Marks to catch the most in your area would be Shields and Roker pier then followed by Blyth pier, They produce good amounts year in year out but do get busy and messy.
For a more laid back area then Marsden out crop rocks (be carefull thou) and and beach with a good drop off, you wont get as many but god fun in the surf and from the rocks good chance of a pollack on the spinner.
You are looking at mid June before they show on the piers in any numbers and if the NE winds keep comming add a week or two onto that.