Amble 1 August

[My Alibi]

Heading out of the marina, we were surprised, but pleased to see a dredger at work in the harbour. Seems the vessel will be around for the next 3 weeks, which is really good news for those of us who use Amble.

Oli and I followed the ebb tide south, stopping off at Hauxley, Bondicarr and Northern Hills, before ending up at Cresswell late in the afternoon. The fishing along the way was better than last Sunday. For a start, the mackerel were around, and big ones too in large numbers. Almost too many in fact as they chased any movement in the water. There was a steady stream of codling too, with most coming aboard between 1lb and 4lb. We had some pout and a few pollack too, and plenty of coalies. What I really liked were the wrasse, and all their different colours. Nice to photograph.

All in all, a good day out.

 

[bushwacker]

great great trip out on the high seas

 

[SPEIRSY]

My turn wed onwards might stay up the fatnes for a few days

 

[SPEIRSY]

Nice one im home mon may stay up the farnes for a few days

 

[jonny_s]

Those wrasse are really beautiful fish, good to hear the mackerel are back around in numbers. I saw the dredger last weekend but was unable to fish due to recent hand surgery, might spoil chances from around the pier ?

I assume it is deepening the harbour entrance, last time I came back in a boat the sounder was showing 3 feet I remember a few years ago seeing a couple of guys jump out of their boat and push it over the sand bar

 

[My Alibi]

Those wrasse are really beautiful fish, good to hear the mackerel are back around in numbers. I saw the dredger last weekend but was unable to fish due to recent hand surgery, might spoil chances from around the pier ?

I assume it is deepening the harbour entrance, last time I came back in a boat the sounder was showing 3 feet I remember a few years ago seeing a couple of guys jump out of their boat and push it over the sand bar

Hi Jonny,

Hope the hand heals quickly. You're right about the sandbar at the entrance. The commercials have been rightly kicking up a fuss about the shallow entrance as some have gone aground completely on recent occasions, and I too am very wary of entering at low tide as it can be very dangerous in a following sea. I wrote to the Northumberland Gazette, tipping them off about the dredger, and earlier this week they followed up with a story. The dredger is going to be around for 3 weeks or so, which means not just the sandbar but also the channel will be dredged. Longer term, it should improve the fishing off the pier.

https://www.northumberlandgazette.c...-to-keep-amble-harbour-open-for-boats-4729707​

See you around!
Adrian

 

[Kev1n]

Yet another interesting report Adrian. You've landed some very colourful fish recently, far better than the few beginner's-sized codling I've managed.

Last year we saw a trawler go aground in the river and gunning his engines just threw up a plumes of sand in frustration without moving him until the tide filled.

We finally found the time and weather to get up to Amble for a few days mid-week at the end of July. Drawing 1.9m we need to keep a close eye on the depth and can usually only get in from half-tide up. The tides were big springs and despite passing by the piers at high water one evening there was less than 5m of water. By low tide the following day the north pier had dried out with sand in front of it and the bar was reduced to a narrow, shallow channel. A fresh salmon was splashing around in the ebbing current there.
When we first went into Amble some years ago we gently brushed the bottom and soon learned to keep to the wrong side of the channel on the way in.
Thanks for the reports, keep them coming.
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