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We follow the continuing mission of GaryPye’s promise to catch for the TSF camera.This month he targets codling at Newbigginand Sandy Bay.Words and pics: Terry Patterson

GARY’S TRAVELSTRAVELSGARY’S TRAVELS

FACT FILE

Angler: Gary Pye

Age: 28Occupation: Tackle shop dealer

Hometown: Peterlee

Angling experience: 23 years

Ambition: When it comes to

sea angling matches, I want to

win everything!

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“Are you going out with Gary again?” my wife asked. “Oh yes! Look in the desk diary,

it’s all arranged for Wednesday next week,” I answered. “Where are you going this time?” she then asked. To which I replied: “Not far from home, just down the road to Newbiggin.”

So far Gary and I have been to North Yorkshire, southwest Scotland, the Tyne Estuary and the Durham Colliery beaches. Newbiggin-by-the-Sea is mainly rock-edge fi shing, but Gary also wanted to go a mile down the coast to Sandy Bay and fi sh the high tide from the cliff tops.

Gary boasted to Barney Wright, Total Sea Fishing’s editor, that he would be able to catch fi sh from any mark he went to. So far he has fulfi lled the challenge. I go with him every time to record what he does and provide the photographic evidence!

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OFF WE GO!Despite the sunny forecast the day dawned rainy and cold. I met Gary at the famous Church Point car park and a 10-minute walk across grassy links brought us to the edge of the rocks and the mark called Hare Point. The tide was ebbing, it was about an hour to low water and, with a reasonable surf running, we were just able to wade across to the Point. There is a good tide run here, and I’ve learnt that this is what Gary likes – to be able to cast into fl owing water.

Only fi ve minutes after his bait hit the water on his fi rst cast, Gary had a bite, but no fi sh. Another fi ve minutes later and a second bite resulted in a really nicely conditioned 2lb codling. We were off to a good start. “I’ve caught a fi sh. We can go home now,” Gary joked.

Perhaps he was feeling a bit sorry for me trying to take photos in the rain.

For the next couple of hours, although he got bite after bite, he couldn’t get another fi sh to the shore. They would nibble the bait and then disappear, perhaps frightened by the seals that kept popping their heads up just off shore.

Gary lost a couple of sets of end tackle on the heavy bottom and, to top it all, a good fi sh dropped off as Gary was reeling in. And all the time the rain was falling!

“I think we’ll move to Sandy Bay soon,” Gary suggested. The tide was starting to fl ood in, pushing us off the point. “Just one more cast, I think,” he said, at which he set off on a rock hop in the surf down the skeer, where a low, quick cast took his bait 150 yards out.

He retreated back through the surf and towards me up the rocks, and only a few minutes later he was reeling in another plump 2lb codling. “Well done!” I told him, with my camera shutter clicking away.

Gary looks very confi dent when he is ‘rock hopping’, because he wears a good pair of waders with studs in the soles. These studs help him to grip the rocks, so he is less likely to slip.

TAME T’ MOVE MON!Gary likes to travel light and keeps all his gear in a Greys Apollo rucksack. He loaded everything up in no time at all, and we trekked back to the car. Sandy Bay is on the south side of Newbiggin. To reach the cliffs we drove through the large caravan park, then along the tarmac paths and parked on the grass

Rag tempted this codling. It’s amazing just how much they

can stuff in their gobs!

The fi rst fi sh of the trip is this beautifully conditioned

codling of about 2lb.

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verge. After a half-mile walk we reached the mark that Gary wanted to fi sh, which is a fl at area of grass where the cliffs drop straight to the sea.

When we got there the tide wasn’t as far in as Gary had thought it would be. “Will we be okay do you think?” I asked. “Might as well give it a go seeing as we’re here,” he replied, “although you’re right, the tide hasn’t come in as fast as usual.”

He cast straight out, set up his rod rest and we waited, but only for 10 minutes. We noticed a possible bite on the rod tip, but because of the strong wind the line was ‘bellying’ out, so actually feeling the bite was almost impossible.

Gary picked up his rod and struck, and, as he reeled in, he walked a short distance along the cliff until he could climb down to a ledge. From this position he could guide the fi sh between the rocks that were still protruding

from the water. When he got it in it turned out to be another codling of about 2lb. They were all like ‘peas in a pod’, lovely plump fi sh, fresh run with bright-green markings. Over the next hour he landed two more, with the best one being near the 3lb mark.

It was getting dark now, the rain had stopped but it was still overcast. “It’s getting a bit dim,” I said. “Yes,” Gary agreed, “it’s time to pack in for today.”

As we walked back to the car I could see that he was pleased. “I beat the challenge again then Terry,” he said with a grin. “Yes you did,” I responded. Then I asked: “Where are we going next time?” “Aha! That would be telling,” he laughed.

As usual, Gary gave me the fi sh. When I got home I weighed them and there was 11lb of tasty prime codling. In fact, I cooked one for my tea, rolled in freshly made brown breadcrumbs, served with new potatoes and peas – it was delicious.

WHY GARY FISHED THESE MARKSNewbiggin-by-the-Sea is a popular place for anglers due to the multitude of good fi shing marks available. Hare Point, which Gary chose, extends further out to sea than most, and this, coupled with his casting ability, meant that he was sure to get his bait into the fast-fl owing tidal rip. The Point is only exposed for a couple of hours over low water, so the timing of the session is crucial.

While we were fi shing we could see other anglers on the Dulse Carr to the north and the Lobster Wells, which is close to Church Point, and to the south. All the marks are easily accessible with loads of parking available.

