Whiting a problem?

[The Great Wallsendo]

Am still undecided about Whiting and their worth in the scheme of things...

However a couple of people have said that they are seemingly increasing in their average size from the shore...is this a bad thing?

They put up a better fight than the average Codling does and they taste alright too..

Surely it would be better to catch 1lb+ fish each time instead of being plagued with the little 'uns?

[tonynufc]

i like catching them mate i got three for 2 lb 12 oz's in a tynemouth club match which got me 4th place, and they are bigger than they used to be i can remember not too long ago when you'd be very lucky to see one in size

[Lowrider]

I don't give a toss,a fish is a fish and i won't turn my nose up at out.

[basswrasse2]

I like catching whities they are a good sport its better than catching nowt.

[jamcod]

no problem with whiting good sport, while waiting for the cod to appear nothing worse than standing on a beach with no bites . jamcod

[basswrasse2]

your right mate its s**t standing on the beach or anywhere catching nowt

[Charlton]

took some nice ones home from the last South Shields open, headed, tailed and deboned, cut down the middle flattened and then on a hot plate, sprinkled with sea salt, cooked till nice and brown, delicious

[mick]

Wallsendo I dont know how long you have been fishing but regards to a 'fight' from a codling or a whiting I would have to disagree with you, unless you are getting a full house of Whiting on a three hook flapper! Yes, the stamp of Whiting is on the rise with fish to 3lbs not uncommon in the Humber over the last couple of seasons. I personally know good anglers down Lincolnshire who 'pack in' now when darkness comes on the beach because they are plagued with Whiting and bait is a valuable commodity when you are targeting Cod during pleasure sessions. Dont get me wrong, Whiting have been my saviour in many a match, but the comps I fish are generally measure and return, in which case I have no qualms in targeting them - many comps further South have gone down this road due to the large numbers of fish being dumped by anglers at the end of a comp, which doesnt exactly put angling in a good light, but we are changing. Unfortunately this type of set-up for comps does not lend itself to the type of fishing & matches in the North East, because we tend not to be able to 'peg' matches. The 'Lincolnshire' scenario I have mentioned could be the North East in a few years time & you have to ask yourself why do the Whiting stocks seem to be on the increase the same time our cod stocks are declining, I personally believe the whole food chain has been upset and Whiting are having to feed ravenously on what is available to them, if that is immature fish(of any species including Cod) then that is what they will feed on & the bigger the predators get then the bigger their prey. Just my opinin but hell, thats all that is posted on here peoples own opinions.

[Ivor Spraggon]

your right mate its s**t standing on the beach or anywhere catching nowt

... Aye, but ye've gotta catch nowt before you catch summat.

[The Great Wallsendo]

LOL not long mate in all fairness ...but if I'm honest I have yet to experience a "scrap" from a Cod/Codling boat or shore....at most I would say it feels like pulling a heavy weight in...with other species you at least feel the nodding and the shaking about as you reel them in...

[paulthespark]

mackerel and codf

you are right mate have had a better fight from a1pound mackerel than a 6 pound cod

[KeithB]

LOL not long mate in all fairness ...but if I'm honest I have yet to experience a "scrap" from a Cod/Codling boat or shore....at most I would say it feels like pulling a heavy weight in...with other species you at least feel the nodding and the shaking about as you reel them in...

Wait till April / May up at the can, they're like bull terriers

[The Great Wallsendo]

Wait till April / May up at the can, they're like bull terriers

but that's aaaaages away LOL

[willywetegg]

Blyth pier one night, two fish two casts. The first was a 6 lb Codling it came in like a plastic bag. The second one was a great scrap and I thought it was a monster, 4 1/4 lb. I was gutted when I got it up lol.

As some of you know I sometimes fish the beach with a Carp rod, great fun no matter what you catch, from a Whiting to my best on it a Codling of 2 1/4 lb. I think it is the same with most species, some scrap like hell and some don't.

Welcome to NESA Paul mate.

Jim.

[ron thompson11]

you are right mate have had a better fight from a1pound mackerel than a 6 pound cod

Eh? mackerel & whiting better sport than codling? was the 6 pound codling mentioned dead like?, frozen & stuck on the fish counter at morrisons? I would refer to whiting as "bait robbing ba********s". but i suppose all anglers have different preferences / attitudes, but even during a competition in poor conditions (flat sea)I would rather have a go at a rock mark where there is at least a chance of a nice fish , rather than go flatty or whiting bashing. (which is why i am not a great match fishermen) but each to there own i suppose, especially for the younger /novice anglers i suppose catching something is better than blanking. but give me the chance of a better fish anyday.