Newburn Groyne, Old Town Beach, Hartlepool

SPECIES
Little fished in the summer months, but it can produce school bass and flounder from June to September.

The best fishing is from October to march for codling, whiting, flounders and dabs.

BAITS
Lug tipped with frozen crab, rag, squid strip or mussel takes the codling. Try worm tipped with sandeel or mackerel for the whiting and dabs, with lug tipped with mackerel for the flounder.

TACKLE & TACTICS
The beach is mainly clean sand fishing either left or right of the groyne but backs on to stone towards high water. It fishes best at night after a good blow has stirred up the sea. The tides rising from mid size to full spring are the best, though fish can be caught as the tides drop to middle sized neaps. Good casters find a good depth of water.

Fish can often be at close to medium range here, but the codling tend to show best at long range, especially in a big sea.

Maximise your casting distance when necessary with a 4-6oz beachcaster, 6500 sized reel and 15lb line to a 60lb shock leader. Top rigs here for the codling are a one-hook clipped down rig with a single size 3/0 to 4/0 Viking pattern hook. For the smaller species stick with a three-hook flapper and size 1 or 2 Aberdeen's. Carry 5oz leads for average conditions, but 6oz can hold better in a big swell.

LOCATION
The groyne is located on the south side of Middleton Pier heading north along Coronation Drive from Seaton Carew and has easy safe parking.