Joined: Dec 04, 2004 Posts: 448 Location: northeast england
Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 6:15 pm Post subject: South shields pier
THE TOILET BLOCK
Here on the seaward side of the pier you will find the remains of what used to be a toilet with a blocked off entrance and old stairs cut into the pier. It looks very rocky and is out to around 50 yards but then gives way to clean sand. Here we are casting into the open sea towards the South.
Best time: 2 hours before and 2 hours after high tide, big tides best.
Summer: mackeral, coalfish, flatfish, bass and the odd red cod amongst the rocks. Conditions: daylight with a calm clear sea for the mackeral and a a bit of surf running for bass during darkness.
Winter: codling, coalfish, flatfish, and bass. Conditions: darkness with a slight swell running onto the beach.
Ground: Very rough close in out to 50 yards, but clean further out, cast as far as possible and reel fast when getting within 50 yards of the pier. The odd tackle loss can be expected.
THE 2nd GATE
Now we are nearing the end of the pier where things get a bit more complicated and the tidal strengths need to be accounted for, before having a chuck. The second gate casting into the harbour side suffers on the bigger tides from a strong tide pull into the harbour on the flooding tide, this tide will pull your tackle into the rocks and snag you every time. To counter this either fish here as the tide eases off toward high or fish here on medium to small strength tides, a bit of tide is good for the .
Best time: middle to high tide and an hour back down.
Summer: codling, coalfish, mackeral with the odd flatfish. Conditions: daylight with a calm clear sea or darkness for codling and coalfish.
Winter: cod, coalfish and dabs. Conditions: daylight or darkness either calm or a slight swell running into the harbour. The whole length of the pier is dangerous with a swell running along it but from here on up it can be particular so- if in doubt don't go up the pier especially in heavy weather.
Ground: very rough out to around 70 yards but a bit less snaggy than the post and rubble, just wind in as fast as possible on the retrieve and expect some tackle losses.
THE 44 MARK
Look at the picture closely and on the wall you will see the number 44 in grey paint, all along the pier there are number markers either on the ground or on the wall, the 44 is one of the best known marks on the pier and the general area around it is the piers plaice hotspot during the summer. We are now casting back into the open sea to the South. There is very little tide here.
Best times: the whole of the flood tide can fish here from low to high but I prefer to try here from middle tide up.
Summer: plaice, mackeral, flounder, coalfish and the odd codling. Conditions: calm clear sea during daylight.
Winter: cod, coalfish, whiting and dabs. Conditions: darkness and a slight swell for cod and calm conditions during darkness for numbers of whiting.
Ground: rocks to 30 yards and then clean sand, tackle losses should be light.
THE BLOCKS
The blocks are a left over pile of building material from the days of the pier's construction, few people actually fish right over them because of the snags but it can be good either side of these massive pieces stone.
The blocks are on the seaward side of the pier not far from the end. The pier end side is very rough and has a strong tide pull on big tides but the other side is fairly clean ground and not too badly affected by tide.
Best times: From middle tide up to high and two hours after but can fish at low water.
Summer: Plaice, coalfish, mackeral and the odd codling Conditions: daylight with a calm clear sea.
Winter: Cod, whiting, dabs. Conditions: darkness or daylight in a calm sea for whiting and darkness or daylight plus a slight swell for cod.
Ground: The western side of the blocks is only snaggy to 50 yards out and then clean sand with the odd snag can be found. Tackle losses should be light.
The Eastern side of the blocks is a tackle hungry grave yard unless distance casting, however there are some nice cod taken every year from the rough stuff, well worth a try but be patient. Tackle losses can be expected almost every chuck.
THE WHEEL
On the harbour side of the pier near the end is the area called the wheel between the last two sets of stone steps. There are always fish here but good luck, you will need it to get them out.
Best times: Either just as the tide eases on big tides toward high water or on the smaller tides due to the very strong current that races along here.
Summer: codling, mackeral, coalfish. Conditions: calm clear sea during daylight.
Winter: codling, whiting, coalfish. Conditions: daylight or darkness either calm or a slight swell.
Ground: Extremely tackle hungry, you cast onto clean ground but a ledge around 60 yards out claims your tackle nearly every time you wind in or if the tide is too strong, so use a pully rig with a rotten bottom.