Sandy Bay, where Gary fi shed from the cliffs, is a short drive south

of Newbiggin. There is a large caravan park there and the owners don’t seem to mind

Yep, another fi sh.

Gary draws the fi sh onto the watery rocks and grabs it fi rmly.

Nice one chap. Another fi sh for the pot!

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TACKLE, TACTICS AND BAITIt was windy when Gary fi shed from the cliffs, so he adopted quite different tactics to normal. He changed his reel so that he was using lighter line than he would from the shore. He also used a heavier sinker, a 175g (7oz) of his own design, and he cast low and quickly. He does this to take full advantage of the wind. It really seemed to work well and resulted in much longer casts than could normally be expected for the conditions. He can use lighter line on the cliffs because the retrieve is straight up rather than the line being pulled and rubbed over rocks.

On Hare Point, when the tide was coming in, Gary went ‘rock hopping’. Care must be taken when attempting this, because wading out into the surf, where you can’t see your footing properly, can be dangerous. However, it does give you a big advantage when casting, by enabling you to achieve those often precious extra yards. Because he was casting into a tide rip, he kept hold of his rod all of the time. Having put their rod in a rod rest, many an angler has had the misfortune of seeing their rod disappear down the skeer and into the sea, never to be seen again. Also, by holding onto your rod, bites can be felt the moment they happen and it is less likely that a fi sh will be lost.

I noticed that Gary had the top half of a sock on his right wrist, so I asked him to explain. Apparently, all the distance casters use this trick, where the half-sock is pulled over the cuff of the waterproofs. When the reel is in the low position, the leader knot can catch the cuff of the clothing if the sleeve is loose, which can result in a crack-off.

However, with the end of the sleeve safely inside the half-sock, there is nothing for it to catch on.

On the cliffs Gary used a 175g (7oz) sinker of his own design, with medium-length wires. This was on a pulley Pennell rig with a 4/0 Gamakatsu Worm Baitholder hook, and tucked in at the top of the bait was another 3/0 Gamakatsu Worm Baitholder hook to complete the Pennell. The hooklengths were made with 30lb Sufi x Invisiline. The hook was baited with a cocktail of runnydown, a couple of rag and tipped off with half a snake white. On some casts he just used rag to tip off, though, and on these occasions the fi sh seemed just as keen. He was using 18lb Daiwa Sensor line with an 80lb Sufi x Surf shockleader. This was loaded onto a Penn 525 Mag Xtra multiplier reel, which, in turn, was mounted on his favourite Century TTR (Total Tournament Rod).

On the rocks, Gary’s tackle and bait choice was much the same. He still used a Penn 525 Mag Xtra reel, but loaded with a heavier main line. He had frozen peeler crab with him but never needed to use it, so he will be able to put it back in the freezer for another time.

Gary knew he would be fi shing on rocks and probably rock hopping, so he had quality, studded chest waders on. As the day was wet, windy and very cold, he wore a Titan waterproof smock.

As usual he consulted his tide table to make sure he got the maximum out of his fi shing time. His knowledge of this part of the coast has been acquired over quite a few years, so he knows where the tide rips are and where the deep water can be expected.

anglers driving through, especially in the winter, to park near the cliffs.

Gary likes fi shing from cliffs, and Sandy Bay also has deep water at the base. When the water has subsided after a rough sea, the fi sh seem to collect and feed in these deep-water areas.

Newbiggin’s cliffs are normally fi shed over high water, which is why Gary was slightly worried when the tide hadn’t come in as quickly as he had anticipated. However, he was able to cast out far enough to reach the really deep water.

Newbiggin is within the boundaries of most of the open competitions fi shed from the Tyne to the north. A lot of clubs use the Bank House Club as a registration point and match headquarters for their own competitions.

Gary stands on the top of the cliffs at Sandy Bay and holds his rod to feel for bites.

Another beautifully conditioned codling.

What fi sh could resist

this prime bait?

These crabs haven’t fully defrosted, so Gary will take them home and refreeze them for another day.

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REFILLING REELSTo ensure a good line lay on his reels, Gary always wets his spools of line before winding it on the reel. This can really improve a cast and lessen the chance of an overrun.

GARY’S TOP TIPSGARY’S TOP TIPSGARY’S TOP TIPSGARY’S TOP TIPS

STUDDED WADERSStudded chest waders are a must for anglers for any form of rock fi shing. Gary wears Snowbee Granite neoprene chest waders with reinforced knees and studded soles and heels. Rock hopping feels much safer with a secure footing, and waders also stop the wind penetrating and keep you warm.

RUCKSACKRather than using a traditional tackle box, Gary uses a Greys Apollo rucksack to keep his tackle in. The advantage of this is that, due to the shoulder and waist harness, he can climb and move about the rocks and cliffs with ease, and keep all his tackle with him.

SLEEVE PROTECTORIf you cast with the reel low down on the rod butt, the leader knot can catch the cuff of a jacket during the cast. Gary cuts the top from an old sock and wears it over his cuff to prevent this.

WHITEWORMWhiteworm are very hard to collect. To keep them alive and healthy for longer, Gary spreads a thin layer of very fi ne sea coal dust in the bottom of the tray before he puts some sea water in. He changes the water in the trays every three days, and puts them in his bait fridge. Since whiteworm can be very effective bait, he treats them like the precious commodity they are.

What a superb result. Gary holds up the prizes of yet another successful trip!

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