles really started, as it seemed every farmer and his tractor were between him and the weighin at Amble.

The weigh-in station was getting ready to close when, with only minutes to spare, a relieved Andy made it, winning the competition with his bag of 12lb 3.75oz, and the heaviest fish prize with a cod of 4lb 5oz.

He also won the Whitley Bay league match, which was fished in conjunction.

Unfortunately, Barry Tweddle had to celebrate his birthday with second place with a wrasse and two codling for 4lb 2.5oz, taken from Millers Points at Embleton.

Mick Heslop was third with a single codling of 2lb 10.5oz, with Robson Oliver winning the junior section with a flounder of 9.25oz.

Shad which normally turn up among the mackerel shoals from the region's piers are spreading further north, David Craig taking a fine specimen of 1lb 12oz from Dunstanburgh Castle, which after weighing was returned, while fishing for mackerel and pollock.

Another angler has passed the 2lb milestone for a flounder, Chris Hossack winning the Ryhope Sweepstake with a personal-best fish of 2lb 4oz. A few codling have been brought in with the rough seas, Andy Pagett taking three to 6lb from Roker Pier, Marty Elliott winning Tynemouth's match at Eyemouth with a cod and a wrasse for 3-6-0. Mixed bags of codling, coalfish, pout, flounder, dab and eels have been taken from the Tyne estuary, Dave Wood winning Longbenton and Seaton Burn's match with a bag of 11.15lb, and Tony Taylor winning Tynemouth's retired match with 5-5-0, both fished on Tynemouth pier.

Upper reaches of the Wear and Tyne are also producing and Jim Dobie won Eastenders' match with 14 for 332cm from the Golden Lion, Barrie Robson taking first and second in East End & Hendon's match with a flounder of 1-6-0 and an eel of 1-50. Steven Harper won Tynemouth's Sunday league match from Spillers with 12 eels and two flounders for 7-3-0. Boat fishing has started to pick up again as the sea died down, anglers aboard Sarah JFK taking 60 fish, the best 12lb.

ALAN CHARLTON DIARY DATES July 18-19: Tyne and Wear two day flounder festival, Saturday July, 18, Tyne Business park 10-2pm, Sunday, July 19, Southwick prom 11-3pm. Measure and release, size limit 25cm, eels 25cm, no pipefish, entry pounds 10 per day (pay Saturday) plus opt pools l/f pounds 2, pairs pounds 2, two zones, 1st 2nd 3rd, one cash prize per person excluding opt. No details Barrie 07765663632.

CAPTION(S):

WHAT A BEAUTY Lee Gilbertson with his winning ling of 12lb. TOP CATCHES Andy Grief (left) with his winning catch of two wrasse and three cod, and John Summerbell (right) with his pollock of 6lb 4oz.