In my opinion SE is best but any kind of "lump" on will do as long as its not big. It can be a nightmare with weed though & I think the bay gets affected by fresh water coming out of the Tyne. The beach itself is better on the smaller tides. Don't think the Oxfauld is as good as it was, as there is plenty of sand in the gulley now. I fished it in the last big seas and managed a flounder of about 2lb. (I put some yellow tape on the rail to mark the gulley, if you cast from there toward the Tynemouth pier lighthouse you shouldn't go wrong)