23 April 2001
REPORT FOR THE HUMBER TO THE THAMES
The Easter hols did not bring us any luck with the weather but ithas brought a relaxation of closed marks where the government ispanicking and realising that half the marks are shut for no reason.However for the cod angler it is all too late. The cold weather willalso delay the peeler crabs as well with no sun to warm the inshorewater up, which will in turn slow the incoming summer fish frommoving in.
A note of interest on the water temperature is that in the Thamesit is 9 deg. C, two degrees down on the last three years, notsurprising that the crabs will be later this year.
The Southend beaches continue to fish slowly for flounders andsome small school bass, best baits will be crab when you can getsome. The pier at Southend has produced its first garfish, theselovely playful fish should increase in numbers now. Try float tacklewith mackerel strip. Colin Bond from Southend reports some roker tobe caught on herring and squid baits as well as the first smoothoundsto 4lb.Thorney Bay on Canvey is producing a few flounders and atGrays Wharf some eels have been reported. Dave Godwin took some kidson a coaching course on the pier at Southend with the best fishfalling to Benjamin Andreas, a flounder of 1lb 8oz on his first daysfishing. For coaching or for trips out on the Predator please phoneDave on 01702 308043.
The Crouch boats have found some good roker fishing with the bestcatch of the week, 20 to 9lb, falling to Tim Myers and his wife ontheir boat Enterprise. Another private boat, The Keefy, found someluck with the roker but still several to be caught on squid baits aswell as good sport with some small bass in the river. The Bradwellboats were not so lucky with some smoothounds to 4lb again on squidbaits while fishing for the roker. Small whiting, codling and dabsare being taken as well.
Wrabness on the river Stour has now reopened and some betterflounders are being landed on rag and crab baits. Gordon Greenleyfished on Walton pier, whilst catching pouting, eels and whiting. Healso lost a roker of about 7lb half way up the pier while hand-liningit in. The beaches in the area are producing some codling, eels andbig pouting. Soles are being landed at the Manor end at Felixstowe,whilst Languard point is producing codling.
Our old friend Stuart Smalley is now a happy man as they have nowopened up the dirty wall at Aldeburgh and Orford Island where codlingare now being caught. For the latest news phone Stuart on 01728454316. At Pakefield, where you can expect some good quality dabs andsmall codling. Fishing Minsmere, using bomber rigs and you will catchsome flounders to over a 1lb and some good soles, with some whitingand the odd codling to 6lb. Lugworm is the bait with short castspaying off. A few flounders left in the Southwold estuary using lugor maddies close to the harbour wall.
Jason at Gorleston Tackle recommended Pakefield, Hopton andYarmouth for flounders, codling and good dabs. Moving up toTrimmingham and Mundesley where Martin at Cromer Sports will pointyou to, for codling and some soles to over 1lb, dabs and smallwhiting. At the top of the region in Hull Docks they have seen somebass to 3lb, with some flounders in the river, and the odd codlingoff the deeper water marks.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED – CORTON
Current Form
Still after winter fish here, such as codling, dabs and whiting.Bait Yes still the same, lug , lug and lug of course if you are luckyand have crab then use that for the codling.
Tackle and Tactics
This is a deeper water mark, so use a two or three hookpaternoster using size 2 or 1/0 hooks for close range fishing or aclipped down, size 1/0 hook pennel trace for codling at long range.The best state of the tide to fish is the flood.
Location
Take the A12 to Lowestoft and then follow the signs to Corton.
Local Tackle Shop
Sam Hooks 01502 565821.
A small match organised by Kev Mulgrew from the Bait and Tacklefished between 17 anglers at Thorpe Bay in Southend produced the topweight of 1lb 5 1/4oz for Alan Barker with 3 flounders. The heaviestfish fell to Charlie Keating who also had the 2nd heaviest bag with aflounder of 1lb 4 3/4oz.
HASTINGS & ST. LEONARDS A.A NEGOTIATE FOR DEAL ONPIER
Fishing stopped on Hastings Pier 18 months ago when it closedafter receivers moved in and for the first time in 100 years Hastings& St Leonards Angling Association were unable to hold theirAnnual Pier Festival.
The closure followed one of the best competitions on the Pier formany years with large plaice and cod making up the weights. Lastautumn the Pier was purchased and the new owner has spent all winterrefurbishing and reinstating the steel works. It is expected to openin May and Hastings & St Leonards AA are hoping to resumefishing. Peter Spelman, agent for the owner has meet with the clubssecretary Ted Eldridge and agrees that fishing can take place, thoughin a more limited form than it used to be. Only club members will beallowed to fish and the price has risen from just under £ 1000 to£ 6000 a year.
The whole of the end of the Pier will be available for fishingwhich can accommodate 40 anglers, but if the Festival is to takeplace again this will need to be extended to take up to 60 anglers.So far a deal is yet to be struck, but traditionally Hastings anglershave always fished from the Pier and they hope to do so again.
