23rd October 2000.
REPORT FOR THE HUMBER TO THE THAMES
The large amount of rain over the last few days, slowed sport down in many places, even on the boats, they reported slower fishing for a while. However the normal trend is of plenty of whiting with more codling creeping in along with some end of season large bass.
Penn sponsored John Rawle reports that there are lots of fish in most marks at the moment with his best day on an inshore mark providing 55 codling for the boat. For a trip out with John phone him on 01621 776445.
Like John most boats are fishing more inshore at the moment with whiting, codling, dogfish, pouting and dabs all being caught. Best baits are lug, mackerel and squid.
Dave Godwin also informs me that the river Crouch is full of whiting and more codling moving in. One confirmed report from one angler using 3 rods on his boat, he had 15 codling to 8lb, 2 roker to 7lb plus the normal whiting.
The Southend beaches have picked up a little during the day with local digger Gary Pearman taking 4 flounders to just under 3lb, a vast improvement. At night try the Thorpe Bat end with plenty of whiting, with two anglers reporting 48 in one session. Lug and mackerel strip the bait for a good nights fishing. Canvey marks producing whiting and flounders. The same from the Stanford marks plus some eels, with Grays fishing the same.
The beaches and the pier at Walton are continuing to fish well. Not only for whiting, codling and big pouting, but also two bass of 5 and 9lb reported from the pier. The boats from here are finding whiting, dogfish and codling to 8lb. For one or two tips on the bass fishing phone Richard Holgate on 01255 675680.
Dave Jones from Breakaways reports lots of fish from all marks with whiting, codling, bass and the odd sole.
The Felixstowe beaches are producing good-sized whiting and some codling to 4lb. Also some good-sized bass from the mouth of the estuary, while the boats are finding whiting, codling and dogfish.
Stuart Smalley at Aldeburgh Tackle backs up what everyone else has said this week, just lots of fish everywhere especially at night. Stuarts boat found the bass again with 5 between 4lb and the best at 12lb on launce sandeels.
Head for the beaches at Gorleston for catches of up to 60 whiting per night session plus a few codling to 4lb 8oz also being landed.
North beach at Yarmouth seems to be the place to head for a few more codling featuring in the catches of whiting with several fish to 4lb 8oz.
A 7lb cod was reported from Caister, a 7lb bass was landed from the river at Gorleston and from the South beach codling also to 4lb 8oz and whiting up to 1lb 8oz.
Bass to 8lb from Cromer pier and at Hazebourgh flounders, dabs, whiting and bass are your target fish on worm baits.
Ade Cooper from Lightwoods on 01472 343536 will point you towards the prom for lots of whiting and flounders with schoolies at Cleethorpes.
Try Killingholm fro soles and East Holton for a chance of a cod at low water on worm bait.
Lots of small whiting, flounders, bass and the odd sole at night from the Chapel St Leonards area.
Dave Dobbs reports whiting, codling and schoolies from the river marks in the Humber.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Cromer Pier
Current Form
Several good bass from 5 to 8lb are now being caught with plenty of smaller fish, plus whiting, dabs and flounders.
Bait
For the smaller fish lugworm is the successful bait and for the big bass use whole squid.
Tackle and Tactics
Using the whole squid for the bigger bass on a running pennel, fishing close to the pier or try further out. For the smaller fish use a 2 hook paternoster with size 1 hooks with the worm baits. Normal beachcasting tackle with a good shockleader and 5oz breakaway.
Location
Follow the A140 or A148 to Cromer, through the town to the seafront and follow the road to the pier.
Local Tackle Shop
Marine Sports
Cromer
01263 513676
YOUR CATCH
Two anglers, who wish to remain nameless, fished in Felixstowe by the extension of the docks fence. They fished in flat calm conditions using a Pennel rig with a very small top hook to catch two bass about 7lb each.
The successful bait was live pouting, which was caught on the top hook whilst leaving the bottom hook exposed. The fish came in a deep-water section right under their rod tips.
