This time of year can be very hard work from the shore Dave, unless you are just after some flatties. They can be caught on most of our sandy beaches and can be a bit of fun on light gear. Don't be aiming for the horizon as sometimes they will be literally under your feet if you are wading out to cast.
For anything bigger such as Codling, Coley, Pollack or Wrasse you will need to be on the rocks. You don't have to lose a load of gear as you can try float fishing in some of the deeper gulley's. Believe me there is nothing much better than seeing that float dissappear and if it is a decent fish it can be a fantastic fight too.
Once the weather is decent and we get some decent flat seas you could try that at St. Mary's Island. A mate of mine used to get loads of Wrasse from there, They can be great fun and scrap as good as anything else pound for pound and again great fun on a light rod.
The gulley's up at Craster along towards the Castle and Cullernose Point can be good marks too if you catch them on the right tide. Most of the Craster marks are pretty flat and safe too but can be lethal in the rain so be carefull. When it is flat during the summer Craster can be a canny mark for the Mackerel too.
Newbiggin has never been one of my favourite places to fish so I can't give you much info on the area apart from the prom and Church Point. Church point is a tackle graveyard but it can be worth it at times. A few of my pals used to like fishing there during the summer. Newbiggin prom can be canny but for decent fish you would have to wait till the winter season and a decent sea.
Whitley Bay, Cullercoats, Collywell Bay and Tynemouth areas will always throw out a few resident red Cod, just a case of picking the right spot on the right day, again it is better during the summer months for a calm sea when fishing the kelp and rocks for Codling.
Hope this helps a bit mate.
Jim.