What's Lurking In The Blocks? ( and load more questions!)

[Paddlesac]

Prompted by another thread asking about conger, I'm just wondering what sort of fishing the Blocks might offer.

I took a look at them at more or less low water the other week, after fishing for coalies on the float with my son, on a very quiet pier.

They're massive and certainly offer some pretty secure habitat for marine life


Some of them must be about the size of a transit van and they don't seem to have been placed as such, more like dumped, presumably to soak up the force of heavy wave action.


I know folk pull pollock, cod, coalies etc out near there, I'd guess wrasse will be kicking around as well.



Does anyone know what the lettering refers to? I thought; either where they were made or maybe where they were supposed to be located during building of the pier.

Then there's the concrete platform, next to the blocks;


anyone know what it was for?


I'd love to find out more about the pier, who actually built it and how but when I've searched the web there's very little in depth information and certainly no plans of any kind.


And finally: on the way back to the car, I took a few pictures of the wreck on the beach, anyone know what the vessel was called?


cheers

Steve

 

[sean start]

My dad told me he's fished over the top of the blocks before and has also got down onto the blocks and fished off them. This was years ago mind but he did say that there has been some big fish taken from there. It does make you think, just imagine what is hidden living amongst them lol.

 

[FISHERMAN]

Prompted by another thread asking about conger, I'm just wondering what sort of fishing the Blocks might offer.

I took a look at them at more or less low water the other week, after fishing for coalies on the float with my son, on a very quiet pier.

They're massive and certainly offer some pretty secure habitat for marine life


Some of them must be about the size of a transit van and they don't seem to have been placed as such, more like dumped, presumably to soak up the force of heavy wave action.


I know folk pull pollock, cod, coalies etc out near there, I'd guess wrasse will be kicking around as well.



Does anyone know what the lettering refers to? I thought; either where they were made or maybe where they were supposed to be located during building of the pier.

Then there's the concrete platform, next to the blocks;


anyone know what it was for?


I'd love to find out more about the pier, who actually built it and how but when I've searched the web there's very little in depth information and certainly no plans of any kind.


And finally: on the way back to the car, I took a few pictures of the wreck on the beach, anyone know what the vessel was called?


cheers

Steve

In all my years iv never noticed that boat wreck on the beach. Cany topic this mate good craic

 

[lumpsucker]

Aye, good post. Had a bash with 2 rods and conger rigs baited with macky heads at dusk a couple of months back but didnt get a sniff. You would think there would be something there

 

[FISHERMAN]

Aye, good post. Had a bash with 2 rods and conger rigs baited with macky heads at dusk a couple of months back but didnt get a sniff. You would think there would be something there

Always worth a shot at it mate . Better luck next time. Never realy hear ppl targeting them tho to be fair

 

[OuTkast76]

Yes you get wrasse along the pier ive had a few recently.

I'm guessing the platform was something the do with the crane that ran along the pier wall, you can see the metal tracks along the wall in a few of your pics

Which beach is that wreck on? I have never noticed that before!!

 

[david.northeast]

Yes you get wrasse along the pier ive had a few recently.

I'm guessing the platform was something the do with the crane that ran along the pier wall, you can see the metal tracks along the wall in a few of your pics

Which beach is that wreck on? I have never noticed that before!!

It's on the big beach mate

 

[Blanked again]

And finally: on the way back to the car, I took a few pictures of the wreck on the beach, anyone know what the vessel was called?


I noticed this for the 1st time a few weeks ago too & would like to know what it is & how it came to be there.

 

[Paddlesac]

Thanks for the replies so far, hopefully we'll get a bit more info coming up

The wreck is indeed on the main beach, south from the pier. It's in pretty good nick for a wooden boat.

cheers

Steve

 

[saltysam]

After a quick search i have found out that this could be the old dock gates that show on the beach they were being towed to Sunderland years back and broke lose but could be wrong?

 

[Thunderpants]

No that's a boat. I remember seeing the old dock gates out there for years when I was a kid.

 

[Juliogeordio]

That wooden wreck has been there for years mate, remember seeing it there as a kid.... only noticeable every now and again though, depends on the shifting sands I guess.....

The blocks will defo hold an eel or two I recon. I have snorkled around there a few years back with clear calm water. The depth is great and the way the blocks are positioned, the kelp, it would be ideal habitat for conger.... I noticed some pretty big Pollock kicking about too. As previously said though, cant say I have ever heard of anyone fishing for them but worth a go I recon...

Not sure about that flat platform bit.. would be interested to find out!

 

[wavy davy]

The wreck is called the Constance Ellen, it was wrecked by a huge gale in 1901 all 8 crew were saved by the South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade. It had a cargo of iron bars so it stuck fast and was unable to be refloated.
The Sandwich-registered Lord Dufferin ran aground almost in the same place less than two hours later. If you call into the brigade hut we still have the nameplate from her on display.

 

[01kayak]

there was plenty that fished the blocks about 30 years ago
remember that the pier watchman just used to shout down that he was locking the gates and that we would have to climb round with our bikes
don't think that they would be so relaxed about it now
great place to fish the three flat slabs on the front of the blocks in the photo was my favourite spot , plenty Mackie and the odd Pollock and cod from spinning

a few lobsters knocking about but not that easy to get out from the deep holes jeff

 

[maginty2012]

blocks

blocks

[had a catfish over the top of the blocks about 20 year ago 7 pound 4 in the summer

 

[codcatcher3000]

[had a catfish over the top of the blocks about 20 year ago 7 pound 4 in the summer

wow didnt know there was catfish here .

 

[jamiebrennan]

The old dock gates were closer to The North Arm and Target rock. They must have fell to bits now though as you cant see them now.

 

[JUBZ]

wow didnt know there was catfish here .

saw one caught at newbiggin last year haha

 

[Stewart 1971]

saw one caught at newbiggin last year haha

You sure it wasn't a Sea Kitten

 

[JUBZ]

haha maybe mate, could just be seeing things