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One look at the British Record fish list tells you what Whitby is most famous for. Cod! It was here, during 1992, that the biggest ever rod caught cod of 56lbs 6ozs was taken aboard Stu Johnsen's boat "Sea Trek". In fact, Whitby has arguably the most consistent record for 30lb plus cod in the country with 40lbers on the cards at the right time. It sports a large modern charter fleet that caters for anglers from all over the UK, especially the North and Midlands. Fishing is for 12 months of the year, weather permitting.
WHERE TO FISH
The smaller traditional Yorkshire Cobles concentrate on rougher ground closer to shore over which a variety of species roam. There is some clean ground fishing for whiting, plaice, dabs etc, but most anglers choose the rough stuff for more desirable fish. The bigger, faster craft are there for the wreck fishing. There are large numbers of wrecks within 30 miles of shore thanks to wartime naval actions and the impetuous nature of the North Sea. Rough ground in deep water also gets attention and frequently turns up fish almost as big as the wrecks can. The old commercial fishing and spawning ground for cod, the Dogger Bank, lays out off Whitby.
SPECIES
If there is a quite spell, then it's March through May, but even then there is good ground fishing close to shore for codling, and bigger fish when the weather allows the wrecks to be visited. June is the start of the real fishing, which for the wreck boats lasts right through until January and February. Possibly the best month for wrecking is August, though September and October aren't far behind, and it's this period which is when some massive ling over 30lbs, a 46lber was taken back in the 80's, show along with cod over 40lbs.
The inshore grounds during the summer, autumn and winter give haddock, whiting, coalfish, pollack, wrasse, and cod to double figures, plus occasional 20lbers. Ling are also taken over 10lbs from the inshore and offshore rough, along with catfish and the occasional torsk. Turbot are resident over the offshore banks, and rarely talked of but nonetheless present, are occasional tope.
TIDES
The tides do run fast on springs inshore, but are manageable. In fact, some boats alternate between anchoring and drifting the inshore marks with little difference in catches. Offshore wrecking is easier on neap tides, but fish are caught on springs too. Undoubtedly some massive conger live in the wrecks hereabouts, but the tides and rough conditions, and anglers preoccupation with the cod, will probably see them stay there.
TACKLE
Over the inshore ground most anglers pick a 20lb class rod and a reel like an ABU 7000C, 9000C or 10,000C with leads upto 8ozs for the majority of the fishing on the drift. Occasionally, a 30lb rod may be used if fishing at anchor. The bulk of this fishing is done with either a long trace about 4ft and twin 1/0 hooks baited with mussel, or on the drift with baited feathers, which is very popular and productive.
Offshore is a culture shock. It's 50lb class gear, 60lb line and pirks between 1lb and 2lbs. Reels are virtually all Penn Senators or Daiwa Sealines of 4/0 or 6/0 in size. Most anglers choose to use a butt pad and shoulder harness combinations to ease the strain on the back and hips through continually working the pirks. Occasionally, you can add a black or pink muppet above the pirk, but this really adds to the tackle losses, especially on the faster tides. That's the way to fish for cod here.
BAITS
The ling take big mackerel baits, especially if fished towards slack water, either added to a pirk, or fished alone as a plain hook bait. Some anglers rate adding a small cyalume light stick to the pirk as well. Pirks need to weigh between 12ozs and 1 1/2 lbs.
For the inshore fishing, mussel is king for the codling. The feathers are used for the pollack and coalfish, with the haddock taking sometimes mussel, but mostly fish baits. Plaice take worm over clean ground. It's worth trying peeler crab in the summer for the better codling very close to shore. Lug works on the feathers too. Some anglers fish freelined king rag baits for the pollack over the shallower ground.
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