SPECIES
Mainly a cod only venue, but some coalfish taken, the odd pollack and flatfish.

BAITS
For the cod stick to big black lug baits tipped with blow lug, or fresh or frozen peeler crab. A good cod cocktail is black lug with two or three mussels whipped up the length of the worm. Try the same with a whole razorfish whipped along a black lug.

TACKLE & TACTICS
You can fish the rocky scars that work seawards on the southern side of King Edward's Bay for two hours either side of low water. The bay is full of rocks and boulders and swept by a good tide run, so it holds good numbers of cod and fish to 15lbs are taken every year here.

Care needs to be taken in northerly and easterly winds as anglers have been stranded on the rocks here due to big swells. Always fish in pairs.

Very rough ground and tackle losses can be very heavy. Locals fish heavy duty beachcasters such as the Conoflex Nemesis or the Fox Rock Runner matched to a sturdy reel like the ABU 9000 or Penn 535 loaded with 30lb line and no shock leader as casting distance is not too important.

A pulley rig made from 60lb mono is favoured here using a single 4/0 to 6/0 Viking pattern hook. Always fish a weak link system to the lead weight, which should be a wired 6oz lead as the wires help stop the lead jamming in the rocks and snagging.

LOCATION
From Newcastle take the A1058 heading east towards Tynemouth. At the Broadway roundabout go straight ahead for the seafront, then bear right towards Tynemouth. Continue on this road until you reach the castle. Parking is on the streets nearby. Access the marks down the steep stairs and short promenades, then it's a short walk across King Edward's Bay to the rocky scars.

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