THE SMALL WALL
One of my favourite places on the pier, the small wall catches the main run of the flood tide and it can be a good place to target coalfish, mackeral and launce during the summer.
In the winter it can be a great place to catch codling on the first of the flood.
Best times: for cod low tide until the strength of the tide becomes too fierce, small to medium tides can be good here. For mackeral and coalfish as soon as the set comes around the wall which is normally from two hours after low until high tide. Beware on big tides the pull is ferocious here and it can become unfishable.
Summer: codling, mackeral, coalfish, launce. Conditions: daylight with a calm clear sea.
Winter: codling, whiting, coalfish and dabs. Conditions: daylight or darkness with a calm sea for whiting and coalfish and a slight swell running into the harbour for codling but these will also turn up when calm.
Ground: cast as far as you can towards the bottom of Tynemouth pier and you should be ok, snaggy within the last 40 yards.
THE LIGHTHOUSE WITH THE FAMOUS SOUTH EAST CORNER,to the right
The end of the pier can be a great place to fish from with the chance of a large cod to double figures and masses of whiting during the winter when it is calm. Daylight can be the best time with low water and the first of the flood being the favoured time for cod just after a big onshore blow.
During the summer masses of mackeral turn up at first light and dusk when it is calm along with decent numbers of coalfish and the odd codling.
Pollack can be caught along the seaward side of the wall just down from the South east corner from mid to high tide on redgills and floats.
The end is snaggy but if you can cast 80 yards you should clear the rocks.
On big tides fish the tide out off the end and you will lose less tackle but during small tides the end can be fished right through the flood tide with the minimum of tackle loss. It is normally the incoming tide that will pull your tackle into snags on the bigger tides.
Best baits for the pier, lug, rag, peeler crab, spinners and feathers for the mackeral.
Finally be safe, heed my warnings and enjoy the pier!
MORE On SHIELDS PIER
South Shields pier, South Tyneside. Such a large pier to fish from, a fair bit of information below. courtesy of 2 friend sof mine Paul (big paul) and Dave (jarrow viking) top lads
I have added each picture and information about the pier in the order that you would come to it as you walked along the pier, beginning with the brigade hut.
Built at the mouth of the River Tyne to provide a safe harbour for shipping, the pier is roughly one mile in length, giving the angler access to deep water. Over the years it has become one of the most popular angling marks in the North East of England.
Construction of the pier began on the 15th of June 1854 and due to ferocious winter storms wasn't completed until 1895, a massive 41 years later!
The pier can fish well for cod with some well over 20lb caught during recent winters. Depending on the time of year, coalfish, whiting, plaice, dabs, mackeral and pollack can be caught with the outside chance of a rare catch turning up. In recent summers a sunfish, halibut, lots of herring and a few ling have been caught.
The gate at the bottom of the pier ( the first gate ) is locked during rough seas and on an evening.
Do not climb around the gate during heavy seas, large waves crash over the pier and they WILL take you with them, anglers have been killed in the past! We want no more deaths!
Having said all that it can be a great place to have a days , just use a bit of common sense and take all rubbish home with you.
BRIGADE HUT
Best time: 2 hours before high tide to 2 hours after on big tides.
Summer: mackeral and plaice Conditions: daylight, calm clear sea.
Winter: codling and whiting Conditions: darkness and calm sea for whiting and darkness and a big swell running into the harbour for codling.
Ground: clean sand only rocks to 20 yards out clear these and tackle losses will be small.
THE SLAB
The slab is the area between the brigade hut and first gate it is all similiar in terms of ground and .
Best time: 2 hours before high tide and 2 hours after. Big tides are best.
Summer: mackeral and plaice Conditions: daylight and calm clear sea.
Winter: codling and whiting Conditions: darkness with a big swell running into the harbour for codling and darkness combined with a calm sea for whiting.
Ground: clean sand with rocks to 20 yards out, clear these and you will lose very little tackle.
HOLE IN THE WALL
Just before the first gate on the pier is the hole in the wall, still part of the area called the slab but popular because there are a couple of nice holes on the ground to put your rod stand in and the South Shields open was won from here not too long ago. In the whole slab area we are casting into the harbour towards the North.
