COD From The Kelp

You need a strong arm, tough tackle and determination to tease a cod from Northumberland's harsh and hostile ground.

IF YOU’VE NEVER EXPERIENCED THE pleasure of fishing from one of Northumberland’s picturesque marks, you really are missing out.

The sandy stretches at Druridge Bay, Warkworth and Embleton are used by many anglers who come to enjoy easy flatfish and bass action, and with the vast majority of hungry flounders and small turbot happily taking baits from virtually under the rod tip, they provide fulfilling sport on delicate tackle.

It’s away from the sand, though, where the ground becomes hard and hostile that really sets the pulse racing. Huge volcanic ledges that lifted out of the sea millions of years ago provide sloping platforms that fall away into accessible deep water. It’s this unforgiving terrain that is the real jewel in the crown for local shore rods. They know that amid the tangling kelp and unseen, snag-ridden areas below the waves, the cod are waiting, and the good news is there’s still time to bag yourself a late-season cod as they tend to hang around until the end of February, or even early March.

If you’re an angler who loathes losing tackle or becoming stuck fast each cast, then Northumberland’s rocks will quickly become your angling nightmare. However, if experiencing hard bites, putting your gear to the test and feeling your beach rod bending under pressure is your thing, it will probably turn out to be your fishing Utopia.

BEST COD MARKS

Although there are many miles of open coastline to target, the array of marks that are situated between Howick and Craster has long been favoured by many of the NorthEast’s cod anglers.

The ground is rough, and while successfully guiding a hooked cod back to your feet isn’t easy, the rewards are always definitely worth every ounce of effort.