Why I think the fish have gone

[canman]

Fished on Tynemouth pier Monday in the retired members match, and again, no cod, no whiting, and only 3 undersize coalies and 4 flaties, that's 4 comps in a row it's been hopeless. Many people are saying it's because the fish are feeding on the vast shoals of sand eels and sprats a mile or so of shore, also, spawning fish in January, while this is an annual event around this time of year, there were always a few fish still feeding inshore, ie; fish too immature to spawn, it's never been this poor.
I think the reason they have left the shoreline is because of the below zero temperatures we have had for the last 5 weeks or so. It has been mentioned on this forum that the temps in Norway etc; are a lot colder, but their coastline water is a lot deeper than ours and the fish will move to a depth at which they are comfortable in.
If you think about how trout and other game/coarse fish move to the deepest parts of the lake for a stable temperature, it seems to me, sea fish will do the same.
Well, that's my theory. I feel if the temp rises, and stays above freezing for a while, things might just start improving, apart for the annual spawning time.
Happy New year to every one on the forum.

[Lowrider]

Well the temp is due to go up over the next few days so it might be a good time to get out

[sidblank]

then we will have all the snow melt to contend with lol, take a while longer yet to sort itself out, but yes i agree. while trout are cold blooded, in sudden cold spells they will go deep and lethargic. in a stillwater they will go deep as the temperature is more stable. It makes perfect sense to me that in these temperatures they have moved into deeper and more stable water temperatures. as for norway the surface temperature can be considerably different to depths of forty foot or more. TRUST ME AM A BRICKY LOL

[The Jester]

Sid, i was talking to a lad at our comp yesterday who said that the research team took a water sample 400 meters off the shoreline at Hendon and it was 20% fresh water, maybe something else to consider ?.
Good point about the fish disappearing, since we have had these low temperatures.

[Hartlepool codder]

its nout to do with the temperature. it IS the sandeels we av been caining them in the nets a mile off. they are rammed with sandeels as ive explained before.

[canman]

its nout to do with the temperature. it IS the sandeels we av been caining them in the nets a mile off. they are rammed with sandeels as ive explained before.

Might well be right, but, all the small fish, ie; coalies, whiting, codling, pouting, the list goes on & on surely can't all be feeding on sand eels. Who knows,for sure

[kingcod deano]

its nout to do with the temperature. it IS the sandeels we av been caining them in the nets a mile off. they are rammed with sandeels as ive explained before.

ill give ya a fiver if you net all the sandeels

but seriously though surely the cod is gonna get sick of eating the sandeel soon i mean bloody hell they been eating it for 3 weeks now

[Hartlepool codder]

haha! to be honest there wernt as many sandeels ther last week. but i think the shore cod season finished 4 weeks ago ! i dont think it is going to improve . the only hope is the odd big spawning female in january/february but dont hold ur breath. ive give up all hope roll on the summer.

[harry barker]

Fished on Tynemouth pier Monday in the retired members match, and again, no cod, no whiting, and only 3 undersize coalies and 4 flaties, that's 4 comps in a row it's been hopeless. Many people are saying it's because the fish are feeding on the vast shoals of sand eels and sprats a mile or so of shore, also, spawning fish in January, while this is an annual event around this time of year, there were always a few fish still feeding inshore, ie; fish too immature to spawn, it's never been this poor.
I think the reason they have left the shoreline is because of the below zero temperatures we have had for the last 5 weeks or so. It has been mentioned on this forum that the temps in Norway etc; are a lot colder, but their coastline water is a lot deeper than ours and the fish will move to a depth at which they are comfortable in.
If you think about how trout and other game/coarse fish move to the deepest parts of the lake for a stable temperature, it seems to me, sea fish will do the same.
Well, that's my theory. I feel if the temp rises, and stays above freezing for a while, things might just start improving, apart for the annual spawning time.
Happy New year to every one on the forum.

Good post Canman.
I put a post up on BSA site a few weeks ago called "what the cod said to the shore angler".
My post was tongue in cheek giving theories why the cod has moved from our shore line.
There is all sorts of theories we can use,but I think now we can go on facts.
And the main fact is the massive shoals of sand eels and sprats that's just off our shore line.
Fact.... cod are feeding on these fish,Hartelpool codder proves this as he said cod in the nets are full of sprats.
Fact...sprats are being washed up on the shore line dead and dieing,if they are washed up on the shore line there's a good chance they will be also on the sea bed where smaller fish can also feed on them,hence keeping the other species of fish off our shore line.
I do agree this year is exceptionally quite but as you pointed out this is a annual event just this month seems the worse Ive known.

They will return......keep the faith

[john/r]

just on a positive note.
a few anglers my age and who have fished for yrs will remember this quite spell always used to happen after xmas ,sprats getting washed up if any fish caught they were full of them.lads on kent coast still get the sprat thing every year but up here for a lot of yrs they have been a long way off shore and our fishing has,nt been affected until this year bang back to the good old days.

now on a positive note ??? this could be a trend now every year for years to come. lol or

[CHUKKA]

its nout to do with the temperature. it IS the sandeels we av been caining them in the nets a mile off. they are rammed with sandeels as ive explained before.

by we i hope your not a netter! if so hide your head in shame!

[sidblank]

yeah i agree one way or another wether its food or temperature or salinity or a mixture of all three, think this will be a common occurence every winter.

[sidblank]

on another note the flatties seem to be thriving with no competition for food.

[Hartlepool codder]

by we i hope your not a netter! if so hide your head in shame!

yes i am a netter have you got a problem? im a comercial fisherman and also a very good and keen shore angler! ..... oh gosh i hope you dont work in an office or a bin man or a joiner welder plumber etc etc or even on the dole ! iff any of these hide your daft head and comments in shame nutter

[lingking]

sprats

the seawater intake at alcan comes fom about haf a mile offshore. it has been bringing in skip loads of sprats and sand eel.also a lot of coalies and bass. also cod to 7lb.then thers the starfish and lumpsuckers sometimes its like a flaming mini sea world