Frenchman's Bay, Tyne & Wear

SPECIES
Primarily a winter cod mark, but some coalfish and dogfish are caught throughout the year. Red rock cod to 5lbs show from June to September.

BAITS
The summer cod are best fished for with peeler crab. Crab remains a good bait through until early November, then local anglers switch to lug tipping with razorfish, mussel or frozen crab. The coalfish take the same baits.

TACKLE & TACTICS
A rough seabed here with tackle and fish loses likely. You're casting off the top of the cliffs and need to haul fish up through thin air. Look for a period of strong easterly winds and aim to fish for the two hours either side of high water. It fishes well both day and night in these conditions, especially as the sea is dropping.

Powerful rods such as the Fox Rock Runner or Zziplex Dymic HST have the power to lift good fish, but need to be matched with 9000 sized reels loaded with 30lb to 35lb line and a 60lb shock leader. Make the leader longer than normal to aid the landing of fish.

A pulley rig made from 60lb mono ending in a single Mustad Viking 4/0 or 6/0 to match the bait size is the only rig to consider. Leads need to be 6oz release wire type. Some anglers add a lead lift to get the lead weight up quickly when retrieving to re-bait.

Be careful when standing close to the cliff edge has it is being constantly eroded here.

LOCATION
From South Shields head south along the seafront on the A183. Look for the New Crown Pub and continue on for another half mile. Roadside parking available.