Best time: 2 hours before high tide and two hours after on a big tide.
Summer: mackeral and plaice. Conditions: daytime with a calm clear sea.
Winter: codling and whiting with the chance of a big cod. Conditions: darkness and a calm sea for whiting. A big swell running into the harbour in darkness for cod.
Ground: Only snaggy close in amongst the rocks in the first 20 yards, clean sand further out. Tackle losses should be small
FIRST GATE
The end of the area called the slab and close to the beginning of the rockier stuff! Still casting North into the harbour.
Best time: Middle tide to 2 hours after high. Big tides best.
Summer: Mackeral and plaice. Conditions: daylight with a calm and clear sea.
Winter: Codling and whiting. Conditions: darkness with a calm sea for whiting and a big swell running into the harbour for cod and codling. Chance of a large cod.
Ground: Slightly snaggier in places but mainly clean sand to within 20 yards of the pier, the odd tackle loss can be expected.
FIRST GATE CHAIR
Just past the first gate you will find this chair and it marks the first place on the pier where you are able to cast into the open sea. Use ragworm or black lug for the bass and don't be frightened to lob your bait into very shallow water.
Best times: Big tide only over high water. Conditions: darkness with a moderate surf running, cast just behind the breakers.
Summer: Bass, flounder, coalfish.
Winter: Bass, flounder, coalfish with the odd codling.
Ground: rocks to 30 yards then clean sand, minimum of tackle should be lost.
RAIL END
The rail end is the next mark we come to, simply called because this is the point that the rail on the wall ends, if you are walking back down the pier. Look in the right of the picture.
It is a bit deeper here and we are casting South into the seaward side of the pier.
Best times: Big tide, 2 hours before and an hour past high tide.
Summer: Bass, flounder, coalfish. Conditions: darkness with a moderate swell running onto the big beach.
Winter: Cod, bass, whiting, dabs and flounder. Conditions: darkness with a moderate swell running onto the beach, darkness and calm for whiting.
Ground: Only snaggy in the first 40 yards, wind in quick when nearing the rocks at the edge of the pier and tackle losses should be small. A grip lead is a good idea during a bit of swell to stop your gear being dragged into the rocks
THE RUBBLE
Now we are casting back into the harbour at the point that this picture was taken, just up the pier from the rubble ( tons of boulders along the inside of the pier. )
There are normally plenty of fish to be caught at this mark, the problem is getting them out. You must be able to cast 100 yards minimum and preferably have the wind at your back.
Try to cast to the edge of the set ( the area of tide that can often be seen when the incoming seawater pushes back the river water. )
Best time: Only two hours before high tide and one hour after on a big tide.
Summer: Coalfish, codling and flatfish. Conditions: daylight or darkness with a calm sea. Mackeral during daylight and a calm sea to spinners.
Winter: Cod, coalfish, whiting and dabs. Conditions: daylight or darkness with a calm sea or gentle swell running into the harbour.
Ground: Extremely snaggy up to 80 yards out then clean sand. Catch a fish and you must reel in as fast as possible or it will be lost! Tackle losses can be expected.
THE POST
Found between the rubble and second gate, the post is one of the top marks on the pier, again you are casting North into the harbour and again it is extremely snaggy unless distance casting. There are normally a few fish to be caught here but getting them back in is the problem. Fish here when the wind is at your back for a bit more distance and put your bait on the edge of the set.
Best times: Big tide two hours before high water and an hour after.
Summer: codling, coalfish mackeral to spinners. Conditions: daylight or darkness with a calm sea.
Winter: cod and coalfish. Conditions: daylight or darkness with either a calm sea or a gentle swell running into the harbour.
Ground: Very rough unless distance casting 100 yards plus onto cleaner ground.
Last edited by medlar on Wed Oct 29, 2008 6:29 pm; edited 1 time in total
hi medlar just wanted 2 say a big ty 4 ur post on south shields,after reading it,and visiting my girl on the north side i decided 2 fish it think it was the 16/17dec,had a few whiting and flatties,nothing big but was nice 2 get out after many yrs of not fishing,so thanks again 4 ur info
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cheers Steve
