Ring of Stones, River Tees, Hartlepool

SPECIES
This is a winter cod and whiting mark fish well from September through to February. Some flounder are also taken. Summer produces smaller flounder, bass and eels.

BAITS
Fresh crab is the best cold bait from September to November than a slow switch to big black lug baits tipped with blow lug, frozen crab, rag or razorfish is advised. Lug tipped with mackerel is good for the whiting with any flounder being a by catch on these baits. Crab and worm baits take the summer flounder, bass and eels.

TACKLE & TACTICS
The mark is situated just inside the North Gare breakwater and is made up of slag rock at the top but quickly dropping on to clean sand with patches of muddy sand. It will fish extremely well after a good blow from the northeast which seems to push the fish in. Cod over 12lbs can appear throughout the winter, but most fish are codling.

There is a fair depth of water when casting off the rock edges and this allows fishing at any state of the tide.

A 5-6oz beachcaster with a Penn 525 or 7000 sized reel loaded with 20lb line and a 60lb shock leader is the best option here as distance can help at times, especially around low water. There is also some tide run and 5 to 6oz grip leads are needed to hold down, especially if there is any weed in the water.

For the cod go for a pulley rig made from 60lb mono with a 30lb hook link and pennel mounted 3/0 Viking hooks. Three-hook flappers work well for the flounder and eels with size 2 Aberdeen hooks.

LOCATION
From Middlesborough and the A19 take the A1046 and A178 heading north for Seaton Carew. You can park on the main road in Seaton Carew and walk along the beach to the mark.