After the recent run of poor fishing (which I attribute to the large algal bloom off Whitby over the past week), we decided on a change of tactics for the penultimate day of the festival. I told the lads to arm up with shads and jellyworms and we headed out to the 20 mile wrecks in search of some good pollack.

It was a strange start, and despite the change of tactics, the first hour saw us boat quite a few cod. Nothing massive but a few codling in the 5lb bracket went into the boxes. Then as the tide strengthened you could see the algae on the surface and the cod fishing slowed. Then we started to find the pollack.

As we drifted one of the wrecks for the 5th time, most rods went into action and several pollacks were boated, however the biggest (I would estimate mid to highteens) was lost half way up when the lads hook snood was snapped. Its always a shame to see big fish lost in this way, and I always urge all the lads to use high poundage snoods and to keep an eye on the line for abrasion from the fishes teeth. Anyway, enough said on that one.

The next few drops saw more pollack eager to take the jellyworms, and one lucky lad boated a fish of 12 pounds 2 ounces which went on to take the lead in the spring angling festival.

Lets see what tomorrow brings

Best wishes – Paul