CRACKING CATCH WINS MATCH FOR TESS.

Byline: ALAN CHARLTON

SEA Angling

ANOTHER two cracking fish have been taken this week - the biggest of 17lb 3oz was landed by Tess Feeney from Hartlepool pier in his OMAC club match, easily winning with two cod for 18lb 4oz.

Other anglers have sadly reported losing very big fish from the area, with a few taking cod to 8lb. Ian Hutchinson, pleasure fishing from Roker Pier, had the assistance of a nearby angler who had a drop net, to help land his cod of 15lb 8oz. On some tides, Roker has also produced the odd cod to 7lb.

Cambois has given up a few decent fish - Sean Hildrew, fishing at high water, took a nice cod of 10lb 13oz and another of 5lb. Mick Welsh fished high water at the boat station in a blizzard and his efforts were rewarded as he took three cod for 9-8-0, the best of 4lb, and also returned two smaller fish.

Tony Grant fished at Trow Rocks to land a cod of 7-2-0, while John Hepton travelled all the way to Dunstanburgh Castle to land cod of 4-11-0 and 4-14-0.

Some good fish were taken at the end of last week, Lee Smith bagging four cod for 18lb, the best weighing 7lb, from the Bibles. John Leveson took a nice cod of 11lb, Stewart Ford one of 6lb, both fishing Collywell, while Micky Bell landed a cod of 7-1-0 from Hadston and Mark Hanson a cod of 7lb from Camel's Island.

Quite a few cod turned up in the Ian Gold Open, Gareth Gardiner winning the event with one of 5.65lb from the Spiles.

Gary Pye had a good day, taking second place with one of 5lb, claiming the heaviest bag of three cod for 9.82lb, the sealed weight prize and the team event with Darren Swan.

Club matches have had mixed results, with some not registering a fish. Paul Harrison won Cleadon's fixture with a cod of 6lb taken at Marsden.

Barry Tweddle, fishing at Cambois in Seaton Sluice's match, won with two cod and a coalfish for 8-2-0, the best weighing 4lb. Chris Stringer went for codling on Blyth beach in Whitley Bay's match, returning to the scales with seven plump flounders and a whiting for 6-9-0.

Ian Galbraith took three cod for 6-1-0 from West Bay, while a single codling won Newbiggin's last two matches, Gary Tully taking the first with a cod of 7-2-0 and Mick Heslop the next with one of 4-1-8, taken at Sandy Bay.

DIARY February 22: Seaton Sluice sweepstake. 6pm to 10pm. Boundaries: Cambois pier to Amble pier (excluding piers). Register at Church Point car park, Newbiggin, 4.45pm-5.15pm. pounds 10 entry, 100% prize pay-out. For more information, contact Gav Owen (0797 413 0205) or Barry Tweddle [phone].

[phone] alancharlto nsea@ blueyonder.co .uk

CAPTION(S):

TOP CATCH Allan Cottrell with his personal best cod of 17lb.